RIP Lau Kar Leung Sifu

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Alex Cheung Lau kar Leung Sifu

Hong Kong 25 June 2013 – This morning Hong Kong director Lau Kar Leung sifu passed away at age 76. He is a legendary Martial Artist who influenced the whole film industry in Martial Arts films, where his nickname ‘Kungfu Leung’ came from. He had been battling lymphatic cancer for two decades.


Gordon Liu and Alex CheungLau was the third child of Lau Cham (Lau Jaam, 劉湛), a martial arts master who studied Hung Gar under Lam Sai-wing, a student of Wong Fei-hung.[4] Lau, a fourth-generation direct disciple of martial arts legend Wong Fei-Hung and a lifelong practitioner of the Hung Kuen discipline, was most famous for his directorial efforts The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), starring Kill Bill’s Gordon Liu (Left picture), and Drunken Master II with Jackie Chan, which also won him the Best Action Choreography Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 1994. He has a brother who makes a living in the film industry, actor/choreographer Lau Kar-wing, as does Gordon Liu, Lau’s pupil and godson to Lau’s father, Lau Cham. His nephew Lau Kar-yung (son of his older sister) is also an actor, choreographer and director as seen on the picture right. When he speaks, I can see that they have the same way of talking, the intonation is so similar.

Alex Cheung and Lau Kar Yung 2011

Lau began training students Hung Gar before the age of 5 and was already quite proficient in the style. Bruce Lee treated Lau as an elder uncle and asked him for advice in regards to his film career.

Lau’s directing work was characterized by a strict adherence to the principles of martial arts. He continued his work as action choreographer and director until 1994, when he made Drunken Master IIand III and was diagnosed with lymphoma. He survived the disease and made a directorial comeback in 2003 with Drunken Monkey, which he starred in along with his martial arts protégé Liu. In 2007, at the age of 70, he served as action choreographer and in a supporting role in Tsui Hark’s Seven Swords.

Lau was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2010 for his contribution to the martial arts film genre.

More info about Master Lau

 

Ataraxia Film Premiere

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I was invited to the Film Cast & Crew premiere Sunday 23th of June in Rotterdam. Years gone by, and it was a nice reunion for the crew&cast beside the film premiere. Unfortunately not everyone attended the premiere, as some went abroad or had other duties. And to me I am missing Jenny Hsia who played my partner in Ataraxia. If she attended then perhaps you could see a picture of us two.

About Ataraxia Film

Ataraxia is the debut feature from director Sander Blom. It is an exploration of ‘Life’s Manual’. For instance, on how to survive the boredom of Earth’s paradise.

Our script was in an unknown language called ‘Esperanto’, after 3 years I cannot remember a word Esperanto now. It is created as an easy-to-learn and politically neutral language that transcends nationality and would foster peace and international understanding between people with different regional and/or national languages. It sounds like an European language, a bit of English, French, German and Spanish. In Earth’s paradise, everything is in peace and balance. So we speak Esperanto, an international language where people from different cultures can communicate with each other. This was also the first experience for me to play in front of a green screen and visualising Earth’s paradise. And after watching the film it is the color effects what really surprises me, and the penile part of the beginning is unforgettable.

The film will be released hopefully by the end of this year on TV and DVD.

Sander Blom and Alex Cheung

Photo with the Cast

 

Metro nieuws

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Hello world!

11 July 2012 – Move On filmset

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I was asked by my casting agency for a small supporting role in the movie ‘Move On’ by Hollywood director Asger Leth. He directed the movie ‘Man on a Ledge’ this year 2012. Move On is an international production, shot in 8 countries. You can find more information about this movie here : https://move-on-film.com/

The funny thing about this is that I read about this project 2 weeks ago on their website and it looked like a crowd sourcing production. So people could apply to involve with the project if they were selected.

After I was selected by the casting director they were still looking for more Chinese people for some supporting roles and extras. So being a Dutch Chinese and speaking both languages, it was dedicated to me to do the communication between the two parties. So I helped out with the casting and it was quite fun to be at the audition from another point of view.

Here I was waiting for the make up artist while reading the script.

I took a picture of this beautiful place, in the middle of the Red Light district in Amsterdam which you wouldn’t expect so. I would love to shoot a scene here. And the eye catching grand piano makes me want to try out.

Now it is time to sit on the chair and get my hair cut for a more Hong Kong street guy look. The German Make up artist really surprised me! He puts on Chinese music from Jackie Chan on his phone! Wow, that was great. Didn’t expect that at all! hahaFinished the new haircut! You like it?

Now i’m getting some new tattoos on my skin by the make up artist. Check out more of his work here www.cisel.de

Now drawing the tattoo very carefully and I was asked to sit very still. But Banny, who also plays a role in this movie was joking all the time doing crazy kung fu moves hahaha, it was so funny to see!

Wow, see, I took this picture for him and it looks good right!

Together with Dutch actress Giam Kwee.

I’m ready for the shoot!

The filmmaking process is very divers and I’d like to meet people, so I really enjoyed my time on the film set.

Especially great actors.. 🙂

It was really nice to work with an actor who played a villain in the James Bond movie ‘Casino Royale’. Above all, he has won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival 2012. Wow, I thought by myself, I must learn some acting skills from this man!

Banny, Mads, Alex.

So as you can see it is already midnight. I’m glad to work with the director Asger Leth and contribute to the project helping the director on the set.

NED 1 – Stellen (Kung Fu Buddies Alex Cheung & Koon Chan from the Wudao Dragons)

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This morning on air Dutch National TV Channel 1 (NEDERLAND 1) broadcasting this interview about our relationship as Kung Fu buddies with Koon Chan (Wudao Dragons).

I still remember in 2008, 5th of May. That day we went to Wageningen to promote Chinese Martial Arts. It is the Dutch national liberty day.  There was a big festival going on. It is one of our first performances, and we never thought we’ll be broadcasted on Dutch National TV talking about Chinese Martial Arts. Now, the same day but 4 years later our interview on air. It is just so symbolic, just shows how interesting life is.

In the near future, I hope to share more and get more opportunities for TV program broadcasts. I will work hard and all support will be appreciated!

“Alex was negen toen hij de 15-jarige Koon leerde kennen op de Martial Arts opleiding. Nu vijftien jaar later vertellen ze over hun vriendschap, Chinese discipline en de liefde voor Martial Arts.”

www.facebook.com/alexcheung.nl for more behind the scenes photos!

http://www.nederland1.nl/gemist/39456

Get Microsoft Silverlight Bekijk de video in andere formaten.

http://www.spirit24.nl/content/stellen-alex-en-koon

On the set with military marine corps

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Today I went to the harbour and played the role of a captured sailor man. When I arrived on location, there was a Chinese lady from the production who lead me to the set. And you know what, she has the same family name as me! And she’s one of the first Chinese production staff I’ve met so far in Holland film industry. So I was obviously quite excited about that and wanted to talk some Chinese on the set. But I think she wasn’t interested in that at all =P
To summarize this, I tried to have fun, to learn more about film making and acting. I mean I want to get more out of the experience beside the small fee you get. You meet so many people, and that’s what a like about film making. When I was captured along with my companion, I really did felt how devastating it is not able to do anything and just desperately wait for someone to help you, while surrounded by dangerous people and weapons on board. The marine guys where pretty good equipped with these hk’s, and that was cool. I can’t wait to shoot some nice action (shooting) scenes this summer! Today we had so many takes, we were repeating the same thing on and on. It was like never ending..? I thought I did a good job, but in film there’s so many other things to take into account. Everything has to work, camera, light, sound, actors etc.. The food was good today and the production also served some candy’s on the set. I find it quite funny when the ‘tough guys’ were also grabbing some candy’s out of the same plate while still holding there rifle in the other hand.
Sorry I may not post any photos or videos as it is strictly prohibited to do that, since the commercial isn’t aired yet. It is always so sensitive particularly when shooting commercials. While I always want people to take some behind the scenes video and pictures for the publication haha, that’s when I’m filming.

 

April 1st millionaires joke revealed

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Did you had some good jokes on April foolsday? Well, I can tell you I did.

To prevent stupid thieves here’s my announcement:

 

Btw. I just remember that I had my first joke of being a millionaire posted in 2010

http://www.alexcheung.nl/2010/11/yesh-i-am-a-millionaire/

Winnen doe je bij? De staatsloterij! (joke/prank/1 april grap)

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It is just unbelievable, when I heard that I won the lottery together with the neighbors. Winning the lottery is a lot of luck and ones destiny. After the ambassadors, Quinty, Martijn and Gaston arrived in town. They handed over the cheque after the announcement and had some registration. Then we took some photos and celebrated together. I couldn’t sleep for nights..

Look at the lucky faces, the prize money was shared by the lucky millionaires.

It changes my life for sure, it makes things much easier. Now, with the money I can obtain my life goals faster than ever and pursue my dream. I can take care my parents and family. Help other people out, and I am so thankful for that.

I have been asked for many times what I am going to do with all the money. Well, I have donated a large sum to charity foundations, I think this is a special opportunity that god gave me, and I am just fulfilling my duty as a human. Trying to help the world for a better tomorrow. I mean that’s life, carrying for each other out of compassion. That’s why I am supporting the UNICEF, Red Cross, Jackie Chan’s Dragon’s Heart Foundation and Jet li’s One Foundation etc.

I would also like to contribute to the film industry, and now I can invest and produce films. Set up my own business, creating brands and looking forward to investment opportunities. It makes things so much easier, but then it opens up a total new world to me. It is just like a dream where I live in, but I have always believed in a happy ending.

 

 

So happy April 1st, when amazing happens.

 

Hakka Hakka Rap

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Vanessa passed her driving test and we went to the car dealer for her first car in Holland!

GT 86?

We celebrated at my friends home. And haven’t been there for a year it turned into a Lipchong Zoo exhibition, lol. I’ll show you some photos, but this is just a part of the pets!

Don’t you agree this cat is overweight? haha, she keeps eating all the time!

Then they showed me a video on Youtube and omg, you really should check this out if you’re Chinese, and definitely if you understand Hakka! This is hilarious!

My dad speaks the Hakka dialect, and it is really funny when you hear this accent especially in a ‘Rap’. I’ve never heard a song or rap in Hakka, good job guys! I think they’re from Malaysia..