Ah Leck begins production on the film version of Old Time Buddy

(note from akai chan: you should read the whole article, but francis parts are emphasized! by italics)

With the high ratings of TVB series Old Time Buddy (Lan Hing Lan Dai) "Ah Leck" Nat Chan Pak Cheung immediately began production on Jing Jong Lan Hing Lan Dai (Special Package Trouble Brothers). He denied following the trend and instead said he would like a good beginning and ending since he began the summer with L...O...V...E...Love (Chiu Cup Mo Dik Jui Nui Jai), at the end of the summer he should have another film to end it. Besides the original cast members Gallen Law Ka Leung, Francis Ng Chun Yu, and Maggie Cheung Ho Yi, Ah Leck has added himself, Hsu Chi, Teresa Mak Ka Kei and others in the film. He said with confidence, "This series have done so well. I talked to Wong Jing and then decided to make a movie version, luckily the cast's schedule allowed it."

Ah Leck has three jobs on the new film: its executive producer, producer and actor. When asked how many shares of salary will he take, he said all three! Wow! The executive producer not only doesn't have to pay but is getting paid? Ah Leck laughed saying he didn't know executive producers have to pay for the movie. In the film Ah Leck plays Ngau Tak Wa. In order to play the character, he gained 10 pounds. "I have to gain a little weight to look like Uncle Wa, plus this film's catering is too great. There is shark fin soup, custard tarts, tea and coffee all day long."

Ah Leck revealed, this film's biggest specialty is the size of its cast and additions of classic Cantonese film scenes like Young, Pregnant, and Unmarried (Yuk Nui Tim Ding), Buddha's Palm (Yu Loi Sun Jeung) and My Intimate Partner (Lan Hing Lan Dai). Character wise he even added characters like Wong Kar Wai, Cheung So, and others.

The film version is only missing Husuan Jessica Hester (Suen Huen). Ah Leck explained, "Because Hsu Chi is our own people (Wong Jing is her manager), plus she has a stronger movie feel, so I asked her to play Fong Fong."

Ah Leck expressed the happiest cast members are Francis Ng Chun Yu and Dayo Wong Chi Wa because he is their stock consultant. Every ten minutes the two ask him about the market. He hopes he can help his friends make money.

Ng Chu Yu in the film reprises his TV role as Patrick Tse Yin, so this time would be an easy ride for him. However the film version is believed to be even crazy. In his other film Full Alert his performance has been praised as completely different and has a great chance for awards. Chun Yu humbly said he was lucky to encounter a good director. In the past many actors have said Ringo Lam Lan Tung is very mean, but after the collaboration he didn't think so. He felt his temper is like Ah Tung's, but he isn't as detailed as Ringo.

Some pointed out after breaking up with his girlfriend his acting seemed to have reached another level. He joked actors need more experience to help their acting skills.

Although Old Time Buddy has brought Maggie Cheung Ho Yi quite a few gossips, it also brought her wealth. The series original soundtrack has sold out and the lead singers each will have a 6 figure share. Also, Cheung Ho Yi is estimated to earn another 6 figures for this film.

Toward her dispute with Suen Huen, Ho Yi said during work she likes a pleasant and peaceful environment and will place work first, leaving her personal feelings behind and if there is any problem she likes to talk about it later. Therefore she doesn't feel odd when she runs into Suen Huen. As for a one on one conversation with her, she said she wouldn't deliberately do so and will let everything take its natural course.

She pointed out she still greets Suen Huen when they meet, so neither of them has allowed the unpleasantness to remain with them. "The world is round, someday I will have a chance to work with Suen Huen again."

Gallen Law Ka Leung has been in the business for years, but this is only his third film. He expressed he only earned a 5 figure salary for his first film Fatal Mission (Bo Guong Yun Mut), for the second A Warrior's Tragedy (Bin Sing Long Ji) his salary has already been raised to 6 figures.

Law Ka Leung expressed the film was a hard to come by opportunity. Since he has a 60 episode series on his hands it's difficult to adjust the schedule. Luckily the problems were resolved. First time working with Ah Leck, Law Ka Leung discovered Ah Leck's comedy is very logic.

Monica Chan Fat Yung in the film will play Yu So Chau. She said lately she has watched more Cantonese films to study the veteran's performance. She joked the film will be using live sounds, so she will have to learn her accent.

Actually not only did she see Yu So Chau's films, 3 years ago on a concert in San Francisco she has met Yu's daughter and Yu So Chau even attended the show. She felt the stars of the past has more of a star feeling than today's.

She said she has only asked two stars for autographs, one is Josephine Siao Fong Fong, the other is Danny Chan Pak Keung. Besides gaining her idol's autograph, she even met Fong Fong at the airport when she was younger. She still remembered at the time Fong Fong said she looked like Yun Jun but she said she wanted to be like Fong Fong.

On the other hand, Hsu Chi who will play Fong Fong doesn't plan to imitate Josephine Siao Fong Fong due to her language problem. She hoped with this performance to establish her comic image and leave her sexy side behind.