Action Still Crucial for Hong Kong Film: Director Wilson Yip
10 March 2010 – Hong Kong film director Wilson Yip says martial arts films will continue to play a key role in the city's movie industry, even as local production companies increase their cooperation with counterparts on the Chinese mainland.
“In the past, kung fu stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan brought Hong Kong movies to the world, so I believe action films are a crucial reason for our success,” Mr Yip said, in a 22 February interview with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC),
Before the Dragon
Mr Yip also spoke about his series of biographical films about the life of Ip Man – the martial arts master who taught Bruce Lee. He said climatic scenes in Ip Man, his 2008 film, recall Hong Kong’s cinematic heritage and emulate Mr Lee’s Fist of Fury. “I guess I was paying tribute to that film when I designed Ip Man,” said Mr Yip.
The film, directed by Mr Yip and starring Donnie Yen, tells the story of the grandmaster’s experiences on the mainland during the Sino-Japanese war. The film received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences and won Best Film and Best Action Choreography honours at last year’s Hong Kong Film Awards. The sequel, Ip Man 2, will be released next month.
FILMART Screenings
Mr Yip spoke to the HKTDC in advance of Entertainment Expo, the region’s leading entertainment industry event. The multimedia extravaganza, 22 March to 18 April, brings together nine events covering film, television, digital entertainment and music. The expo includes the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FILMART).
One of the world’s top three events of its kind in terms of exhibitor numbers, FILMART is expected to attract more than 540 exhibitors from 29 countries and regions to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The 22-25 March event, organised by the HKTDC, will feature more than 250 film screenings and 60 seminars and networking sessions.
Hong Kong-mainland co-productions have tripled since 2004, when the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) went into effect. CEPA allows Hong Kong-mainland co-productions to be treated as mainland domestic productions for purposes of distribution.
From 2006 to 2008, nine of the top-10 domestic films shown in mainland cinemas each year were, on average, the result of such co-productions.
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www.youtube.com/HKTDC
Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Corporate Communication Department:
Joe Kainz
Tel: (852) 2584 4216
Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org
Related Websites
Entertainment Expo: www.eexpohk.com
FILMART: http://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart
About the HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 offices worldwide, including 11 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, www.hktdc.com