HKCinemagic :
How did Stephen Chow contact you to take part in Kung Fu Hustle?
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Bruce Leung :
It's because Stephen Chow worships Bruce Lee. And he thinks I'm the closest to him. He thought working with me allowed him to work under the shadow of Bruce Lee, well, that's how I felt. And also before, Stephen Chow played a kind of new Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury 1991 and he asked me to play Bruce Lee's Si Hing. I refused him because of my business. I felt that I owned him a favour. He contacted me about Kung Fu Hustle at the moment that I was thinking to quit my business so I participated in it.
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HKCinemagic : Do you also think you are close to Bruce Lee? |
Bruce Leung : Well, we studied the same kind of martial arts like Wing Chun. |
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HKCinemagic :
Did you find it hard to come back with such a big scale production?
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Bruce Leung : No, it was not difficult at all because I started movies since I was very little. |
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HKCinemagic :
There was a change of action director during the shooting. Did you work with only one of them or both?
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Bruce Leung : Both. The first half of the movie is Sammo Hung's and the second Yuen Woo Ping's. |
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HKCinemagic : Can you tell us precisely what each of them did?
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Bruce Leung : Well, when what you see on screen is very aesthetic, it's Yuen Woo Ping. When it's very powerful, it's Sammo Hung. And when it's very funny, it's Stephen Chow. |
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HKCinemagic :
The main piece Sammo did was the first appearance of the 3 old masters, right?
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Bruce Leung : Yes, it's correct, alongside Stephen Chow. |
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HKCinemagic : Was there other people to assist Stephen Chow in the direction?
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Bruce Leung : I'm not sure I should tell you that (smile). |
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HKCinemagic : Was it more difficult for you to adapt to the new style of action design with its extensive use of wires and special effects? |
Bruce Leung : No, it was more difficult before. Now, it's just one move or two moves for one shot. That's why someone like Michelle Yeoh managed to become a huge action star. |
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HKCinemagic : Do you regret this evolution?
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Bruce Leung : It's a normal evolution. People now have more expectations, they want to see more spectacular images; special effects are needed. Still, we can see the difference when someone has real martial arts abilities and when he doesn't. What can be done easily for us (martial artists) can cause a lot of trouble for amateurs. |
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HKCinemagic : Did you enjoy the final result?
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Bruce Leung : Well… What did you think about it yourself? |
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HKCinemagic : I found it a bit disappointing.
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Bruce Leung : (smile) A lot of people were disappointed. |
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HKCinemagic : Do you intend to get back in the business now? |
Bruce Leung : My life is devoted to movies. I did business because I had no other choice. And I know pretty much everything to do movies, from the very basic production process to the modern digital filmmaking techniques. |
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HKCinemagic : So, you have any new projects?
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Bruce Leung :
I've stopped doing business these two years, and there's this huge China market. The people in mainland give me a lot of support. They do not see me as an actor, they believe in my characters and take me as a genuine living person. I have some advantage there, it motivates me. I am opened to all opportunities. Doing movies is my interest, plus good business reason, I will be well supported when I will do new films. Listen to my broken voice. I always do concerts in China , I am even more expensive than Jacky Cheung! There you can see how much support I have in the Chinese mainland. |
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HKCinemagic : So there are chances we will see the two brothers back on the screen?
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Bruce Leung : It's possible but my younger brother is a bit afraid of me! His kung fu was taught by me, his movie knowledge was from me too. It is so strange; he loses his senses and his inspirations once he sees me. So it's a bit hard for us to work on the same movie. |
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