Hong Kong actor surmounts ailments
By Xu Wei |
April 21, 2013, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FOR Hong Kong actor Chapman To, 2012 was a productive year. He was a hit in Pang Ho-cheung's comedy "Vulgaria," which was shot in just three weeks and raked in more than 30 million yuan (US$4.84 million) in Hong Kong, surpassing spy blockbuster "The Silent War."
For his role, which is a producer in "Vulgaria," To was nominated for Best Actor at the 49th Golden Horse Awards and Best Actor at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards, which were held last Saturday. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for another film, "Diva." "It was a learning opportunity for me," said To on the red carpet before the award ceremony.
Though To was expected to win in both categories, his co-star in "Vulgaria" Ronald Cheng and Dada Chan won the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Yet at the peak of To's acting career last year, the 41-year-old star was diagnosed with a rare nerve disease (Miller Fisher) that can lead to paralysis, suffocation and death.
The blow was delivered shortly after he had been nominated for Fantastic Fest's Best Actor award for his role in the low-budget comedy "Vulgaria." In it he plays a struggling movie producer who is forced to make a new version of a soft porn film after a triad leader agrees to invest in his films. It was uproarious and highly successful.
He had to stop all work. With prompt treatment, recovery can be swift, and so it was for To.
He returned to work and joined the second season of the TV game show "The Cube," in which contestants enter a glass cube and face nine challenges. To was after the 100,000 yuan cash award for charity work. The money will be donated to help fund hospice care for elderly people on the mainland. Though he hurt his leg on a balance bar, he didn't quit. He even did better than Taiwanese magician Lu Chen and mainland hostess Liu Yan.
His screen persona is often cynical and reckless but the "real" To is very responsible and determined.
Unlike many Hong Kong stars, To is not a handsome matinee idol. He began acting in the 1990s, working as extras for TV dramas. He rose to fame in 1999 with the serial "My Date With a Vampire." He moved to the big screen in 2000 and was praised for his performance in the cop trilogy "Infernal Affairs" (2002) and the car race film "Initial D" (2005).
Q: After hurting your leg, why didn't you quit?
A: In the show, I have to complete a series of challenges in different games. I didn't expect that the first game would be that difficult. My leg ached after I fell off the balance bar. But I told myself that I still had a chance to win. My confidence was boosted when I completed the second game. And I did better and better. That is actually what life is about. It can't be sweet or smooth all the time. No matter how difficult our circumstances are, we can't lose our confidence to move forward.
Q: Why charity work?
A: I used to feel awkward and embarrassed to help people because I didn't want to invade their privacy. It took time for me to get back the courage to give a hand to people in need. These days entertainment stars are thought to be profit-driven and have little sense of social responsibility. I want to change people's misunderstandings about us. In fact, the 100,000 yuan I earned from the show is far from enough, but that's not the point. I hope my efforts can raise public awareness of the problems faced by the elderly.
Q: Have you recovered? What are your plans?
A: Those where dark days when I was diagnosed, but fortunately I have now recovered. I will star in a few movies this year, but I am careful and find a good balance between work and life. That experience has taught me how important health is.
Q: "Vulgaria" was a big, low-budget success. What's the future of these films?
A: Comedy is a mature and popular genre of Hong Kong cinema. It has a distinctive style that's well-received in South China. I think small-budget comedies always have a big potential market. But they require correct positioning and an original and creative perspective for telling stories.
Q: Describe your photos.
A: For me photography is a way to find inner peace. Everyone has the potential to be a photographer. My photos are mainly about the directors and actors who used to work with me. I don't plan an exhibition, but when I am old, I will publish a charity book featuring these photos. They can vividly chronicle the development of Hong Kong cinema.
For his role, which is a producer in "Vulgaria," To was nominated for Best Actor at the 49th Golden Horse Awards and Best Actor at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards, which were held last Saturday. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for another film, "Diva." "It was a learning opportunity for me," said To on the red carpet before the award ceremony.
Though To was expected to win in both categories, his co-star in "Vulgaria" Ronald Cheng and Dada Chan won the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Yet at the peak of To's acting career last year, the 41-year-old star was diagnosed with a rare nerve disease (Miller Fisher) that can lead to paralysis, suffocation and death.
The blow was delivered shortly after he had been nominated for Fantastic Fest's Best Actor award for his role in the low-budget comedy "Vulgaria." In it he plays a struggling movie producer who is forced to make a new version of a soft porn film after a triad leader agrees to invest in his films. It was uproarious and highly successful.
He had to stop all work. With prompt treatment, recovery can be swift, and so it was for To.
He returned to work and joined the second season of the TV game show "The Cube," in which contestants enter a glass cube and face nine challenges. To was after the 100,000 yuan cash award for charity work. The money will be donated to help fund hospice care for elderly people on the mainland. Though he hurt his leg on a balance bar, he didn't quit. He even did better than Taiwanese magician Lu Chen and mainland hostess Liu Yan.
His screen persona is often cynical and reckless but the "real" To is very responsible and determined.
Unlike many Hong Kong stars, To is not a handsome matinee idol. He began acting in the 1990s, working as extras for TV dramas. He rose to fame in 1999 with the serial "My Date With a Vampire." He moved to the big screen in 2000 and was praised for his performance in the cop trilogy "Infernal Affairs" (2002) and the car race film "Initial D" (2005).
Q: After hurting your leg, why didn't you quit?
A: In the show, I have to complete a series of challenges in different games. I didn't expect that the first game would be that difficult. My leg ached after I fell off the balance bar. But I told myself that I still had a chance to win. My confidence was boosted when I completed the second game. And I did better and better. That is actually what life is about. It can't be sweet or smooth all the time. No matter how difficult our circumstances are, we can't lose our confidence to move forward.
Q: Why charity work?
A: I used to feel awkward and embarrassed to help people because I didn't want to invade their privacy. It took time for me to get back the courage to give a hand to people in need. These days entertainment stars are thought to be profit-driven and have little sense of social responsibility. I want to change people's misunderstandings about us. In fact, the 100,000 yuan I earned from the show is far from enough, but that's not the point. I hope my efforts can raise public awareness of the problems faced by the elderly.
Q: Have you recovered? What are your plans?
A: Those where dark days when I was diagnosed, but fortunately I have now recovered. I will star in a few movies this year, but I am careful and find a good balance between work and life. That experience has taught me how important health is.
Q: "Vulgaria" was a big, low-budget success. What's the future of these films?
A: Comedy is a mature and popular genre of Hong Kong cinema. It has a distinctive style that's well-received in South China. I think small-budget comedies always have a big potential market. But they require correct positioning and an original and creative perspective for telling stories.
Q: Describe your photos.
A: For me photography is a way to find inner peace. Everyone has the potential to be a photographer. My photos are mainly about the directors and actors who used to work with me. I don't plan an exhibition, but when I am old, I will publish a charity book featuring these photos. They can vividly chronicle the development of Hong Kong cinema.
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