Director lends unhappy star a helping hand

Ekin Cheng Yee-kin says long heart-to-heart talks with the director of his new movie saved him from sinking into depression. Speaking after this week's premiere of the movie, Divergence, the singer-actor said the film's director, Benny Chan Muk-sing, took the time to talk with him about his personal problems.

He'd been feeling under pressure during the filming because his career had been going through a low point, with few movies and albums in the pipeline.

'I was lost,' said Cheng, 37. '[Chan] knew what I was thinking. He could see that I was under pressure and wasn't happy. Although I'm pretty optimistic, there were things I couldn't get through. At that time, I was anxious about my career, thinking about what I should do.'

As well as talking with him, Chan also gave him a book about positive thinking. 'It's always a hard time when things are changing,' said Cheng (right). 'It seemed that I was lost. But it was just a transition.

'[Chan's] mind is very liberal and sophisticated. He has his own theory about making movies. He talked a lot with us - like talking with friends.'

The actor and director also worked together on Chan's 2003 Heroic Duo.