TIFF Report: Wilson Yip, Sammo Hung and Wu Jing Talk Sha Po Lang!
Following last night's stunning screening of Sha Po Lang - see the three reviews below to witness Kurt, Mack and I all giggling like excited schoolgirls about this one - I had the chance today to sit down for half an hour with SPL director Wilson Yip and stars Sammo Hung and Wu Jing.
When I arrived it was disconcerting to realize all three were looking in the general direction of my face without quite getting there and it took a moment or two to realize that they were all reading the Chinese character I have tattooed on my neck. When the shoe dropped Sammo just laughed and explained that after explaining the tattoo designs he's worn for parts to non-Chinese reporters for years he was enjoying the shoe being on the other foot ...
Surprisingly young looking, Wilson Yip spoke quietly, his answers filled with nervous laughs as he seemed a little stunned by the enormously positive reception his film is receiving. Sammo filled the role of elder statesman while Wu Jing all but declared himself ready to pick up the neglected mantle of Hong Kong action star.
With one questioner, three subjects and a pair of translators in the mix it can take a bit to get from point A to point B but all three were charming and insightful and I am, once again, posting the raw audio file to tide people over until I can get the transcript prepared. The audio file is coded as a self-running executable.