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Nominations for the Sixth Annual Golden Bauhinia Awards were announced yesterday. IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE and CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON led the way with six and five nominations respectively. The nominees:

Best Picture:
DURIAN DURIAN
CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE

Best Director:
Fruit Chan Gor for DURIAN DURIAN
Ang Lee for CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON
Wong Kar-Wai for IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Johnnie To Kei-Feng and Wai Ka-Fai for NEEDING YOU

Best Screenplay:
Aubrey Lam Oi-Wah for TWELVE NIGHTS
Chan Hing-Ka and Chin Siu-Wai for JIANG HU: THE TRIAD ZONE
Fruit Chan Gor for DURIAN DURIAN
Wai Ka-Fai and Patrick Yau Lai-Hoi for NEEDING YOU

Best Actor:
Tony Leung Chiu-Wai for IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Andy Lau Tak-Wah for A FIGHTER'S BLUES
Francis Ng Jun-Yu for JULIET IN LOVE

Best Actress:
Qin Hailu for DURIAN DURIAN
Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk for IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Sammi Cheng Sau-Man for NEEDING YOU

Best Supporting Actor:
Nick Cheung Ka-Fai for CLEAN MY NAME MR. CORONER
Francis Ng Jun-Yu for 2000 AD
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang for TIME AND TIDE

Best Supporting Actress:
Cheng Pei-Pei for CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON
Zhang Ziyi for CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON
Rebecca Pan (Poon Dik-Wah) for IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Sherming Yiu Lok-Yi for HAPPY COUPLE
Suki Kwan Sau-Mei for QUEEN OF KOWLOON

Best Cinematography:
Peter Pau Tak-Hei for CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON
Christopher Doyle and Lee Ping-Bun for IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Cheung Man-Bo for JIANG HU -- THE TRIAD ZONE

Top Ten Chinese Films for 2000

(SANNEY: The Oriental Daily article did not mention when the awards were being handed out. Actually, The Sun did not cover the nominations at all.)

Above images courtesy Oriental Daily News.

After completing KNOCK OFF for Hollywood in 1998, HK director Tsui Hark decided to return to Hong Kong and concentrate on Chinese films. In 2000, he shot four movies: TIME AND TIDE, MASTER Q 2001, LEGEND OF THE ZU WARRIORS, and BLACK MASK II (left). Of the four, it appears LEGEND OF THE ZU WARRIORS is the one most likely to gain international acclaim. With American distribution rights purchased by Miramax and the precense of CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON sensation Zhang Ziyi in the cast, the film is sure to draw some interest among foreign audiences. Starring Patrick Tam Yiu-Man (centre), Cecilia Cheung Bak-Chi (right), Ekin Cheng Yi-Kin, Louis Koo Tin-Lok, and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, the film is a special effects extravaganza that was made at the cost of one hundred times the original film from 1983.

Next up for Tsui is the film SAM SIU YE DIK GIM (lit. THIRD MASTER'S SWORD). Rumours have Ekin Cheng Yi-Kin and Nicolas Tse Ting-Feng up for lead roles. Reportedly Tsui wants Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk to take the female lead. Tsui: "I've thought about asking Maggie Cheung to star in the film but I don't know if she can do it. We're still negotiating." Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/250pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ej10pnew1.jpg (Zhang Ziyi)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/250pix/20010302/Article_ent/02ex12p.jpg (Tsui Hark)

Above images courtesy Oriental Daily News (left, right) and The Sun (centre).

In more movie news, Cecilia Cheung Bak-Chi and Kingdom Yuen King-Tan (left) played around with reporters as shooting of their new movie EVERYDAY IS VALENTINE'S began shooting in Macau the night before last. The romantic comedy is being directed by Wong Jing and also stars Leon Lai Ming, Natalie Ng Man-Yan, Ng Man-Tat and Pinky Cheung Man-Chi. Cheung was in good spirits even though rumours are circulating that she and boyfriend Daniel Chan Hiu-Tung have begun to live together. The Crown Princess of Hong Kong films did not dignify the rumours with a response.

Last summer, Leon Lai Ming spent time in South Korea shooting the South Korean film TIN SI MONG (lit. ANGEL DREAM; centre). The film opened in South Korea last week to mostly empty seats. Selling only 13,000 tickets, the movie failed to crack the South Korean Top Ten. A side note: a film is considered a hit in South Korea if it sells over 300,000 tickets.

In an interview yesterday, Heavenly King Andy Lau Tak-Wah (right) revealed that his plans for a musical stage play version of BUTTERFLY LOVERS are being postponed. Originally, Lau had hoped to have the play ready for a run at the Hung Hom Coliseum this summer. He had even booked dates. However, Lau will now be holding a series of music concerts instead. Working on the project with noted composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lau explained that there was simply not enough time to pull the project off. Lau: "I've been holding a series of meetings with people on the project. If it had been possible to have everything in place by the dates, I would definitely have gone ahead. However, we are no where near ready so a decision was made to postpone the stage play and put on a series of concerts instead. Actually, Andrew (Lloyd Webber) started listening to music from BUTTERFLY LOVERS last year to see if he could pick up some inspiration from the music. He was going to compose some music and I was going to write some lyrics. Anyway, I would rather take the time to do things right rather than rush them. Actually, I was worried that I wouldn't have time to prepare because of a hectic movie shooting schedule."

With Lau taking the lead role of Leung San-Bak, rumours abound that Sammi Cheng Sau-Man and Anita Mui Yim-Fong are being considered for the role of Juk Ying-Toi. Asked about the rumours yesterday, Lau replied that he would make a decision on the female lead when the music for the play is written. Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ej1p.jpg

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the acclaimed composer of such musical hits as EVITA, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and CATS.

Above images courtesy Oriental Daily News and The Sun. Above images have ZOOM links. Click on picture for larger image.

Ruby Lin (Lam Sum-Yu) was all smiles yesterday as she officially signed a three year - four album contract with the Taiwanese division of BMG (left, centre). When asked how much the contract was worth, Lin answered: "Let's just say I can eat shark's fin soup everyday if I wanted."

Lin's first album under the contract -- SEUNG MEIN LAM SUM YU (lit. THE TWO SIDES OF RUBY LIN) -- will be released on March 9th. In related news, rumours have been circulating that Wong Jing was displeased with Lin's demeanour on the set of DUKE OF MT. DEER 2000 and, as a result, has replaced Lin with Gigi Lai Gi for the role of So Yung-Yung in the upcoming television adaptation of CHOR LAU HEUNG. Commenting on the rumours, Lin stressed: "It was my decision not to play So Yung-Yung. She's one of those gentle refined girls that I've played many times before and I didn't want to do it again. So, they are writing a new character for me to play. The producers have told me that the new character will be the female lead and will be in the series from beginning to end. Richie Ren (Yam Yin-Chai) and I will be singing the theme songs."

Lin's statements support earlier statments by Wong Jing denying the rumours that he was dissatisfied with Lin's work ethic. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01et1p.jpg (Ruby Lin)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01et2p.jpg (Ruby Lin's got back.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01et4p.jpg (Lin with Taiwanese BMG executive Pui Jan-Tung.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01et3p.jpg (Press conference)

Karen Mok Man-Wai attended the Celine 2001 Spring and Summer Fashion show yesterday in an eye-catching mini-skirt. Mok stayed for half an hour before leaving to rehearse for tonight's first of two concerts at the Hung Hom Coliseum. Also on hand at the event was model / actress Rosemary Vandenbroucke. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01et100p.jpg (Mok)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01et200p.jpg (Mok and Vandenbroucke.)

Above images courtesy Oriental Daily News.

In contrast to the smiles of Ruby Lin and Karen Mok, Pinky Cheung Man-Chi shows a smile of a different sort in TROUBLESOME NIGHT 10. While Cheung has starred in many horror movies, she cannot stand to watch them. Cheung: "I get scared really easily. When we were working on this film, we went out on location in the middle of the night. After shooting one scene we had to wait around until dawn for the next. Not wanting to waste any time, the crew went away to look for a suitable place to shoot the next scene. That left me and my assistant alone. The two of us girls were just sitting there waiting for the sun to come up. My heart was pounding all night sitting out there in the dark. I kept trying to find people to talk to on my cell phone!"

In other movie news, Athena Chu Yan and Julian Cheung Chi-Lam returned to Hong Kong yesterday after shooting scenes for their new movie GING TIN DAI TO MONG (lit. SCARE HEAVEN BIG ESCAPE) on location in Moscow. Returning with Chu and Cheung was co-star newcomer Cheung Kai-Kai, director Clarence Fok Yiu-Leung and producer Suen King-On. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01eb101p.jpg (Athena Chu)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01eb103p.jpg (Julian Cheung)

Above images courtesy Oriental Daily News (left) and The Sun (right).

Bobby Au Yeung Jun-Wah and Ada Choi Siu-Fan (left) continued to work on their new TVB series ARMED REACTION III yesterday. Shooting on location in a Kowloon games centre, the surroudings brought back childhood memories for Choi. Choi: "When I was a kid, my parents doted on my brother. My grandfather used to take me out to play. We would use to throw gum around for fun. I think that kids these days have lost a sense of childhood wonderment. All they know how to do is sit at home in front of a computer. I don't that's too good."

Choi went on to further reveal that she found school difficult as a child. Choi: "I used to hate school! I'm not the type of person who learns well under pressure. For example, I recently learned how to use Chinese on the computer. I did it slowly and gradually picked it up. If someone was pushing and goading me, I definitely could not have learned it!" Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ed10p.jpg (Au Yeung and Choi.)

Maggie Siu Mei-Kei celebrated her 36th birthday the day before yesterday (February 27th) by dying her hair blonde (right) followed by a party at the 348 Disco in the Jordan district. On hand at the party were Siu's friends Sherin Teng Sui-Man and Choi Chi-Kin.

In other TVB news, TVB actress and Miss Asia International 1999 Michelle Yip Suen is taking a brief vacation in Japan before returning to Hong Kong in April to start work on a new TVB historical series. Lately, Yip has been dogged by rumours that she and fellow TVB actor Benny Chan Ho-Man are a couple. Yip: "The first series that I ever worked on co-starred Benny Chan. Then, I did a project in Shanghai with him. Recently, we worked together on REACHING OUT. So, it's not surprising to see us get along so well. We are good friends but he is definitely not my boyfriend." Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ej5p.jpg

Above images courtesy Oriental Daily News.

Japanese celebrity Ryoko Hirosue (left). Japanese music group SMAP (right).

MISCELLANEOUS FLUFF:

- Rumours emerged the day before yesterday that retired singing star Vivian Chow Wai-Man was three months pregnant. Consequently, reporters from Apple Daily camped out at the entrance of Chow's San Francisco Towers home in Happy Valley yesterday to ask her for a comment. Catching her as she returned home by taxi, Chow spoke to reporters briefly before she entered the building. Chow: "Who said that? Look at the shape that I'm in. Does it look like I'm pregnant? I can say to you unequivocally, the rumours are not true." Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ea6p.jpg
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ea7p.jpg

- With the surge of popularity she got from THE GREEN HOPE and HEALING HANDS II last year, Yoyo Mung Ka-Wai has been appearing in more and more ads recently. The day before yesterday, Mung shot photos for her latest ad assignment -- a hair care product publicity campaign. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ex1p.jpg (Mung gets her hair tweaked.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ex2p.jpg (Mung gets her hair done.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ex3p.jpg (Mung gets made up.)

- In an interview with a homestyles magazine, Joey Yung Tso-Yi revealed that when she was a child, she would wrap a blanket around herself and pretend that she would win the Miss Hong Kong Pageant. Asked what her dreams are now, Yung said that she is looking forward to the day when she can live comfortably with her true love and not have to deal with the rigours of making a living." Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01eb4p.jpg

- Yesterday, Law Kar-Ying took time out from working on SIU LAM JUK KAU (lit. SHAOLIN SOCCER) in Zhuhai to appear in benefit Chinese Opera performance with his significant other Lisa Wong Ming-Chuen. Also on hand were veteran actors Lau Dan, Bak Yan, Wu Fung, and Mimi Chu Mi-Mi among others. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ed2pNEW.jpg (Law Kar-Ying)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ed5pNEW.jpg (Lisa Wong)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ed3p.jpg (Group shot)

- After spending most of last year in the Mainland and Taiwan working on projects, Diana Pang Dan has been busy in Hong Kong recently appearing at various promotional events. Commenting on why she chose to work in the Mainland last year, Pang answered: "People her always focus on my breasts so, naturally, I'm unhappy about it. It made me start to question if I had any other attributes. So, that's why I like working in the Mainland. They don't need me to be sexy all the time there. I don't even have to show anything at all. In the Mainland, all you need to do is act and not worry about being sexy." Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ed1pNEW.jpg

- Actress Bai Ling was in Taipei yesterday to promote her American mini-series THE MAGIC KINGDOM. In the series, co-starring Russell Wong and Thomas Gibson, Bai plays the diety Kuanyin. Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010301/Article_ent/01ec7p.jpg

(SANNEY: Thanks to Tim, John, and Richard for the following links. Keep in mind that because of the time lag in the production of these reports, some of these links may have already expired.)

LA Weekly: Hou Hsiao-hsien retrospective
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/01/15/film-dargis.shtml (Thanks to Richard and John for the link.)

Augustine Mok Chiu-Yu, the street theatre activist in Ann Hui's ORDINARY HEROES discusses his life and political activities
http://hk-imail.singtao.com/iconnect/public/article_v.cfm?articleid=17670&intcatid=27 (SANNEY: Thanks to Tim for the link.)

Lau waits on the maestro
http://features.scmp.com/ZZZWXA8SNJC.html

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