Sin Kwok Lam, a successful businessman and capitalist who is not the last person in the Hong Kong financial sector, who last year published a provocative book about large corporations swallowing up small firms, and who has been involved in martial arts for a long time, has long dreamed of embodying the image of his great mentor. Ip Man on the big screen, but could not find a single producer with even the slightest desire to take such a risk, since Ip Man was little known.
One day, Sin Kwok Lam and producer Raymond Wong flew to China together, and Lam, taking advantage of the opportunity, offered him his idea and even analyzed the market for him, hinting that there were millions of Wing Chun followers all over the world, and if most of them supported this film, then at a minimum there will be no financial losses. Within a month, Wilson Yip was entrusted with the director's chair, and was assigned to the main role in this project. Donnie Yen, whom Sin Kwok Lam trained in Wing Chun. Sin Kwok Lam also supervised the filming of the fights, providing advice to Sammo Hung and demonstrating Wing Chun.
However, Wong Kar Wai was outraged by this, who entered into a consulting contract with Ip Chun and considered this to be a violation of his copyright. Therefore, Wong Kar Wai's representative met with Ip Chun and Sin Kwok Lam. The astute and experienced businessman Sin Kwok Lam remained adamant and immediately did not fail to remark:
“Copyrights do not apply to human life. Besides, if you continue to persist like this, Master Ip Chun’s health may deteriorate, when else might he have the opportunity to see the great master on the big screen?”
Ultimately, both parties came to a mutual agreement and began working on their films separately, promising not to bully each other. After the success of the first Ip Man film, Sin Kwok Lam decided to take advantage of the opportunity and push for a sequel and prequel.
Sin Kwok Lam, who studied Wing Chun for seven years under Ip Chun, claims that the number of people studying Wing Chun has doubled since the first film.
“As someone who practices Wing Chun, I hope there will be more films about it. They will help people understand and learn this style. Since I no longer teach Wing Chun, my followers can do it, and I believe there will be even more students.”
Perhaps the biggest sensation of The Legend is Born: Ip Man is the first and only screen appearance of Ip Chun, Ip Man's eldest son, as Leung Bik, Ip Man's second mentor. . During a visit to the set, the final scene was filmed, in which the old Lun Bik, supported by Ran Yong Chen (Betty Huang Yi), watches as Ip Man (To Yu Hang), who has already become a master himself, teaches students near wooden mannequins . It will take a long time before Wing Chun practitioners can train properly with a wooden dummy, as it is easy to get injured in the arms and legs if the Wing Chun movements are not well mastered, however, a large group of people moved in unison.
Ip Chun reportedly starred in several action scenes, and producer Sin Kwok Lam praised his mentor, talking about how great he is. Ip Chun shook his head and said, “So tiring/boring, so glad it's over. I will never act in another film again.”
In “Birth of a Legend: Ip Man,” To Yu Hang, Huang Yi, Fan Xiu Wong, and Rose Chan have a rocky relationship. Fang Xiu Wong, as Ip Man's abbot Tian Xi, is in love with his younger sister, Rose Chan, who in turn likes Ip Man, who later fell in love with Huang Yi. When asked how he feels about such ups and downs, Ip Chun replied:
“All I know is that my role in the film is real, because it matches the version that I heard in my youth. I don't really know anything about other roles. My father didn’t tell me, and I didn’t ask him about this relationship. And how could I ask my parents about their love affairs? My mother came from a family of very rich officials with a high status in society, and my father came from a large family, without any title, the difference between them was quite large, and people at that time were very biased about their position in society. I have no idea how they managed to get married. I myself am interested in what will happen in the film.”
Hoping that “Birth of a Legend: Ip Man” would be a Wing Chun training video, Sin Kwok Lam hired the most highly trained actors and minimized the number of special effects. And although there are no stars of the first magnitude in the film, director Herman Yau did not lose heart:
“We may not have celebrities, but we have real fighters like Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, who can add realism to the fights. In addition, Master Ip Chun “covers” us, so the film turned out to be equally watchable.”
It does not only consist of fist fights, there will be Wing Chun weapons used, for example, a 6 1/2 inch staff and Ba Zhan Dao (double knives). Each episode lasts up to 15 seconds, with an exchange of at least 10-20 movements. Wing Chun will be used against various martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Chin Na, etc.
Newcomer To Yu Hang, who plays the lead role and has been practicing Wing Chun for six years, said about himself:
“I was a Wing Chun consultant in the first Ip Man, and in the second I played the student of Sammo Hung, and took part in a fierce battle with Huang Xiao Min. This film will have episodes with maximum length and also a more romantic storyline.
Donnie Yen and I have a pretty good relationship, and he taught me how to “get into character.” “Big Brother” Sammo Hung plays my teacher, he takes care of me and even got me the movie “Judo Genius” (Sugata Sanshiro), hoping that I would not “overact” on the screen. Or rather, with all my heart I had to express the feelings of my character, convey his passion and love for wushu.”
Huang Yi, who sacrificed two hours of her sleep every day to train Wing Chun under the guidance of Sin Kwok Lam and To Yu Hang, admitted that she often bullied To Yu Hang on the set. Huang Yi tried to provoke him, but he remained polite and unwavering.
“If you don't know him well enough, you would never tell that he studies martial arts. He is closed and silent, he has a gentle character. He really looks like a real Ip Man, just as balanced and cultured.”
Yuen Biao plays the role of Ng Chang Sok, Ip Man's abbot who teaches him Wing Chun. He says that because of the level of on-screen realism, such as the requirement that the sound of every blow be heard, injuries often occurred on set. Yuen Biao, who has the most fights with Fang Xiu Wong and Sammo Hung, who plays their teacher, currency trader Wa, injured his rib so badly that he was forced to return to Hong Kong to recover. And Fang Xiu Wong and To Yu Hang, after their duel in contact, their bodies were covered with bruises, especially on the arms and legs. Previously, Fang Xiu Wong received a cut on his head from Bernice Liu's katana on the first day of her arrival. He needed three stitches.
Yuen Biao says To Yu Hang is much more experienced in Wing Chun compared to Donnie Yen, but his acting skills still need to be “honed.” He added that the script for Seven Little Fortunes, which he has been working on for some time, has already been completed and production is expected to begin mid-year.
Fan Xiu Wong, who lost 8 pounds (3,6 kg) in a month to better suit his on-screen character, said production is almost complete, with the final battle featuring Fan Xiu Wong, Yuen Biao, Bernice Liu as the Japanese master and, later, To Yu Hang was filmed in 9 days. Soon, Fang Xiu Wong will fight Bernice Liu again when she challenges their school to a fight.
Work on the film “Birth of a Legend: Ip Man,” dedicated to Ip Man's early life and his training under the leadership of Chan Wah Shun, Ng Chang Sok and Leung Bik, as well as his romantic relationships and opposition to foreigners, ended in January of this year. The premiere is scheduled for May.
Source: wu-jing.org
Translation: EvilDollaR
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Tags: The Legend is Born - Ip Man, Wong Kar-Wai, Dennis To, Yip Man, Ip Chun, Louis Fan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao
Tags: The Legend is Born - Ip Man, Wong Kar-Wai, Dennis To, Yip Man, Ip Chun, Louis Fan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao
About the film about the seven lucky ones. Information has appeared about him. The director will be Sammo, he will also star in the film along with his son Sammy (I think he will play his father), Yuen (Biao, Wa, Qiu), Ison Chan and someone else.
But I'm there raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I really like the old film about the lucky ones, Painted Faces, a very subtle and touching film.
"We may not have celebrities." Aren't Hungg and Biao celebrities?
Yes, but in this case the author had in mind actors who star not in minor roles, but in key ones.
So thank you :)!! It was very interesting!
It turns out that Wong Kar Wai's version of Ip Man will not happen?
Judging by the text, this was not discussed. Only about individual projects. I would also watch a Wong Kar Wai film.
I fulfilled the request.