"Dream Home" at PIFF

Program Note
What would you do, if someone blocked your view? Cheng's dream home with a magnificent sea view seems forever out of reach. Suddenly she realizes, in order to get what she wants, she must take matters into her own hands even if it means getting her hands seriously bloody. When I saw [Dream Home], the first thing that came to my mind was 'an ordinary woman can really go that far to get what she wants?' Funny thing is that the film is based on the event that actually happened in Hong Kong. The way the director Pang describes an ordinary woman turning into a pure evil gives the audience chills. Josie Ho who plays Cheng Lai-sheung brings out this demonic character so well, I wouldn’t want to meet her in person. I have to say Dream Home isn’t for everyone because it shows what a real slasher is all about. One more thing, reality truly is stranger than fiction.

Director
PANG Ho-Cheung
Born and raised in Hong Kong, the acclaimed Pang Ho-Cheung is an author—whose first novel, Fulltime Killer was adapted into a film directed by Johnnie To—and Berlin Silver Bear-winner for Isabella (2006). Pang’s films include Dream Home (2010), Exodus (2007), A/V (2005), Beyond Our Ken (2004), and You Shoot, I Shoot (2001).

Credits
Director: PANG Ho-Cheung
Producer: Andrew OOI
Cast: Josie HO, Eason CHAN, Derek TSANG, Lawrence CHOU, Juno MAK, Michelle YE
Screenwriter: PANG Ho-Cheung, Derek TSANG, Jimmy WAN
Cinematography: YU Lik Wai -H.K.S.C.(Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers)
Art Director: MAN Lim Chung
Editor: Wenders LI -H.K.S.C.(Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers)
Sound: TU Duu-chih
Music: Gabriele ROBERTO
Production Company: ZHAO WEI FILMS

Source: piff 2010 10.08.2010

"Lover's Discourse" Premieres at PIFF

Having filmed Lover's Discourse just over a year ago, the Eason Chan and Karena Lam starring film made its world premiere at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival on October 12, 2010.

Program Note
Reuniting with a long-lost sweetheart provokes the nascent sense of love, the now-faded memory of heartbreaks, and odd discoveries of belonging to others. [Lover’s Discourse] tells a cliché love story in an irresistibly sweet language. It shows us a multitude of hopes and the desperation of blind love, strange distances between partners, and a double affair. The story soon leads to the tangled threads of suspicion, jealousy, betrayal, and hatred.

[Lover’s Discourse] is an omnibus movie that weaves four love stories into one. Each episode is independent of the next yet each is interconnected. Characters in an individual episode add novel perspectives to the story and thicken the plot. Jumping genres from traditional romance to thriller, we cover [Lover’s Discourse] in familiar movie-speak.

Director
Derek Tsang
Born in Hong Kong to an industry family, Derek Tsang began his career at Peter Chan’s Applause Pictures following studies in Canada. He has since worked at all levels of production for the Pang Brothers and Pang Ho-Cheung. With partner Jimmy Wan, Lover’s Discourse is his feature debut.

Jimmy Wan
Jimmy Wan was born in Hong Kong and graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He has worked in advertising and in film production, and began his own career as a writer working with Pang Ho-Cheung. With partner Derek Tsang he makes his feature debut with Lover’s Discourse.

Credits
Director: Derek TSANG, Jimmy WAN
Producer: Bill KONG, CHIBA Ryuhei, Hugh SIMON
Cast: Eason CHAN, Karena LAM, Kay TSE
Screenwriter: Derek TSANG, Jimmy WAN
Cinematography: Charlie LAM
Art Director: CHAU Cheuk Wai Kitty
Editor: Derek TSANG
Sound: NIP Kei Wing
Music: Peter KAM
Production Company: Irresistible Films

Source: piff 2010 10.12.2010

"Strawberry Cliff" Makes Its Premiere at PIFF

After more than two years since this blog posted news about Strawberry Cliff, the film (finally) made its world premiere at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival on October 8, 2010.

Program Note
Kate has a special talent. She can foresee exactly when others are going to die just by looking at their faces. One day, she meets a young man named Jason and informs him of his time of death and that he will be able to tell her about life after death. Jason promises he will send messages to her from beyond-if that is even possible, of course. At the time of his predicted death, Jason is mysteriously killed. Kate then receives a call from someone who claims to be Jason and a flight ticket to Hong Kong, where she discovers the painful truth about love, life, and death.

Director Chris Chow was born in China and raised in Hong Kong and learned filmmaking in the United States. As if to reflect his own cross-border experiences, Chow mixed Eastern and Western ideas together to unravel the mysterious story involving prediction and death in an intriguing, yet serious, way.

Director
Chris CHOW
Born in China and raised in Hong Kong, writer Chris Chow is a graduate of USC. As well as a screenwriter, Chow is a playwright and has directed several short films, two of which are award-winners. His credits as writer include Blood: The Last Vampire (2009) and Fearless (2006). Strawberry Cliff is his feature directorial debut.

Credits
Director: Chris CHOW
Producer: LU Cien-hioe, LEE Chi-ngai, Mathew TANG
Cast: Eason CHAN, Roy WERNER, Anthony CHAPUT, Leslie-Anne HUFF
Screenwriter: Chris CHOW
Cinematography: YOSHIDA Teruhisa
Art Director: NAKANISHI Rika
Editor: Daniel MARTINICO
Sound: Michael BAIRD
Music: YAMAMOTO Youki
Production Company: Mega Ascent Ltd.

Source: piff 2010 10.08.2010

Also noted at the PIFF were 2 other films in which Eason starred, Lover's Discourse (which also made its world premiere) and Dream Home.

Eason and Karena Lam Have Fun Filming

Yesterday, Eason Chan and Karena Lam (林嘉欣) were filming in Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣) with director Derek Tsang (曾國祥). When asked details of the new film (titled 戀人絮語), Eason answered he was not filming a new film and was filming a MV. It seems as if details are kept under wraps, very secretive indeed.

Sources: yahoo hk (courtesy of singtao) 09.17.2009 & singtao 09.18.2009

Chris Chow Rejects Filming "Strawberry Cliff" Without Eason

Two nights ago, Eason Chan, Eric Tsang, Gigi Leung, Karena Lam, Andy Hui and others attended the 2008 Hong Kong Film Development Council Christmas Reception where the Hong Kong Film New Action plan was revealed. Eight films would receive funding under the plan.

During the reception, Eason revealed that he did not intend on filming the full English language film Strawberry Cliff (贖命), but director Chris Chow (周隼) informed him if he doesn't participate they will cancel their request for funds. Eason says, "I was shocked, so I accepted, but the entire film was in English which was a challenge." The film eventually received $3 million HKD in funding.

Eason further reveals that he worked with actress Leslie-Anne Huff and his scenes were filmed in Hong Kong, saying, "In all the times I've filmed in Hong Kong, this was my first time experiencing a Hollywood-like feel. This is because they set 8 hours to film and they will film in 8 hours, unlike the typical Hong Kong film where the pace is extremely fast, just like if we were illegal street vendors running from the police (jau gwai 走鬼)."

Sources: the sun & mingpao 12.05.2008

Upcoming Film: "Strawberry Cliff" - On-Set Photos

Eason & Leslie-Anne having fun after a serious shoot

Eason & Leslie-Anne have fun after working hard

Caught sleeping (Eason, right)

Eason caught sleeping

Eason, Chris Chow (Director), Leslie-Anne Huff

Film Information:
Strawberry Cliff
Non-Union Feature Film
Producer: Lu Cien Hioe
Director: Chris Chow
Casting Directors: Donald Paul Pemrick / Dean E. Fronk
Casting Assistant: Eddie Jaszek
Start Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Los Angeles / Hong Kong

Synopsis:
Kate has a gift: she can tell when people will die just by looking at them. A phone call from "the Afterlife" sets her off on a journey to Hong Kong, where she encounters Darren, a bartender who suffers from an "incomplete soul". Together, they embark on an adventure that leads to the most unexpected truth about life, death and love.

+

As reported earlier (here & here) Eason Chan films his first Western film titled Strawberry Cliff.

The photos above are from the blog of the actress Leslie-Anne Huff. Visit her blog for info from the film set in Los Angeles (posts on June 16 & 23) and her latest experiences filming in Hong Kong (posts July 2-17). Lots of her personal insights and photos are posted.

Sources: aarising 05.13.2008 & leslie-anne huff's blog 07.17.2008

Eason Gets Beat Up...In New Film

Eason Chan, who recently accepting filming for a Western film, was in Central District filming a scene where he gets beat up by a number of men in a back alley. Due to a number of on-lookers passing by blocking the lights and Eason and the other actors not being able to hold in their laughter there were many NGs and the filming of that one scene took an hour.

Source: oriental daily & the sun 07.18.2008

Eason Chan Films New Western Film

Having filmed a number of Hong Kong productions in his career, Eason Chan will finally get a chance to film a Western film, to our knowledge Success Film Production (安樂電影公司) will take part in the production of this film. Two nights ago, Eason and a foreign actress were in Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong shooting an outdoor scene.

Two nights ago, Eason and a foreign actress were in Lan Kwai Fong shooting a scene where the two are standing by the stairs talking heart to heart. Before they were ready to shoot, Eason was constantly talking to the actress and the two were seen laughing and smiling. After shooting the scene, Eason was seen getting into his car and leaving.

Sources: appledaily & qq 07.15.2008

Random Links: McDonalds, Kung Fu Panda, Stella So

McDonalds and Kung Fu Panda
McDonalds' Kung Fu Panda Commercial featuring Eason Chan's voice. Click upper right 'Review of TVC' button to view commercial.

+




Eason Chan did the voice over Po in the Cantonese version of the animated film Kung Fu Panda, which he, Denise Ho, Josie Ho, and Jaycee Fong promoted. Sam Lee was recommended by Eason to voice the role of Mantis because Eason felt Sam looked like a mantis.

Sources: mingpao 06.18.2008, mingpao & on.cc 06.21.2008

***

Eason x Stella So - One Song, One Story
east touch magazine featuring 5 illustrations (for the first 5 tracks) by Stella So in Eason's upcoming album.

+









An exhibition was opened on June 29, 2008 in Taiwan to showcase Stella So's illustrations for Eason Chan's upcoming Mandarin album, Don't Want To Let Go. Though Eason took part in the concepts of these illustrations and despite liking Stella So's work, his favorite illustrations are those his daughter, Constance Chan, draws for him.

Sources: tom (photos courtesy of tungstar) & on.cc 06.29.2008

Eason, Jaycee, Josie, Denise Promote Voice Over of "Kung Fu Panda"

On April 22, 2008, Eason Chan, Jaycee Fong, Josie Ho and Denise Ho attended a press conference in Ocean Park Hong Kong for their voice over in the animated film Kung Fu Panda 功夫熊貓. Sam Lee and Jaycee's father Jackie Chan also lent their voices for the animated film. In the animated film, Eason plays the voice of the lead panda Po (阿寶, Ah Bo). Although this is not Eason's first time doing a voice over, he says that it is the most difficult especially when trying to match Cantonese words with the mouth movements of the character.

When asked if he was paid the most, Eason says, "I don't know what others were paid. I also don't have a 'title' unlike Josie who is 'Best Supporting Actress'." Upon hearing that Josie shot back, "He's Asia's Favorite Male Singer." When asked if Eason is seeking a 'title' he says, "I'll let it be, I'm not vying for it, nor do I need it. I am happy as long as viewers who watch the films I'm in says it's good and listeners who listen to my music says it's good."

Source: takungpao & on.cc 04.23.2008