jim carrey is the GOD of COOKERY
Hahna Kang
hi all~
heard through another ng that there is in the works a remake of the hong
kong movie "god of cookery". for those of you who do watch cantonese
comedies, im sure youre quite familiar with stephen chow sing chis work --
great stuff.
it seems that chow is going to try to come over to the states to direct,
but wont be in it (he starred in the hk original 'sik sun'). instead the
one who will be playing sik sun will be jim carrey! well, at least
tentatively. according to the reports, hes said 'yes, so far, but i wont
sign anything until i see a script', and what do you know, the remake is
just in the idea stage. no script as of yet. but you know, im so
excited...
i loved 'sik sun', 'lucky guy' (chows latest, although it could be argued
that this isnt really a food film. but you have to adore the opening
scene when they show someone [supposed to be kot man fai] making tons of
chinese egg tarts YUM), 'chinese feast' (leslie cheung) and 'shogun and
little kitchen' (yuen biao with leon lai ming), so i have a feeling that
with chows involvement, i have to like this too. :)
i wonder how much of the original 'sik sun' charm will carry over into
hollywood style re-working. im not a real big fan of jim carrey. a bit
too slapsticky for me. but he could pull this one off, possibly...
anyway, this is one for the rumour mill.
the article clippings are appended below.
hahna
3. Fox remakes God of Cookery
IPA recently succeeded in introducing Hong Kong comedy films to
Hollywood and received quite a response.
Under the arrangement of one of the company's heads, Leung Bo
Tung, 20th Century Fox has decided to remake Hong Kong comedy God of
Cookery (Sik Sun).
Fox will repackage God of Cookery completely. The only thing left
unchanged is the director Stephen Chiau Sing Chi. This time he will not be
performing on screen. Instead, the God of Cookery will be played by Jim
Carrey. Besides Chow Sing Chi directing, Leung Bo Tung will be the film's
executive producer. The film will be shot completely in America.
Davis Entertainment's chief Teddy Zee said, "Chow Sing Chi's film
was able to successfully land on Hollywood because the language he uses in
film is an international language -- comedy. He not only is able to act,
he is also good creating and directing. His directorial skills and his
comedy talents will be enough to touch the audience's soul, thus we have
to introduce Chow Sing Chi to the American audience."
According to Hollywood Reporter, Sing Jai earlier discussed three
film projects with Hollywood. Besides the remake of God of Cookery, he
also planned to remake the Sixty Million Dollar Man (Bat Bin Sing Kwan)
and From China with Love (Gok Chan Ling Ling Chat).
7. God of Cookery's Canadian production troubles Stephen Chiau Sing Chi
Hong Kong comedy star Stephen Chiau Sing Chi will personally
direct the Hollywood version of his Hong Kong film God of Cookery, and Jim
Carrey has expressed interest in the lead. However, when the film begins
production in Canada, Chow sing Chi's entry application might remain a
hidden question.
Teddy Zee, head of the American film company Davis Entertainment
which is planning the remake of God of Cookery, revealed on the 23rd that
in the past the company's productions have been shot in Canada due to
budget considerations, thus God of Cookery might be produced in Canada.
However since Los Angeles is Jim Carrey's home base, for his convenience
the film might also be shot there. The remake of God currently is still
in its initial stages and its script still hasn't been written yet, and
Jim Carrey won't make a decision until after reading the script first. If
all goes well, this film will begin production next year. Also, Chow Sing
Chi will come to America to further discuss the plans.
Chow Sing Chi's legal representative on the Canadian immigration
application case Barbara Jackman expressed that if God finally decides to
shoot in Canada and director and executive producer Chow Sing Chi is to
follow, he will apply for visitor or work visa depending on his role on
the production. On the application he also has to list his past
immigration application records, including the case he is currently
appealing.
Even so, Jackman pointed out that when the immigration department
handles Chow Sing Chi's new application, it must treat it as an individual
case; whether the application will be approved or not, Jackman said there
is no way to know for sure.
11. Sing Tao Daily, June 20, 1998, Silver Short Take Sing Jai becoming a
foreign film director is a loss to Hong Kong and Taiwan
The fact that Sing Jai (Stephen Chiau Sing Chi) could go to direct
in Hollywood surprised and pleased everyone, because this new film will
star top star Jim Carrey and the script is a remake of Sing Jai's God of
Cookery (Sik Sun). It should be a first class production.
Sing Jai is the superstar with the most box office drawing power
in Hong Kong film besides Jackie Chan, but since the beginning of 98, he
appeared to be in retirement mode as he had no announced film plans. His
behind the scene partners Lee Lik Chi and Vincent Kuk Tak Siu appeared to
have also changed jobs, constantly working at the television and radio
stations. Insiders felt strange, even Sing Jai's crew would have no film
to make? Actually Sing Jai himself has gone to Hollywood.
This indeed is a loss to Hong Kong film. Don't talk about the
glory of Hong Kong stars going to Hollywood. Honestly, Hollywood wouldn't
be affected much with a few more Hong Kong stars. However in terms of the
depressed Hong Kong market it's a loss. If Chow Yun Fat had stayed in
Hong Kong, the box office figures of the past three years would at least
increase by 200 to 300 million, not to mention overseas loss. According
to a Korean film buyer, in the past Fat Gor's films with just his pictures
added to a poster would attract an audience. With Fat Gor gone, Hong Kong
film is almost done.
Sing Jai is an even bigger waste of talent, running to direct.
However in terms of his own film career it's a record. He should be able
to work well with Jim Carrey. The writer really enjoyed God of Cookery
(box office of 40 million). No one would have thought that even foreigners
understood the goods.
Asking a Chinese director to write a screenplay is a break through
move because screen writing is cultural. Sing Jai films sold well in Hong
Kong but failed overseas because they are Hong Kong style. Turning God of
Cookery's Hong Kong humor into Hollywood style (or international style)
will be a challenge to Director Chow.
The Tseng Kwan O film property bidding ended today. Yesterday
Hong Kong Film City's invitational letter was only supported its own
people's cause. Reportedly, Golden Harvest would also bid competitively
because their Ngau Chi Wan's studio lease would end and the property
returned to the government in March. Golden Harvest has always been a
supporter of an Eastern Hollywood. Although it has reduced production
this year (7 films), as the only company with a studio, it must occupy a
space within the competition. By not teaming with other companies on its
bid, Golden Harvest proved its power. On the other hand, Shaw's bid was a
somewhat socializing move.
12. Ming Pao Daily, June 20, 1998, Film and Television Supervision Stephen
Chiau Sing Chi's road to Hollywood is different than others
Hong Kong people no longer like to watch Hong Kong films.
Hollywood on the other hand loves Hong Kong film people, hiring
one after another. This time it's Stephen Chiau Sing Chi's turn.
They didn't hire this Hong Kong comedian to act in Hollywood, but
to direct and produce a remake of his own God of Cookery (Sik Sun),
copying his own ideas and placing famous American actor Jim Carrey in his
role.
Some said Chow Sing Chi is Hong Kong's Jim Carrey. Actually their
interpretations are completely different. Jim Carrey is a lot more
exaggerated than Chow Sing Chi. Sing Ye's comic rhythm comes from
Japanese animations, comic books, and Cantonese film. It has a touch of
daily life to it, unlike Jim Carrey's nonstop flexing and relaxing of his
facial muscles.
Jim Carrey recently held back a little, perhaps he is now closer
to Chow Sing Chi.
God of Cookery although wasn't directed by Chow Sing Chi, but like
Jackie Chan, no matter who's name is under the title of the director, the
outside saws them all as his productions.
The truth is Chow Sing Chi has the greatest control in his films.
The audience doesn't care who is in charge when it watches a film, as long
as it's worth watching.
Earlier Sing Ye was rumored to be interested in working in
Hollywood, but as a comic actor, working in front of the camera in America
could be limited, even although Tsui Hark has offered Sing Ye a role for
his foreign film. Jackie Chan, Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Michelle Yeoh (Yeung
Chi King) all became Hollywood stars because of their action abilities,
Chow Yun Fat became one because of his gun fights. Chow Sing Chi actually
is quite agile himself. He was trained in kung fu during his training
class days and is a Bruce Lee fan. In his film there are occasionally
action scenes, but his selling point still is comedy.
He heads to Hollywood by selling his brains first, like John Woo
(Ng Yu Sum), Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam Lan Tung, Stanley Tong Kwai Lai, Kirk
Wong Chi Keung, and Peter Chan Ho Sun as a Hong Kong director in Hollywood
and temporarily placing acting in the West aside. The remake of his old
work is a sign that he has thought through his plan thoroughly. His road
to Hollywood is different from other Hong Kong actors who went to
Hollywood.
Jim Carrey's God of Cookery might not be as good as Chow Sing
Chi's. Whether he would want him to perform better or worse than himself
is the question for Sing Ye. It's easy for others to remake your movies,
but it's hard to remake your own movies. As part of the audience, the
write would like to see Sing Ye on screen with Jim Carrey the most,
unfortunately the report said he wouldn't appear in this Hollywood
version.
Some said Hong Kong films have no new ideas. Actually film
industries of the entire world face the same problem, thus appears the
phenomenon of adding other people's factors into one's own films in hopes
of a breakthrough. Hollywood wants Hong Kong factors, Hong Kong wants
Japanese factors, Japanese television also wants new factors. It is a
mutual effect.
Chow Sing Chi's comedy has always focused on the local taste.
It's still able to open the Southeast Asian market and now heading to
Hollywood. Thus film people shouldn't always talk about going
international. They couldn't even get a grip on their own people's taste,
why talk about international flavor. The love of Hollywood films have
ended the audience of Hong Kong film. Sorry, the future Hollywood film
would have more and more similar to Hong Kong films, because it's made by
the same group of people.