[TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film Top 10 Box Office (January 28, 1998) Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment
From: Wolverine
[DRUDGE OF THE WEEK] Courtesy of Ming Pao, Sing Tao Daily, Apple Daily, and Ta Kung Pao
Next Magazine, issue 412, Golden Peak Collection
ZHAO WEN ZHOU: WOMEN, TROUBLE COMES AS SOON AS I THINK
Written by: Yik Ka Yun
"In Chinese kung fu, everyone has his own 'Jing Hei Sun', as in 'train one breath within, train Jing Hei Sun without."
One breath is the work within, Jing Hei Sun is the work with eyes, meaning kung fu doesn't just depend on the martial art of physical movement, but also an expression through the eyes, to depend an opponent.
"In the world of romance, I has lost my own Jing Hei Sun!" Zhao Wen Zhou (Chiu Man Cheuk) said.
Coming from Harbin to Beijing then to Hong Kong, it has been 7 years.
During that time he has studied for 4 years in an university, fell in love with three women, made 7 movies and one television series, built 6 homes in China, left the National Professional Wu Shu team, and switched jobs to become an action actor. He has more of he doesn't understand, but less of the security he had previously.
THREE WOMEN
Toward love, I admit I am a little impulsive. Sometimes even I cannot control it.
When I was 18, I ran to Beijing to attend Beijing Sport University and majored in Wu Shu. I fell in love for the first time.
She was a year and a half younger than I was, but has accomplished more than I have in athletics. She was a rhythmic gymnastics world champion, both her look and body were attractive. It was the first time for both of us. When we were together the feeling was amazing, as our hearts beat involuntarily. Within less than a year, it's gone! Because both of our coaches disturbed and stopped us with training from day to night under supervision. It was lights out at 10:30 PM, and completely without a chance to see each other it had to come to an end.
The second time didn't last as long as the first, and the feeling wasn't as deep as the last time. Perhaps it's because first love is the most memorable for everyone, it was for me. At the time I thought about winning the championship, and with the coach's hindrance, I didn't try to hold on to it.
The three person I liked was Ah Mui (Anita Mui Yim Fong). Three years ago, I was 22. I came to Hong Kong and just made two movies.
She was very faithful. When I was with her, I really, truly liked her. She wasn't as bad and as wild as the newspaper would have you believe. Absolutely not. That's impossible.
Without doubt, first time is the most memorable, by this time the feeling was the strongest. I never thought about comparing her with my two previous girlfriends. There is no comparison. I only thought about my 20 years of non stop training in China, without any entertainment. When I was growing up I was almost completely isolated from the outside, all I thought about was winning the championship. I only thought about dating when I arrived in Beijing, and that's just meeting each others when we wanted to. With her it's a major change. It was completely free, without any disturbance. Within less than half a year, we went on vacation together.
Later we broke up, the conclusion is Mars vs. Venus.
The fights near the end was especially fierce! Actually, not that fierce, mainly because our thinking isn't uniform. My point of view being born in China is different from someone who is born and raised in Hong Kong.
This relationship has been a great experience in my life. I once have helped her thought about everything, in order to not fight all day. Why did she -- her personality is too direct.
Don't ask me if we will get back together, there isn't a good answer to that question. I am not concerned that it will affect her, but I have to consider too many factors, it's not as easy as answering when I want to.
It's been two years after the break up, and I didn't fall in love again. At this point I don't want to think about that, I tried to tell myself not to think about it, trouble comes as soon as I think about it.
ANITA MUI YIM FONG: NOTHING TOO SPECIAL
On December 29th, 1997, at the wedding of Simon Yam Tat Wa and Kei Kei, Anita Mui Yim Fong and Zhao Wen Zhou ran into each other again. The reporters tried their best to get them together for a picture. Mui Yim Fong graciously stood there, but Zhao Wen Zhou insisted on declined and turned around and ran instead.
The next day Mui Yim Fong was found at a runaway dog shelter in Yuen Long Bat Sa village. Next magazine reporters identified themselves and asked for an interview. She replied, "Come and find me when you get a different boss!" and left with her assistant.
After hearing Zhao Wen Zhou has mentioned her, she stopped and was willing to listen for awhile. Amidst the barks of dogs, she placed her ear by the reporters' lips and listened attentively.
While listening, her facial expression didn't change. She laughed, "Ha! Ha! That is it! There isn't any feeling!" But she still wanted to hear more.
While listening, the barks of the dogs were too loud. She raised her voice a little, "What What What? I didn't hear that, say it again."
After listening, she graciously flashed a smile, "I don't want rumors to keep passing back and forth, I am not going to answer that."
Give a response!
"Ha! You won't understand whether I am happy or unhappy! No comment." The reporters insisted on a comment on this relationship, Mui Yim Fong opened her mouth and said, "It was nothing too special."
ROBOT MAN
Before I was 18, I was in Harbin.
When I began training at 8, my opponents were comrades from within Heilungjiang. When I was 13 I was chosen to join the provincial professional Wu Shu team and faced opponents from all over the country. Within the entire province of Heilungjiang 5 men and women were chosen, I was one of them. I was selected to reside at the national athletic residence, everyday enduring 16 hours of tough training. I was there for 5 years. The degree of difficulty could not have been imagined by outsiders. We could run for half a hour under 30 degree under zero weather outdoors in a tee shirt, keeping warm by continuously running. When we stopped the sweat on our skin had turned into frost, as we stood there in the middle of steam. Even when we wore 3 layers of clothing, after one training session, sweat drenched through all 3 layers. It was really tough!
In the beginning Mama was unwilling, when she was used to it she sent me back. I have thought about quitting, "Does it have to be so tough!" But when I wanted to quit Mother always had something to say.
At that stage I almost had no thought of my own. Whatever the coach said went. I never thought about taking walks, going to the movies, meeting girls, making a lot of money, being happy or unhappy. It was pretty secured without thinking. I only knew without entertainment, without television, I was almost separated from the outside world. I had a radio, and what I heard was Ah Mui's Jeung Bing San Pet Hoi (Lit: Chopping Iceberg Open).
After 18, I went to Beijing to study. With more contacts with society, I wasn't disappointed, but I discovered there were more of I didn't understand. Everyone has his own philosophy, like being a villain and not feeling like a villain, which is different from lying to yourself. When villains asked themselves they actually think they are the good guys.
NO LONGER WANT TO BE AN ATHLETE
When I came to Hong Kong the change was even greater, everything was different. In the beginning when Ah Tsui (Tsui Hark) offered movie roles to me, I trusted the company, and did whatever the company asked! I like the feeling of making a movie, the fun within the work. I never thought about making big money, even I did it wouldn't have happened within a few years. If I wanted to make money I wouldn't have arranged my time like that.
In the future I hope to marry when I am thirty something. When I have children I won't let them being athletes. It's okay to stay in shape with, but I won't want them to compete, because even if they win the victories are useless. So what if you win? For glory? Athletes are like a pyramid, not everyone can be a world champion, world champions are the best of the world, you can't get there just by training hard.
Now as an actor and not an athlete, I hope to make a few good movies, to bring glory to the Chinese, that is if I have a dream.
WORK SCHEDULE
1991 While in his second year majoring in Wu Shu at the Beijing Sport University, he was invited by director Corey Yuen Kwai to make Fong Sai Yuk and performed with Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) and Josephine Siao Fong Fong. His salary was HK$7,500. 1992 Tsui Hark expressed his admiration by signing him to his Film Workshop. His first starring role was Once Upon A Time in China 4 (Wong Fei Hung ji Wong Je Ji Fung), taking Jet Li's place in the role of Wong Fei Hung. 1993 Again starred in Tsui Hark's Once Upon A Time in China 5 (Wong Fei Hung ji Lung Sing Chi Ba) and with Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha) and Maggie Cheung Man Yuk in Green Snake (Ching Se). 1995 Starred with Maggie Siu Mei Kei on the Wong Fei Hung television series which opened the Southeast Asia television market for Power Impact. Starred with Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing in The Chinese Feast (Gum Yuk Moon Tong) and Anita Yuen Wing Yi. Starred in Blade (Doe). 1996 Again starred with Josephine Siao Fong Fong on the Corey Yuen Kwai's Mahjong Dragon (Ma Jeuk Fei Lung). Contract ended with Tsui Hark's Film Workshop and signed with Jet Li's Jing Tung company for 7 films in 3 years. Salary is 14 million. 1997 Began work on his first film with Jing Tung The Blacksheep Affair (Bik Huet Lam Tin). Ching Siu Tung is the action director.
QUITTING
On the day before Hungary's national birthday, the reporters invited Zhao Wen Zhou on a tour to a zoo. There were all kind of animals, except the one Zhao Wen Zhou wanted to find -- the Giant Panda.
On the way in the square near the palace, soldiers were marching. Suddenly a glimpse of sunlight broke through the cloudy afternoon. Zhao Wen Zhou predicted snow two to three days later, since the weather is similiar to his hometown Harbin. He hasn't been back since three years ago.
"If you encounter someone you love again will you give up everything?"
"Sure! (Laughed) I don't know! But for now I will seriously make movies good no matter what."