(9/3/2003) Gigi Leung Wing Kei attended the promotion of TURN LEFT TURN RIGHT in Malaysia. An autograph session attracted over 1,000 fans while the film company has arranged for 50. Gigi gave them all autographs.
(9/1/2003) Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) talked about a memorable scene in TURN LEFT TURN RIGHT in which he meets Gigi Leung Wing Kei in a pool. He had to go barefoot into the water at 7 degree Celsius weather for a whole morning.
(8/29/2003) Jimmy Liao (Gei Mai)'s TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT has adapted to the big screen. Director Johnnie To Kei Fung wanted to be loyal to the original and brought several of Jimmy's illustrations to life on screen, including Gigi Leung Wing Kei's bath scene and Takeshi Kaneshiro's shower scene. Wai Ka Fai even added the reason that one of them always turns left while the other right, which is not in the original illustrations.
(8/23/2003)Gigi Leung Wing Kei has seen boyfriend Dior Cheng Yi Kin's film HEROIC DUO (SEUNG HUNG). Toward its lukewarm Hong Kong box office reception, Gigi said, "Is it good? Asking me is unfair, I definitely would say it's good, but viewers will think I am biased. So I am leaving it for the viewer to judge. HEROIC DUOE has already qualified for the Asia Pacific Film Festival, which already proves that it is a good movie." Her movie TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT (HEUNG JOR JAU, HEUNG YAU JAU) will premiere on September 11. She is confident that the film will have over HK$10 million at the box office. "But promoting alone will be tough. Gum Sing Mo (Takeshi Kaneshiro) isn't in Hong Kong and Gei Mai (Jimmy Liao) is in Taiwan. They should come on the day of the premiere. If the film opens in Japan, Gum Sing Mo will be promoting it there alone. I will be responsible for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan."
(8/22/2003) "They're both convinced/ that a sudden passion joined them/ Such certainty is beautiful,/ but uncertainty is more beautiful still./ Since they'd never met before, they're sure/ that there'd been nothing between them./ But what's the world from the streets, staircases, hallways --/ perhaps they've passed each other a million times?" Female Polish writer Szymborska's poem LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT has become the theme love poem of the film TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT. Gigi Leung Wing Kei read the poem in fluent Polish while Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) accompanied the reading with his violin. Jimmy Liao (Gei Mai)'s romantic images have jumped onto the silver screen. Gum Sing Mo plays an underappreciated violinist. Before production he studied violin with a violinist. With his music and guitar background Gum Sing Mo was able to grasp the basic technique in 3 days. Director Johnnie To Kei Fung praised Gum Sing Mo's performance has become more mature and confident. Hong Kong and Taiwan rarely has an actor with his kind of romantic quality. Leung Wing Kei spent 3 hours to learn the poem in Polish. The crew praised her for her language talent!
(6/12/2003) Johnnie To Kei Fung and Wai Ka Fai's new film TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT in order to put Jimmy Liao (Gei Mai)'s classic illustration of a sea of umbrellas from the book on screen went through obstacles after obstacles to get approval for a road block outside the busiest streets of Taiwan -- the square in front of Taipei City Government. Besides several water trucks, they also hired over 100 extras to walk around with black umbrellas to make Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) and Gigi Leung Wing Kei's color umbrellas stand out more.
(5/8/2003) Gigi Leung Wing Kei earlier went to Japan to shoot the poster for her film TURN LEFT TURN RIGHT. Because Gigi's Japanese is limited, during the shoot she did not understand what the director was saying. Luckily she had co-star Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) as her filled in translator. The crew was rather concerned with Hong Kong's SARS problem and even introduced many places that sell medical masks to her. She even went to the famous Meiji Temple to pray for an end to SARS, good health for everyone, and world peace. She also bought many prayer packages, tea leaves, chopsticks and other crafts for her mother.
(2/27/2003) The Johnnie To Kei Fung and Wai Ka Fai directed, Gigi Leung Wing Kei and Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) starred TURN LEFT TURN RIGHT has officially begun production last December. Yesterday a press conference was held in Hong Kong with the lead cast and directors in attendance. This is Warner's first Chinese film, thus yesterday reporters from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong were on site. After working together on TEMPTING HEART (SUM DUNG) several years ago, Leung Wing Kei and Gum Sing Mo have reunited. Although earlier dispute rumors between them appeared, but yesterday at the press conference they were conversing and laughing and naturally disputed the rumors. Gum Sing Mo expressed that he took the role mainly because the film has good script, good directors and good actors. He stressed that the entire production so far has been rather pleasant. The story is based on Taiwan famous writer Jimmy Liao (Gei Mai)'s work. Gum Sing Mo has said that he has seen several of his books.
Working with Leung Wing Kei again, Gum Sing Mo felt Gigi has matured a lot and is more professional. "She is getting prettier and more mature. Her interpretation method is different from before. The only thing that didn't change is she still has her sincere heart, which give me calm." He was happier about the chance to return to work in Taiwan. He took the opportunity to visit relatives and enjoy Taiwan food. Director To Kei Fung expressed that working with Gum Sing Mo this time he discovered that his acting has vastly improved. Ah Mo is manly inside and outside and the director even described he as "Ma Luk Lo" who can definitely mesmerize female viewers. "He is a completely different person from we worked on EXECUTIONERS. His acting naturally has improved a lot and not as messy as when he made THE ODD ONE DIES (LEUNG GOR JI NUNG WOOT YUT GOR)." The film took two years to prepare and cost 24 million. To Kei Fung honestly said that 3/5 of the film has already been shot in Taiwan. The remaining scenes will be shot in the office set. The film will be released in the summer.
(1/7/2003) Based on the Taiwan novelist Jimmy Liao (Gei Mai)'s TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT, the film of the same title yesterday shot on location in Taiwan with Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) and Gigi Leung Wing Kei. In the chilly weather Gum Sing Mo had to walk barefoot into a pool to meet Gigi. To play a professional violinist, Gum Sing Mo has a film company hired violinist to instruct him. Although he might not be able to learn everything, he only has to grasp the violinist's essence. Gigi has no problem working with Gum Sing Mo for a second time. During production she only has him in her heart and no one else. Johnnie To Kei Fung chose a romance for his first multinational film because gunplay film productions are larger. In comparison romantic drama is easier to make.
(12/31/2002) Warner Pictures' first Chinese film TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT (HEUNG JOR JAU HEUNG YAU JAU) days ago began production in Taiwan. Directors Johnnie To Kei Fung and Wai Ka Fai kept their casting a secret until the production start date when Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) and Gigi Leung Wing Kei were unveiled. Gum Sing Mo and Leung Wing Kei are working together for the first time since TEMPTING HEART (DUNG SUM). The film would first shoot in Taiwan then head for production in Hong Kong next year. The production would cost around HK$24 million. TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT was based on Taiwan author Jimmy Liao (Gei Mai)'s famous book of the same name. The movie is about two lonely single city dweller's romantic fate. Gum Sing Mo plays a violinist and Leung Wing Kei a translator. They live in the same building but due to inopportune times they have never times. Yet they often pass by each other as stranger.
(12/18/2002) Johnnie To Kei Fung's film adaptation of Jimmy Liao (Gei Mai)'s work, TURN LEFT TURN RIGHT (HEUNG JOR JAU, HEUNG YAU JAU), has been set to begin production on December 26. Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) and Gigi Leung Wing Kei have been confirmed to star. The film would be the first Warner Bros. funded Chinese film. To Kei Fung said, "This is the first collaboration between Milky Way Image and a major American company. Foreign funding has also an effect for Hong Kong film to cheer about."
(12/16/2002) Gigi Leung Wing Kei yesterday attended an athletic event. Days ago a report claimed that Johnnie To Kei Fung has invited Gigi and Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) to star in his big screen adaptation of Jimmy Liao (Gei Mai)'s TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT (HEUNG JOR JAU HEUNG YAU JAU) but someone has been rumored to act like a big shot by demanding no press visit during production. Now the film company has decided to recast. Gigi denied to be the big shot actor. "I never even heard my manager talking about this movie, but I of course am very interested in this film because I have always collected Jimmy Liao's work. The whole thing was a rumor. Wait until production starts!"
Articles are courtesy of Sing Tao Daily, Next Media, Apple Daily, Ming Pao Daily, Oriental Daily, the Sun and Ta Kung Pao. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduced with the kind permission of HK Film Top Ten
