Editor's note: The HKSAR Government has revealed that it aims to pass the Improving the Electoral System (Comprehensive Amendment) Bill 2021 by the end of May in order to carry out the preparatory work for the election. This also means that Hong Kong has gone further towards fully implementing the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong". From now on, Nandu and N Video launched a special report on "Star Language Hong Kong" to listen to how Hong Kong celebrities send a message to Hong Kong's tomorrow.
"Under the circumstances at that time, I hoped to use a rational way to awaken those young people who were wandering at the crossroads of thought, and I also wanted to make those Hong Kong people with patriotic hearts and love for Hong Kong believe that truth and justice can never be erased." Talking about the "amendment storm" in Hong Kong in 2019, Hong Kong comedy director Li Lizhi changed his usual humor and became serious in an exclusive interview with Nandu and N video reporters.
Li Lizhi, who ushered in the year of Jiazi, once joined hands with Stephen Chow to create a precedent for Hong Kong's nonsense film model, creating a classic Hong Kong comedy film that is popular among the population, including "The King of Comedy", "God Eater", "Shaolin Football", "Tang Bohu Dian Qiu Xiang", "Domestic LingLing Lacquer" and so on. In recent years, he has lived in Zhuhai for a long time, dedicated to film and television education, and founded the micro-film education studio in Zhuhai Hengqin New District in March this year, aiming to help young entertainers realize their film dreams.
In the interview, Li Li said with a smile that he had become a "publicity ambassador for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area", and repeatedly expressed his wish that young Hong Kong filmmakers could come to the Greater Bay Area to visit and see, "I think Hong Kong filmmakers should broaden their horizons and enter the mainland to find cooperation and development opportunities, which must be beneficial to both mainland films and Hong Kong films."
The well-known Hong Kong comedy director Li Lizhi. Courtesy of respondents
【Nandu Interview with Li Lizhi】
Talk about patriotism: I hope to awaken young people in a rational way
Nandu: During the "Amendment Storm" in 2019, what did you see happened in Hong Kong? How did you feel at the time?
Li Lizhi: During the "Storm over the Amendment of the Law," I first saw in the news that some Hong Kong rioters openly insulted the national flag and burned the Basic Law in the Hong Kong Legislative Council. Then, a well-planned act of violence spread through the streets of Hong Kong. The gangsters came in droves every time they set out, systematically blocking airports, smashing shops, and even committing violence against unarmed ordinary citizens in public.
In addition, at that time, many online platforms in Hong Kong were occupied by gangsters, and many Hong Kong teenagers were deeply affected. I once saw a junior high school student in his teens attack others on social media with vulgar, vicious words that are unimaginably intense.
What pains me the most is that some black rioters disguised as journalists mixed into the parade, took pictures from an angle with ulterior motives, and slandered the Hong Kong policemen who charged forward to defend Hong Kong citizens regardless of danger as "black police", and many children of police families were under great pressure in school. At that time, I was deeply disappointed and powerless to see the Hong Kong where I grew up to be like that.
Nandu: What prompted you to insist on making a patriotic and patriotic voice at that time?
Li Lizhi: During the "storm over the revision of the law," the black rioters tried in vain to devour and cover up all voices that disagreed with them. As far as I know, there are many young people in Hong Kong who have woken up after seeing the truth of the black riots, but they are forced by the rampant black riot forces, and they dare not stand up and express their true thoughts.
I've made movies, written columns, been a radio host, and always made it my part to express my views publicly. Under the circumstances at that time, I hoped to use a rational way to awaken those young people who were wandering at the crossroads of thought, and to convince all Hong Kong people with patriotic and Hong Kong hearts that truth and justice can never be erased.
Although this did cause me and my family some trouble. I have been photographed and threatened by gangsters countless times, so much so that I used to wear a hat when I traveled in Hong Kong to prevent a surprise attack by gangsters.
Nandu: In the nearly one year since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, what changes do you think have taken place in Hong Kong?
Li Lizhi: Thanks to the promulgation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Hong Kong society quickly returned to calm. The black riot forces disintegrated on the spot, and the arrogance of the leaders of the chaos in Hong Kong was swept away, and they all became shrunken-headed turtles. I believe this is something that every law-abiding Hong Kong citizen has been waiting for for a long time. Today, the central government has once again emphasized the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" and helped Hong Kong improve its electoral system, which are urgently needed in Hong Kong. I am truly grateful to my motherland for its care for Hong Kong.
Talking about the Greater Bay Area: An inclusive environment is an ideal platform for the development of Hong Kong people
Nandu: Are your patriotic feelings related to your upbringing?
Li Lizhi: Although I was born in Hong Kong, from childhood to adulthood, I would follow my parents back to the mainland to visit my relatives and worship my ancestors every New Year's Day, and I never forgot my roots. In this process, I have also witnessed the development and changes of the motherland in the past few decades of reform and opening up.
Take my ancestral hometown of Dongguan Tangwei Ancient Village, an ancient village with a history of more than 800 years, which was once one of the poorest villages and towns in Dongguan, but now it has been built into a well-known tourist area, and in 2006 it was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit. In recent years, I have seen that the infrastructure construction of Tangwei Village is complete, and it has also attracted many artists to settle in. Now that I have been working outside for a long time, I will miss the quiet and comfortable rural life of Tangwei Village. How can such a good motherland not be loved?
Unfortunately, many young people in Hong Kong do not have such an opportunity to understand the mainland in depth, they are misled by the "drug media" in Hong Kong, and they also regard "closed" and "backward" as synonymous with the mainland. I often call on young people in Hong Kong to come to the mainland and take a look, because if you have visited them, you will know how ridiculous and ignorant your previous ideas are.
Nandu: As a Hong Konger who has entered the mainland for development, how do you view the concept of the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area"?
Li Lizhi: In fact, many Hong Kong people are eager to go north to find opportunities, and the inclusive environment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area gives Hong Kong people who come to the mainland to develop an ideal platform. Starting a business in the Greater Bay Area can not only enjoy the vast mainland market and rich resources, but also enjoy the government's entrepreneurship support policies. In addition, most of the cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are mainly Cantonese-speaking, which is also more convenient for Hong Kong people to integrate.
At present, I have gradually shifted the focus of my life and work to Zhuhai Hengqin New Area, where I have truly experienced the convenience of the one-hour living circle in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In recent years, with the opening of traffic arteries such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Honghe Bridge, the journey from Hengqin has been greatly shortened, whether you want to return to Hong Kong or go to other cities in the Greater Bay Area.
I often jokingly call myself the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Publicity Ambassador", because I often share some delicious and fun things here on social media, which has caused many Hong Kong fans to leave messages, saying that after the resumption of customs clearance between Hong Kong and the mainland, we must try to feel my recommendation here one by one.
Talking about movies: Hong Kong filmmakers should set their sights on the mainland
Nandu: Some people commented that Hong Kong movies have been declining in recent years, what do you think? How do you think Hong Kong cinema should develop in the future?
Li Lizhi: Hong Kong films have indeed experienced a glorious period and have achieved many outstanding directors and actors, but when society is constantly changing, the soil for the growth of the film and television industry is also changing dramatically. Although it is a pity, I think that the decline of Hong Kong films is irreversible, and the works of art are different from the products on the assembly line, and cannot be copied or produced. Today's Hong Kong film market is seriously affected by overseas markets, and local directors can even turn to literary films or niche films, which further reduces the influence of Hong Kong films.
However, compared with Hong Kong, the mainland has a more mature and broad market. I think Hong Kong filmmakers should set their sights on the mainland and look for opportunities for cooperation and development, and I believe that this must be beneficial and harmless to both mainland films and Hong Kong films.
Nandu: How do you evaluate the mainland film market in recent years?
Li Lizhi: I have noticed that in the mainland film market, the era of "big coffee movies" has passed. Those movies that rely on big productions and big stars have become more and more difficult for the audience to pay, but some movies that focus on telling good stories can stand out and gain everyone's recognition. This year's lunar new year's dark horse "Hello, Li Huanying" is a good example, no special effects, no gorgeous production, simply rely on the story itself to win. I think this is precisely a sign of the maturity of the film market, when a good story can be recognized and appreciated by the market, in order to encourage more thoughtful and talented directors to return to the script and polish the real good movie.
This market wind is also an encouragement to me. I know that there are many self-made entrepreneurs in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and behind today's achievements, everyone's story of struggle is touching, and I hope that in the future, I will have the opportunity to bring their stories to the big screen.
In addition, my last work with Wu Mengda is also about to be released this year, which is a warm comedy film with a family theme. I and the whole production team attach great importance to this film, because after all, it is the last work that Uncle Da left us, and we hope that it will meet the audience in the most perfect posture.
In addition to film shooting, most of my current energy has actually shifted to film and television teaching, and my micro-film education studio is now located in Zhuhai Hengqin New District. With years of experience in film shooting and production, I designed and created a set of comedy front-of-the-scenes performing arts training system courses called "MD5319 Dream filming", hoping to help some young people who are full of ideals for acting to achieve film dreams.
Special report on "Star Language Hong Kong"
Chief planner: Rong Mingchang
Executive Planner: Wang Jia
Coordinator: Nandu reporter Xiang Xueni
Chief Writer: Nandu reporter Yu Yijing
Written by: Nandu reporter Yu Yijing Intern Weng Anqi