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Ma Yuk Sing Says
Beijing Youth Daily,
11 March 2004
Mao Guo Li
Ma Yuk Sing is working as martial arts director for action comedy
The Flying Heroine:
Little White Dragon (tentative) starring Cecilia Cheung, who reprises Fung
Bo Bo's role in the 1968 movie as Little White Dragon, and Francis Ng. The
original movie The White Dragon was more serious in nature and had Liu Chia
Liang directing the action. The Flying Heroine: Little White Dragon began
filming last month and will be completed by early April.
In this interview Ma Yuk Sing, talked about his mentor Ching Siu Tung, and shed
his views on Yuen Wo Ping, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, etc venturing into Hollywood.
Ma Yuk Sing
said he was very grateful to Ching Siu Tung, for without him, the present day Ma
Yuk Sing wouldn't have existed. Ma Yuk Sing became Ching Siu Tung's protégé when he was around 20 years
old and Ching Siu Tung has had tremendous influence on him,
"My martial arts choreography leans on exquisite, illusory beauty, on
presentation of the mood and
atmosphere.
All these traits are inherited from Ching Siu Tung." Ma Yuk Sing explained the reason
for Ching Siu Tung's failure for breaking into Hollywood, "Ching Siu Tung
is fiery-tempered, and often scolds people. He is an excellent martial arts
choreographer, but not a very successful director due to his temper. It might be
impossible for those not familiar with him to accept Ching Siu Tung as a
director."
He believed that his mentor Ching Siu Tung is the best "due to the gracefulness
portrayed in his works as well as constantly giving the audiences surprises.
Every time when you see his work, it lends a completely different feel. This
is what sets him apart from the others, such as Hero, which is near perfection
in action. The only regret is that the action lacks a little strength. But I
believe he is the best, and has the most potential."
He said that it was by a stroke of luck that Yuen Wo Ping got involved in the
much acclaimed Hollywood movie The Matrix, "Yuen Wo Ping's martial arts
choreography is more cogent and solid, he is lucky to have a chance to shoot Hollywood
movies, glorify Chinese wushu, and create such a big miracle. However, Yuen Wo
Ping has an obvious shortcoming: there is no major differences in his action.
While The Matrix is great, it imparts a 'been there, done that' feeling. There
is no novelty, and too much special effects were employed."
Then he added with utmost humility, 'They are both the first-rate masters of
martial arts choreography, and they are my aim, though it's very difficult for
me to surpass them right now."
On the Chinese movie stars like Jet Li, Chow Yun Fatt and Jackie Chan, who left
behind many glorious Hong Kong martial arts movies in their legacies, working in
Hollywood, Ma Yuk Sing thought that they were less successful in Hollywood than
in Hong Kong, for "Hollywood discriminates against the Chinese, even though they are
mystified by Chinese kungfu and Oriental culture."
Having experienced failure in Hollywood, Ma Yuk Sing took to Korea market instead. The
success of Bichunmoo is a prime example. "The culture of Korea is very close to
China, and most importantly, they respect us very much. I enjoy working with
them." He indicates he would focus more on the Korea market in his future works.
He will still be the martial arts director in the 24-part TV version of
Bichunmoo,
which is budgeted at HK$50 million and begins production in May, and continue to promote Chinese wushu
in
Korea.
Trailer:
Sina
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