There are bound to be a lot of twists and turns on Tony Leung Chiu Wai’s mind as the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) comes to a close.
There were important decisions pending in his role as head judge for the event’s main Golden Goblet competition, and a classroom full of hungry young minds, ready to hang on his every word, was scheduled for that very afternoon.
Then there was the impact of the constant, inevitable hype being generated in and around the festival all week about the factors affecting the future of the film industry – chief among them the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and declining global box office revenues.
But what the Hong Kong star does when he sits down for a chat is exactly what he’s been doing throughout his career, which now spans four decades. Leung delivers.
First, casually, Leung does a sound check of the recording equipment of the video crew who’s joined us to make sure everything is running smoothly, then he eases back into the conversation covering all these issues and more.
So let’s start with the industry-focused aspects of the discussion, because at this year’s SIFF there was a series of AI-focused seminars analyzing the pros and cons of these technological developments – and their impact on the film industry.
“I think AI is a double-edged sword,” he says. “It saves us a lot of time in pre-production and post-production. It saves a lot of money but that will go to mainstream movies, popcorn movies — because [AI filmmaking] Easier and saves money. But at the same time, many people lost their jobs. No need to think. There is no creativity. “It’s just calculations…there’s no soul.”
These are issues – and challenges – that the industry will continue to face, Leung says, along with how to appeal to a rising generation for whom film is not the only entertainment option, as was the case for him while growing up in Hong Kong in the 1970s, when there seemed to be a cinema on every street.
“When I was a kid, I enjoyed these kind of theatrical experiences. And to me, that’s what movies are,” Leung says. “You have to watch it on a big screen. If not, you’ll miss a lot of the language of the movie, a lot of the details. So when I was a kid, I would watch a movie in a big theater with a big screen, and that was good.”
Leung has so far resisted the temptation of content on smaller devices – “I don’t even watch movies at home,” he says – and saw his master classes as an opportunity to reach a younger audience in Shanghai, with a sold-out screening of his latest film – the clear-eyed artistic musings of Hungarian director Ildiko Ennedi. The silent friend – It was set before the session.
“We need to educate them on how to enjoy different types of films, not just one template,” he says. “It’s not just fun, but sometimes [movies] You don’t have an answer for yourself and you have to try to figure it out for yourself. That’s why we need different types of films. I think smaller productions will dominate the market because of many challenges – short videos, live streaming, gaming, and all other entertainment. The new generation, they have never had a theatrical experience, so you have to find a way to invite these young children to go to the movies.
Over the past week, Leung chaired a jury consisting of directors Guan Ho, Aktan Arem Kubat, Diya Kolumbegashvili, Fernanda Valadez, producer Dora Bouchoucha, and actress Chen Zhili.
They watched, discussed and judged the relative merits of twelve films from 15 countries and territories.
“It was a very interesting experience,” says Leung. “For me, it’s a learning process because I can hear [the jurors’] Opinions, it’s very subjective. There are a lot of different perspectives, so it’s fun. I think you need surprises from movies and of course a movie can resonate with our whole team, but we all agree that we can enjoy a movie in a different way.
Regarding his career – one that started with the local TVB channel in Hong Kong and has since moved on to classic action films (Infernal Affairs(And a wonderful spell under the watchful eye of author Wong Kar-wai)Happy together, In the mood for loveAnd to HollywoodShang Qi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) – Leung seems genuinely happy and inspired to move into European art circles with Ennedi.
“It was a mess,” he laughs, of his experience making a film about the life of the ginkgo tree and the people who work with it. “I really enjoyed working with this little crew. We found harmony, like dancing together. You don’t know what we’re going to do next. It’s really interesting and inspiring.”
Ahead awaits a previously announced project with fellow Hong Kong veteran Johnny To, a return to his roots (of sorts) on a Hong Kong series built for streaming, and more work with Enyedi, he says. There’s even doubt in the twinkle in his eye when he says “maybe,” and pauses, when asked about the possibilities of a reunion with Wong.
“I choose the director first,” Leung says. “What kind of story, any genre, is not important to me. I need to have some feelings for this person or love their movies or love this person but I never plan because I don’t want to control something I can’t control because that’s life – it’s not going to happen the way you hope it will.”
