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Chow Yun Fat said, although he is working hard trying to make the residence provided by the film company more home like, unfortunately it completely doesn't have the feeling of "home".
In the end, there is only one home where his roots are, this place is only a place for work, and Chow Yun Fat is a passing visitor.
If he has to describe his feeling now, Chow Yun Fat would say it is like his teenage days when he would boarding at Tiu King Lan, coming home only every two weeks, so, everyday he hopes Saturday would arrive sooner.
Actually, the 42 year old Hong Kong male is homesick.
NEXT: Before coming to Hollywood, you said you don't want to play an assassin type character, but in your first Hollywood feature, you still play an assassin, why do you compromise?
CHOW: An actor is only a merchandise.
Don't be naive, film making is absolutely not an art. Everyone is only doing business. Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan, every actor is a merchandise, why would investors spend money to hire you to act? Actually the math has been done long again, calculating how much you are worth? How many overseas market? Money to be made? Very commercial. As for you yourself would use something called acting in exchange for salary.
Although Hollywood film companies know what kind of actor Chow Yun Fat is and has what kind of background. But, Chow Yun Fat in Hollywood is still a new comer, without any experience, so first you must allow others to see your film, to see if it is any good. The image Chow Yun Fat gives people is a killer, so, I would continue to do it. At least give the people an image and confidence, then they would give you a chance.
N: How far do you feel you can develop? Would there be a second peak?
C: 6 years ago, when I decided to come to Hollywood to make movies, I already gambled, only the bet was with my career.
Actually, even if this film is released, I still have to see the reaction from Hollywood, so, now it isn't how I want to think it would be like, but to see if Hollywood would or would not give me a spot to stand.
N: Many artists in Hong Kong keep an eye on you, if you are successful, it seems everyone would have an extra road.
C: I am very fortune, being the first actor to bite this "bullet". Actually, in any profession, if there is a battle to be fought, there must be someone to be sacrifice. Who is willing to die! Since it is like that, it might as well be me! If you win the bet, many others would have a chance!
Actually, I too hope there would continuously be people coming to Hollywood, because everyone is from "Shaolin"!
C: It's not really that. Actually Jackie Chan could do it, Andy Lau Tak Wa, Jacky Cheung Hok Yau could do it, it is just everyone's goals are different. The weight placed on work has differences, perhaps Wa Jai feels Singing is important, Jackie feels being a Hong Kong specialty action actor is better than Hollywood.
Actually it depends on how you look at your own profession and which side is more important.
I feel if I keep going in Hong Kong, my performance life wouldn't have even greater changes, breakthroughs. I am not like Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee who could use real kung fu to create a new image. After John Woo (Ng Yuen Sum) left, there wasn't a leader who could make me bigger and brighter. Although I could make small films, but I really wouldn't feel right.
In this age, money to me is no longer important.
N: Has working in Hollywood always been a dream to you?
C: Yes. What I enjoy most is the process of interpreting a role, creating a character is the most fun. It is like my hobby cooking, when the ingredient hit the wok, I already sucked up the flavor during the process, I would know if it tastes good or not without actually tasting it, as long as everyone enjoys it then I enjoy it. Understand?
So acting in Hollywood is like cooking in a greater kitchen, with bigger knives, more ingredients and flavors, slowly giving me more time to cook more.
N: Work wise, how would you describe Mrs. Chow's role?
C: Seeing her networking with others now is like seeing myself at TVB then.
If I have to describe Mrs. Chow, I feel she would be a state department official. Because she would represent me in negotiations with film producers, bargaining in contract talks. She is Chow Yun Fat's greatest decision maker.
N: Mrs. Chow's position is deliberately arranged by you?
C: When I play I could go really crazy, but when I work I don't joke around. Mrs. Chow understands how I handle things, her tom boy personality could help me. To the outside she could be really strong, to certain things she could stand firmly her ground.
Actually, about my acting, I would firmly stand on my ground, but networking is something I don't know how to do, because if I was to face them, if I stand firm there would be no place to turn, so there must be someone in the middle before I walk.
Dividing the work? It is absolutely necessary.
N: Do you feel a wife like this is perfect?
C (Smiles): If I have to grade her, this wife is worth 100 points, but no one is perfect, like Mrs. Chow being a little brutish is more like a guy than a girl, take 10 point off then.
"Every place is the same, there are people who like to play politics; In the end, Everything I do is for my husband, if there is problem then bring it up right there so we can resolve it, cut to the chase, if you have reasons I would listen to you, without reasons then we fight according to reason. In this place (Hollywood), I learned not to give people a chance to 'ride' you, people would take a foot if you give them an inch." Mrs. Chow said. Actually she is very fortune, because she could work with her husband. Although Monday to Friday she has to be a strong woman, on the weekends she could communicate with her husband, sharing the same topic and goals in life.
- Cheung Pui Fong
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