When he finally had the opportunity to talk face-to-face with Tony Leung, it was less than ten hours before the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Award Ceremony.
As a judge of the main competition unit of the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Golden Goblet Award, he is very busy. Early in the morning, I first participated in an interview with the "Jin Jue Parlor" in the lobby on the first floor of the Silver Star Crowne Plaza Hotel. Near 11 o'clock, I hurried to the media interview room on the fourth floor to accept one wave of visitors. The afternoon schedule is also scheduled, and I have to rush to the Shanghai Grand Theater to participate in the rehearsal before the ceremony.
When the Liberation Daily·Shangguan News reporter saw him in the media interview room, Liang Jiahui seemed to be suddenly relieved when he heard that he was a text reporter. He didn't have to face the camera all the time. He was sitting upright and relaxed on the back of his chair. He took a sip from the water glass handed over by his assistant and joked leisurely.
Tony Leung Ka Fai at the Shanghai International Film Festival, photographed by Lai Xinlin
Tony Leung Ka Fai spoke openly about the exhaustion of these ten days, "physically and mentally exhausted, with a tight schedule, and did not have a good sleep for a week"; but at the same time, he "felt very good" because I saw some unexpected scenes in a movie theater in Shanghai. "In the past, I felt that the people who came to watch movies were all the new generation of young people. This time I saw many middle-aged and elderly people, and I felt very satisfied."
I am Shanghai’s “Old Koehler”
At the Golden Goblet Award main competition judges’ meeting, Liang Jiahui called himself “Old Shanghai”. He frequently comes to Shanghai to shoot and communicate, and he has also watched Shanghai's urban development and changes over the past few decades. "Shanghai is a very important cradle city of Chinese films."
Tony Leung has a deep connection with Shanghai and the Shanghai International Film Festival. Last year, "I Love You!" directed by Han Yan and starring Ni Dahong, Hui Yinghong, Ye Tong, and Liang Jiahui! " became the opening film of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival. The film focuses on the elderly and emotional issues that are rarely paid attention to on domestic screens. Tony Leung Ka Fai's character Tse Ding Shan creates the biggest tear point in the entire film. This old man who collects scraps for a living never leaves his seriously ill wife and does his best to take care of her. On the screen, Tse Ting-shan is described as skinny, and his face is full of the vicissitudes of life. It is inevitable that people will sigh that Tony Leung Ka-fai, who is in his 60s, has really "aged" and looked like an ordinary person. However, during the post-screening exchange, Ye Tong, who starred opposite him, smiled and revealed that one of the challenges he encountered during the performance was "seeing how Tony Leung's abdominal muscles can be held back and then continue acting as if nothing happened."
"I Love you! 》
The huge contrast between the inside and outside of the play also makes people believe in the shaping ability of a good actor. Tony Leung Ka Fai started his film and television career by playing the role of Emperor Xianfeng in Lee Han-hsiang's "The Curtain" and "Burning the Old Summer Palace". He won the Hong Kong Film Awards four times and was called the "Actor with a Thousand Faces" by many. Many of his classic works are still Young people talk about it.
"Black Gold"
In June last year, Tony Leung was absent from "I Love You!" because of his daughter's wedding. "At the Shanghai road show, the audience ridiculed him because of the "traffic jam". This was his famous scene in the movie "Black Gold". This year, the Shanghai International Film Festival's "Homage to the Master" section screened a series of works by Marguerite Duras. Many viewers regretted that "The Lover" was not available. This romantic film starring Tony Leung Ka Fai broke the French box office record. As a judge for the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival this time, he performed his duties wholeheartedly and did not have any promotional tasks. When talking about the works to be screened, he smiled and kept them secret, "No spoilers, just wait for good things to happen."
Shangguan News : What is your fate with Shanghai?
Tony Leung : I seem to have taken on another identity in Shanghai. I used to be a Cantonese, but now everyone thinks I am an "old Koehler" from Shanghai. Especially as I get older, everyone thinks I should belong to The one in Shanghai may be related to the city where I live. Shanghai is an international city like Hong Kong. Maybe my whole life experience of being born and growing up in Hong Kong will make people think that I have a bit of Shanghai style. Many people misunderstand me and often ask me, are you from Shanghai? Coming?
is lucky to have such a fate.After I joined the industry, I traveled to Shanghai for the first time. At that time, there happened to be a TV series "Shanghai Beach" in Hong Kong that became a hit, and it also had a profound impact on mainland Chinese audiences. I still remember that time I went to the Bund and put on a coat to imitate Chow Yun-fat. At that time, Pudong had just begun to develop. Standing on the Bund and looking at Pudong, the environment was completely different from the environment I experienced every time I visited Shanghai or came to work in Shanghai. What impressed me most about Shanghai was the degree of change in the entire city. As a Hong Konger, I have the opportunity to see such changes, and I feel very proud and happy.
Shangguan News : The theme of this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival is “City of Movies”. What kind of temperament or characteristics should a movie city have in your mind?
Tony Leung : The Magic City Effect. joke. Through every Shanghai International Film Festival, we can see different filmmakers from all over the world gathering here. Recently, I often visit movie theaters, venues, hotels, etc. at the film festival. Now I am very happy to see a phenomenon: I found that the audience at the Shanghai International Film Festival has a huge age difference. In the past, we felt that the people who came to watch movies were all from the new generation. Young people, but this time I saw many middle-aged and elderly people. Every day when I go to watch a movie, I see an old man leaning on a cane in front of the movie schedule board and asking, are there any tickets for this?
This makes me feel very satisfied. It turns out that the appeal of movies is so powerful. In the past, investors and producers were always calculating how to distribute movies in order to attract audiences of this age group. If you really make a good movie, people with crutches and wheelchairs will watch it. If you can attract audiences of all ages, your film will be successful.
Tony Leung Ka Fai at the Shanghai International Film Festival Jury Meeting Photo by Lai Xinlin
Shangguan News : Last year, you also brought your own works to the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Tony Leung : The movie I brought here last year caused a lot of discussion. It had a pretty good box office. Of course, there is still a gap between the movie and the one worth billions, but it will cause the entire movie viewing and film industry to have a negative attitude towards this subject or the film. This kind of re-examination of characters, rather than just relying on images and commercial calculations to create a movie, I think is already very good.
Shangguan News : This time you are serving as a judge for the Golden Goblet Award. What kind of experience have you had these days?
Tony Leung: The judges of this film festival come from different countries and regions. Except for Zhou Xun, I don’t know many of them. At the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards, Zhou Xun and I won the Best Actor and Actor at the same time, and we took a photo in a hurry.
is no fun being a judge this time. Too many interviews, too much time spent watching movies, too intense emotional fluctuations, and no chance to fully rest. Although it is the last night, there are still many interviews. Everyone is looking forward to the results tonight.
Maybe I usually watch movies, but it’s just the impact of the movie viewing effect on me. But as a judge, after the excitement is over, you have to calm down and analyze the movie. This time I am very pressed for time and have to watch three movies in one day. After watching the movie, I would have insomnia while lying in bed. The scenes that came one after another during the movie and the scenes after watching would float in my mind, and I didn't get a good sleep for a week.
Shangguan News: Do these entries bring you any surprises?
Tony Leung Ka Fai: Every movie of brings surprises, and every movie has some benefits. I am usually "steady as a mountain" and it is not easy to impress me, but this time it impressed me. So I said that this time I came to the Shanghai Film Festival, I was physically and mentally exhausted and had a tight schedule, but I felt good.
Shanghai International Film Festival brings together filmmakers from all over the world. It is a very good platform. I hope it will get better and stronger, and its international influence will become higher and higher. In fact, as a judge, we watch and discuss movies intensively, and there are many forums that I hope to watch and absorb. But it seems like there really isn’t enough time. Movies bring endless surprises, and there are new discoveries every day. This is what I earned through the Shanghai International Film Festival. It is very rich, but of course it also makes me tired. I hope you will pay more attention to and love movies in the future.
I am a child who grew up in the cinema
Tony Leung Ka Fai is one of the symbols of Chinese Hong Kong movies. Like many Hong Kong actors, he received acting training at the TVB Artist Training Class after graduating from university. At the same time as actor Andy Lau, he was "electrically shocked" for the first time. "They all play small roles in TV series. In "The Gathering of Kings and Heroes" broadcast in 1981, Chow Yun-fat played the casino owner, and Tony Leung Ka Fai and Andy Lau played his two thugs. In order to be seen in this scene, both of them tried their best to express themselves. Andy Lau held a toothpick in his mouth, while Tony Leung put his hand in his suit pocket, as if he could pull out a gun at any time. Although he was scolded by the director afterwards, "Who do you think you are, Napoleon?" But as he said, as an actor, you must cherish every opportunity to perform.
During the media question-and-answer session at the Golden Goblet Awards jury meeting, Tony Leung also did not let go of any potential opportunities as an actor. He grabbed the first question and issued an invitation to cooperate with the domestic and foreign filmmakers present: "After you finish your work, you can go back and write stories about China and Shanghai. You can find a partner-that is, me, and make your film." Next movie." He laughed and shouted for himself and fellow judge actor Zhou Xun, "Although Zhou Xun and I are not the best, we are still considered the top actors and actresses in China - close to the best. Let’s consider it.”
Shangguan News: You have portrayed many different characters in different age groups. Do you think you are a talented actor?
Tony Leung Ka Fai: The talent of is over the top, but I am a child who grew up in the cinema. I was put in the cinema from the time I was one month old until I was eight years old. I don’t know if this is a subtle influence, but the impact of watching a movie in a cinema may have given birth to some of my pursuits when taking this path. This goes back to the previous question. To be a good actor, you must have a very rich experience and life experience.
So, in fact, all actors have been like this, and I am one of the luckier ones. And I make a lot of films, so every failure and success will have an impact on me. What makes me happy is that the different human natures and characters I have absorbed in movies over the years can enrich my life. I have made almost 200 films. They say I am the actor with a thousand faces. I feel like I have lived 200 lives in different stories.
Tony Leung Ka Fai played the role of Xianfeng in "The Burning of the Old Summer Palace"
Shangguan News: When you were 26 years old, you won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the movie "Under the Curtain". You have won many heavyweight Best Actors in your acting career, and you will still do so today. Are you still looking forward to the acting awards?
Tony Leung Ka Fai: I don’t have any illusions or expectations about awards, but I think every different film festival and every award is very important in promoting and encouraging filmmakers to take the next step. The
award is a recognition of you from the film festival judges or movie audiences. Although I have no expectations for the award, of course, deep down in my heart I am still willing to win another one.
"Lover"
Shangguan News: How do you understand the identity of "actor"? What qualities does a good actor need?
Tony Leung Ka Fai: people go back to the basics, which is actually very simple. In the profession of actor, it seems that everyone is pursuing fame and fortune, but I think everyone can put aside fame and fortune first, continue to be an actor, constantly absorb in the working environment, and learn in their entire life course. try.
I recently saw a good representative, You Benchang. He is over 90 years old. Is he living a comfortable life? He may also be facing a lot of family problems. But he persevered, and now who in the national audience doesn’t recognize him? He previously acted in "Ji Gong", and now he has become famous with "Flowers". And he sent a message to all young actors. He said, I envy you people and all the post-90s, but I am also a "post-90s" now, and everyone follows the same pace. I heard him say this at an awards ceremony. If I am 90 years old and have the opportunity to talk to young filmmakers, I will say the same thing.
Tony Leung Ka Fai on the red carpet at the Shanghai International Film Festival Photographed by Lai Xinlin
Shangguan News: The concept of AI is very popular now, and it has also become one of the hot topics in the film festival forum, bringing many new changes to the film and television industry. As an actor, how do you view the development of film and television shooting technology?
Tony Leung Ka Fai: The 100-year history of movies has been changing from the silent film era to the present. In the past, I used film to shoot, but now I use digital to record, and the control of light and shadow is different. Many people are worried that AI will replace actors or certain technical departments, but AI is just an auxiliary tool, and technology is improving step by step. In that era, lighting and setting up the environment were all necessary, but now many of them have been replaced by technology.
ai can allow an old actor to regain his youthful appearance, and vice versa, it will bring a different movie-watching experience to the audience. I don’t have this opportunity yet, but I also want to get my youth back (laughs). I look forward to having the opportunity to experience it in person in the future. I am 66 years old. If AI can let me play back the age of 18, it will be a very good idea. experience.
Of course, the existence of AI technology is a big challenge for actors. It takes a long time for young actors to put on old makeup. AI can assist you, but it does not mean that you can stay at your usual performance. From 18 to 66 years old, how to perform the feelings of different ages depends on you. The overall performance depends on you.
will always "endure" in life
At this year's Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Forum "Outstanding - the New Generation of Hong Kong Film Industry", many new generation actors from Hong Kong made a collective appearance. "Leung Yung-ting, who won the Best Supporting Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards this year, and Chow Han-ning, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best New Actor for starring in "Dark Lights", were nominated for the Academy Award for last year's most popular movie in Hong Kong, "The Vengeful Lawyer" Yang Siyong, who won Best Supporting Actress, and Leung Chung-heng, who was nominated for two Academy Awards for "Mama's Little Boy". How Hong Kong films can regain the glory of the "Golden Age" has also become a topic of concern to many people in the Hong Kong entertainment industry.
Facing the new generation in Hong Kong, Tony Leung hopes that they will put aside the "fame and fortune" of actors and enjoy this profession. One day, they will be seen, "Actors must be experienced."
Tony Leung Ka-fai at the judges' meeting Photo by Lai Xinlin
Shangguan News: In recent years, Hong Kong films have not been as attractive to mainland audiences as before. Many people will complain about the clichéd story types and the single-faced actors, and they are all veteran actors that everyone has watched for decades. What do you think of this phenomenon?
Tony Leung Ka Fai: I have mentioned in many interviews that there was a gap in Hong Kong for a period of time, and the second and third echelons did not take over. The former second echelon had left Hong Kong to make movies elsewhere. After all, Hong Kong is a place with little land and many people. It is not easy for us to be a dream factory for movies. Many people in the second and third tiers have come back to develop or cooperate with mainland filmmakers, so they have a chance to survive.
We can see that many areas in Asia, such as Japan, once had a glorious era in film, but now it has fallen silent. Filmmakers everywhere are looking for ways to collaborate with filmmakers from other places. No matter where
is, it must export a new echelon so that the film and cultural industries can be passed down so that the audience has the opportunity to see newer and more exciting films. We have 56 ethnic groups. How powerful is the Chinese culture we can export? Through movies, audiences around the world have the opportunity to see our culture.
Shangguan News: The recent "The Siege of Kowloon Walled City" has received good reputation and box office.
Tony Leung Ka Fai: Our box office has also been somewhat rejuvenated recently, and it has become a kind of cultural export. "The Siege of Kowloon Walled City" may still follow the old routine of Jianghu movies, but it still has a bit of a Jianghu look. Through this video, you can see that there used to be such a walled city in Hong Kong.Now the Hong Kong government is preparing to rebuild the Kowloon Walled City to attract tourists. Can you say that this is not a successful cultural export? Including several new Hong Kong directors coming to the Shanghai Film Festival this time, they are all good, so we must always maintain hope to boost local-based films.
At the Golden Goblet Award judges meeting, Zhou Xun, Chen Yingxiong and Liang Jiahui were chatting and laughing. Photographed by Lai Xinlin
Shangguan News: This year, Hong Kong director Er Dongsheng brought a group of new Hong Kong actors to participate in the "Extraordinary - New Generation of Hong Kong Film Industry" Golden Goblet Film Forum. Many people feel that young Hong Kong actors currently lack as many opportunities as in the "Golden Age" of Hong Kong films and find it difficult to get ahead. What encouragement would you give to newcomers?
Tony Leung Ka Fai: As an actor, you must work hard and find and absorb nutrients every day of your life and in all living spaces. I would like to send a message to all young actors: don’t get the wrong perspective first, and just be a good actor. Actors must be trained through experience, not how much fame or profit your current job can bring you. I hope that young actors will always maintain their original aspirations, always pursue new roles, and always endure in life.
The 26th Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Award Ceremony Photo by Lai Xinlin
Shangguan News: How do young actors find opportunities so that more audiences can see them?
Tony Leung Ka Fai: technology continues to advance, and audiences watch movies through mobile phones, iPads, cinema screens, and TVs at home. There are so many performance platforms that you can join, such as micro-films, short plays and other forms. There is actually a lot of room for actors to survive.
So I think if you aspire to be an actor, as long as you stay true to your original intention of acting and cherish every performance opportunity, you can always find a way out. Maybe you just appeared in a small role in a short film at the beginning, but if you keep practicing, learning, and doing every performance well, someone will see you one day. Nowadays, different platforms give you the opportunity to express your own performance, but it is up to the actors to figure out how to match the output technology of the platform. For example, acting in a TV series of 20 or 60 episodes is different from acting in a movie of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Shangguan News: You always cherish every performance opportunity.
Tony Leung: pair. Agent, take out your contact information and add a WeChat so they can find me. If I continue to pursue my career as an actor, I hope to cooperate with different people and cherish this opportunity so that my life will become richer and more exciting.
Tony Leung Ka-fai
was born in Hong Kong on February 1, 1958. He is a film and television actor from Hong Kong, China. He has won the Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actor four times with his films "Under the Curtain", "92 Black Rose vs. Black Rose", "Underworld" and "Chill". , is also the youngest Best Actor winner in the history of the Hong Kong Film Awards. Up to now, Tony Leung has appeared in nearly 200 movies, covering comedy, tragedy, literature and art and other genres. In 2024, Tony Leung will serve as a judge for the main competition unit of the Shanghai International Film Festival's Golden Goblet Award.
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