30/5 to 5/6---Sorry, no news update.

I am going to China for a holiday. This is my first visit to the country, heard so much about it.... If I have time I shall tell u abt my trip when I am back.
I may not have access to the net, u bet I am going to miss you all, & the web, a lot & a lot.
Dear Andrea Rekel, the places I am going to are Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou & Nanjing. If I could extend another 3 days, I would be able to scale the exotic Huangshan! Next time!!
Till then, take care & bye2!
A gentle reminder: please dont sent me large files these few days, thanks.
(If I have time, I shall update 30/5 news, before I go to the airport)

[News in brief]

Smap X Smap was shown on TV in Japan 2 days ago.
Andy had surprised Smap in speaking fluent Japanese. When he spoke, Smap made surprised facial expressions, it was v comical. When Kimura complained abt Wang Kar Wei prolonged filming in 2046, Andy said he has the same fate, a movie filmed in '92, Ah Fei II, until now still cannot come out...

Andy & Leon Lai will both produced Mandarin albums next month.

Source: Lianhe Wanbao

Andy & Takashi will come to TW in Sept to promote the movie acted by them, Full Time Killer. A movie co in Tw had invested ¼ of the production cost, or NT$60 mil , it will also possess ¼ of the copyright in the world.

..Accordingly the combination of Andy & Takashi will at least open the market in Japan & Korea. Also the director Johnnie To used some actions & explosives, it has potential in the world market.

Johnni To was praised highly by Chen Hong Yuan [I dont know who]. Chen said the explosives effects had reached Hollywood first class standard. There were many action packed scenes in the movie, both Andy & Takashi has insisted they didnt want stuntman.

Andy’s comapny funded the other ¾ of the production cost. Andy has full confidence in the movie, & has aimed to showcase this movie in Cannes next year.

[Bye-bye from Katherine!]

[Sorry this news is a bit outdated, there was too much news lately.
Who knows one day you or I may drop by in Cannes & visit these beautiful spots too?...]

Source: World Walkers issue #173 dated 21-5-01
Title: Andy in Cannes

Annual CFF attracted many stars from both East & West. Everyone took the opportunity 'to see and to be seen'. Andy Lau was invited by the HK Trade Development Council as a performancing artiste. Besides attending the film exhibition, Andy took the chance to have a small tour. Drinking red wine & feasting local cuisine, is not only what Andy want to 'show off'. This trip to Cannes gave him much feelings of awe.

See beautiful scenery

Blvd de la Croisette is near to the beach. There are some old classic buildings, beautiful spots can be found every where. Picturesque spots are aplenty, Andy said his top choice is the scenery at the beach.

Opportunity to have main cuisine

Andy loves sea food the most. Most of the seafood restaurants are centralised around Quai St. Pierre.
Rockfish lobster farm is the most favoured by Andy. Abt HK$60, "Never relly need to try to find, just walk into any open air restaurant, can have nice soup." Fresh lobster soup taken together with bun, a big bowl soon all bottom up.

Andy strongly recommends Le Suquet red wine brewed in 1982, abt HK$4,000 a bottle. The wine is fragrant, alcohol content not too high, can gulp a whole jug. Most of the pubs & restaurants sell this.
Fruit & lobster salad costs abt HK140. Andy praised the lobster is fresh, mixed as salad, the taste is top grade.

Buy the favourite

Andy's favourite ---- a white papaye denim cowbot hat, abt HK$300. Rue d' Antibes is a good shopping pace, clothes & accessories that are most in, & comic stuff abounds.

Stay in beautiful hotel

During CFF, all hotels are fully booked, HK artistes stayed in different hotels. The one Andy stay is a 4* Radisson Sas Montfleury Hotel, room rate at abt HK$2,200 a night.

Address: 25, Avenue Beausejour F-06400 Cannes France
Tell: G (33) 493688686
The beach around La Napoule has excellent scenery. The best sopt to see is at Sofitel 7th storey Mediterranean Restaurant. All views are captured from this height.

Source: United News dated 23/5

...Andy bought many tees & accessories in a shop. His generous style charmed the lady boss, after giving him the change she grasped his hands tightly for long time, kept praising that he is v handsome & she couldnt take her eyes away from him, it was an interesting sight.

Along the street, Andy saw poster of Jacky Chan. He praised that Jacky has style, & assumed his pose. Though his ab muscles were not seen, his ripped biceps are not at all below standard!...

Sammi filmed an outdoor scene for the movie days ago. She was meeting her old bf after having successfully slimmed down, at their old meeting place. The Japanese actor who acted as her bf appeared to be v unprofessional. He was expressionless. During the take he was to sit with Sammi on a bench, but he occupied most of the seat, leaving little space for Sammi, who was thus sitting unsteadily. At last the crew indicated to him, then only he gave a bit more space for Sammi. Those who were there joked that this person look & character are far behind Andy, it is no wonder Sammi chooses Andy as bf.

[Sorry for this report on the actor, dear Japanese fans. Maybe the actor was uneasy working with foreign staff??]

The background of the movie is abt 2 Chinese living in Japan, Andy & Sammi. So it is unavoidable that they have to converse in Japanese. Andy's Japanese had been shown at SmapXSmap show & had won praises. But Sammi needs to read from the scrap all the time. Andy's fluency in Japanese is the envy of Sammi, she admires him totally.

Sammi has a lot of rumours ever since she joined acting, it is only acted with Andy that she has no rumour at all. There is no negative news abt her. This is probably because Andy is outright & very caring towards his partners.

Just like this present filming in Japan, Andy treated all in the crew to famous local giant crab. After work yesterday, he invited the make-up specialist to Italian food & games. This really touched the hearts of all.

Diary from al.com

27/5---Filming was v smooth today. Could stop work earlier, worth a celebration. So invited the foreign make-up specialist to come along. Of course wont leave out going to play 'gripping toys' game! Never thought couldnt find the machine there, but has a 'gripping the lobster' machine. With only 200 yen, caught a live fresh lobster......the specialist took his hat off me. Haha!!!

Andy & Sammi are now filming in Japan. Lately they filmed a scene of hell training in slimming. As shooting schedule is v packed, they continued with filming despite heavy rain. The scene was shot at Yokohama China Town. The story relates that Andy was v strict with Sammi. To stop her from skiving, he rode a small bicycle, one hand holding a feather duster, instructed Sammi who wanted to slim down to pull a big oil drum weighing abt 10 lb. [?]. They did it many times to & fro on the street. Rarely have they experienced so tough life before, they felt like hell. After shooting every scene, Sammi got to sit down to take a breath before she could carry on.

When Andy first saw the small bicycle, he got a shock too, how could a few hundred-pounder control a kiddie bike. It is not easy, but without a second thought, Andy jumped up the bike & tried riding. The ground was slippery, luckily he did not fall.

Andy laughed, "Wow, dont think the fat guy has no agile body, Sammo Hung can, I can too! Heihei." He told the make-up specialist not to worry, he wont fall, & wont damage the fat 'meat'. Everyone knows that the fatty make-up cannot be damaged, other wise they wont be able to carry on with filming.

Actually Andy has not ridden a bike before. Why? Because 10 over years ago, his sis had an accident with a bike & had to be stitched up. Mama Lau forbids the family to ride a bike.

[Thanks a lot, Terrie, for your detail account on Andy's filming & Takako's diary! Wow, you acted in the movie! ....Dear fans, u can read her story from Andy Lau Mailing List!...]

Other than this hell training scene, they filmed another scene in the evening outside Yokohama park, near to Marine Tower.

Fatty Andy drove a mini car, Mitsubishi Toppo, & took Sammi who had successfully slimmed down to meet her first bf. The scene of fat Andy in a small car is v interesting.

It was tough for Andy, as the car was v cramp & the spot light shone on him. Soon he was drenched with sweats & v uncomfortable. The director was v caring, he allowed Andy to remove his fat forarms after every shot to let in some air. The reporter could have a good look at the contents of the fat arms!

Actually Sammi was to appear as fat girl in the script, but because of allergy, the director changed the script, allowing Sammi to appear slim.

It has been raining these few days in Yokohama, the temp has dropped to 14 degree C. Andy & Sammi are both wearing the fatty make-up, inside hot outside cold, it is worse than withstanding the cold. Everyday starting the making -up at 4am, followed by 10 over hrs of filming, both are fairly exhausted. Even Andy said he surrenders.

Andy, the well-known Iron Man, sighed that in his 20 yrs of filming, has never been so difficult before! Luckily there is no sequel of this movie. The difficulty is just indescribable. He has decided that fat version of Andy appearing once is enough, there is no more such role for him in future!

There were many Andy fans gathering in China Town, knowing that Andy will come at abt 11pm, they kept coming in to see Andy. Though the fatty look impedes his movement, Andy still obliged the fans by stopping to autograph for them.

Diary from al.com

26/5---First time filming Love On A Diet dont have to put on the fatty make-up, so v relax & v fast finish work today. But it is only the upper half of the show....the other half will be shot, make up will start after evening.
Believe it will be quite late knocking off from work today. Some HK media came for visit, so happy........because everyone praises my fatty look, non-stop!

Andy & Sammi are now in Yokohama filming Love On A Diet. 2 days ago filming went beyond 13 hours. Because of the sticky glue used in the make-up, Sammi developed allergic rashes which are red & itches on the face. Though she was upset, she insisted on carrying on with the filming. The make-up specialist, however, abided to his professional ethics & refused to do make up for her. He warned that the make up must not be kept for more than 10 hrs.

The director had no choice but to re-schedule the sequence of filming. Yesterday they filmed the final scene of the movie. Both Andy & Sammi reverted to the slim state. The story goes that both of them parted after successfully slim down. But Sammi still holds Andy dearly in her heart. One day, they met by chance in a park, Sammi flew into Andy & they had a passionate kiss.

This is their first screen kiss. Andy was asked what the feeling was. He answered, "Perfect!" He said he took her as his gf so the feeling was good. Though the director wanted them to have some 'fore play', they didn't feel the necessity.

Many Japanese fans visited Andy during filming. They asked him for autograph. Some even called a cab to follow Andy back to hotel. One elderly passerby asked who the handsome man was, when told it was Andy, she screamed & said he was HK star Ah Hu.

[Terrie, were u there?...]

Other than filming, Andy is v industrious. When he is free, he will either learn Japanese from his teacher or learn at the director seat.

Diary from al.com

25/5---Filming time is longer today, because want to film a night scene. There is quite a long interval in between, as don't wish to spend time taking off & putting on the make up again, only took down the fatty outfit, & return to hotel for a short rest........but actually it is only with the crew in the room chit-chatting, because I cannot get onto the bed to rest, & cannot get to the street to roam abt, bacuase dont want people to see my funny look.
[....we can imagine how funny too...like a big-headed doll....hahaha]

Takashi in a press interview for Full Time Killer in Japan 2 days ago revealed that the movie will take part in the 55th Cannes Film festival next year.

Full Time Killer starring Andy & Takashi has received wide publicity in HK. In Japan, it has also received much attention. It is the first movie by Takashi outside Japan. Yesterday Japanese media widely announced that the movie will be in Cannes Film Festival 2002.

Accordingly the director Jonnie To is v satisfied with the movie, claiming it to be the representative piece for year 2001. The movie co has just completed exhibition in Cannes. Response to the FTK footage was v encouraging.

The movie 2046 starring Kimura, directed by Wang Ka Wei is also entering Cannes FF exhibition next year. Kimura acted as killer too in the movie. The Japanese media takes both movies as hot topics, much hope has been placed on the 2 stars. They hope to see both Japanese stars walk on the red carpet in Cannes next year.

Source: Sin Pao
Title: Love On A Diet to come to TW for promo

Wish to see Andy & Sammi cute fatty looks? China Star boss Mr. & Mrs Heung was in TW yesterday to meet the boss of 'Long Siang Movie Co'. The latter will release 3 movies of China Star, one of which is Love On Diet, which will be screened on 23 June. Andy & Sammi will come to TW for the promo . [...but... S'pore Star Search??...]

Source: Da Chen Pao
Title: Andy kept moustache to promote Man's Love

When Andy was in TW to promote Man's Love, he kept a moustache. This time Jacky Cheung too keep one to promote his new Cantonese album. Andy had sang World's No.1, Jacky new song is titled World's First Class. The 2 heavenly kings seem to have a common interest.

Though both keep moustache, they have different appeal. Andy's moustache was kept because of movie AFB & the album Man's Love. His look portrays man's desolate weakness & gave an unrestrained appeal. Andy liked the look a lot, he trimmed it everyday to give it more style....

Diary from al.com

24/5---It rained continuously these 2 days in Japan. It is tough for the crew to do outdoor filming, so stop work earlier today, gave a treat to the memebers of the crew.
The whole gp marched into a Japanese restaurant, what a buzz....other than tasting Japanese delicacies, orderd Japanese giant crab, had a big feast.

Andy is now in Yokohama Japan filming Love On A Diet.

2 days ago after work he went looking for food in a small lane. Andy is a Buddhist & a vegetarian on the first & 15th of every lunar month. It was the first day of 4th lunar month that day. It is not easy to find a vegetarian eatery in Japan. He ended up finally at Danny's restaurant. He ordered buns & soup. He enjoyed the buns the most as they were freshly baked, hot from oven. It was very delicious. He said the light meal is good after all the heavy meals on the other days.

It rains frequently in Japan, but because of schedule they carry on with the shooting. Andy said his make-up stays longer in cooler weather & it is less tiring for him, but the crew have to work in the rain.

After dinner, like a big child, Andy went to a nearby arcade to play 'Gripping Toys'. He aims to grip the 'Bread Ultraman''s family home!

Source: United News

The latest Japanese magazine 'TV Guide' carries an interview of Andy & Takako. They talked abt their first encounter. Takako said she learned abt Andy from his movies, the most impressive was one when he whipped out a knife killing people after coming up from the escalator. She was quite scared on first meeting him, not sure if he will kill, she hid her hands behind her back all the time. Andy said he always likes to see Takako's movies, but on the first meeting he hid his anxiety by pretending to act cool.

Why was Takako chosen? Andy said he wanted to act with her long ago but had no opportunity, since AFB was produced by his co now, of course he chose Takako! They talked abt other daily activities...

Source: United News dated 24/5
Headline: 20 years in showbiz, Andy releases his 112th album

20 years in showbiz, Andy has not only shone in movies, his music career is equally distinguished. Emphasis has been placed on his 100th movie, but actually Andy has released 111 albums since he is in the circle. An average of 5.5 a year.

His first album was released in 1984, a Cantonese album titled 'Only Know Loving U This Time'. Out of the 111, 36 are in Mandarin, 53 in Cantonese, 4 in Japanese, & 18 are mixed.

In music circle 10 over years, Andy has won numerous awards. But the greatest contribution he makes is actually having successfully promoted the trend of Mandarin pops. At the era when Cantonese pops ruled the music circle, Andy successfully launched many Mandarin albums, including Thanks For Your Love, Water Of Forgetfulness, etc. These songs have made his popularity soared high, to a Heavenly status. At the same time, it set the trend of Mandarin pops. This is especially so in HK. At the annual Top 10 music awards, in the Most Popular Mandarin Song category, there was always Andy's songs.

In June he will release his new Mandarin album, this is his 112th album. Despite being busy with filming & preparing for concert, he has finished with the recording. To meet the demand of retail outlets, has demo tape is in the shops for fans to listen first hand. The new style is fresh & natural, different from his previous melancholy self, giving best enjoyment to his fans.

Diary from al.com

23/5---Sleep enough.......more sprited. Because everytime making up as the fatty guy look, the special efect can only last 8 hrs, so the nos of hrs of wrok daily is fixed.
Have time...heva energy.......so go for some entertainment. A gp of the crew went to 'grip the toys' again. This game is my strongest, of course come back with a full load, won the title King of the 'Toy Gripping'.

Andy who is turning 40 this year, had silently signed up another 5-yr contract with BMG. In other words if you want to see Andy changes company, it has to be after he is 45!

A contract of 5 years for one with Heavenly status has never happened before, but Andy is good with business. His own nmg together with BMG takes care of album release, the fund is divided between the 2 companies.

Sources has it that behind nmg there are 2 sources of fund, one is headed by Andy Lau, Landow Li & Chang Kwok Chong (CCT boss). The other is fom BMG. This means, both sides are still cooperating but under a different format. Not only this, because of the cooperation of Andy & BMG will last another 5 yrs, the cooperation is obviously in trems of benefits. Andy can sing well, he is liked by many, influential, business smart, so the cooperation of nmg & BMG for 5 years is a mutual benefit.

From Andy's performance lately, he is Best Actor, has good box-office, cooperation with Japanese market has given him another new source. He in-charge of the stage from behind & front, is not difficult to be famous for another 10 yrs.

Source: Min Shen Pao
Headline: Andy wants to use his charisma, volunteer to become 'Weather Ambassador'
new album out in June, writes his own songs

Andy's new Mandarin album will be out in June. He kind-heartedness is 2nd to none. There are many typhoons in TW. Under the invitation of Weather Dept in TW, he has agreed to be Weather Ambassador voluntarily. As typhoons names are always girl's name, Andy joked that with his charisma, the many miss typhoon can make a detour & do not harm TW land.

Andy will be in TW middle of June for the promo of new album, titled 'Tian Kai Le' or 'Opening Up Of Sky'. He will stay for abt 5 days.

Andy has sought local R& B new hot fave Jay Chow to write a song. Andy had approached Phil Chang to write songs for him before, but the latter feels too stressful to write songs for Andy. So Andy has to become his own 'She Er Lang' or 'The 12th ' (Phil's wife is She Yi lang or The 11th, she writes song for Phil). Andy wrote 'My Heart Can Only Accommodate You' & 'Willing' these 2 songs.

When Andy was writing the song 'Wlling', news of the the 5-yr-old girl & the alleged lover was out. In this love song, Andy wrote 'I am willing to accompany you thro' life', who is he willing to go thro' life with ?

There is no song with the title 'Opening Up Of Sky' in the new album, though the album is titled thus. Andy means to imply that in his entertainment life, he has always been associated with 'Tian' or sky. His comapny is 'Tian Mo' (TeamWork) or 'Sky Curtain', nmg 'Tian Chong' or 'Sky Center'. People called him 'Tian Wang' or Heavenly King. His recent trip to Huang Shan gives him some thoughts, 'If you dont go up Huang Shan, u wont know the beauty of 'shan' (mountain). After going up to Hunag Shan, u know the beauty & vastness of sky & earth', thus the nmae 'Tain Kai Le'.

Diary from al.com

22/5---It was alreday v late after dinner on arrival to Japan yesterday. Dropped on the bed to sleep....really even before the bed was warm, got to get up to work!
The first day make-up as fat guy walking on the road.
Walking like a fat guy, eating on the street, the feeling is v special, there is no restrictions!