Hong Kong Entertainment: The King of Kung Fu

After the Best Actor and Best Actress awards were announced, the Best Director award went to John Woo, and the Best Film award went to Cheung Chi-liang's "Over the Dusk."

Against the backdrop of Hong Kong's return to China in 97, films on immigration themes became extremely popular and have repeatedly won awards at the two major film festivals, Hong Kong Film Awards and Golden Horse Awards.

At last year's Golden Horse Awards, "Homecoming" won eight awards, beating "A City of Sadness".

At this year's Academy Awards, "Over the Gloom" once again beat "A City of Sadness" and won the Best Film award.

"Eight Taels of Gold", which received eight nominations at this year's Academy Awards, is also about the same immigration theme.

However, although they are all immigration themes, new changes have also emerged.

In short, the theme of early immigrant films was "going out", telling how to go out and what life was like in a foreign country.

The theme of immigration films in the past two years has become "return", telling the stories of overseas immigrants returning to their hometowns.

Generally, the protagonist does not do well abroad, and after returning home he pretends to be something more than what he actually is, but in the end he is moved and gains true love or something.

Some films that continue to tell stories about life overseas have more expanded themes.

"Home and New York", which swept the Golden Horse Awards last year, tells the story of three women from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in New York, reflecting the cultural collision caused by the times.

……

"Now we are presenting the highest honor of the Academy Awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award. Please welcome Sir Yang Ye to announce the first winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for us!"

Yang Ye went on stage today and presented two awards. He was the winner of the previous "Professional Spirit Award" and he was the winner of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" again this time.

This is mainly because these two awards are meant to be a tribute. Yang Ye is a film tycoon who dominates Asia, so having him present the awards is significant enough.

Although the Lifetime Achievement Award in the original time and space was established in 1990, the first Lifetime Achievement Award was not awarded until 1995.

The first winner of the award was Huang Manli, an actress from the silent film era.

At that time, she had already retired and suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Zhou Runfa personally went to the nursing home to hand the trophy to her.

It was not until after the millennium that the second Lifetime Achievement Award was presented.

This thing is way too strict and totally unnecessary.

People like Li Hanxiang and King Hu were qualified for the Lifetime Achievement Award, but they did not receive it because they died too early. It is a pity.

Chu Yuan’s achievements were not as good as these two, but because he lived longer, he got what he wanted.

The "Golden Needle Award" next door is given out almost every year, and no one says anything about it.

This time, Yang Ye strongly expressed that since this award has been established, it should be given out. There are many people who are qualified to receive the award. Why show off for nothing?

Finally, after nominations, discussions and voting, the members of the Academy Awards finally decided who would receive the first "Lifetime Achievement Award".

Of course, it doesn’t mean that if you give out this award, people will be willing to take it. Maybe they don’t want it. You still have to communicate with them.

After all, the other party is a successful person. Everyone has discussed it and given each other face, so everyone is happy. Otherwise, it would be a mess.

Yang Ye came on stage and said: “The Academy Awards hopes to present the most noble award in our film industry, the Lifetime Achievement Award, at this climax.

The winner of this award is a Hong Kong film master, a giant in the Chinese film industry, that is... Mr. Chang Cheh!"

All the filmmakers in the audience stood up and applauded!
Yang Ye waited for the applause to subside and continued, "I am very grateful to the organizing committee for giving me this opportunity to present the Lifetime Achievement Award. This is my honor.

Mr. Chang Cheh's martial arts film style and shooting techniques continue to influence us today.

When I was a child, Chang Cheh's name was like a god to me.

I hope that when I grow up, I can also become the hero in his movies, dressed in white, fighting against the strong and helping the weak.

In addition to martial arts films, Mr. Chang Cheh is also very good at making art films.

He once filmed a movie called "Alishan Storm" and wrote the theme song "High Mountains and Green Mountains".

I believe everyone can sing this song. Let me sing a line.

There is not a single pretty girl in Alishan, only my Deng Lijun is the prettiest! "

"Hahahahaha!"

Yang Ye showed off his affection in a nonsensical way. Although it was a bit inappropriate, the audience still burst into laughter.

Chang Cheh, who was sitting in the front row, didn't take it seriously and also laughed.

However, all of Yang Ye’s women felt jealous. If this hadn’t happened under the camera of the Academy Awards, they would have rolled their eyes to the sky.

Yang Ye continued, "In short, Mr. Chang Cheh is very respectable and great in the eyes of our audience and filmmakers.

Tonight, the Academy Awards Association has prepared a very concise short film to introduce Mr. Chang Cheh's glorious history. Please enjoy it! "

After Yang Ye finished speaking, he walked off the stage. The big screen began to play Chang Cheh's life story, introducing the classic movies he had made in his lifetime.

The narrator is James Wong!

"Mr. Chang Cheh, whose original name was Zhang Yiyang, was from Qingtian, Zhejiang. After graduating from university, he began writing film scripts for Cathay Pacific and Tatung in Shanghai.

In 1948, he went to Taiwan to direct "Alishan Storm", which was the first Mandarin film shot in Taiwan after the war. The theme song "High Mountains and Green Mountains" has been popular to this day.

He came to Hong Kong in 1957 and wrote film reviews under the pen name He Guan. In the early s, he first joined Dianmao and then switched to Shaw Brothers.

"One-Armed Swordsman" directed by him in 1967 achieved an impressive box office record of one million Hong Kong dollars that year, and Chang Cheh has since become the leading director of martial arts films in the Hong Kong film industry.

Afterwards, Chang Cheh filmed popular martial arts films such as "The Assassin", "Golden Swallow", "Revenge", "Ma Yongzhen" and "The Assassin".

Among them, "Revenge" won the Best Director Award at the 16th Asian Film Festival.

Chang Cheh's film is about young knights and assassins who risk their lives and authority in a desperate battle, depicting the young knights as tragic heroes who oppose the establishment.

Chang Cheh was proficient in Peking Opera and liked to use the image of the Peking Opera's martial artist, a young warrior in a white robe, as the protagonist in his films.

Not only did he create the white-clad hero Wang Yu and David Chiang who seeks revenge in a white Zhongshan suit, but even the look of Bruce Lee in "Fist of Fury" was influenced by Chang Cheh.

Chang Cheh likes to use newcomers the most, including Wang Yu, David Chiang, Ti Lung, Lo Lieh, Chen Kuan-tai, Danny Lee, and Fu Sheng on stage.

Behind the scenes are Wu Ma, Bao Xueli, Kuei Chih-hung, John Woo, Tang Chia, Liu Chia-liang and others.

Later on, they all became elites in the Hong Kong film industry.

As a man of letters, Chang Cheh created a masculine martial arts world. His unique style of using slow motion shots extensively opened up a new era for Hong Kong martial arts films, which had a far-reaching influence. He is definitely a master of his generation!"

After the movie was over, the evening host Juanmao came on stage and said: "Through Mr. Huang Zhan's explanation, I believe everyone has a very good understanding of the great director Chang Cheh. Why don't we welcome the disciples that Mr. Chang Cheh has mentored with applause?

Please welcome our senior brother Mr. Wang Yu, as well as Mr. Wu Ma, Ms. Jiao Jiao, Ms. Cheng Pei Pei, Mr. David Chiang, Mr. Ti Lung, Mr. Danny Lee, Mr. Lo Lieh, Mr. Chen Kuan Tai, Ms. Kara Hui, Mr. Lo Mang, and Mr. Chin Siu Ho. "

Cheng Pei-pei and Chang Cheh worked together on "Golden Swallow", and Kara Hui played Mu Nianci in Chang Cheh's "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" when she first debuted.

A group of film celebrities walked onto the stage and presented the award to Chang Cheh. What is a show? This is a show.

Thinking about the fact that all his disciples made a movie together last year to celebrate Chang Cheh's birthday and gave the money earned to him for his retirement, this grand occasion of having so many disciples all over the world is truly enviable.

Next, the hero Wang Yu gave a speech on behalf of all the disciples.

“Hello, distinguished guests and audience, I am Wang Yu.

What I want to say today on behalf of all of our brothers and sisters is, thank you Director Chang Cheh for discovering us more than 20 years ago.

We, a group of unknown newcomers at the time, gradually grew into big stars and directors, leaving a proud mark in the history of Hong Kong films.

What I would also like to mention is that under the guidance of Mr. Chang Cheh, we brothers and sisters have a very good relationship until now.

I am very happy that we can gather together tonight to share the honor that Director Chang Cheh has received. At the same time, on behalf of all our brothers and sisters, I wish Director Chang Cheh a long life and good health. Thank you very much! "

Amidst everyone's anticipation, Chang Cheh walked onto the stage, and his disciples presented the little golden man to their mentor. All the audience in the Hong Kong Coliseum stood up and applauded.

Seeing this scene, some disciples, such as David Chiang, couldn't help but shed tears.

Chang Cheh stood in front of the podium and began to give his acceptance speech: "Dear friends from the film industry, distinguished guests, and audience members, good evening, please take a seat, please take a seat!

I am very grateful for the honor given to me by the Academy Awards. But gratitude is just a word, and we should give back to the film industry with something concrete after the empty words.

This should be simple, easy to do, specific and effective. I suggest setting up a tea party and holding it every quarter.

The Spring Festival meeting was held after the Spring Festival to discuss the gains and losses of last year's Christmas and Spring Festival films, and to plan the direction to be taken in the first half of the year.

In the summer between April and May, we review the Hong Kong films during Easter and the first half of the year, and make additional arrangements for the summer season.

In autumn, between August and September, we discuss the gains and losses of the summer season and the direction of movies in the second half of the year.

Winter is between October and November, and the focus is on a series of big-ticket movies during the Christmas and Spring Festival seasons.

Let’s pool our wisdom, work together and create greater brilliance!”

Chang Cheh did not say a word for himself in his acceptance speech, but instead made plans and offered suggestions for the film industry. His love for movies is truly admirable!

……

The 10th Academy Awards not only attracted local superstars, but also big names from Japan, South Korea, Bollywood and Hollywood.

The shining stars made this year's Academy Awards very impressive, and the Hong Kong media reported on it with great pride.

After the Academy Awards, Spielberg and others did not leave. They toured Hong Kong for a few days and attended the "Hong Kong International Film Festival" three days later.

Due to the prosperity of Hong Kong films, the "Hong Kong International Film Festival" has become the largest film trading market in Asia.

Every year, over 12 films from more than 60 countries around the world are screened in major cultural venues in Hong Kong, attracting more than viewers.

A large number of Hong Kong local films will also be sold at the film festival.

Today's Hong Kong films are in large quantities and of high quality, and are snapped up by film producers from all over the world in minutes.

At this year's film festival, Poplar Pictures will launch a blockbuster work.

That is "The Lion King", which Bluebird Animation Studios spent four years and 25 million US dollars to produce!
……

Hong Kong Arts Centre, Shouson Theatre, film producers from all over the world gathered together.

In order to promote "The Lion King", Yang Ye personally served as a recommender and invited film producers from various countries to watch the film.

As for why I didn't go to the three major European film festivals, it was because the three major film festivals did not open to animated films until after the millennium.

Before that, although cartoons were occasionally nominated, it was difficult for them to win awards.

It was not until "Spirited Away" won the Golden Bear in Berlin in 2002 that animated films were no longer discriminated against at the three major film festivals.

……

A loud African male voice broke the silence, and the fiery red sun rose from the African savannah.

The vast Kenyan savannah, the magnificent Victoria Falls and the towering Mount Kilimanjaro are presented on the big screen.

The shocking music and grand scene shocked everyone in the theater!

Following the gentle and rhythmic melody, the animals moved along the river in the mist and under the sunshine.

When the camera moved to the Glory Rock, the opening song "Eternal Life" also entered its climax.

"Look at this world, it's spinning, it never stops. Just keep moving forward, right or wrong, hope or disappointment, nothing is absolute in this world. Look at this world, it's endless!"

The audience watched the Chinese version. The English version has not been dubbed yet, only subtitles.

The opening song "Eternal Life" was sung by rock queen Su Rui.

Because in the entire Chinese music scene, only Su Rui's deep voice is most suitable for this song.

When Mufasa stood on the Pride Rock, looking majestically at the kingdom beneath his feet, a crow flew over to greet him. He nodded warmly to the crow. It was a tender moment for a man.

When Rafiki, the wizard of the Pride Lands, blessed Simba, stood on the Pride Rock and lifted the little prince high up, the song entered its second climax and the heart-stirring melody sounded again.

"Look at this world, it's spinning, it never stops. Just keep moving forward, right or wrong, hope or disappointment, nothing is absolute in this world. Look at this world, it's endless!"

The sun set through the clouds, and the animals bowed to the little prince, welcoming the new master of the kingdom.

As the song gradually came to an end, the camera gradually pulled away, and after a drum sound, everything returned to calm again.

……

Under the guidance of Te Wei, a veteran director at the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, the opening scene, which lasts just five minutes, presents a magnificent, majestic and heart-stirring effect.

The audience in the theater all burst into warm applause.

With such a powerful opening, one can’t help but wonder, is this still a cartoon for children?

Then everyone understood that this cartoon was actually adapted from Hamlet, but the scene was moved to the African savannah.

The three main characters in the film: the old lion king Mufasa, the young lion king Simba, and the old lion king's brother Scar, are all direct replacements for the characters in "Hamlet".

However, compared to the original version, many adaptations have been made.

For example, in response to Hamlet's revenge procrastination, The Lion King gives a simple, clear, yet very reasonable psychological interpretation of Simba's behavior:

Scar planned to kill Mufasa, but Simba mistakenly believed that it was his own fault that killed his father. He then exiled himself out of guilt and grew up evading responsibility.

This adaptation makes the story of "The Lion King" more reasonable and smoother than Shakespeare's original work.

The theme of the movie is no longer "revenge", but "responsibility" and "growth".

Although Simba defeated Scar, he did not kill his uncle who usurped the throne with his own hands like Hamlet did.

Scar was killed by a group of coyotes under his command because of his unjust behavior.

At the end of the movie, Simba climbs up the Pride Rock in the rain with heavy steps to the sound of tragic music and inherits a devastated country.

"Clap, clap, clap!" The applause at the scene lasted for a long time.

This is an animated film that is completely different from Disney and suits adult tastes. All the audiences on the scene found it refreshing.

With its magnificent production, heart-stirring music, and passionate and touching story, all major film producers are very optimistic about this kind of movie.

What does it mean when adults find an animated film good enough that they are willing to take their children to the cinema?
In less than half an hour, the film rights were sold out.

Te Wei and other main creators of the film were so excited that their faces turned red.

The film took four years to make and cost $25 million to produce, but it recovered its cost in half an hour. The old man couldn't believe his eyes.

Yang Ye led all the main creators to thank film producers from various countries and announced a decision.

“This is the first production of Blue Bird Animation Studio and we are very confident in it.

We will invite Whitney Houston to sing the English theme song for the movie.

We will invest 20 million US dollars to cooperate with film producers from various countries to carry out global promotion!
We also ask our partners to give full support to our film, let us work together to set off the summer season! "(End of this chapter)