Charlie Yeung is one of few internationally recognized Chinese actresses. She has starred in over 20 movies since 1993. Her most well-known films include "The New Police Story" and "After This Our Excile."
She joined the 13th Shanghai International Festival as a judge of Asian New Talent Award. She said she admired those who participate in the competition for the award and aims to become a director herself.
Daily News: This is the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival. You are a regular of this festival. Any new findings or experiences?
Charlie Yeung: Two years ago, I came here as an actress of Ashes of Time Redux by director Karwai Wong. This time, I come here as a judge. I think Shanghai International Film Festival becomes more and more international in terms of films, judges and guests participated. I really appreciate their efforts to promote the Asian New Talent Award because everyone needs the chance to be a new director and to show their potential.
Daily News: As a judge for the first time, what\'re your standards?
Charlie Yeung: For me, I prefer the film that can touch people\'s hearts. As a new director myself, I know it\'s very difficult. From the very beginning, deciding the theme already presents lots of challenges. So I cherish this opportunity to be a judge. I want to enjoy these films with no preference.
Daily News: As the only female judge of this award, do you have any special female perspective or ways of judging?
Charlie Yeung: The committee considered carefully in choosing judges, selecting from a pool of people with different backgrounds, positions and experiences. This time we have judges from Japan and Korea, and everyone is special. I am an actress. I will bring my independent perspective to the judging process.
Daily News: The first film by actress Jiang Wenli is one of the candidates. And you will be director yourself. Can you share some details with us?
Charlie Yeung: I haven\'t started to direct the film. The script is being revised, and I am meeting and selecting actors and actresses for the film. I believe each actor has his charm, so the script is revised according to the situation of meeting with actors and we will also do some pre-production. The whole process will be slow and the preparation is very important.
Daily News: You once said a director\'s growing experience affects his or her choice of directing themes. Then, what kind of topics are you interested?
Charlie Yeung: Too many. I see every time the first time and I will explore the feeling between people. John Woo shared his idea that good works concern human nature. Human nature has something in common and so my movie will explore human nature. For instance, I believe devil and angel can co-exist in people\'s heart.
Daily News: Oscar\'s Best Actor Adrien Brody once said an actor was seeking himself in his mind. So which role that you played is more like the real you in your mind?
Charlie Yeung: Each role has my shadow. I tried to forget myself when I was in a role and learn her experiences. In my latest film, I would talk with Xia Yu on the history of the role, which was not included in the script. We could put our ideas into the script because we have different backgrounds and ideas. This is very funny and I found I had my own mind after finishing the movie.
Daily News: What kind of new roles you want to act?
Charlie Yeung: I want to play the roles in the science fictions for that will give me more space to imagine.
Daily News: Does the creation of roles help you turn to be a screenwriter and then to be a director?
Charlie Yeung: I will always act. Directing and writing are complementary, especially for me, I want to try and share my thoughts about life, so I wrote books before and recently I found films were more close to audience.
Daily News: Do you have bottlenecks in your creation, and difficulties as a director?
Charlie Yeung: I am a new director and will have difficulties in the future. There are bottlenecks, but they come before I makes some achievements. Obstacles can give us power to fight for next achievements.
Daily News: Many directors have to make commercial movies in order to get funding for the next one. What about you, will you be yourself or make your first movie a commercial one?
Charlie Yeung: I think commercial movies have different kinds. My movie must tell something, have a good story. If it is commercial, I want to share it with more people. I don’t think too much of this.
Daily News: Will you bring your new movie to Shanghai International Film Festival?
Charlie Yeung: I hope so, after all I have a bond with it.