August 1, 2003

Ekin and Lin Jia Xin over the last couple of days attended publicity events for Heroic Duo in Malaysia and Singapore. Hundreds of fans turned out to see them. Both leading actors autographed special movie booklets for fans. During the interviews reporters pressed Ekin to admit that he is in fact Gigi's husband. Ekin told them that this was not the topic of conversation and once again they were they were in private territory and he would not discuss it further.

Ekin said that this is the first time he had worked with Leon Li Ming, even though they are both singers they had seldom had contact.

Lin Jia-Xin has worked with both Ekin and Li Ming before and so had some rapport with both of them. She praised Ekin as a very professional actor, she said that when she had to watch him jump from the 15th story of a building during the film she was very afraid.

Ekin said that the first day I believe the performance is very wrong, but afterwards the director explain exactly what he wanted of me. That helped to make a good working relationship.

Lin Jia-Xin was asked if she had counted on a bigger part in the movie, she said that her part was very important and she didn't feel that she was neglected. She said that now the movie was complete she was hoping to take some vacation and rest.

The talk then turned to the movie's possible contention at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. Chen Mu-Sheng explained that 3 movies from Hong Kong could take part.

Ekin said that even if true that indeed unexpected surprise news still most important that the audience appreciate and identify with the movie,
He was asked what award category he would most like to receive. Ekin slyly replied " Cash prize!" Chen Mu Sheng chimed in to say that prizes of this nature were possible.

Mingpao - article in Chinese
Takung Pao - article in Chinese
Wenweipo - article in Chinese
Singpao - article in Chinese

Last evening after the end of the publicity for the movie Ekin and Karina prepared to fly back to Hong Kong. At the airport Ekin stopped to take photographs and sigh autographs for a number of fans. However none of them acknowledged Karina who was standing beside him. Even Lin Xiao Ming the Universal boss only spoke to Ekin, ignoring Karina. When they went through to the departure lounge they sat to drink coffee. Ekin sat with Karina to chat, he continuously talk, laugh and tease her, to get a big laugh and solve her distress at feeling left out.

August 2, 2003

Floating Landscape staring Lin Jia Xin, Liu Yue and Ekin Cheng has the chance to contend in the international film category at the 60th Venice Film Festival in Italy. The festival is held between August 27th and September 6th. The last time a Chinese movie stole the awards was Zhang Yimou's Red Lantern, and actress Gong Li was voted best actress.

The director and producer hope that the actors will be able to attend the festival to promote the movie, although as they are all involved in other projects it will not be until after September 3rd. The movie will also be at the Berlin Film Festival. Currently the director is in France at the Cannes Film Festival. All the actors also hope that the movie will also do well at the various Asian film festivals, in Korea and Taiwan.

Ekin said that while he was happy for the nomination, he was well aware that it would be difficult for him to win an actor award because he was not the main star of the movie. However, he hoped that he can give the audience vision a new feeling.

Ekin's character is a painter who has lived in Qing Dao all his life. His lover is Min (Lin Jia Xin). After his death, his lover finds his artist materials and a series of landscape paintings he did in Qing Dao. Missing him terribly, Min decides to go to Qing Dao to be near where he lived, find out more about him and see where he painted the landscapes. While she is in Qing Dao she meets Liu Yue who plays a postman. The postman looks very like her lover and together they try to find all the places that are depicted in the paintings. But there is one place they cannot find. The painting is of an orchard of pear blossoms. They realize that they will not be able to find it because it is the wrong season. Eventually the pear blossoms open and they find the place. Liu and Min realize that they have fallen in love. Min can finally allow her lover to rest in peace and make a new life with Liu.

Apple Daily courtesy of House Of Ekin
Oriental Daily - article in Chinese
The Sun - article in Chinese
Singpao - article in Chinese
Wenweipo - article in Chinese

August 4, 2003

Yesterday morning Ekin left for Japan to begin work on his new movie Anna and Wulin

Actually, I am leaving a day early. I searched the net and there are some items I want to buy.

Reporters mentioned his current success in Heroic Duo

I was already happy with the achievement, what is important is to have done your best.

The Sun - article in Chinese

August 10, 2003

Yesterday Ekin and Miriam Yeung attended the launch of the Hong Kong Postal Service comemorative stamp issue, because they are ambassadors of the postal service smart electronic cards. the post office sent out official cover stamps free of charge in a special ceremony.

The day before Miram and Ekin returned to Hong Kong from Japan where they had been working on scenes for their new movie Anna and Shaolin. Ekin described this trip as very relaxed, however, he said that it was a pity that he hadn't much time to go shopping. He said that all he brought back was some window cleaning items to help his housekeeper to not have to work so hard.

A number of newspaper reports recently discused whether Gigi was a caring or not. Ekin was asked to comment on the reports.

It is a pity that I still have to suffer hearing talk about whether Gigi is a considerate person. She's not bad, I just don't think I have to praise her highly all the time, therefore I can only say that her manner is OK. Basically in the news there is good and there is bad. This relates to a private matter and I think I will not discuss it further.

Apple Daily courtesy of House Of Ekin
The Sun - article in Chinese
Ming Pao - article in Chinese
Singpao - artile in Chinese
Wenweipo - article in Chinese

August 14, 2003

Ekin has been in the entertainment business for 15 years. Unfortunately, 4 years ago his decision to go out with Gigi caused his career to take a tumble. However, at that time he had no regrets. He just always wait for an opportunity to arrive.

Recently, the Mainland market has developed a sharp interest in Ekin. He has cut his long hair short and the result is a more serious, dignified, brand new Ekin Cheng. Earlier he accepted an interview from a best selling mainland magazine " T.O.M. The Outlook Magazine - New Vision" and also agreed to new photographs. The photographs inside the magazine feature Ekin with his shirt open to reveal his chest, lying on the sand enjoying the sunshine.

Ekin has always loved nature, however, even though he is a male star taking the pictures with his shirt open was a very difficult demand. The theme of the latest issue of T.O.M. was "Sand Glamour". In order to coordinate with the theme Ekin needed to lay down on the sand to take the pictures.

During the interview he expressed that he most remember his American film Second Time Around. At that time he could go to the beach to see the sunset. There was brilliant twinkling golden light and the change made the sand look soft like the desert. He believes that the sand variations are like life, he smiled when he explained:

I can't help feeling sense that the sand holds life, when things don't go well consider it as a desert storm, it comes and goes quickly, nothing is left, you are obliged again to have patient and optimistic expectations. Positive, confident and serious is now the way to negotiate safely through problems.
Ekin also expressed that these last several years are a transitional period, because before he has portrayed too many comic book characters, this already cause audiences to have a lasting impression. He wants audiences feel pleasantly surprised at different roles. Naturally this takes time, and he is still in the process of creating a new Ekin Cheng. Although there is some risk, in this way life is just like the kaleidoscope of the sand.

Ming Pao - article in Chinese

August 18, 2003

Yesterday Ekin attended a promotional event as spokesperson for Canon. Many fans joined him according to what canon products they bought and how much money they donated to an eyestudy hospital. Ekin played a folding paper camera game with the fans. Since Ekin became the spokesman for Canon the products sales volume has increased significantly. Ekin revealed that he has already agreed upon and signed a new one year contract as spokesperson.

Canon Promotional Video
20-8-2003 #7

The evening before Ekin's old girlfriend, Maggie Sui and his new girlfriend, Gigi Leung both attended a concert, although they sat in different places. Ekin did not attend the concert. At the Canon event he was asked about this. He explained that he was not very clear on the details because he had not yet seen Gigi. He said he didn't think it was any problem.

" They just went to watch a concert, that's all."

Ekin was also asked about the filming of his new movie Anna in KungFu Land. Recent newspaper reports said that Miriam often gigled and laughed and this caused shooting delays, and some of the other actors were very discontent. Ekin defended Miriam saying that these newspapers didn't need a reason to start a rumor. Also, the boss Lin Xiao Ming's son organized the roast pig ceremony to start off the movie with good fortune. Faced with questions that Mrs. Lin treated him specially, Ekin stressed that she treated everyone the same.

Ekin also divulged that although he is busy filming he also still works to learn English. Originally, he also thought he should study Mandarin, but in recent years he has found that he often needs to go to the mainland to work, so already his Mandarin is much advanced. He regards this achievement as "not bad". He refered to his method of learning English. He said that he didn't go to class because his daily life made this too difficult. Instead in idle time he and his teacher go to watch a movie or go out to dinner and in this way he can study English. He hopes someday he can go to live in a different country. He wants to assimilate his experiences and then work as a director. He has hope that by the time he is 40 years old he can accomplish this wish.

At present he is excited to open his own website. He put his picture on the website to test it so that everyone could connect to the internet and enjoy. At present the website is still under construction.

Ming Pao - article in Chinese
Wenweipo - article in Chinese
Takung Pao - article in Chinese

August 31, 2003

Ming Pao together with the actor's association are keeeping watch over families whose children have suffered from SARS. As the Mid Autumn Festival approaches the paper arranged for celebrities to visit affected to families and bring Mooncakes to share. The newspaper and the actors association will provide funds to help with the education of children who have missed much school due to their illness.

Yesterday, before heading to Venice, Italy to attend the Film Festival where his latest movie Floating Landscapes is participating, Ekin took time to visit a family that had recently suffered from SARS. The family has two 16 year old daughters and a 3 year old little girl. The mother contracted SARS when she was at work in the hospital and brought it home to her family. Fortunately, they have all recovered now.

The older daughters were very nervous to meet Ekin as they feared he would be very serious. However, an atmosphere that includes a 3 year old soon becomes very relaxed and Ekin smiled and laughed with them. The little girl was very happy that he brought mooncakes and pronounced them extremely tasty, as she asked for a third cake. Ekin was worried that she might make herself ill and asked her to agree not to abandon her manners.

The older girls agreed that Ekin was very tall and also that he was much more handsome in person than on the movie screen. Ekin laughed, "Ha Ha tragic! I am not better than the camera lens, I think I am not fit to be an actor." Ekin stayed with the family for almost an hour and autographed Twins Effect posters for the girls. When it was time for him to leave, the family did not want to say goodbye, especially Ekin's little 3 year old new friend.

Ekin expressed that the time to visit families was very significant, he felt that he did not know how to help, and even though people are recovering he hopes that everyone will not forget because their hearts are lighter today.

Ming Pao - article in Chinese

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