ARTICLE
The Yang Warriors Share their Thoughts and Experiences while Filming 'Saving General Yang'!
By InCinemas / 01 Apr 2013 (Monday)
The Yang warriors, Ekin Cheng 鄭伊健, Wu Chun 吳尊, Vic Chou 周渝民 together with international director, Ronny Yu 于仁泰 arrived in Singapore on Saturday as part of Saving General Yang 忠烈楊家將 movie promotional tour.
Looking suave in dark-coloured blazers, the star-studded cast and director arrived at Equarius Hotel, located at Resorts World Sentosa for the press conference and greeted the media with smiles. After a six-year long hiatus from Fearless 霍元甲, Yu is back with a story based on the legendary generals of the Yang family.
When asked about the idea of this film, director Yu mentioned that he wants to appeal to the younger audiences, especially the males who watch this film. He wants them to be more masculine and filial like the Yang warriors.
He even commented about how young people these days are hooked onto technology, such as their phones and tablets that they tend to forget about spending quality time with their close ones. He cited an example, which many of us are guilty of; browsing and interacting with our phones at the dinner table more than with our family members. Yu hopes to instill a sense of filial piety and aims for viewers to pick up their phones to call their parents after watching this film.
Acting as the eldest brother Yang Yanping, veteran actor Ekin Cheng shared his experiences while making the film and how he bonded with the other 'brothers'. Cheng was initially cast as the antagonist but was actually the first choice of this character, according to Yu. The latter explained that he felt Cheng displayed the signs and responsibility as an older brother, thus wanting him to play the big brother in the film.
Talking about families, Wu Chun is known to be the filial son and this was the reason for being casted as the sixth brother in the film. His character, Yang Yan Zhao carries a special mission (to bring their father back home), he shared that he did a lot of preparation for the last scene, one of the crucial scenes in the film. For all Wu Zun fans whom I trust will be catching the movie, the charismatic singer-actor will be showing off his defined abs in just minutes into the show. The ‘yummy-licious’ scene was definitely a crowd pleaser and the actor himself revealed that he did bulk up a little for that particular scene.
The usually soft-spoken Zai Zai Vic Chou became really chatty when he recounted his shocking story on his first encounter riding a horse. Months before the official filming begun, the actors were required to go through a month-long intensive training which included horse-riding, martial arts and weaponry.
During his first day of horse riding, the 31 year-old actor said he dressed casually without knowing what to expect and after an hour long of riding, he felt his lower body became really hot, only to realise he was bleeding due to the clash of rhythm while riding the horse. Even when he got home, his pants was stuck to his flesh due to the pus on his wounds. Acting as the third son, Yang Yan'an, he continued that he immediately went online to buy the appropriate gears and attire before his next training.
(Click her for more photos from the Press Conference, Fan-meet & Gala Premiere!)
(View the trailer here)
Despite the large age gap among the seven brothers, it was evident that they bonded well, playing off one another during the press conference. Chun recalled the amusing incident where all seven of them were dressed in period costumes and heavy armours, gathered together to play a modern iPad game.
Cheng also added that they would sit and even lie on their horses when they were not required in a scene, chatting with one another about the film and cars, a topic most of the brothers adored.
While there might not be a sequel to Saving General Yang, director Yu hinted that he has thoughts on bringing back the entire cast to make a modern film, akin to Ocean Eleven. While the seven of them may not be acting as a big family again, Yu gave his word that viewers need not wait for six years before his next movie comes out.
Catch Adam Cheng together with his seven sons, Ekin Cheng, Yu Bo, Vic Chou, Li Chen, Raymond Lam, Wu Chun and Fu Xinbo in Saving General Yang 忠烈楊家將, InCinemas this Thursday, 4 April 2013!
