Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame is one of the competing film in the 67th Venice Film Festival, director Tsui Hark, the cast Andy Lau, Carina Lau, Li Bingbing and Deng Chao were in Venice to promote the film. When Andy talked about his character in the film, he revealed that before shooting started he hope that there will be a sequel, hoping that it would be a series of films like James Bond where new characters will be injected into each film, but Detective Dee remained unchanged. Andy whom has experiences in action scenes still feel that the fighting scene in the Ghost Market is tough as he was wearing a high hat and hanging on wires, no matter what actions he made, the hat will get stuck onto the wire.

Other than being an actor, Andy also has the identity of a film producer, actually he did thought of whether to become a director, but “whenever I shoot a film I would feel that all the directors are great, therefore I always hope that I can improve a little before becoming a director.” With regards to his private life, Andy only revealed that his 2-months holiday had become a 2-weeks holiday, despite busy, he is still enjoying life.

NetEase(NE): You are a super detective in Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, in real life what do you know about detectives i.e. Sherlock Holmes.

Andy (A): Actually I have the most impression of Justice Bao. There are films about Justice Bao a long time ago, but not so much on foreign. There are many foreign detective films, my favorite would be the one with Sir Alfred Hitchcock, I like it since then but there is no one police or detective that I always followed, there’s only one and he’s Justice Bao, am I very Chinese?

NE: This is not your first time collaborating with Carina Lau and Li Bingbing, collaborating with them again, is there any new sparks?

A: Firstly I had not collaborate with Carina in a long time, actually I does not know why, maybe both our surname is Lau, I feel that I’m very close to her, just like my younger sister, for the past 10 years, if she were to write a book, it would be quite intricate. Actually I always wanted to collaborate and chat with her. I feel that she’s strong, after experiencing so many incidents, she still could still face her life. I think she did very well as Wu Zhetian, the world is like this, there are people whom like and dislike you, you need not care too much. Her Wu Zhetian is different from others, the old displayed conquering, hers displaying proud, if I’m the emperor, you can’t do anything if you don’t like me, she is like that, I think this is new.

I had collaborate with Bingbing three times, I did chat with her, I feel that she is a very innocent artiste, she is willing to learn, the highlight this time round is that she could manage well between normal and action.

NE: There is a scene where she tried to seduce you, would the both of you feel embarrassed?

A: Nope, both of us are not. (She revealed her back in the nude?) Yes. (Was the set cleared?) I think so, but I still see more than 20 people running around, there is no use clearing the set. But Bingbing is very good, I feel that being a male I would also be embarrassed, if she’s not embarrassed, I’m OK.

NE: As Detective Dee in the film, you are a highly skilled in martial arts, after acted in so many action films. Did you find it difficult?

A: There’s one, actually I’m very experienced in action films and used to it and collaborating with Sumo Hung, I had collaborated with him since I entered the movie industry, thus we could accommodate each other. He knew what I’m good at and weak at, he can make allowances for me, I also know his requirements. Actually the things that he asked me to learn, he knew that I could do it, must importantly is to work hard, the action scenes is no issue.

The most problematic issue is my hat. I wore a hat throughout the scenes in the Ghost Market, because we did stuff materials inside the hat, if not it would fall down, we stuff many thus it’s heavy. I fought while wearing the hat and it tends to fall. This is my largest problem, in those scenes of the Ghost Market, everywhere is water, we need to balance ourselves as the places we stand is not stable, we would be standing on logs, I need to keep my balance and hanged on wires, the hat will always get entangle with the wires, I did many beautiful stunts but the hat will fall, thus it’s tough.

NE: The Ghost Market is an actual set or manufacture during post production, what is it like during the actual shooting?

A: It’s really like that, it’s a water hole in Hengdian, there are said to be monkeys in there, it’s the water hole of the God of Monkey, it’s all water in there. Of course we built from scratch those on the side. The outside set are all drawn, we didn’t drawn anything inside, all are real.

NE: In the film, you used a ‘jian’, did you use this weapon before?

A: Nope, but it’s too heavy.

NE: Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame sounds like a title for James Bond film, you got poisoned in the end, it left behind some points of suspense, will there be a sequel?

A: Actually this matter had not been discussed, we did thought of it before shooting, we hope that it would a continuous story. Actually it’s the same, we hope that we have a subject, a topic, it would be the same person in different generation. Let said that I’m Agent 007, Detective Dee stopped there. Now it’s Carina Lau, Li Bingbing and Deng Chao, the next time could change another, what’s different is a refreshing new character, but I’m using my own angle to film it, that’s bringing the audience to see different persons.

NE: Which genres of films do you like, as you had been in films of different genres.

A: Actually I like comedy, but I don’t look comedy, I have a serious look, I’m not in a lot of comedies.

NE: Like the recent Gallants which you produce and the earlier Crazy Stone, you collaborated with new directors, do you have plans to help new directors?

A: When I approached experienced directors, they will tell me that they are busy. New directors have their own ideas, I hope that with my fundings could give them a chance. Maybe it’s a bit risky because the investment is difficult, because in a normal company, such things are hard to happen. I persist as I feel that newcomers need to come out, but its not sure that they will do well. This is my interest, if I would to look at it in the business manner, I would have stopped doing this. But whenever I do this, I would be happy and enjoying it. It’s like I would spend money to buy my favorite food, watch my favorite movie, it doesn’t matter that I spend money on movies.

NE: You feel what is the differences being an actor and producer?

A: The major difference is that being an actor, you are unable to control the quality of the production because they are the boss, they have different production teams. If you invest in movies, you are the producer, the standards produced and the stuff presented to the audience, I can have control of it.

NE: So do you still want to be a director?

A: I want to, but it seems that whenever I shoot a film, I would feel that the directors are great, let say Tsui Hark films, how could he do this, his thinking dimension is not within I could think, therefore I hope that I could improve myself before becoming a director. I hope that I give myself some time, let say 3 years, I will give it a try.

NE: Like your job arrangements making you a tight schedule every year, do you left some private time for yourself?

A: Yes, I have. I would be shooting films for 3 months, need 3 months to promote it, its a long process, I can’t help it. Take for example you have completed a film, of course you wanted to introduce to everyone in the world, thus I can’t help it. Actually in recent years the Mainland China and international market had expanded, we does not have enough time. In the past, I would have around 2 months, 8 weeks of holiday, now I only have one month, 2 weeks.

NE: Will you be taking a rest at one go?

A: I will rest at one go, if I divide it out, I will come up with nothing. Take for example in New Year and my birthday in the past, I would have 2 months of holiday. (You gave yourself holidays?) Yes, now, the same time and period, I would only have 2 weeks.

NE: You look at Maggie Cheung, they seems to slow down her pace, she only accept films the role that are suitable for her, if not the remaining time to enjoy life. Actually for you, why are you still busy accepting film offers? Because of your love for movies?

A: It’s very hard to explain to everybody, because everybody’s lifestyle and enjoyment is different. Take for example that I learn calligraphy, everybody would find it strange as they would be saying that it’s so dull, but I feel that when I write calligraphy, I feel that I’m a saint, feel that I’m clean, this is a spiritual thing. I feel that I also can see the life of Maggie, I also feel that she had found what she like. People would be asking her:” Aren’t you boring doing nothing?” You could be asking her this question, but I feel that only I live happily, need not explain anything.

NE: From commoner’s view, 3 months to shoot movie, 3 months to promote, it’s too tiring. Would you feel that way, the fans might feel that it’s very tiring.

A: First of all to thanks for all the concern, for a normal person to have 2 months of rest each year, it’s impossible. Currently I have 2 weeks, it’s OK. Let say rest, I think that I’m doing well. Maybe some time later, could have some change, but I feel that I can accept the current state.

news from: ent.163.com

Actor Andy Lau who was in 67th Venice Film Festival, recently he accepted an exclusive interview by Xinhua News Agency, he feel that Chinese film could expand its area of genre in order to break into international market, but there is no need to “accommodate the foreigners”.

With regards to how to allow Chinese films to break into the international market, Andy said that there are more Chinese commercialize films in recent years, “If the genres can be expanded, the foreigners will be more interested, but do not need to accommodate them by choosing some strange genres, this balance must be maintained.” Andy quipped: “It’s a pity that I could not control this balance, if not I will become a director!”

Andy followed Tsui Hark to 67th Venice Film Festival for Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame. He said: “This is my first time participating in Venice Film Festival. Actually I’m the same as a commoner, I does not understand this film festival. Venice is a beautiful and romantic place. The people here is engrossed in films, I had already watch many different films.”

news from: ent.QQ.com

Being a boss is better than being an artiste, when Andy Lau was doing promotion for the film Gallants which he had invested, he changed the precaution mentality that he engaged towards the media as he had a relaxed mood and mischievous as all the newcomers all respected him as he’s older than them, he’s also not angry, on the stage, he managed to ask Zhang Guoli and Ning Hao to show their support, off stage, he pat the shoulders of the younger actors to encourage them to work hard, for all his action, you should address him as Boss Lau.

Reporter (R): Are you considered as a generous boss?

Andy (A): Not generous, I scold them everyday (laughs), I had no choice, I had already invested the money, whether I can earned back the money will depend on heaven.

R: How simple is it to “cheat” you to invest?

A: Most importantly, find some babes, haha. Actually there is always a professional way of fund dealing for this matter, This time I managed to find Lam Katung as the executive producer, I think he did a good job, the whole story is like talking about our Hong Kong film industry, it’s doing very well in the past, but now it’s unsure where it lies, we are Hong Kong actors thus we hope that Hong Kong films to maintain its flavors, it might not be a major production like a collaboration, or do so well, but hope that this market still have films with Hong Kong flavors.

R: Do you feel that being a boss is able to guarantee the quality of Andy Lau?

A: Actually not all of my films are good, but when I’m an actor, I have no say in matters in the background. When I’m the boss, I can read the script beforehand, then find two directors, they would explain to me how they will be handling the film, during post production, I can watch every scenes, what I can do is to prevent what I think is not good to be seen by the audience.

R: It seems that when you’re the boss, you’re more focusing on promotion?

A: This is very realistic, when Ning Hao was doing promotion, I was absent and only 5 media came, China Films called me to ask me to show him support. I later understand that if I wanted to introduce a newbie, I must be there, it’s like when you wanted to see Chow Yun Fat, there must be someone to bring you to see him.

R: If this film’s box office taking is not good, will you continue to be a boss?

A: If it’s not good, I will try again next time, the fighting ring is there everyday. Because this film must have some Hong Kong element in order to attract audience, if I can shoot a film that would gather to all levels, my expectation of the box office would not be just $6 million.

news from: yule.sohu.com

Earlier Andy Lau and Barbie Hsu was interviewed by i-CABLE Entertainment Channel.

Andy expressed that his father character in Future X-cops resemble his father as both of them sacrifice time to spend with family for work. He revealed that when he is less than 18 years old, he did not managed to spoke more than 10 sentences to his dad.

He also added that some media misquote his words, he quoted an example of an interview for the film but in the end, the title of the film was not quoted and turned out to be a family interview. He said: “I actually said that I would miss my family during shooting, but when the report was published, it changed to missing my wife.”

Andy sighed and said that the media should be more concentrate when doing interviews and not focus on gossips.

news from: Hong Kong Daily, Sing Tao News, Ming Pao, Headline Daily

Andy Lau seldom talked about his love life, other than his marriage being exposed last year and the holding hands appearance with wife Carol Zhu Liqian at the airport, he had since kept his marriage life a secret but when he was interviewed via telephone for the promotion of Future X-cops, he still avoid the words “wife” and “Carol Zhu Liqian”, when talked about his family and wife, we can sense the blissful in his words!

Andy’s marriage was exposed last year and was given the tag “Lying Heavenly King” at some stage, now the fans had accepted him allowing him success in family and career. 48-years-old Andy exclaimed that he is doing well as he said: “Close to blissful. Who know how blissful feel like? But it’s very near, I’m satisfied.”

He does not expect much and always looked on the bright side, “This world is not perfect, I’m able to be together with the person I love, those whom love me are closer to me, my fans also supported me. The media treated me well, I’m very thankful. I’ve a bright future, haha, that’s very good!”

With regards to his family planning, he said: “Many thing let nature take its own course, because the future is unknown, should get along well with those beside you, love those people you love, do well in your job. I think need not spend too much time to think about this.” It seems that he’s hinting to let nature take its course on whether he would have children.

Andy is a hero from the future in Future X-cops, when asked if he is a “hero” among the eye of his family members, he said: “I can give myself a family member with a pass grade, but not a hero.” The reporter asked: “What does it means by pass grade.” He added: “To be able to protect my family,” it seems that he does not wish to talk more.

Artiste always finds love relationship complicated as it’s death when it comes to light, Andy and Carol are not a couple for 20 years but also got married, when asked how he kept his secret, he stopped for a while before smiling to reply: “This I’m not sure. (But you did a nice job!) I…not convenient to answer!”

Andy had been working very hard in showbiz and said that he would not stop, becoming a husband, will he slow down his pace and shift his focus, spend more time with wife?

Andy quipped: “Do you think I treat my family badly? For so many year, I treated my family very well, whatever my decision in future, they would be happy.”

It was reported recently that after finishing all his jobs at hand, he plans to move backstage two years later, he clarify: “That time, I’m saying that I will completed my contracted jobs on hand within 2 years, then I will decided which direction I wanted to go two years later, maybe I’ll act, or do a musical. When the news came out, it become that I’ll retire in 2 years time!”

When asked did he plan to relief his role as an artiste, he said: “I don’t know, but it seems that everybody think that it’s tough for me to be an artiste! For an artiste to have an achievement like me can’t be considered as bad, correct?”

Currently, Andy is still enjoying life and his career, “I need not set a time for myself, because life has unlimited space. I don’t want to limit myself.”

Xu Jiao was his daughter in Future X-cops and Andy was all praise for her as she is considered as more mature when compared with children of her age, she is also very accommodating when working! He said: “When she’s able to collaborate with Stephen Chow, I surely know that she would be accommodating, because it’s not easy to express comical and some inner feelings together.”

When asked if he would followed Stephen to make Xu Jiao her god-daughter, Andy quipped: “I treat her as my friend, I never see her as a child!” Andy added that he had collaborated with children in his commercials and charity events, thus he know how to get along well with children.

With regards to Barbie Hsu taking at him as idol, Andy quipped that it does not affect their collaboration, Barbie is also very professional, he added that Barbie is not a “vase” in the film. “I discovered that everybody only comment on the beauty of Barbie and Fan Bingbing and neglect their acting, actually both of them wanted to improve on their acting thus they did their best.”

Future X-cops being touted as the first Chinese science fiction film as there are many dangerous and special effects enhanced scenes. Andy expressed that the film cannot be comparable to Hollywood production but it can be considered a good science fiction Chinese film, “Hope that everyone would watch it in the cinema and give some developing space for Chinese film, if not it would be impossible for a Chinese version of Avatar to appear.”

He said, other than the special effects bringing excitement, his human-to-human relationship with Fan Bingbing, Barbie and Xu Jiao is also a selling point of the film.

Having collaborated with Wong Jing for many years, they had the chemistry there, he said that although Wong Jing films are not the best, but they are easily mistaken as lack of artistic, “I don’t dare say that this film is a great film but it’s worth watching!”

Andy braved his exposed marriage incident to promote the film in Mainland China and Taiwan, when told of the good box office takings in Mainland China, he was touched. “We lose out when this film is screened straight after Avartar, but after the film opened in the cinemas, the number negative reviews went down, people seems to accept it.”

What touched him the most is the fans support, “In the past one year, everybody is worried what will be the reaction towards my film…. thus I’m touched, many thanks to all of them!”

When asked if he would promote the film in Malaysia, he quipped: “There are only a few cinemas screening this film, thus the distributor had gave up the idea of inviting me over. Haha! I can only depend on my own website to recommend to everybody!”

When asked of their “caring father” and “daughter” relationship, Andy quipped that they are good friends, “I’ll teach her how to face the public, a child is still a child, she is more mature.”

news from: China Press

After 6 months of ups and down, Andy Lau once again stand in-front of everybody, from his eyes you could not see any embarrassment, hesitating, he is still gentle when answering questions. Magnanimous.

Andy who is 48 years old, in showbiz close to 30 years, more than 120 films and 300 concerts to his name, years of non-stop working allowed him to feel the benefits and sacrifice, he said: “For one thing, you contribute for it, that’s not sacrifice, it’s balance, because this is your own belief.”

Full collection of photos by Tony Zhao here

Andy Lau would transform into a half robot in Future X-cops and return to the past to finish a mission. In order to handle the fighting actions, the special image special effects and shooting, Andy exclaimed that he expected the difficulties and hope to make a breakthrough Hong Kong film.

Future X-cops directed by Wong Jing, its cast includes Andy Lau, Barbie Hsu, Xu Jiao and Fan Bingbing, Andy is a cop from the future, he had a happy family in wife (Fan Bingbing) and daughter (Xu Jiao), but accident changed his life and he need to go back to the past from the future to complete a mission, transformed into a half robot “future x-cop”, meanwhile he would have a love relationship with Barbie!

Series of special effects scenes, from action design, real person fighting till post production, long time was spend, when Andy accepted to be cast in this film, he has a serious mentality of doing his best, he wanted the film not losing out to Hollywood science fiction films, he said: “I need to wear a 3-4 inches high robot boots, controlling the boot is not easy, I still need to do some fighting action standing in front of a blue background, I wanted it to be realistic. We tried to do as close to what they’re doing in Hollywood, I expected that it would be tough, but it’s a new experience.”

Andy is known for his passion for work, he still have the love for films, he hope that for every film that he participated would be of some quality. With regards to collaborating with Wong Jing again, the chemistry is already there, with regards to science fiction film, Andy exclaimed that he wanted to do a breakthrough, “There is not only period films in Hong Kong, there are still many different genres for audience to select, there are several films about the future previously, the developing space is huge, in order to make it refreshing, we need to try different breakthrough. In Future X-cops, I put in a lot of effort in acting, I know this film will be used for comparison, but hope that Hong Kong special effect films will be successful.”

Having more than 100 films to his name, Andy’s action had been recognized, for the films that he accepted, he does not hope that the character is repeated, he said: “When I’m old, I would not give up my work in showbiz, or just remain a singer, I will look for chances, time and ability.”

With regards to his earlier exposed marriage and the problems that followed, with the period over, Andy exclaimed that there was a short period that he’s unhappy, but as time goes by, what he think is okay is good for him.

news from: Sing Tao News

Andy Lau is well known for being hardworking, thus earned the tag of “Ox”. In showbiz for more than 20 years, tired? Thought of going on a long holiday? “Things unchanged mentality changed, enjoying so many years on the top, you can’t say change immediately, I’ve Slow Down a lot, had not shoot many films, from 2000 till the end of 2009, I only have 10 films, since 2003 I had not shoot two films at the same time, because I wanted to sing and participate in fund raising events, people mistaken that I work too much.”

Actually Andy had two months of rest each year, we joked that he had earned enough and need not work anymore, he said: “Can’t said that I’ve earned enough, I enjoy working. Clint Eastwood is still acting, I will never retire, when I’m 60 years old I could still shoot this number of films, maybe I have one film in every 5 or 10 years, it will do, if I can do it, I will act.”

Future X-cops was originally scheduled to hit the cinema during the Chinese New Year, thus this interview was carried at the end of last year, then Andy was still hogged by media about his hiding of his marriage, he was also nicknamed “Lying Heavenly King”, it seems that he speak more down to earth and not around the bush. When interviewed, Andy is not as open as in the past, but rather like a “frightened person”.

Andy exclaimed when his marriage to Carol Zhu Liqian in Las Vegas being exposed, he was blamed by many resulted him to be unhappy for a period of time, “I always think that if I treat people well, people will treat me well.” Currently his belief is still the same, “If I don’t treat people well, today would not be like this.” He expressed that although he would not be so open when talking but there is no need to build a wall to protect himself, “I don’t know how to be careful, the more careful I am, the more unhappy I become.”

news from: Ming Pao

When it comes to science fiction film dictionary, the word “Hong Kong” is always missing, a “not in the trend” make a full-stop.

Wong Jing is good at comedies, he only have one aim when he invited old partner Andy Lau for Future X-cops, that is making the first step for Hong Kong special effects film. Wong Jing had collaborated well with Andy many times, they had not collaborated since 1999′s Conman in Las Vegas, however its not that they are not on good terms, it’s because of the downturn in Hong Kong movie industry and Andy cutting down his movie offers; Wong Jing also switched to shooting drama serials and low budget films and looking for investors. Last year, his friend Tsai Song-ling who has a passion in films wanted to make a comeback and both Andy and Wong Jing gave him a helping hand to collaborate in this film. Andy even said that this film is “unlike Wong Jing”.

Andy described previous Wong Jing films as “quick and good”, collaborating after 10 years, Wong Jing still did not change as his film is still good as Future X-cops pre and post production took more than 18 months, in order to perfect it, the screen date kept changing. Although the special effects cannot be compared to Hollywood, especially the post-Avatar period where audience requirement for special effects in films had raised. Andy said: “When Wong Jing told me about Future X-cops, I’m very worried, I’m not afraid that I’m a policeman from the year 2085 but the special effects being laughed, I told him that since he’s good at comedies, we could just relax and shoot a comedy, but he insist, he said that we must take the first step, I feel that he is very brave!”

Wong Jing expressed that Korean has The Host, Hong Kong had nothing, previously Jeffrey Lau’s Metallic Attraction：Kungfu Cyborg does not have enough time as it’s rushing to meet the screen date, the special effects could have been improved. Wong Jing said: “Hong Kong’s special effects had improved, someone had to go the way, when someone tried, we would not be forever walking in the same spot. There will be pressure, but there will be market for action plus special effects.”

Andy agreed that new challenge must be taken up in films in order to make a breakthrough, take for example Johnnie To approached him to makeup into a 200 pound fatso in Love On A Diet, it fare rare reviews with questions like “How?” and “Will it look convincing?”. There is no action in Infernal Affairs, only the battle of wits, everybody also think that it’s dangerous but it still do well in the box office, it showed that breaking the norm is correct. Andy said: “Breaking the norm, trying might not bring success, but without trying you would forever unable to make a new breakthrough and new path.”

news from: Ming Pao