November 1, 2006

Because he is due to start filming 霍元甲 Ekin has abandoned his long haired look for a shaved head. It has always been said that his long hair brought luck, but for this role he was determined to shave his head. However, he firmly resisted having his girlfriend there to witness the loss of his hair, only allowing his manager and 关锦鹏 to be there. The director of the drama acknowledged that it is difficult for an actor to shave his head for a performance. he also said that he knew that at first Ekin was reluctant, but the script persuaded him that this was a drama he wanted to do. Ekin has slowly worked toward this, and today he has finally let go of his hair. Over a period he cut again, and in this way he is mentally able to accept it.

When asked to do this drama Ekin didn't hesitate to cut his hair. Today he went with friends to an inside room at the hair salon. Before it was done Ekin was full of smiles. Two hours later a bare headed Ekin came out of the salon, he seemed to feel a little unaccustomed to the look. He immediately put on a woollen hat, Reporters of course wanted to know his feeling on this radical change wondering whether he had cried at the loss of his hair after so many years of long hair. He smiled and said he felt OK and it was unlikely he would cry.

Ekin will be leaving for the mainland on November 6, 2006. He is expected to be working on the drama for 2 to 3 months. reporters wanted to know if Yoyo would be going with him. His manager Lam Shan Shan immediately said that Ekin was going to the mainland to work. Yoyo was working in Hong Kong so how could she be going with him.

Afterwards Ekin went shopping to buy some new clothes, and of course hats, to go with his new image.

Ekin said that he was anxious as to how the audiences would accept his playing this role, but he also said that he was honored to play this hero.

sina
mingpao
sun

November 3, 2006

Yesterday Ekin, accompanied by his manager, and dressed in black and sporting a black hat over his recently shaved head arrived in Beijing Airport. A large number of fans were waiting for him at the airport to see his new look. As soon as they recognized him they pursued him and for a while there was chaos in the airport. Ekin's staff had to protect him so he could get away.

Reporters asked how he would cope with the Beijing weather as he has just shaved his head. Was he worried about how he would protect his head? Ekin explained that he has already prepared for the weather, and also he brought every kind of hat, so no problem.

Ekin is planning to remain in the capital for a few days. It is a special trip for the new drama 《霍元甲》 to officially decide on the clothing for the drama. Even though Ekin's party was tired from the trip they immediately went to dinner with the drama 's personnel. On November 6, 2006 filming will start at the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River.

The director compared his new edition of this story with both the older television edition and also Jet Li's recent movie. In this they will explore the relationship between Hua Yuan Jia and Chen Zhen. Because the organizing group insisted that heads be shaved before performing some choices of actor were frightened away. Ekin has removed his more than ten years if long hair for this role and temporarily he to had had difficulty to accept it. He had to gradually make the change over a period of time. Ekin said that he had to do it this way to allow his mind to accept it. I wanted to be involved because the script is very extraordinary. He feels that this role will be a great challenge. The drama personnel have given Ekin a lot of background regarding the character and his personality. He also has to pay careful attention to the martial art style he created. Ekin, although not a specialist, does have a martial arts background and his movements are very good, therefore he believes he can be qualified for this role.

As to the theme music for the drama, reporters wanted to know whether the old music would be used or whether either Jordan or Ekin would record a new theme song. The director indicated that at the moment no decisions have been made regarding this.

sina

November 4, 2006

Yesterday Ekin and the director of 霍元甲traveled to Tianjin to hold a special start the drama ceremony. In addition they visited 霍元甲's tomb in his home village to offer a sacrifice and also paid a visit to 霍元甲's descendants. Ekin didn't wear a hat for the ceremony or the visits. They first visited 霍元甲's statue. 霍元甲's grandson personally welcomed them. He was happy that Ekin had agreed to portray 霍元甲 and he gave the drama group a lot of historical data concerning 霍元甲.

sina

November 5, 2006

Today Ekin and Niki attended a publicity activity for their new movie Heavenly Mission. The activity celebrated an early Christmas. They were given Christmas stockings and they played games with the audience. Niki tried to pull at Ekin's hat to expose his shaved head, luckily Ekin was fast enough to keep the hat on his head. For the new drama and movie publicity Ekin had just returned from Beijing to Hong Kong. He said that he is already used to the shaved head appearance, a although his girlfriend Yoyo said she didn't distinguish between his former hairstyle and the present one, but other friends have felt it is good. This has caused him to consider not having long hair again but keeping it really short, as it is more convenient.

Recently some residents took photographs of Ekin and Yoyo which they sold to the media. The magazines have offered readers a large reward for the photographs of Ekin and Yoyo holding hands in the street in Sai Kung. Ekin didn't feel that this was unexpected or strange. What was strange was the the media spent $2,000 to buy such a picture. Ekin said if he had known earlier he could have given a picture and the money could have been used for a good cause.

As to the reports that the owner of BMA was resentful because Stephen Fung hadn't helped to publicize the movie, Ekin said he understood that because actors have other commitments they cannot always be available to attend publicity events. He also may have this situation, but he believes that every actor have time to be able to do ones best to publicize a movie, however he has heard that they will find time to attend the premiere.

takungpao
oriental daily
singtao
mingpao
singpao

November 7, 2006

Ekin filmed Ultraman in Thailand earlier in the year. Yesterday he returned to Thailand for a Project Ultraman publicity meeting with the media. The scene was also decorated with Ultramen. Ekin plays the role of Ultraman Elite, so in addition he was escorted by mechanical people. With Ekin were the other Ultraman male leading roles Ray Mc Donald and Matthew Dean together with the female lead Paula Taylor.

Paula was wearing a low cut dress, and while seated with Ekin she teased him. However he to some extent avoided looking at her. Afterwards reporters asked him if he was afraid Yoyo would be jealous. Ekin said of course is good to avoid jealousy to some extent, he added though that he had one, maybe two scenes with her. Most of his scenes were with a small child.

Ekin said to film this he had been in Thailand only half a month, learned only a little Thai, with Paula he could only communicate in English. Ekin also explained that when his character became Ultraman, another actor substituted for him. So when the filming is complete the post production spliced the scenes together. This meant that when he was filming he had to use his imagination, but it wasn't too difficult. He pointed to the fact that when he played Whispering Wind the situation was similar.

Ekin noted that since the Young and Dangerous series and many people recognize him, this means that he has a lot more Thai, Korean and Japanese fans than Hong Kong fans.

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mingpao
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wenweipo

November 8, 2006

Earlier this month, Ekin had offered for auction two watches which were used as props in his new movie Heavenly Mission. Ekin told visitors to his blog that the money raised would be used for charity. Mr. Deng bid $38,000HK for the watches. Yesterday Ekin presented the watches to him. Ekin was very pleased at the significant amount of money he would be able to donate to charity.

Later in the day Ekin, Stephen Fung, Niki, Chilam and Alex Fong attended the premiere of Heavenly Mission. All the actors arrived even though Ekin and Niki shouldered the majority of the publicity events alone. Alex Fong, however, was an hour late. Ekin had rushed back from an event in Thailand to be present at the premiere. This is his first movie premiere of the year and so he invited his parents to join him. He was asked whether he had also invited Yoyo to come and support him. He explained that she was working, but then joked with reporters asking them " Who was Yoyo?" and laughing and said he didn't remember her, but Niki had come.

Ekin will again travel to Beijing for the television drama 霍元甲. He will be there for 3 months. Reporters couldn't see how he could go for so long and not see his girlfriend. Ekin laughed and said he has been very busy over the last few days and was very tired. In addition he didn't have any free time. He was not planning to stay to watch the movie, he was just looking forward to getting some sleep when he got home after the premiere. Because he is rushing everyplace he said he needed to tidy up his luggage to prepare for his extended trip to Shanxi Province.

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Ekin's Blog

November 9, 2006

Today at Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River Ekin seriously began the filming of 霍元甲. Yesterday the clothing for the series was finally decided upon and shared with the press. Ekin had already shaved his head in preparation like Jet Li showed martial art stances. The first movie about 霍元甲 was in 1944 since then there have been several different renditions of China's cultural hero in 1973, 1981 and last year Jet Li also portrayed 霍元甲. This most recent movie did very well at the box office and is being shown in theaters around the world.

This new television series staring Ekin and Jordan is expected to be 30 episodes. The director has made it clear that this drama will honor history and be the authentic life of 霍元甲. The theme will be the same as the 1981 series "万里长城永不倒".

Ekin is very pleased with this role, however he smiled and said that in the beginning he was not too confident but once he put on the costume and wore the braid he succeeded in feeling as if he were from that era. He also said that it seemed that the sacrifice of shaving his head had been worth it even though it had been a very difficult thing to do. He talked about the reason he had done this in stages was because of his own fear to do it all at once, it was too ugly and psychologically he couldn't bear it. However he went on to say that now it was done he was satisfied with the result.

Besides building the character, the martial arts skills required were an important part, but this is not the only need of the drama's plot. Most important is top be able to show the essence of China's martial arts. Ekin is currently studying 踪拳 fist. Although he doesn't have a martial arts background he is working hard to train and already has a martial arts master's look.

Regarding his recent trip to Beijing to decide on the clothing, Ekin indicated that it went very smoothly. The director noted that Ekin had made some changes to the clothing but that everyone was satisfied with the final choices and Ekin looked the part of the righteous 霍元甲.

tom ent
xin hua
beijing news

November 11, 2006

Ekin together with James Yuen, Carl Wu and Feng Ping were in Guangzhou to publicize Heavenly Mission. They accepted interviews from the media. This movie will go on general release on November 17, 2006. Ekin was at great pains to emphasize that his role in this movie is not the same as Chan Huo Nam in Young and Dangerous. In the movie his name is 叶秋 and it is a more mature type of gangster at the beginning of the movie. Ekin together with director and the producer of this movie decided how the role would be developed. It is six years since the last of the Young and Dangerous series Born to Be King and in this movie again has a gangster theme. Ekin said this time the audience will come across an older man. It is not Chan Huo Nam.

Regarding Ekin's change of style, Ekin indicated that his age changes, his mentality to some extent changes so obviously the roles have to change too. However 叶秋 is still a hero. Ekin was also full of praise for his co star 霍思燕.

James Yuen also said that the movie was about a person trying to change his life and that was where his interest lay, because the people around him will have varying reactions. He said that he required Ekin to act a little dull, because his character has been in prison for eight years. So it doesn't resemble the impetuous Chan Huo Nam. He went on to say that as the police officer Alex Fong's role was brutal and cruel, while Stephen's role represented the way Ekin's character would have been in the past. The world changes, therefore every person's fate changes. only a heavenly mission can redeem them. As to the triad background, James Yuen was cautious, explaining that the story was of changing ones life, not being a gangster.

November 12, 2006

Ekin was in Nanning to publicize Heavenly Mission today. Ekin was surrounded by reporters and fans and the scene was very chaotic. Some fans even begged reporters to help them get a photograph taken with Ekin. One fan was able to persuade a reporter to allow her to mix in with them and get close him. Ekin as usual was completely polite with reporters. Even though they as usual asked very personal questions.He was asked who his girlfriend was, but he didn't reply. The movie director intervened and said was female friends what was meant? Ekin then immediately replied that he had many female friends. Regarding the loss of his signature long hair, many reporters and fans felt it was a shame. Ekin indicated that this was done for the drama he is currently filming. He is only temporarily away from filming to work on the publicity for this new movie. Reporters, of course, wanted him to take off his hat so that they could have a picture of his shaved head. However Ekin refused to comply.
sina

November 14, 2006

Ekin is currently filming 霍元甲 in Shanxi province. Although the filming time is intense, for the sake of commemorating their good friend 柯受良 They left for his monument to pay their respects. The only photograph Ekin would allow was in front of the monument. He refused others out of respect.

sun

November 20, 2006

Ekin and Jordan are both in Shanxi Province filming Huo Yuan Jia. These two have not worked together in almost 10 years, and they have never made a TV series together before. Jordan also has shaved his head for the role. Jordan's anguish caused much hilarity. Jordan didn't slowly get used to the idea over a period as Ekin did. During the whole process Jordan continually felt sorry for himself. After it was done he collected some of the hair on the ground and offered it saying " don't you all feel sorry for me" and at he same time cried. Everyone laughed.

Yesterday the pictures of Jordan's costumes were released. Jordan indicated that he wanted to create a different kind of Chen Zhen.

Ekin was filming at the side of the Hukou waterfall on the Yellow River. He wore black clothing to practice the martial art of :

" no desires, no thoughts, no self, forget life, forget death, forget pain, forget worry, forget mind."

Sina Huo Yuan Jia

November 24, 2006

At present the drama Huo Yuan Jia is being filmed at the Hukou waterfall on the Yellow River. The current filming is to go with the theme music. The falls are are in flood with a lot of angry momentum. The Yellow River holds a lot of patriotism and emotion for many generations of Chinese. Ekin had to stand dangerously close to the edge of the falls for the camera shot. Ekin also performed spectacular martial arts on the riverside, further because the plot requires kick in the air, kick on the ground, the least mistake could cause a fall from the bank into the waterfall. Ekin heart was trembling while standing for the pictures and his hand shook. Ekin said that no matter what the film content, often can be dangerous, but he has never before used s substitute. This time he stands on the precipice overlooking the torrent of the Hukou waterfall. Although he doesn't look worried he was well aware of the danger. His quiet attitude allowed him to prepare against fear of the danger. Ekin wore an invisible rope to keep him safe, but the tie could not impede his movements. This allowed the experience of the danger to be captured .It also cause the mind to be nervous and the situation is difficult. In the scene everyone worried that Ekin's muscles would anxiously jump, but it seemed like Ekin had the appearance of a tranquil undisturbed person. He didn't say much, just fastened the safety line and walked to the cliff edge. The scene was shot smoothly with no adverse effect in half a day. However, when he came away from the precipice his heart was jumping.

Sina blog

November 26, 2006

The directors of the new television series of Huo Yuan Jia considered their choices to be very important. The script was important. The director was important. The choice of actors was important. They feel that the choices made are good. The director interprets the script with his own ideas. All of the behind the scenes staff have worked very hard. Finally the actors can appear.

Regarding Ekin and Jordan, playing Huo Yuan Jia and Chen Zhen respectively, nearly everyone has a great deal of admiration for them. Even though they do not have a martial arts background, they have superbly transformed their appearance. They are each deeply in their minds identifying with the role and giving the flavor of the characters. In fact most difficult must be how much acting skill is needed to portray these characters, in fact both Ekin and Jordan have this in abundance. Standing on the banks of the Yellow River Ekin is Huo Yuan Jia.

Sina.blog