 New comer as a director, Crystal Kwok is one of the new highlights from the Hong-Kong movie industry. In March 2000, Laurent Henry and Master Cyco had the chance to meet Crystal Kwok at the second Far East Film Festival in Deauville, France. Her first movie as a director, The Mistress, was screened then. She kindly agreed to answer our questions about her debut, when she teamed up with Jet Li and Tsui Hark, when she was Maggie Cheung's double, and about her first feature The Mistress.
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| her debuts with tsui hark |
 HKCinemagic : How did you end up in the HK film industry ?
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| Crystal Kwok : I started as an actress a long time ago. I am behind the camera, I am a director now. |
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| HKCinemagic :
In which films did you start?
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| CK : I made my first films with Jackie Chan, Dragons Forever and Police Story 2. I also worked under the direction of Tsui Hark in The Master. |
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| HKCinemagic : Tsui Hark has the reputation to be hard with actors, hasn't he?
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| CK : Yes. he is a clever man. He loves to challenge actors to see how they react. When I was in the USA to study films, he kept defying me and I defied him. We almost fought, but it was very constructive. |
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| HKCinemagic : Did you enjoy this collaboration?
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| CK :
Absolutely. We argue during most of the diner, but it was fun. |
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| HKCinemagic : And how was Jet Li on the set of The Master ? |
| CK : He did not talk much. I should say that he did not speak English very well at the time... It is Jet Li. He has his own way. |
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| HKCinemagic : You appeared also in Ah Kam by Ann Hui. It was a difficult shooting, Michelle Yeoh was badly injured… |
| CK : Yes. I didn't see what happened. There was a similar accident on the set of Police Story 2. Maggie Cheung got a head injury. I was young and free at the time. Then I became her double for the stunts because she was in the hospital. I was also a stuntwoman then! |
 The Master
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Dragons Forever |
| Crystal Kwok as director |
| HKCinemagic : What do you like in the Hong-Kong industry as director?
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| CK : The possibility to do whatever you want. Hong-Kong filmmakers have an incredible capacity of adaptation. In Hollywood, you need to get authorisations first, whereas in Hong-Kong you're free to make everything. Creativity is of first importance there. |
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| HKCinemagic : Which directors do you find the most interesting in Hong-Kong?
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| CK :
Tsui Hark is currently an acclaimed director. I like also Fruit Chan because he's out of the commercial system. I think that the Hong-Kong cinema industry should welcome more independent filmmakers. There are tons of interesting stories to tell. But everyone wants to make action movies based on the same formulas. There should be more space for interesting films. |
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| HKCinemagic :
Was it difficult to produce a feature like The Mistress? |
| CK : Yes, very hard. It took 5 years from script writing to production. In Hong-Kong the theme of the film was badly welcomed because it was considered as an insane subject. It was rated category 3. However there is no nudity. It explores the female sexuality from the psychological point of view. It is a taboo subject in Hong-Kong. |
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| HKCinemagic :
Why did you choose such subject?
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| CK : In Hong-Kong, I host a TV talk show. My program deals with food and sexuality. Many people told me their feelings about their love affairs. I thought it was interesting to show this side of Hong-Kong. |
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| HKCinemagic :
In The Mistress, men are negatively shown. Alex boyfriend is dull, and Henry is egoistic… |
| CK :
Yes, but men like Henry attract some women because they have power and money.
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| HKCinemagic : So for you, do men trap women because of their inability? Or are women simply trapped because of their way to love?
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| CK : I think women do get trapped themselves. They think they can play the game by controlling their feelings. But they simply can't. This is why I believe that they get trapped. |
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| HKCinemagic : And is there not any solution then?
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| CK : Not, I think that it is always tragic, it is endless. I hope that some will learn [laughing]. |
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| HKCinemagic :
It's a very pessimistic vision on women, isn't it?
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| CK : I don't believe so. It is a reality. |
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| HKCinemagic : What is your next project? Another category 3?
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| CK : Not, not necessarily [laughing]. I hope to tell a simple and interesting history. |
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