People people n their lives as in their art, dream of making his own films was thus Kai-yui and Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting gradually developed. Iare a team. So when Varsity set out to After graduating from the University interview the award-winning film-makers, of (HKU), he worked for we were a little disappointed that we were to Radio Television Hong Kong as an meet only one half of the creative partnership. assistant director but was aware of his As luck would have it, we bumped into Law technical shortcomings. “Sometimes, on our way to meet Cheung and he agreed to the crew fooled me,” he says. He decided join us later. to pursue further studies in film at NYU For the next 60 minutes, the 56-year- because he was both determined not to be old Law and 59-year-old fooled again and he wanted to experience Cheung showed all the life abroad. the ease of long-time Unlike Law, Cheung says she never collaborators, as they dreamed of becoming a film director when anticipated each other’s she was young. There were very few female answers and finished directors at the time and people in this field each other’s sentences. were stereotyped as bad people, she says. The pair first met while Instead, she thought she would become they were studying film at a journalist after studying literature and the New York University (NYU) psychology at HKU. and have taken turns as scriptwriter, She never became a journalist. producer and director on a series of films After she graduated, she applied for such as the The Soong Sisters, City of Glass and won a scholarship to study drama and their earlier Migration Trilogy. The trilogy and multimedia in the United Kingdom. includes the critically and commercially In Britain, she got a job with British acclaimed An Autumn’s Tale, their biggest Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a hit prior to their latest effort Echoes of production assistant. the Rainbow, which won the Crystal Bear “I came to realise that one has to for the Best Film in the Generation Kplus be cultivated and have a certain level of (children and young people) category at the knowledge to make a film. It is totally not 2010 Berlin Film Festival. what people call a bad pursuit,” she says. Echoes of the Rainbow and its A few years later, she decided to study predecessor, City of Glass, are reminiscences film at NYU even though she was not sure about old Hong Kong. The couple says they if she had the money to finish the degree. wanted to show the subtle changes in society There, she formed a bond with another through the depiction of peer and cross- poor Hong Kong film student, Alex Law. generation relationships of the time. During their years in New York, BY “The closer the human relationships the they had to adapt to a totally different PHOEBE MAN better, be it in a family or in a neighbourhood. environment to Hong Kong. In addition, Nowadays, people always talk about Cheung noticed a big difference between privacy. The cost of privacy is the lack of the mindsets of Britons and Americans. communication,” Law says. “In Britain they stress that everything The film, which is based on Law’s has to be elegant and artistic. They say if childhood, has struck a chord with everybody understands your film, you’re audiences. dead. But in America, things had better DOUBLE Law’s calling came early. As a be less difficult. If audiences find it hard child, he played truant from school to understand your film, you’re dead,” and was the frequent target of prefects. He she says. RAINBOWS found the cinema was the best place to hide Tuition fees were expensive, money from them. From his dark hiding place, his was tight. To save money, they walked

Varsity MAY 2010 ISSUE 116 MAY 2010 ISSUE 116 Varsity people  Varsity were never as easy again. Despite Despite again. easy as never were things that, after but luck, of result the budget America. in within shot was which film, the make to Fong them. gave million HK$1 them help to promised who Studio, Brothers MonaFong Yat-wah, across general manager of came Shaw Law and Cheung as intended a workgraduation only. But as them to moviesmake inspired that there such members triad and illegal immigrants with encounters frequent the was It situation. penniless her on pity took owner the after store rental video neighbourhoods Chinatown a at job a got Cheung while rough in movies fu kung sold Law bookstores. and rental film in Oscar-winning dollars the see to pockets two their the spent and dinner the for money how skipped they - movies Law recalls their up saved And they company. they other’s discovered each enjoyed they that walking were they while was it but - snowed it when even metro the taking of instead Illegal Immigrant Law says their debut effort was was effort debut their says Law Immigrant Illegal They also worked odd jobs in video Amadeus MAY 2010 ISSUE 116 . . was originally originally was and that’s the funbit.” neverhappentomorrow, knowwhat“I will get an award, it is a bonus.” a is it award, an get I If happen. to something force can’t “You concurs: happen and smiles Law cue, on will what tomorrow, that’s and bit.”fun the Right know never “I Cheung. says fate,” is This nowhere. from up pop things Many everything. times). (good resembles part right-hand and part times) (difficult left-hand the shoes, Rainbow in wife shoemaker’s the by times several reiterated is line The agreement. in grins Law as says, versa,” Cheung vice and step, easy one by followed be will step difficult “One says. she problems,” of kinds these face will you that sure be can you films, non-mainstream make film, second Tale. Autumn’s their for backers find to hard very was it says Cheung film, first Hong her for 5th Awards Film the Kong in Director Best won she Although films. their for investors pair to find says have the they always struggled awards, numerous winning Still, their attitude is positive. positive. is attitude their Still, “Don’t think you can plan plan can you think “Don’t xie Te hns caatr for character Chinese The . , is composed of two parts: parts: two of composed is , “When you choose to to choose you “When Echoes of the the of Echoes nan An An jia

“You can’t force ideologies. I mean I don’t even think think even don’t I mean I ideologies. different into films classifying people Law protests. His partner is “I firm: hate a of image the haveI “Butsuggestion. the of rejection some. to idealised and glorified seem may School Boys’ Diocesan in education brother’s older realistic realistic supposedly the Evenin elitism. of reek movies,their particularly of some that criticism And been has school.there secondary complete to lucky were contemporaries some when time a so at HKU to been went Both not unkind. privileged has fate particularly backgrounds, from came bonus.” award,an it is a happen. Iget If something to Law and Cheung in united their are Law nor Cheung neither Although cos f h Rainbow the of Echoes hi chai shui (scoundrel),” City of City Glass, , the the ,

Elizabeth when she visited HongElizabeth Kong. and campaigns protested against Queen stop signs. He also in participated social bus- several and HKU, of departments English and Chinese stole the from plaques he claims He rebel. and mischief- maker a of something as himself faction” atuniversity. “carefree the to steadfastly belonged she says she Cheung politics, student passionate of backdrop the against and she developed circumstances, an independent character. such Under jobs. part-timeup take to had14,aroundshe was she when away passed father her skip. and and play shuttlecocks, kick kites, hopscotch stories ghost spooky tales. In the day, she to liked fly to listened they night, At it. to listened everyone and corridor; the in was radio A siblings. four and parents her with bed a shared and flat partitioned happya in lived She one. a was childhood her but rich, creativity, saysstifle Cheung. Ideologies them.” make I when that of Law, on the other hand, describes describes hand, other the on Law, persisted, side fun-loving her But Cheung is the oldest child, and when not was family her says Cheung has his “Scoundrels’ Club”. his has Law while Club”, “Bitches’ her with out hangs she says Cheung friends. of groups own their have and things own their on focus each they lives, personal you simply have follow to him.” and takes, and directions own his director has The about. thus argue and to nothing film-making, in wrong or decision,”final says Law. the make would director the only that agreement an made we students, still were we when “Back understanding. an with professionals are they because set on arguments no are saythere They years. these all after strong creative partnership their keeps also and dreams of their pursuit going the them in keeps which attitude persevering but carefree NowYou Now YouIt, See Don’t (1992) The couple says that in their their in that says couple The right no is “There adds: Cheung a adopted have both Today, Echoes of the Rainbow (2010) Rainbow the of Echoes The Illegal Immigrant (1985) Immigrant Illegal The Eight Taels of Gold (1989) Taels Gold of Eight An Autumn’s Tale Autumn’s (1987) An The Soong Sisters (1997) Sisters Soong The (1988) Faces Painted Filmography: Beijing Rocks (2001) Rocks Beijing City of Glass (1998) Glass of City leave for their next interview. interview. next their for leave Cheung and he as Law, says life,” our of part as it accept to grown have we but films, of types our for especially hard, is film-making of road “The up. things wrap Law and Cheung before done Rainbow of has success she the talking since numb the felt all she from the said At Cheung interview. outset, our for minutes world. I hope I can adapt wherever I go.” travellingtheto around usedhavegot I cosmopolitan. I’m that roots, no have I say “You could Kong. Hong ofoutside film next her basing consider to wants experience.” new a Meanwhile, Cheung newmakeamovie, newalife,itbewill genre.arts “EachmartialintoI thetime future work. Law has thought of venturing Writer Producer, Writer Writer Director, Writer Writer Director, Writer Writer Writer Alex Law Varsity Varsity The two also have different plans for . But 60 minutes have passed passed have minutes 60 But . MAY 2010 ISSUE 116 a be alctd 45 allocated been had Producer Director Director Director Director, Writer Director, Writer Writer Director Director Mabel Cheung Echoes of the the of Echoes Varsity



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