JPHiP Forum
Asian Music Entertainment => Asian Movies & TV => Topic started by: Masa on January 28, 2009, 03:51:17 PM
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Simon Yam Tat-Wah (traditional Chinese: 任達華; simplified Chinese: 任达华; pinyin: Rén Dáhuá), born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer. Yam's career began as a male supermodel, before he turned to acting in the mid 1970s. He then signed with TVB, starring and co-starring in a number of TV series prior to "apply his trades" in the movies in 1987. His elder brother is Deputy Commissioner of Police Yam Tak-Wing. In 1989, he starred in the Japanese-Hong Kong co-production of Bloodfight. This was the first of its kind in which English was spoken throughout the entire film. In 1992, Yam gained critical acclaim for his role as the maniacal Judge in Full Contact, where he faced off in a bloody battle against Chow Yun-Fat.
In 1993, he starred as "Dhalsim" in Future Cops, Wong Jing's Hong Kong parody of Street Fighter. In 1996, Simon began his role as Chiang Tin-Sung, the leader of the Hung Hing triads in the first 3 installments of Young and Dangerous. In 2000, Yam starred as the king of vampires in ATV's television series My Date with a Vampire 2. In 2003, Yam made his American film debut with the action packed sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life as a henchman opposite Angelina Jolie. He is currently married to Chi Chi, an international model and a spokesperson for SKII with whom he has a daughter, Ella.
Links
Fansite (http://www.simonyam.com/)
IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0945189/)
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Yam)
Filmography
* Law Don (1979)
* House of the Lute (1980)
* The Informer (1981)
* Twins (1981)
* He Lives By Night (1982)
* Green Killer (1982)
* Goodbye Mammie (1986)
* Tong - A Chinatown Story (1986)
* The Big Brother (1987)
* Tiger Cage (1988)
* Osmanthus Alley (1988)
* Burning Snow (1988)
* Mistaken Identity (1988)
* Woman Prison (1988)
* Live Hard (1989)
* Burning Ambition (1989)
* Lucky Star (1989)
* Chinese Cop Out (1989)
* Framed (1989)
* The Wild Ones (1989)
* Mr. Coconut (1989)
* Final Run (1989)
* Four Loves (1989)
* Big Man Little Affair (1989)
* Bloodfight (1989)
* Bullet in the Head (1990)
* Killer's Romance (1990)
* Hong Kong Gigolo (1990)
* The Cyprus Tigers (1990)
* Fatal Termination (1990)
* Return Engagement (1990)
* Doctor's Heart (1990)
* The Plot (1991)
* Bullet for Hire (1991)
* The Great Pretenders (1991)
* Gigolo and Whore (1991)
* Black Cat (1991)
* Deadly Deal (1991)
* Sea Wolves (1991)
* Queen's High (1991)
* The Good, the Bad, and the Bandit (1991)
* Mission of Condor (1991)
* The Banquet (1991)
* Guns N' Roses (1992)
* Gigolo & Whore II (1992)
* Cash On Delivery (1992)
* Once Upon A Time A Hero in China (1992)
* Dr. Lamb (1992)
* Friday Gigolo (1992)
* The Night Rider (1992)
* Naked Killer (1992)
* Powerful Four (1992)
* Full Contact (1993)
* Holy Weapon (1993)
* Killer's Love (1993)
* The Incorruptible (1993)
* Killer's Love (1993)
* A Day Without Policeman (1993)
* Insanity (1993)
* Can't Stop My Crazy Love For You (1993)
* Love Among the Triad (1993)
* The First Shot (1993)
* Warriors: The Black Panther (1993)
* Future Cops (1993)
* Prince of Portland Street (1993)
* Final Judgment (1993)
* Run & Kill (1993)
* Raped by an Angel (1993)
* Rose Rose I Love You (1993)
* The True Hero (1994)
* Awakening (1994)
* Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai (1994)
* Drunken Master III (1994)
* Crystal Fortune Run (1994)
* Crossings (1994)
* The Devil's Box (1994)
* Passion 1995 (1995)
* Twist (1995)
* Police Confidential (1995)
* Dragon Killer (1995)
* Because of Lies (1995)
* Love, Guns, and Glass (1995)
* Story of a Robber (1995)
* Farewell to My Dearest (1995)
* Ghostly Bus (1995)
* Man Wanted (1995)
* King of Robbery (1996)
* Bloody Friday (1996)
* To Be No. 1 (1996)
* All of a Sudden (1996)
* Street Angels (1996)
* Scared Memory (1996)
* Young and Dangerous (1996)
* Young and Dangerous 2 (1996)
* Young and Dangerous 3 (1996)
* The Suspect (1998)
* Operation Billionaire (1998)
* Expect the Unexpected (1998)
* Casino (1998)
* Hitman (1998)
* The Mission (1999)
* The Legend of Speed (1999)
* Night Club (1999)
* Trust Me U Die (1999)
* Juliet in Love (2000)
* Model from Hell (2000)
* Horoscope II: The Woman from Hell (2000)
* To Where He Belongs (2000)
* Deathnet.com (2000)
* Cold War (2000)
* Man Wanted 3 (2000)
* Midnight Fly (2001)
* Fulltime Killer (2001)
* Final Romance (2001)
* My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (2002)
* Partners (2002)
* Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
* Looking for Mr. Perfect (2003)
* PTU (2003)
* Eternal Flame of Fatal Attraction (2003)
* Breaking News (2004)
* Wake of Death (2004)
* Mob Sister (2005)
* Election (2005)
* The Unusual Youth (2005) (unbilled cameo)
* Outback (2005)
* SPL (2005)
* Dragon Squad (2005)
* Election 2 (aka Triad Election (US)) (2006)
* Exiled (2006)
* Eye in the Sky (2007)
* Triangle (2007)
* Exodus (2007)
* Fatal Move (2008)
* Sparrow (2008)
* Ocean Flame (2008)
* Tactical Unit - The Code (2008) (TV movie)
* Ip Man (2008)
* Tactical Unit - Comrade in Arms (2009) (TV movie)
* Vengeance (2009)
* The Storm Warriors (2009)
Simon Yam Interview - Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK9aNnb0fXo
Simon Yam Interview - Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgwkbKwpf-M
Simon Yam Interview - Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQU6T6rWhoA
The Samuel L. Jackson of Hong Kong deserves a thread too! 8)
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DUDE is slick as fuck. He is like untouchable. He can whore himself in a bunch of Category III movies (read: softcore porn) - then goes and pimps high class whips. Rebuilt his career into a character actor. See his shit in Fulltime Killer? One of my all time fave actors!! From that golden era of Chow Yun-fat and Tony Leung Chiu Wai.
He always gets votest the Best Dressed / Fashionable HK celeb. And his wife is a hot model. The only thing he hasn't done is sing - I THINK XD
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He is the best.
My mom has a big crush on him.
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Jet Li & Simon Yam - Hitman End Fight [HQ] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_1swwL3Vyk#normal)
Drunken Master 3 (1994)- Simon Yam fight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD8rN7M1YO4#normal)
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Check out this role, proof Simon Yam won't do anything. See him in "Night and Fog": http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/night_and_fog.html (http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/night_and_fog.html)
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8071/vlcsnap144286.jpg)
The role is actually critically acclaimed but after seeing him as a smooth triad boss or ladies man, him with fanny pack is XD XD
《天水圍的夜與霧》預告片 - 五月七日公映 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd_wTUkvYrk#normal)
at least he has kinky sex with his mainland wife.
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You just can't fuck with Simon Yam!! Why you do that man??? WHY!!!
Another movie with a hot actress. Fala Chen:
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Fala Chen collaborates with Simon Yam and Michael Miu in new movie (撕票風雲) (Black Ransom). It will be airing on January 7th 2010. This time Fala gives up on sex appeal and changes into police uniform. She appears as a tough CSP (Chief Superintendent of Police) in the movie to give the audience a refreshing feel. She said "I gained a lot from playing this role. I also received a lot of support for my role as Laughing Sau earlier. I feel this role is very fresh yet professionals such as Simon and Michael give me acting tips. I have learned a lot from them". There is one scene where Qu Ying takes Fala hostage. Fala nearly injured her neck during that scene. "Qu Ying held my neck and was walking backwards. But perhaps she skidded and didn't let go of my neck, I felt a moment of not being able to breathe".
Source: Wenweipo
Translated by: matchbox @ http://illusive-serenity.forumotion.net (http://illusive-serenity.forumotion.net)
The trailer:
Black Ransom Trailer / 撕票风云 预告 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG-sEphiKEs#)
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lol @ Bad Blood: http://www.badbloodpovmovie.com/ (http://www.badbloodpovmovie.com/)
滅門 (原裝預告) Bad Blood (Originial Trailer) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuYCNUO0OzU#)
I am not buying Simon Yam as an expert swordsmen XD
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CONGRATS SIMON! Finally he gets his Best Actor Award!
任達華稱帝 惠英紅封后 - 頭條要聞 - 蘋果日報 - 20100419 - 壹蘋果網絡.flv (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-UYnw2nmHA#ws)
Actor Simon Yam Plans Directorial Debut
2010-04-20 14:18:33 CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Xie Tingting
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After portraying a number of police characters on the big screen, Hong Kong actor Simon Yam continues his affinity for policemen in his directorial debut.
Yam revealed his upcoming project on the sidelines of Sunday's 29th Hong Kong Film Awards, where he won the best actor award for the film "Echoes of the Rainbow".
"I'm familiar with police stories. I was influenced by my father," Yam told the Southern Metropolis Daily.
The director-to-be says the new film will be dedicated to his late father, a former police officer who died on duty. Filming is expected to start next year.
In the award-winning film "Echoes of the Rainbow", Yam plays a cobbler struggling to make a living. The role is one of the few movies in which he appears as neither a policeman nor a criminal.
Yam is currently filming a horror movie called "Watchmen" in which he plays a paranoid killer.
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LMFAO!! Simon's venture on ATV (the red headed stepchild of TVB) in My date with a Vampire II finally found his scene, skip to 5 min in
My Date With A Vampire II episode 15 part 5 (Can) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unh3Et8sVnM#)
Of course he's the Head Vampire
ETA:
It gets so confusing at the end like Estrea says
My Date With a Vampire II episode 18 part 1 (Can) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RuP66NBm5k#)
He probably had some contracts to fulfill, or owed a favor to a friend most likely Wong Jing.
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hope she doesn't watch his movies :lol: Simon Yam is so manly, he can get away with rocking a man purse.
Simon Yam caught smoking; daughter makes him stand in the corner
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Newly crowned HKFA Best Actor Simon Yam attended an event for S.T. Dupont leather company yesterday. He indicated that 30 years ago, he already started saving up money to buy the brand’s cigarette lighters: “At that time, I was already a collector of that brand’s lighters – even in that era, the lighters were over HKD$1000 a piece. The ones I have currently are in the safe deposit box. I like hearing the ‘ding’ sound of the lighter – it’s particularly refreshing after a tired day of filming.”
Earlier, a magazine published a picture of Simon smoking on the day of the HK Film Awards, wearing the same black suit he wore to the awards ceremony. After his daughter saw the picture, she made him go stand in the corner as punishment. Simon expressed: “My daughter really wants me to quit smoking because she understands how harmful and unhealthy it is. When she saw the picture, she made me go stand in the ‘naughty corner’ – not only did I have to stand there for 4 days straight, she also made me stand there wearing that same black outfit. I feel that her actions were very innocent and proper. I will definitely try my best to quit smoking.”
Source: Oriental Daily
Translation: llwy12 @ AsianFanatics
see him May 15 for short film screening at the Hong Kong Art Centre
任達華 祝詞.mov (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Llg7A4UqpUI#ws)
"You love yourself, I love myself" Easy advice he says.
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Yet another honour!! "Night and Fog" is fucking chilling. Must watch "Echoes of the Rainbow" too, he's finally shedding that gangsta role.
Simon Yam Wins 'Best Actor' in Spanish Film Festival
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Simon Yam attended to Cable TV's World Cup event yesterday. He disclosed he received a call from Wong Jing, expressing Simon won Best Actor in Spanish Film Festival with "Night and Fog." Simon said he feels very happy to the film's director Ann Hui. Although he couldn't attend to receive the award himself, but because he didn't contribute all on his own but the result of the whole team, so he doesn't feel it's a pity.
Source: Takungpao
Translated by: Kay's Entertainment
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Simon Yam in another awesome thriller!
Watchmen trailer 2010 (Simon Yam) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyhYEPfg_x8#ws)
YOu CANT FUCK WITH HIS....FASHION Advice XD
Simon Yam Interview Teaser-Fashion Advice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoUwb-t30Rc#)
Fucking Gweilo! he should hook up with us :jphip:
The Ultimate Asian Defintion of Cool O0
(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/6061/37555411265403428160059.jpg)
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lol only the manliest of men can pull off this look. And his name is Simon Yam Tat Wah:
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(http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/1185/vlcsnap2011010207h40m35.jpg)
He in "Killer's Romance" where he is the adopted son of Yakuza and gets revenge on his father's killer only to fall in love with the sexy college student Joey Wong. Awesome action, hilarious plot.
But you gotta give mad props to his acting skills, lately it's been as middle aged fathers instead of middle aged triad/cops.
SIMON YAM live intro ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW new york asian film festival june 27 2010 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uADItpoEdXU#ws)
No wonder my pops loved Echoes of the Rainbow, it's like his life story of earning all his savings into funding education to his brother/kids so they can go to the best of the best schools.....and it ends tragically for the emotional tear jerker. I don't reacall him consoling his son after a massive beatdown tho.
Look out for more Simon Yam in "Midnight Beating" with Francis Ng, creepy hospital movie:
Midnight Beating (2010) Main Trailer.v2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTReH9LqpEs#ws)
ALWAYS for the Peeps!
任達華支持地球一小時 2010 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8hFpu_8MjA#)
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"The Man behind the Courtyard House" (守望者) Opens on March 25
2011-03-18 17:04:01 CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Tian Tian
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The Chinese crime thriller "The Man behind the Courtyard House" by director Fei Xing held a premiere on Thursday, March 17, 2011 in preparation of the film's theatrical release on March 25, "The Beijing Daily" reports.
Dubbed a Chinese version of David Fincher's "Se7en" from 1995, the film tracks protagonist Chen Zhihui who succumbs to trauma and frustration when he is released after spending 20 years in prison and becomes a serial killer.
The film stars Simon Yam, Chen Sicheng, Huang Shengyi, Zhang Jingchu, Yu Shaoqun, Hao Lei and Wei Zi. The cast members of the film kept their lips tightly sealed about the plot during the premiere ceremony.
Director Fei Xing, a fan of crime flicks, said he wanted to explore the psychological world of people who commit crimes. He described "The Man behind the Courtyard House" as a movie in which a casual choice leads to an unexpected outcome like the butterfly effect.
"The Man behind the Courtyard House" is the first film of a psychological crime trilogy. With 2,000 prints hitting cinemas nationwide on March 25, the film has met the distribution requirements for a commercial release.
The film's producer has announced the second project in the trilogy will start filming in late May.
[Sina Entertainment] 《守望者：罪恶迷途》发布90秒预告片 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc9M3UDAulo#ws)
《守望者：罪恶迷途》主题曲《浮光》MV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxxhZAzRHfI#ws)
SOLID!! :shocked he looks dubbed lol
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The Samuel L. Jackson of Hong Kong always be busy. And Like Sam Jax. he's the consummate of cool
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He working with Cecilia Cheung, Yukari Oshima (she BACK! aka the gay guy in "The Story of Ricky"), Kathy Chow Hoi Mei in Legendary Amazons / 杨门女将之军令如山, directed by Frankie Chan Fan Kei, produced by Jackie Chan. set for late 2011 release. Here's previews via http://movie.mtime.com/122847/ (http://movie.mtime.com/122847/)
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I bet he's fucked em both....THAT NITE!
Maggie Cheung runs into Simon Yam and his wife
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Maggie Cheung Man Yuk, Simon Yam Tat Wa and wife Qi Qi, Spaniard film star and model Ines Sastre and Czech film star Paulina Nemcova earlier attended a private event at the Marble Palace in St. Petersburg to celebrate Hennessy Paradis Imperial's debut in the European market.
This was Brother Wa and Qi Qi's first trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. On their first encounter with the heavy Russian culture, they had nothing but praise about this trip. At the event, they even ran into good friend Maggie. Qi Qi sat next to her and took the chance to catch up, enjoy the food and wine and have a pleasant evening. Qi Qi at the same time ran into Ines Sastre who she modeled at the same show with years ago and caught up with her as well.
Source: takungpao
Translated by: hktopten
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I personally recommend PTU (2003) and its sequels for anyone new to this guy's movies.
It's about an HK police unit on patrol and their 'eventful' encounters with criminals, internal rivalries within their own group of officers, their actual links with what triads do etc. (kinda like a slice-of-life thing for police I reckon but with more action and darker atmosphere).
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he's fuckin versatile as hell, can even play a fat old father to a playboy. Simon SHINE!
in another cop role :lol:
[Sina Entertainment]任达华片场孤立张家辉内幕曝光 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps6_bSM759A#)
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY Simon Yam who turns 57 on the 19th!! working on his new movie, yeah that's Jerry Yan of pop music fame.
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King of Style in Hong Kong. :pimp:
real dope interview, why he's one of the Legends of Hong Kong Cinema.
Simon Yam
Posted: 15 Feb 2012
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Synonymous with Hong Kong movies by appearing in seemingly half of them, veteran actor Simon Yam tells us about his thespian secrets – and why he never gets tired of playing cops. Interview by Edmund Lee. Photography by Calvin Sit.
It’s always a refreshing pleasure to meet a celebrity who’s completely frank and genuine in conversation. Simon Yam Tat-wah – whose more than 200 movie roles in over three decades have ranged from straight cops and honest family men to sinister gangster bosses, glitzy gigolos and totally perverted criminals – is one of the few whose authenticity shines through every time we’ve hooked up. At times behaving like a well-dressed uncle who can’t stop philosophising about the world, the 56-year-old icon of Hong Kong cinema often demonstrates that rare quality among a distinguished bunch of movie stars: of leading an interview in all directions except, perhaps, the movie they’re actually promoting. Almost mirroring the all-embracing manner of his way of speaking, Yam’s professional career has led him to film projects from places as diversified as mainland China, Korea, France, Taiwan and Hong Kong in recent times.
(http://i.imgbox.com/aaoeuKZf.jpg)
In the upcoming movie Nightfall, the second directorial effort by Roy Chow Hin-yeung, Yam plays a hardened detective on the trail of Nick Cheung Ka-fai’s silent killer. It isn’t clear yet if the suspense thriller will prove to be as hysterious – sorry, we mean ‘hysterical’ – as the director’s first work, the Aaron Kwok-starring Murderer (2009). (Word behind the scenes is that the story does make sense this time around.) We sat down with Yam on a weekday afternoon to discuss kimchi, (always) playing policemen, and the flour in fish balls.
Did you watch Roy Chow’s last movie, Murderer, before you decided to take on this role?
Yes, I did. I think it’s an interesting movie. It’s interesting.
For many, it’s a movie with an impressive command of style and, sadly, quite a laughably ridiculous story.
Right. But everyone can improve. Of course he tried hard to impress with his first [directorial] effort. In Nightfall, he’s improved to the extent that he can now display the humanity involved.
Putting it the other way round, why do you think he cast you in Nightfall?
He thinks I… [pauses] can play this role. This is an extremely difficult role. I guess other actors might not be able to grasp the depth of this character. That’s why I kept thinking and telling him about the possibilities of the character.
Does your character have mental problems?
Well, to be honest, everyone in Hong Kong has mental problems due to the environment here. The policemen in the past might be doing fine, but the policemen now probably have problems. In the 1970s and 80s, they were only dealing with Cantonese-speaking people; whereas nowadays they’re dealing with people from Southeast Asia, from mainland China, from India, from Scandinavia, from Japan, from Korea. Hong Kong is such a welcoming society that… if these people break the law, in which language should a policeman talk to them? This is impossible! That’s why the Hong Kong policemen are getting more and more schizophrenic. As I’m aware of this situation, I decided to adopt this into my character in the movie to reflect Hong Kong’s history in the 2000s.
Is the language factor really that significant?
If you speak different languages, how do you communicate? Let me give you an example: a policeman walks into a cha chaan teng. On his left, a northerner is eating dumplings and speaking in a northern dialect. On his right, an Indian is eating curry. In the middle, a person is eating Hainanese chicken rice. On his right, a foreigner is eating a hamburger. Further to the right, [another person] is eating a pizza. Even further to the right, [yet another person] is eating kimchi. At the back, somebody’s eating udon. Damn it, who’s the thief? If all of them speak in different languages, how do you find out? This is exactly the idea I invested into my policeman character. I pose questions against common logics to decide who the thief is. The one eating kimchi is the thief. That’s my state of mind when I play this character.
Wow, I’m impressed by your imagination. Is this how you develop your character?
Yes, that’s how I develop this character. I’ve been involved in a lot of police dramas and a lot of triad movies. I’ve witnessed the changes of the times. Movies are very much a reflection of the contemporary culture of a society. I’ve adopted our way of thinking into this policeman character: he looks at things not only from one angle, but every angle. That’s why he always argues with his boss, because his boss interrogates the suspects in the traditional way, while my character immerses himself in the [mind of the] kimchi-eating [thief]. He will then tell you: one-month-old kimchi doesn’t taste very good, and nine-month-old kimchi is much more delicious.
You mean it’s down to experience?
I’m telling the kimchi-eating person, from my experience, that I know one-month-old kimchi doesn’t taste very good, that I know what he’s thinking. He can’t fool me. I’m using this very approach to play my role. It’s quite fun. As I always say, we’re not actors. We’re not acting. We’re living the characters in their time and inside their environment, and we’re using our body language to express that. By doing so, the movies will look good and our performances won’t go overboard.
You know, I’m concerned with your character’s mental state primarily because of how everything goes to hell in Murderer.
[My character] manages to find the truth [in Nightfall]. He does. [Yam, without any spoiler alert, tells us the entire ending of the movie – complete with his opinions about it.] At the end, I told the director that if I acted in this way, I could better express the pains of the contemporary policemen. And this isn’t restricted to the policemen: all the IT people – or even, all the Hong Kong people in general – are like this! The boss wants you to work 16 hours before going home, and when you go home, you still need to take your work home if you haven’t finished it. That’s what Hong Kong has become and that’s how the policemen come to work under such immense pressure.
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You’ve played a lot of police characters throughout your career. Are you influenced by your family in any way (Yam’s father and elder brother both worked in the police force)?
Not at all. I’ve always liked playing policemen – or rather, I’ve always liked to observe people. When I talk to another person, I can easily enter his mind and understand what he’s thinking. This began with my photography practice: I’d sit in a stone forest and space out for two hours, contemplating why the stone forest is as it is. Many people take snapshots to show that they’ve been to a place but I’m not like that. I talk to the people at the places I visit. I have a good understanding of people’s lives, so I can portray my characters closer to life.
How involved do you get into your characters?
When I’m acting, I’m really living the lives of my characters – living is different from acting. That’s why all my police characters are different even though I’ve played so many of them; all my triad characters are different even though I’ve played so many of them, and that’s because I understand the lives of people.
You’ve indeed played a lot of them. Do you remember how many movies you’ve made?
About 200-something.
Do you have an exact figure?
No, no. [Whispers] I can’t remember.
So which are your favourites?
I like Nightfall; I like PTU (2003); I like Election (2005), in which I played a psychologically complex character of few words; and I like Night and Fog (2009). As for the more flamboyant roles, I like Full Contact (1992). There are movies in which I played flamboyant, as in Casino (1998), and there are others where I could be psychologically complex. At the end, it’s simply a way of living – it’s a part of life. The lovely part about cinema is that I can become very different types of people and take on very different personalities.
Can you name a few of your works that might have been neglected by the audience and deserve a second look?
Night and Fog, SPL (2005): these are movies that the audience neglected.
Do you have a habit of watching your own movies?
Yes, yes, yes.
In what circumstances?
I watch them once in a while, once in a while. But every time I re-watch my films, I think I could’ve done better. That’s a reminder for me to get better.
Do you have a preference in the roles you play?
Of course I’m more interested in playing policemen.
Can I say that you’ve played the most law-enforcing characters among Hong Kong actors?
Yes. Policemen and triads – that’s the two I’ve played the most. Even on the first day I worked in a TV station at the very beginning of my career, I was already playing a policeman. I like playing policemen.
I’m actually really impressed with your versatility. You can play everything from policemen to total perverts.
Well, that’s proof that I love Hong Kong.
Eh, how so?
When you love Hong Kong, you want to present these real-life [criminal] stories in the movies, so that people 50 years from now can still witness our history. Not many actors share this mentality of mine: I want to preserve material from different eras in the movies.
So they’re like historical documents.
They are. And from these documents, people can see that I can play triads, policemen, perverts, gigolos, gay people. [In an excited tone] “Oh wow, he started out playing a gay character!” [Laughs] This actually reflects the changes of the times: when I played a gay character then, people on the streets wouldn’t even look me in the eyes – they hated gay people. But now, playing gay characters is no big deal.
As you just said, you’re one of the few actors who are equally at ease playing policemen and triads. What’s your secret?
I understand life. Now, I understand the lives of policemen very well, because you can see them everywhere on the street – and because of my family background too. As for triads, I know nothing about them – at all. But Hong Kong is a small place with lots of magazines and books. You can learn a great deal from them.
So you’re good at doing research?
I’m a great researcher, though I may not necessarily be researching directly [about my characters]; I may be researching about something else entirely. For my triad movies, I’ve researched about Apple and Starbucks, because I can put the philosophy of these large corporations into my characters.
What do you mean?
[My triad characters are] overweening. I’m a dictator – so I am and you must obey me. If you want to open a shop next to me, I’ll shut you down and not let you survive. Which is to say that I bring philosophies I read from books into my films. [In the case of] Apple: they don’t let you know about their latest model until the last minute; every screw in their appliances is assigned specific numbers and you can’t buy these screws from anyone except Apple. These theories can be utilised in the gangster movies: I don’t let them know which guy I’m going to chop up until the last minute. [Laughs] If I haven’t read those books, I wouldn’t have thought of these alternative ways to play my characters.
Are you the kind of person who thinks a lot?
I’m the kind of person who keeps learning. I keep learning about new things. I’m a person who knows about everything. Like I’ve always said, the computer is a great invention for us but, at the same time, I’m sorry that I don’t do all the funny and naughty stuff with it. I’m the one in control, not the computer.
Throughout your career, is there any aspect about you that might have been misunderstood by the public?
I’ve never cared about this.
How clear a line do you draw between your personal life and your professional life?
Very clear. I’m a simple man – but I do very complicated things. Moviemaking is very complicated. That’s why I need a simple personal
life; otherwise, the two combined would make it far too complicated.
In your own mind, do you feel more like an actor or a celebrity? You’re certainly recognised everywhere now.
I feel that it’s just part of the job. I’m no different to anyone else. That’s why I can go to a beach and talk to the fish ball hawker there for half an hour. To me, we’re all the same. And I can learn about the difficulties of being a fish ball hawker – and how much flour to put in the fish balls too. I’d say: “Hey, your fish balls have too much flour in them!” “Wah Gor, fish is very expensive these days.” “Then you shouldn’t have set such a high price!” [Laughs] I think that’s how you can live happily, to learn about people’s lives.
Do you pay attention to the public gaze at all?
That’s not my goal in life. The most important thing is to be happy. I’m happy to find a job I like – and play policemen all the time.
via http://www.timeout.com.hk/film/features/48829/simon-yam.html#panel-2 (http://www.timeout.com.hk/film/features/48829/simon-yam.html#panel-2)
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too funny XD XD First stills from Guan Hu's black comedy "Design of Death"
A quack doctor (Simon Yam) performs an autopsy to determine whether the cause of a death is a murder or an accident. The setting is an ancient village in the mountains. via [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)
(http://i.imgbox.com/aad0ROxz.jpg)
(http://i.imgbox.com/aaft0UKG.jpg)
WTF He can do anything XD
read more: http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2012-03-26/11453590181.shtml (http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2012-03-26/11453590181.shtml)
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^ MORE CF: Top Stars Help Promote "Design of Death" in Beijing, opens April 28.
(http://t.imgbox.com/aagxjrc7.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/aagxjrc7) (http://t.imgbox.com/aayxDr1n.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/aayxDr1n) (http://t.imgbox.com/aapkj5pQ.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/aapkj5pQ)
Guess who went to see Gaga last week?
(http://i.imgbox.com/aajz6IY6.jpg)
(http://i.imgbox.com/aayqzhHc.jpg)
(http://t.imgbox.com/aaoxRdIx.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/aaoxRdIx) (http://t.imgbox.com/aafOHxLb.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/aafOHxLb)
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Dude is so Fashionable, he can get away with wearing a dress. at a Jean Paul Gaultier event in Beijing
(http://i.imgbox.com/aahfrcIO.jpg)
and his wife lookling like a dude. DAMN!
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Poster for "Passion Island" ("Rei Ai Do") starring Simon Yam, Joan Chen, Francis Ng, Song Jia, Chang Chen, and Janice Man in a trio of tales about love.
Opens June 1.
(http://i.imgbox.com/aaw1qbLy.jpg)
電影《熱愛島》香港版正式預告片 (2012年7月即將全港熱愛上映!) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyO_Bx16O-Q#)
simon always stylish but shit I thought the stripe goatee went out with N'Sync XD
(http://i.imgbox.com/aajM1qkl.jpg)
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DATS MA YAM!
via Roasted Pork Cleaver: Yesterday, Simon Yam was spotted in the hotel where Keanu Reeves is staying in Hong Kong. When asked by reporters,Simon said that he was there to review the script of Reeves' "Man of Tai Chi". [Previously, Karen Mok, Tiger Chen, and Ye Qing, as well as Keanu Reeves, had been confirmed as cast.]
(http://i.imgbox.com/aapsIdCi.jpg)
not the first time he done Hollywood :pimp: (see Tomb Raider II)
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The Samuel L. Jackson proves it again as Simon Yam is in everything lol...incl this summer's blockbuster Korean movie "The Thieves"
(http://i.imgbox.com/acihx640.jpg)
[電影預告] 《盜賊門》The Thieves 9月6日 同場較量 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHLYs6jXpWY#)
co-starring Jeon Ji Hyun (전지현) (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=5086.20) :fap
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^ his role is so slick...The Thieves breaking records! to be seen WORLD WIDE!! :jphip:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/556512_377843375619327_1017575928_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/377000_377844228952575_913115020_n.jpg)
Simon. He hover hands as much as daigong
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/549508_379863512083980_1367161190_n.jpg)
(http://t.imgbox.com/adtEfJuf.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adtEfJuf) (http://t.imgbox.com/aczrwvB5.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/aczrwvB5) (http://t.imgbox.com/acdWnmDH.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acdWnmDH) (http://t.imgbox.com/abvl2Oqq.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abvl2Oqq) (http://t.imgbox.com/abpBzEOh.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abpBzEOh) (http://t.imgbox.com/abjR0Hn3.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abjR0Hn3) (http://t.imgbox.com/abdsEKiC.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abdsEKiC) (http://t.imgbox.com/adtyKoZT.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adtyKoZT) (http://t.imgbox.com/add4rxAX.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/add4rxAX) (http://t.imgbox.com/acn9eVWU.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acn9eVWU) (http://t.imgbox.com/adzXM9GO.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adzXM9GO)
WHAT. A. Pimp. Even at Age 57. His Faux Hawk will fuckin go straight up your ass!
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/387046_382923928444605_401713741_n.jpg)
and mass press conferences
《盗贼门》吸引圈中人 任达华望邀贤妹当主角 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0e15GgrrFU#)
so sexy in Pink. With King of Fashion, Beckham of Hong Kong Simon YAM!
20120825 盜賊門 全智賢 任達華3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JSWgBLZgY4#ws)
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Simon Yam at some event 10月11日，任达华、洪卓立、钟舒漫出席《一人一相慈善摄影展》活动，华哥还借此呼吁要珍惜水源。钟舒漫及洪卓立于4月到甘肃探访，亦拍了作品展出。标签: 任达华
(http://t.imgbox.com/absGyqKv.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/absGyqKv) (http://t.imgbox.com/abfFBIoZ.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abfFBIoZ) (http://t.imgbox.com/adnxehJg.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adnxehJg) (http://t.imgbox.com/ady0LRkg.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/ady0LRkg) (http://t.imgbox.com/abcs5SEt.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abcs5SEt)
lol the secret to his looks
(http://t.imgbox.com/adyRnLbd.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adyRnLbd) (http://t.imgbox.com/acwo0rgG.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acwo0rgG) (http://t.imgbox.com/acxK1jDq.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acxK1jDq) (http://t.imgbox.com/acpn7XHz.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acpn7XHz)
at Busan International Film Festival (http://www.biff.kr) Festival
(http://t.imgbox.com/adrIexyA.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adrIexyA) (http://t.imgbox.com/abibGFiT.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abibGFiT) (http://t.imgbox.com/adlU66ht.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adlU66ht) (http://t.imgbox.com/acuiJSdZ.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acuiJSdZ) (http://t.imgbox.com/adjxOzqJ.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adjxOzqJ) (http://t.imgbox.com/abihSkNH.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abihSkNH) (http://t.imgbox.com/abizDVBX.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abizDVBX) (http://t.imgbox.com/adsCu8zT.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adsCu8zT) (http://t.imgbox.com/abqvouNL.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abqvouNL) (http://t.imgbox.com/abbLIsKc.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abbLIsKc) (http://t.imgbox.com/adhnuhUU.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/adhnuhUU) (http://t.imgbox.com/aco4P1WE.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/aco4P1WE) (http://t.imgbox.com/acfLoxNE.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acfLoxNE) (http://t.imgbox.com/accnFMml.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/accnFMml) (http://t.imgbox.com/acyYhDx1.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acyYhDx1) (http://t.imgbox.com/acoT18Kh.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acoT18Kh)
with Gianna Jun and'The Thieves' Cast
(http://i.imgbox.com/adoVOIL0.jpg)
(http://i.imgbox.com/abjhhdiH.jpg)
bonus video from TIFF!!
THE THIEVES 도둑들 (South Korea; 2012) Q&A with Director Choi Dong-hun 최동훈; TIFF 2012 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhEBR4ww6i8#ws)
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He be at the 2012 MAMA Awards in an original outfit :P
(http://i.imgbox.com/abgyZrSM.jpg)
(http://i.imgbox.com/abbMtLU3.jpg)
eta:
STYLING!! real men wear :hipheart:
(http://i.imgbox.com/adhB2Mpq.jpg)
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The Alpha Duo of Hong Kong!!
(http://i.imgbox.com/actw1qU2.jpg)
(http://i.imgbox.com/acejF85O.jpg)
soon to star with Donnie in Iceman Cometh!
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The POWER COUPLE!!! 香港影星任达华与妻子名模琦琦携手拍摄了《舒适COMFORT》6月刊封面，并接受了专访。任达华笑称琦琦是他的大女儿，言谈中对她的宠爱无以复加。标签: 任达华 琦琦 《舒适》
(http://t.imgbox.com/abzXDJXB.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abzXDJXB) (http://t.imgbox.com/abdLsQT9.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/abdLsQT9) (http://t.imgbox.com/acgdA06E.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acgdA06E) (http://t.imgbox.com/acn9ofu3.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/acn9ofu3) (http://t.imgbox.com/aciI52yU.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/aciI52yU)
[2013.05.28] SIMON YAM ENTERTAINS HIMSELF IN THE SNOW
(http://i.imgbox.com/accKyLPF.jpg)
(http://i.imgbox.com/adl6uiXN.jpg)
Simon Yam Tat Wa earlier went to the Changbai Mountain to work on ICEMAN 3D (3D BING FUNG HUP), as soon as he arrived he ran into a snow storm. When the team headed to the location, the storm closed the road. The film company immediately called for a snow plow to clear it. Trapped in the mountain, Yam Tat Wa went outside the vehicle to entertain himself with snowballs. After half a day the road was finally cleared. When they arrived on the set, the actors rushed into their costumes, but when they were about to start shooting the sun was already set. The director could only reschedule the shoot. Luckily Yam Tat Wa immediately turned into a tour guide and joked that since everyone was in costume the opportunity should not be wasted. He and other actors Wang Baoqiang, Yu Kang and others took photos in the snow and brought cheer to the set.
(http://i.imgbox.com/adfm4Dom.jpg)
Playing an Imperial soldier, Yam Tat Wa looked mighty in the armor but actually only he knew the pain . Yam Tat Wa said that the armor weighed over 40 pounds. Every time he needed two strong men's assistance to put it on. Every time he had to spend half a hour to complete the task. Yam Tat Wa said that performing in the armor was particularly tough. Every move required a lot of strength. In addition he had many action scenes, he would not be able to handle them with a little less strength.
Posted by hktopten