SHOWBIZ: Like a family, again

By Loong Wai Ting | loongwaiting@nstp.com.my

The director and cast of The Wedding Diary 2 tell Loong Wai Ting more about the sequel

SHE won her first Best Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Awards for her role as Cheng Tai-Nan in the light-hearted kung fu comedy, My Young Auntie, in 1982. Veteran actress Kara Hui Ying-hung (At The End Of

Daybreak, Wu Xia) says it isn’t about how hard she can throw a punch but that it all boils down to her determination to achieve success.

Her performance as an alcoholic mother in the highly acclaimed local movie, At The End Of Daybreak (directed by Ho Yuhang), was hailed by critics.

It won Hui her second Best Actress award at the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards and Best Supporting Actress at the 46th Taipei Golden Horse Awards.

Hui, 52, was in Singapore recently to celebrate the start of the production of The Wedding Diary 2 — a sequel to last year’s The Wedding Diary, directed by Penang-born Adrian Teh, which reportedly raked in RM5.25 million at the box office in Singapore and Malaysia.

Dressed in an all-red satin dress, she greeted Press members from Singapore and Malaysia with her warm smile, as she led her co-stars into the conference room.

In the sequel, she reprises her role as Zhixin’s (played by Elanne Kwong) mother, Alison. The movie also stars Malaysian singer-songwriter Aniu, Singapore’s Jack Choo, Marcus Chin and Taiwan’s Cynthia Wang.
Shooting has already begun in Singapore and the crew will go on location in Penang for 21 days.

THE STORY

“The script is better compared to the first movie. And the cast has been great too. We feel like a family. I have more screen time too,” said Hui.

The Wedding Diary 2 picks up two years after the lavish marriage of Wei Jie (Aniu) and Zhixin when they welcome a new member to their family. Amid preparations for the baby’s full moon celebration, Zhixin’s dad,

Colin (Jack Choo), faces investment failure and suffers a stroke as a result. Meanwhile, Alison is taken aback by the sudden appearance of Reese (Wang), who claims to be Colin’s illegitimate daughter. Zhixin cannot come to terms with having a half-sister and even suspects Reese of seducing her husband. At the same time, Zhixin has to ensure that her mum does not suffer a mental breakdown.

FIERCE COMPETITION?

Up-and-coming star Kwong is happy that the director wants her to be on-board again for the sequel.

“I remembered pestering him so much last year,” she said, laughing.

While one may speculate that there is “fierce competition” between Wang and Kwong, the latter said that “it will never happen”.

“The story will be even more exciting with Wang on board,” said Kwong.

Wang added that she was not worried at all about the rumours.

“I want to focus on the acting. But I am especially excited about my character. It is something that I’ve never done before,” she said.

ON THE SEQUEL

With a budget of S$1.2 million (RM3 million), the Singapore-Malaysia production is slated for release on Chinese New Year next year. The movie will also be released in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

“I never thought that we could come up with the sequel this quickly,” said Teh. “It (the movie) is a challenge. No doubt, the competition is going to be tough, with ‘strong’ contender (movies from China and Hong Kong) being released during Chinese New Year,” he said.

Teh declined to comment on how well the sequel will do at the box office.

“Let me focus on completing the shooting for now. But I always appreciate the cast, especially Hui and Kwong.”

The Wedding Diary 2 is produced by Clover Films in collaboration with Golden Screen Cinemas, Asia Tropical Films, Fox International Channels and Star Chinese Movies.

Teh with the cast of Chin, Choo and Hui

Kwong (left) with co-stars Aniu (centre) and Wang

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SHOWBIZ: Like a family, again

The director and cast of The Wedding Diary 2 tell Loong Wai Ting more about the sequel

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