Interview with Hui Yinghong, Ren Dahua, Li Ruotong: They walked through the "golden age" of Hong Kong film and television

Source: Global Times

Editor's note: 25 years ago today, it was raining in Hong Kong. Ren Dahua and Hui Yinghong, who grew up in Wan Chai, did not start work on this day, but stayed in front of the TV set to watch the return ceremony live. "When I saw the national flag raised, I really cried," Hui Yinghong still remembers her excitement at that time. Another hong Kong-born actor, Li Ruotong, was also busy with a tightrope performance at the TVB return ceremony. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Global Times, together with Weibo and Sina Entertainment, launched the "Impression of Hong Kong" theme activity, with the participation of artists such as Zhao Yazhi, Ren Dahua, Hui Yinghong, Norma Lam, Li Ruotong, Yuan Yongyi, Zhang Zhilin, Zhao Wenzhuo, She Shiman, Hu Xing'er, Wang Yibo and other artists. Recently, three senior Hong Kong actors, Ren Dahua, Hui Yinghong and Li Ruotong, were interviewed by the Global Times and shared their respective Hong Kong stories.

Hui Yinghong: Watching the return to live, I cried

Global Times: What was the scene of Hong Kong's film and television industry 25 years ago?

Hui Yinghong: 25 to 30 years ago, Hong Kong was known as the Hollywood of the East. First, everyone is very involved in this industry; Second, there is an elite class in the industry, and a Shaw [film company] alone can produce 200 to 300 films a year. At that time, there were many Hong Kong actors who were very popular at home and abroad. Although I didn't go to drama school, I learned a lot on the spot, such as photography, field notes, set-up, lighting, etc., all of which had to be learned, and I felt that the actors who came out at that time could basically go to be directors.

Now there are more platforms, many people are from drama professional schools, and they are very good at reading. But that's the theory, when you're going to shoot something "alive", you have to have a real feeling in your heart before you can perform it flexibly.

Global Times: Recently, many viewers have been nostalgic for the "golden age" of Hong Kong film and television. What do you think was the greatest charm of that era?

Hui Yinghong: I am also a part of the "retro tide". (The greatest charm) should be to say the whole - including film, television, and even the entire literary and artistic world. Everyone in that era had a fighting heart. I am 62 years old this year, and we were the most opportunity-grabbing and creative people at that time. I'm pretty proud of my contribution.

Global Times: What are your impressions of the day of July 1, 1997?

Hui Yinghong: In fact, our generation is very eager to return quickly and has been waiting. Without going too far, let's just say that the June before July 1, 1997, was already very exciting. I was shooting TVB dramas during that time, but I didn't start work that day, watching the live broadcast at home, and when I saw the national flag going up, I cried, really cried. I know I'm really Chinese, I have a home.

Global Times: 22 years after your return, you played a Hong Kong policeman in "My Motherland and Me." How did you feel when you participated in this work?

Hui Yinghong: When the director found me, I was very excited. At that time, she had not yet shown me the outline of the story, so I said to the director, "I am willing to act." On the first day, the scene of changing hats and badges was filmed in The Golden Bauhinia Square, and the policemen at the time taught us. That's my own history, it's also the history of the times, and for me it's not acting, it's really showing how I felt at that time.

Global Times: What are your thoughts on calling you the "Desperate Three Ladies"?

Hui Yinghong: I just debuted as a slap scene, and I suffered a lot of injuries, so everything I gained at that time was really exchanged for health. I'm not afraid to suffer, but I don't have the physical strength to shoot the scene later. I believe that in addition to martial arts films, I can also play other types of roles.

Movie "I Love You! "On June 2, I just finished the film, and immediately flew to Hainan to shoot another movie, and these days I came to Shenzhen to shoot Zhang Mo's "Save the Suspect". I returned to Shenzhen from Hong Kong at the end of March last year and did not rest for more than a week in the year and a half.

Global Times: In the next 25 years, make a wish for the development of film and television in Hong Kong.

Hui Yinghong: In the future, I hope that the film and television of Hong Kong and the mainland can be truly integrated, and do not divide into "Hong Kong films" and "mainland films". Of course, the taste of each place cannot be lost, but some things can be melted together. In the future, I hope that Chinese films can be passed on from generation to generation, and our film industry is getting better and better.

Ren Dahua: Unity is the spirit of Hong Kong cinema

Global Times: What was the Hong Kong film and television industry like in the "Golden Age"?

Ren Dahua: Just like the dialogue in the movie "PTU", "Put on the uniform is your own person." All the staff and actors are like a family, very united, which is a spirit of Hong Kong cinema. In the past, we all hoped to be able to shoot the scene of eating, especially the side stove (Hong Kong-style hot pot) - everyone gathered in a circle and sandwiched dishes from each other. Hong Kong is hot and humid, sweating and playing the side stove, and the atmosphere presented by the lens is stronger.

Global Times: What was the charm of that era?

Ren Dahua: The feelings between people. Hong Kong is a small place, and basically everyone in each district knows everyone. The same is true of movies, and good works must start from feelings.

Global Times: How to persevere in the highly competitive Hong Kong film and television industry?

Ren Dahua: Filming with heart, this is the most basic. A lot of actors act better than me, so I learn from them and Hone the other side of myself. I've been studying and recently I've been looking for a teacher to learn how to act in stage plays.

Global Times: Did coming from a police family help you to act in police films?

Ren Dahua: Dad is a policeman, and he has a dedication, persistence and belief in his work. When I was a child, I saw him dress up and go to work on time every day, and I thought that in the future, I would work like my father on time and diligently. I often observe a lot of people, which helps me play different roles.

Global Times: What are your impressions of the day of July 1, 1997?

Ren Dahua: It rained heavily in Hong Kong that day. I'm at home and I'm so touched. The moment the five-star red flag slowly raised, I was finally at ease. Everyone says "see the rainbow after the rain", Chinese values the family neatly and safely going home to eat together.

Global Times: Which line of "My Motherland and Me" was most impressed?

Ren Dahua: When I saw the film finished, it was like the day I returned in 1997 (excitement). The line "Not a second can be bad" is too important. I'm usually also punctual and don't be late for work.

Global Times: What are your first memories of the mainland? What are your favorite cities and cuisines?

Ren Dahua: When I was a child, I saw a picture of Shanghai in the 1930s. At that time, I thought that I would have the opportunity to live in Shanghai in the future, and now my dream has come true. I have run everywhere, Jiuzhaigou and Qinghai Lake many times, and have also been to Inner Mongolia and Northeast China. I like Harbin a lot, the red sausage is delicious.

Global Times: What are your impressions of mainland film and television works? What are the expectations for young film and television practitioners?

Ren Dahua: The drama I recently watched was "Icebreaker Action", and Sun Honglei's "Latent" is also very good. [The mainland film and television industry] is progressing too fast, and it is very happy to cooperate with them, especially some new directors will always have new perspectives and bring vitality and new ideas to us old actors.

The expectation is that you must have faith in the movie, and that belief is that tomorrow will be better.

Global Times: In the next 25 years, what kind of future do you hope for the Hong Kong film and television industry?

Ren Dahua: Continue filming. Whether it is from Hong Kong, Macau or Shenzhen, the most important thing after filming is to be able to eat together and reunite.

Li Ruotong: Work together for Hong Kong's tomorrow

"Many times I will directly Cue (prompt) everyone, call me 'aunt' can be..." In a recent interview with the Global Times reporter, Li Ruotong admitted that she still likes the role of the little dragon girl she plays.

"At first, everyone liked the role, so they called me 'aunt'. However, as an actor, I am afraid that everyone only remembers the 'aunt', and my (acting) space will become smaller. But then I thought from the perspective of the audience: even if I like an idol who has a lot of good works after him/her, he or she still likes the role at the beginning the most, which is also a feeling. When I understood it, I felt completely unsettled, but I was very happy. ”

In 1995, Li Ruotong and Gu Tianle starred in "Eagle Hero" premiered on TVB TV in Hong Kong. Compared with his cheerful personality now, Li Ruotong admitted that his personality at that time was more like that of a little dragon girl. "When I first finished filming, I kept thinking about all the bridges in the play, most of which were unhappy bridges between two people (Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü), as if I had experienced them myself." At that time, Li Ruotong was immersed in the role of Xiaolongnü at two points and one line, completely separated from friends and parents, "Now I am more mature, even if it is an unhappy plot, the director said that after stopping, I can withdraw from the role."

In addition to the little dragon girl, Li Ruotong also played Wang Yuyan in "Tianlong Babu", and played Yang Bamei in "Yangmen Female General". She also experienced a low ebb, pushing out all the scenes from 2005 to 2012. In recent years, the "fairy sister" that has returned to the public eye has more labels: fitness experts and goddesses of frozen age. Li Ruotong has loved sports since childhood, and the real systematic fitness began in 2000 at the age of 34, and in the past three years, he has also shared a healthy lifestyle through social platforms. "I used to have a period of lows when I was not in a good mood, and I also relied on exercise." When fitness becomes a habit, Li Ruotong is not afraid of eating. "Last year in Shanghai, this year I live in Hangzhou, Shanghai cuisine and Hangzhou cuisine are liked, and I also like Northeast cuisine and Lanzhou ramen..."

The 1980s and 1990s coincided with the "golden age" of Hong Kong film and television, and Li Ruotong was one of them. In her opinion, the biggest feature of the Hong Kong film and television industry at that time can be summarized as "enough to fight": "Different genres and themes have people who dare to try." Everyone is very busy, too many scenes to shoot together, and the staff is not enough. A few days ago, a fan sent a photo to "Aunt", that is, on the eve of July 1, 1997, Li Ruotong, Kwan Wing Ho and Li Zi rehearsed live for the TVB return ceremony, "At that time, the three of us girls were hanging Wei Ya in Hung Hom (gymnasium), and the boys and Zheng Yijian were hanging. This return ceremony is very impressive to think about now, when foreigners will think that this hanging wire technique is very powerful. ”

In the past 25 years, Li Ruotong and Hong Kong have changed. In 2020, Li Ruotong published his first book, "Live Well", and last year he was also a program planner. This year, Li Ruotong tried the villain role in the costume drama "And Try the World", and recently he was busy with the movie "Detective Wars" in which he participated. "But one thing that hasn't changed is the attitude towards work. Before going to bed the day before filming, I would memorize the script — not once, but all of it, before I dared to sleep. I haven't changed this habit until now. ”

Li Ruotong is not the only one who adheres to this work attitude. "I hope that in the next 25 years, Hong Kong people can continue to hold that diligence and hard work, unite in the embrace of the motherland, and work hard for every bright tomorrow."