Stanley Kwan, and Gigi Leung Talk About “First Night Nerves” in Busan

The 23rd Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) was held from 4th to 13 October, during which director ’s “First Night Nerves”, starring Sammi CHENG, Gigi LEUNG, BAI Bai-he and Angie CHIU, was presented as a Gala Presentation. Another film from Hong Kong was YUEN Woo Ping-directed “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy”, produced by Donnie YEN and Raymond WONG and starring Max ZHANG, Tony JAA and Michelle YEOH. It was the closing film for the Festival this year.

“First Night Nerves” received its world premiere in Busan. Director Stanley KWAN was present at the press conference and the post-screening Q&A session with cast members Sammie CHENG, Gigi LEUNG, Bai Bai-he and Angie CHIU to talk about the film with Busan audience. At the press conference, the director spoke about his experience of making co-productions and recalled his career path over the years from the 80s. “I am grateful that the film had found its mainland Chinese investors, which allowed me to shoot the entire film in Hong Kong. I know very well that only I can make this film. I was the Assistant Director of Ann HUI’s “Boat People” (1982) which was shot in Hainan. So I was one of the early Hong Kong directors who started making films in China, as early as in the 80s. Other works filmed in China include “Center Stage” in Shanghai in 1991, “” in Shanghai in 1994 and “Lan Yu” in Beijing in 2000. So I am actually quite experienced. And I was very proud about it back then because Hong Kong’s filmmaking approach, commercial films’ especially, was considered very systematic in the eyes of mainland Chinese filmmakers. Many Chinese audiences actually grew up watching Hong Kong films produced in the 80s. But from 2000 onwards, mainland Chinese investors would tell Hong Kong directors to ‘gain ground’ – that even Hong Kong filmmakers might have advantages, they need to do it the mainland way if they want to succeed in the mainland market – and directors who had made very successful commercial films were furious about such comment. Still, the growth and development of the mainland Chinese film market in the past 10 years and more is obvious and clearly reflected in its box office numbers which increases every year by folds. The techniques and special effects applied are increasingly diversified; more and more talented directors have emerged. To make a commercial blockbuster in China today, it would not be difficult to find remerging new directors with great potential. Mainland audiences also have broader perspectives nowadays,” said Stanley.

Sammi CHENG recalled her last presence at BIFF was in 2005 for “”, also directed by Stanley KWAN. At that time, she was too devoted into her character and suffered from depression. But she had got over it now, and came to Busan feeling great. Gigi LEUNG, Angie CHIU and BAI Bai-he were attending BIFF for the first time, and they are all delighted for the film being included in the event. According to BAI Bai-he, Busan appears to be a more artistic city compared to Seoul where she had visited before to promote another film.

At the press conference, speaking of the role setting, Stanley KWAN revealed that “Center Stage” and “Rouge” both had relatively stronger female characters. While the character of the stage drama director in “First Night Nerves” is set as a transsexual woman, many have asked Stanley if he wants to be a woman himself. He laughed and explained that he still preferred to be a man, but considered himself possessing the sensitivity and tenderness of a woman, so he was more like a combination of both sexes.

In “First Night Nerves”, Sammi CHENG and Gigi LEUNG are playing the roles of two actresses in competition. When asked about whom they see as competition in real life, Sammi said that she considered herself the biggest competition. “The film starts as a story between two competing actresses who each had her hard times and was burdened by their past. Through collaboration on the stage they learn to let go and feel relieved.” Gigi agreed with Sammi and said that actresses do not necessarily have to be rivalry as in the film but instead be friends. She believed that actors and actresses should always strive to surpass his or her past performances.

“First Night Nerves” depicts a group of actresses rehearsing for a stage drama at the City Hall. Stanley KWAN revealed that he has always built stories based on characters. Hong Kong’s City Hall acts as the backdrop of this film, “The historical City Hall is a place filled with memories of the old days for a lot of Hong Kong people. They went there for movies, dramas, musicals, etc.. The script was written with elaborated details of the characters in the film. It describes what Sammi’s character had been through, and, most importantly, explicates the changes in her over time,” said the director.

BAI Bai-he’s role in the film tends to be unisex, which was very different from all the roles she has played. The director was honest about his mixed feelings towards BAI, “I was sure she is an outstanding actress. But I was not sure how she would interpret the character she plays. I was also not sure if the costumes and makeups will work along with her amazing talents. I was always confused feeling sometimes sure and sometimes unsure, but it was fun.”

Following the world premiere at Busan International Film Festival, “First Night Nerves” is set for official release in Hong Kong in November.