Kung fu stars and directors hope to keep the passion for Hong Kong kung fu cinema alive by introducing this unique art form to local students through film screenings and forums.
Last Friday, kung fu star Gordon Liu Chia-hui, who recently starred in Quentin Tarantino's new film Kill Bill, director Stanley Tong Gwai-lai, Jackie Chan's long time collaborator, and Ching Siu-tung, action choreographer for Hero and Shaolin Soccer, took part in a discussion forum at the Academic Community Hall at Hong Kong Baptist University. This was followed by the premiere of the documentary Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu.
Organised by Joint University Film Association, Discovery Networks Asia and Celestial Pictures, last Friday's event was the first of the two premieres and discussion forums to be held on two consecutive Fridays.
During the discussion forum, guests expressed their concern over young people's lack of enthusiasm about Hong Kong kung fu cinema.
'When I tried to teach my son kung fu he just didn't bother. He said that he could shoot me with one bullet, so why bother learning kung fu?' said Mr Liu.
'But kung fu is not about killing. There is a philosophy, a set of ethics and a national identity behind it. I hope that through seminars we can introduce the beauty of kung fu cinema to young people.'
Mr Ching emphasised the importance of Hong Kong fung fu cinema in current film development.