Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou made a 1-hour appearance yesterday afternoon at Resorts World Sentosa for the press conference for his new film, The Viral Factor. Together with him was Hong Kong director Dante Lam, who last made acclaimed action films such as The Beast Stalker (2008) and The Stool Pigeon (2010). Lam also granted separate interview sessions with the media, including InCinemas!
[Image of Jay Chou at the press conference]
Synopsis for The Viral Factor: Agent Jon (Jay Chou) sustains grave injuries on a mission and decides to spend his final days with his mother. She tells him a long-held secret. To fulfill her wishes, Jon goes to Southeast Asia. He befriends medical specialist Rachel (Lin Peng). When she is forced into the schemes of a criminal organization, Jon attempts rescue and becomes the target of the organization that includes his estranged brother Yang (Nicholas Tse). When the organization betrays Yang and kidnaps his daughter Sheng, the brothers join forces to rescue Rachel and Sheng.
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Jay Chou said that the filmmaking conditions were tough, but he was willing to take up the challenge. Although Chou had acted in other films before, most notably the romance-drama Secret, and the Hollywood action-comedy The Green Hornet, The Viral Factor is still his first serious action film, and he felt that not working with Lam on an action film was akin to not having acted in any film before.
[Image of Jay Chou at the press conference]
Chou hoped that when viewers are watching his film, they would banish the image of him as a cultured pianist or singer. Instead, viewers should see a different side to him, something unrecognizable that they could take away with. He did his own stunts and worked very hard in a stressful production that was shot in numerous locations including China, the Middle East, and Malaysia.
Check out exclusive photos of Jay Chou and director Dante Lam in our The Viral Factor SG Promo Tour album on Facebook!
Chou revealed that the stunt that left him in severe cold sweat was the scene in which he had to climb down from the 7th floor of a building by leveraging on the air-conditioner compressors that lined its exterior. Director Lam admitted that Chou was very brave and committed in doing his own stunts.
[Film still from The Viral Factor]
Such was the danger that he faced during production, that he did not dare tell his mother that he was filming an action movie! Still, he would invite his mother and grandmother to catch his movie together when he returns to Taiwan today, hoping that he would receive a gift from his loved ones for the tremendous effort he had invested in this film.
[Film still from The Viral Factor]
The Viral Factor is an exciting, high-octane action-thriller that is directed with remarkable assurance by Dante Lam. Fans of Jay Chou, Nicholas Tse, and Lam's previous works should not miss this film during the Chinese New Year holidays!
The Viral Factor opens InCinemas 19 January 2012. The film is rated PG13 (Violence).
Stay tuned as InCinemas brings you more coverage on director Dante Lam in the next few days!
[Image of Jay Chou and Dante Lam at the press conference]
