Gigi's Newsroom 2

May 12, 1997

Tony Leung Ka Fai returns after resting for two years to play a rocket scientist with Gigi Lai Chi.

Having been away for awhile from the silver screen, Tony Leung Ka Fai finally agreed to make the Raymond Wong Bat Ming invested Chung Seung Gau Chung Tin (Lit: Rush Above 9 Level of Heaven) playing a rocket scientist. Later the crew would head to China's Sai Cheung Rocket base for location shots.

Tony Leung Ka Fai is involved in a court case with Ng Si Yuen over millions owed due to Evening Liaison (Yun Yeuk Wong Fun); because when Ka Fai accepted the role the salary was only a little ove 2 million, it would be impossible for the overtime paid to be more than the actual paid.

Ka Fai refused to comment on the matter and pushed the questions to his manager Yu Yiu Leung, saying it was a problem between his manager and his lawyer and they will handle all of the responsibility. Some pointed out the money won would go into his pocket, his manager still does what he wants to do, there is no reason for him to keep out of the matter!

He said, "To me it is a minor matter, as a person I always live by the word righteousness first. If I have to explain it would be a long story, so to sum it up, my manager would under the most reasonable and legal situation to fight for me."

Before when he made Christ of Nanjing he was involved in a lawsuit, now there is another, is he afraid of affecting his name and scaring off the producers? He expressed he has been in the business for over a decade, everyone knows what kind of guy he is, if because of these matters he loses respect then he has nothing to say.

So he wouldn't stop until he gets the money? He said, "Don't say it in such extremes, in the end the court would decide."

On the 10th he attended the lens opening of his new film Chung Sheung Gau Chung Tin (Lit: Rush Up 9 Levels of Heaven) based on a Leung Fung Yi novel, The new film stars Tony Leung Ka Fai, Gigi Lai Chi, Christine Ng Wing Mei, and Poon Hung. It has been two years since he made his last film, he sensitively said, "It is finally there is a film to make, it's like I finally agreed to make a movie. In these two Year I refused the offers, it wasn't because no one asked; this time I was moved by (Raymond) Wong Bat Ming."

Ka Fai continued, "China is willing to lend out the rocket base, but they requested an actor who has a good image, plus I could meet one of my favorite actress Poon Hung, so finally I agreed to make the film!"

He expressed another reason he took the role was because he would play an astronomer, later he would even personally go to the rocket base in China to talk with real rocket scientists, which to him was a hard to come by opportunity; did the salary change from two years ago? He refused to answer directly.

Because the film would premiere on June 15th in the Convention Center in Hong Kong, the schedule would be somewhat rushed. The film would be released in China and Hong Kong at the same time in July.

Leung Ka Fai's manager Yu Yiu Leung expressed he wouldn't consider an out of court settlement and would hand everything over for the judge to decide. Although many felt his salary calculation method is ridiculous, because the money from the retribution is more than the salary itself; but he stressed his calculation followed that of the contract.

He said, "Ng Si Yuen is an open guy, he should understand this time it is nothing against him but it is against the matter. We don't want to make enemies, we just want to clear up the matter."

When asked if he is worried about insiders thinking Ka Fai is someone hard to deal with? He expressed if everyone would understand the entire matter, Ka Fai's name would not be affected.

Also, Raymond Wong Bat Ming revealed, besides this film, two other films would be in production, including the action comedy Dui Gai Pat Dong (Lit: Drunk Street Partner) starring Alan Tam Wing Lan, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Christy Chung Lai Tai, the other is a horror film But Hong Yi Suk (Lit: Not Cold Chill) which would use an ensemble of young actors including Sunny Chan Kam Hung, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Francis Ng Chun Yu, Christy Chung Lai Tai, Gigi Lai Chi, Christine Ng Wing Mei and Amanda Lee Wai Man.

Source from Apple Daily

May 11, 1997

Gigi Lai Chi isn't afraid of rumors with Tony Leung Ka Fai

Gigi Lai Chi would place her future days on film and would work on three films soon, in two of which she would work with So Chi Wai. She said it is purely coincidental! As for Chung Seung Gau Chung Tin (Lit: Rush Up Nine Level Heaven) shooting in China with live sound recording, she is afraid she would slow down the process due to her Mandarin, so she asked her aunt Lai Huen to teach her authentic Beijing Mandarin. In these days besides busy with films, she would also tour. Gigi expressed singing would help her on tour and would abandon her singing career.

The film would be her first time working with Tony Leung Ka Fai, who has been her idol since young, so she is happy working with him; she said since Piu Yi she actually liked him, but she is only attracted by his outstanding acting and his attractiveness.

Source from Apple Daily

May 7, 1997

Mark Lui Chun Tak's film debut is a romance

Leon Lai Ming and Kelly Chan Wai Lam's hot record producer Mark Lui Chun Tak would make his film debut on a Vincent Kuk Tak Siu directed romance.

Produced by Wins and directed by Vincent Kuk Tak Siu, this romance would begin shooting in the start of March starring three guys and girls. Besides Lui Chun Tak, the other two actors would be Leo Koo Kui Kei and So Chi Wai, the lead actresses would include Gigi Lai Chi and a new comer from Taiwan.

When asked to confirm, Lui Chun Tak admitted the new film would begin shooting on March 10th. He said, "When I did my first film score for Wong Fei Hung Siu Juen, I already worked with Kuk Tak Siu."

Reportedly in the film Lui Chun Tak would play a club DJ who knows how to play music, a character that's custom made for Mark. How did Lui Chun Tak find out he was selected?

Lui Chun Tak said, "the character in the film has a lot of self confidence and is liked by many girls, they felt that like me."

Being the lead in his first movie, Mark has consulted with many friends for their acting hints. Tony Leung Chiu Wai even taught him a few tricks. Lui Chun Tak said, "Wai Jai taught me to work like playing, be natural then the acting would be good."

Source from Apple Daily

April 28, 1997

Gigi Lai Chi was scared filming at a cheap motel

The Cha Chuen Yi directed Ho Ching Koi Tin (Lit: Passion Covers Sky) on 4th held a lens opening ceremony with the key members of cast attending. Ah Cha expressed they are already on their third day of shooting. Among the films he has directed, he has made similar subjects before, but this time the story would be fresher and the film making methods would be in a wider range. Julian Cheung Chi Lam would play an undercover officer, Michael Wong Man Tak would be a businessman who struggles missiles to the Middle East, Ah Cha expressed, so there would be an exchange market's scene that would need to be shot by the Sino Russian border. Because it would be within the Chinese border, they only needed to apply to the related department in Mainland, but because the communication system there is behind the times, it took two months for the approval. This would mainly be scenes with Cheung Chi Lam and Wong Man Tak. Besides the two actors, the other crew member would be around 10. The trip is estimated to last a week and no budget has been calculated yet.

It was really Cheung Chi Lam's second day at work. In the film he plays undercover agent, so before the shoot began he also did full research and at the same time he saw this time as a challenge. When he was preparing for the role he met a real life undercover officer, but one of the film's actors has been undercover before, so he could ask him how to approach this role.

This is his first time working with Wong Man Tak. Michael likes to smoke cigars and Chi Lam in the film would have to smoke cigars too, so he could ask Michael for suggestions. He said he couldn't understand Michael's Chinese, so they had to communicate in English. This is also the first time he would be working with Francis Ng Chun Yu. He has seen Chun Yu's performance in Young and Dangerous (Goo Wat Jai) and felt he is a good actress, so he is happy about the chance of working with him.

During the ceremony Gigi Lai was asked about replacing Anita Yuen Wing Yi in Chung Seung Gau Chung Tin (Lit: Rushing Up 9 Levels of Heaven). She expressed she didn't know the complete detail or the reason Len Len was replaced. She only said picking up the character is no big deal. Initially she agreed to do that film because the film's release on the day of Return which has valuable memory value. She said, "Actually, I don't know what happened! Even if it is true I wouldn't mind! Plus Len Len doesn't have time in her schedule, it's no big deal! As long as I have the chance to make this film, I am very happy!"

The reporters saw Lai Chi had permed her hair. She honestly said in the film she would play a call girl and the initial image would be very "yeah" as she would constantly wear short skirts and clogs.

She said previously there was a film that filmed at an "hourly mansion" (Motel). She saw unused condoms on the ground and was so scared by them she didn't even dare to sit on the bed.

Reportedly this time there would be a scene with her and Cheung Chi Lam sitting by the bed. She was already worried before the shoot because the location could be very dirty.

Although before the film began shooting, Wong Man Tak had words about being deceived, when he first signed on the film's director was Gordon Chan Ka Seung and now it's Cha Chuen Yi, but after the film officially began shooting, all has become the past. On the 4th Michael even borrowed a friend's Porsche for filming purposes.

Last month Michael went to America to do a telephone ad, as the lead was changed from Gong Li to Maggie Cheung Man Yuk. Michael expressed he wasn't disappointed, because he and Maggie have worked together before and he was glad they would meet again. The only regret he had was the Mandarin he learned now has no opportunity to be used. The commercial would be focused on the female lead, but Michael's salary wasn't small at around 7 figures.