This interview with Lam Ching Ying was made by Hong Kong Cinema expert Bey Logan in 1996. It has never been published, but he kindly permitted me to issue it on my homepage. I would like to say thank you for his trust and generosity for handing over this precious, rare material. I'm really honoured!
This interview made for Hong Kong Today on the 27th February 1996 at a restaurant in Kowloon Tong, near ATV studios.
Due to the enormous success of Vampire Expert I ATV series in 1995, the company decide to make a sequel called Vampire Expert II. It was broadcasted in 1996, at the time when the interview was made, so that is why it focuses on the vampire theme!
Question 1
Bey Logan: Why have the Hong Kong people been fascinated with "geung si", with vampires for so many years since the first film, now the TV series. Why are they interested in vampires and ghosts?
Lam Ching Ying: I think that Hong Kong people are quite superstitious and they are fascinated by vampires because they are curious, they want to know more. Especially Chinese people and the people from the South-East of Asia have blind faith on this aspect. They want to learn more. And it is mysterious, too. They want to explore it.
Question 2
Bey Logan: The first film which came out and really brought the vampires into the modern age was Geung Si Sin San, Mr Vampire and now we have The Vampire Expert TV series. What is the difference between shooting for films and shooting for television? I mean how the demands do differ?
Lam Ching Ying: Shooting for films is well organized, because they have more financial backup and they are more prepared beforehand, as they have many more resources. Shooting for TV series is not that organized due to the limited resources and the whole stuff works on a limited budget, as well.
Question 3
Bey Logan: You worked closely with Bruce Lee as an actor and choreographer. Can you recall the first time you met him?
Lam Ching Ying: It was on the shooting of Big Boss. Bruce Lee was a very rightous person and very tough. I remember one day a Thai boxer broke the arm of a stuntman. Bruce became very angry and furious. He went up to the boxer and asked him to fight with him. He ran up to him and asked: "Are you really strong to fight with me? You should control yourself and stop before making trouble. Can't you see we are in a process of shooting? How could you break his arm, have you no mercy?" Lee really persuaded to fight with this Thai Boxer.
Question 4
Bey Logan: Some people say that he was so very strong, but he never had any fight apart from in the film. Did he have any challenge match and if so, did you actually see one of those fights happen?
Lam Ching Ying: Bruce was always challenged mainly in foreign countries. He never started a fight, but when he was attacked he had to defend himself. There was a person back in Hong Kong, called Li Dachuan who always wanted to challenge him and critisized Lee in the newspapers. Once they met face to face, but Lee hid himself in a corner, in a quiet place. And that person started to stare at his feet, just his feet, and then Bruce understood that this man had no idea about Kung Fu at all. So there was only one punch. Just one! Bruce was a very kind hearted person. I remember once he saw an old man pushing a cart, which was too heavy for him and Bruce went up to him and helped him pushing it.
Question 5
Bey Logan: The film that really brought you out as a star was Bai Ga Jai, The Prodigal Son, the Wing Chun movie. Before that film you always played the support and then become a co-lead with Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Frankie Chan Fan Kei. Did you have any worries about suddenly being a big part of a film?
Lam Ching Ying: I don't think I got many pressure on me after shooting Bai Ga Jai, as Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung Kam Bo were my friends and I felt comfortable with them.
Question 6
Bey Logan: I would like to ask you some background details. Would you like to tell us how old you are or is it a secret?
Lam Ching Ying: No problem. It is not a secret. I'm 45.
Bey Logan: Are you married with children?
Lam Ching Ying: I'm divorced, I raise my two children.
Bey Logan: Do you live full time in Hong Kong or in Canada?
Lam Ching Ying: In Hong Kong. I want and like to be with Hong Kong people.
Bey Logan: Where is your family originally from? Which part of China?
Lam Ching Ying: I was born in Hong Kong. My family is originally from Shanghai.
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If you click on the video info on the right side, and choose "more" you can see that I uploaded the COMPLETE interview, question by question. Enjoy!
Lamsifu 2 years ago
Ok for those who don't understand I'll give u guys a short summary, I'm not going to do a word to word translation just a summary. At the beginning they were talking about all the vampire movies and why Lam think they so popular, which he was saying because chinese people are very superstitious even more so then westerners so they like to see those type of movies. The most interesting was when the interviewer ask about working with Bruce Lee in the big Boss.
xrey2000 2 years ago
Thank you for taking the time, but if you click on the video info on the right side, and choose "more" you can see that I uploaded the COMPLETE interview, question by question. Probably it slipped your attention.
Thank you once more for your kindness.
Lamsifu 2 years ago
no one can replace Lam Ching Ying, one of the greatest actors of all time. -_- really miss his movies
Tyson1234567890 2 years ago 6
So true. He had charisma.
Lamsifu 2 years ago