Recently crowned Best Actor at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in Unbeatable, 46-year-old Nick Cheung makes his directorial feature debut with horror flick - Hungry Ghost Ritual!
(Find out more about Hungry Ghost Ritual here!)
The first question that comes to everyone’s mind is: why a horror film?
Not only is he looking at a smaller target audience who enjoys being spooked out, he loses out on the huge market in China as he won’t be able to distribute his film there. Cheung admits it was challenging to capture the ‘right atmosphere and tempo’ of his first film as it was a tad ‘different from other genres’.
“Why I chose to direct a horror film because there have been a decrease in horror films in Hong Kong these few years… Now that I have a chance, I want to relive those younger days where there were a range horror films for people enjoy,” he said in a press conference last Saturday at Hotel InterContinental Singapore.
He was with co-star Carrie Ng, who calls Cheung a director who has 'very high expectations', adding "He is an actor, so naturally he expects a lot from the actors."
Ng, who said she was influenced by Cheung that she herself have also started directing her first movie which is likely to drop next year.
Don’t be too surprised if you spot someone like Cheung lurking around cinema halls in Hong Kong. He said he would and had disguised himself just so he could sneak in to watch observe how moviegoers react to his films.
“They wouldn’t know Nick Cheung is in the cinemas and will not give me ‘face’. Their reactions will be genuine.” In addition, he revealed that wife Esther Kwan has yet to catch the film, and will be watching with her someday. Who knows? You might be sitting next to the star couple!
Having been in the business for many years, the actor-turn-director understands that there are two groups of audiences that relates to horror films: those who visit the cinemas for the thrill and another group who will never pay to watch no matter how good they know the movie is.
And there is one movie Cheung will never watch up till today - Japanese classic horror film The Ring.
“Many told me how scary the movie was and they would not on their television again. I used to live alone, and I want to watch my TV programmes. If the phone rings and I am spooked out… no, I don’t think I want to watch it!” Cheung chuckled.
“Horror films cater to a specific group of audiences… but I don’t regret choosing this genre, I have to keep in mind those who loves horror as well.”
Hungry Ghost Ritual stars Nick Cheung, Annie Liu, Carrie Ng, and opens InCinemas 10 July 2014!