bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Winnie Chung

THE Hollywood honeymoon is over. Three years ago, it appeared Hong Kong's best talents had eloped to Tinseltown. Now they are back - and bursting with big ideas for big movies. But the future didn't always look bright. Back in the 1990s Hong Kong's film industry was on a shaky ledge, compounded by the problem of video piracy. The money dried up, the exodus began.

Even now, some Hollywood-bound talents, such as John Woo, Ronny Yu Yan-tai and Jet Li Lianjie, have decided to stay and develop their careers in the United States. But others have chosen to return to Asia to help lift the industry out of the doldrums.

Stanley Tong Kwai-lai, director of Jackie Chan hits such as Supercop and Rumble In The Bronx, is one who still has great hope in the future of the Chinese film industry. After four years in the US - directing Mr Magoo and producing the CBS hit TV series Martial Law - Tong has been spending the past few months in Hong Kong preparing for his new action movie, China Strike Force.

'My intention had always been to go over to Hollywood, learn from them and come back to Asia to make Chinese films,' he says.

'Over the past few years, it has been very sad that many people have been so biased against Hong Kong films. But the truth is there are also bad Hollywood films, bad Korean or Japanese films. Some are good and some fail, I don't understand why people only say that Hong Kong films are bad.

'Rumble In The Bronx was very successful in the US and Southeast Asia and yet it was a Hong Kong production. I still have confidence in Chinese films. I think there are still good prospects. Once China gets into the World Trade Organisation, market demand will rise.' Tong's Rumble and Supercop star, Jackie Chan, whose latest film Shanghai Noon is now showing in Hong Kong, has been the SAR's most successful export to Hollywood when it comes to salaries. Although he will earn $20 million plus, a percentage of the profits for his next Hollywood movie, Rush Hour 2, Chan is currently busy shooting his latest Hong Kong film, The Accidental Spy.

One of Chan's strongest grouses about working in Hollywood is that it usually takes a long time to get a project off the ground. The highly energetic Chan has used these lulls to make the last Lunar New Year's Gorgeous and The Accidental Spy. For him, there is still no place like home, he says.

'At this time I think we should all be united in giving the audience some good shows to watch,' he says. 'Whether or not we can save the industry, we should do what we can. I would rather make less money and stay here.

'Every day I am here, I am happy. Whenever I see Hong Kong people, I am happy. Whenever I am away, I am always in a hurry to get back because this is home.' Directors Ringo Lam Ling-tung (The Final Victim, City On Fire) and Tsui Hark (Once Upon A Time In China, Peking Opera Blues) were some of the first to leave Hollywood. Lam finished the Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle, Maximum Risk, in 1997 and has since directed three Hong Kong movies, the most recent being The Final Victim (1999).

Tsui, on the other hand, has been back in Hong Kong since he finished Knock-Off. In the interim he has produced his first animated feature, A Chinese Ghost Story, and is now working on his new Chinese-language movie, Sword Of Zu.

Both have not ruled out going back to Hollywood to work but for the moment seem happy enough to be in Hong Kong.

'It takes so long to get something started; I have a family to take care of. I have looked at a lot of scripts but nothing has really appealed to me. In Hong Kong, I can still develop my own things,' Lam says.

Peter Chan Ho-sun (The Love Letter) and Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng (Tomorrow Never Dies) have returned to explore new boundaries in their careers.

Yeoh has started a new production company, Mythical Films, and has a five-picture deal with Media Asia Group. On the slate is the US$10-million The Touch, a caper film set against the backdrop of a travelling circus.

'I love this business,' says Yeoh, who is still looking at Hollywood scripts. 'I want to do more than just act and Hong Kong is still very much my priority. It has given me everything I have now. Hollywood is still there but things take a long time.' Chan, on the other hand, has always had big ideas for the Asian film industry. He thought it would take years, but it's just round the corner. Unlike some of his colleagues who are set on Hong Kong, Chan has cast his net wider by collaborating with director Teddy Chan Tak-sum and former film exhibitor Allan Fung to start a 'virtual studio' - Applause Pictures - that will concentrate on making 'Asian' films.

On a visit to the region last year, Chan had the opportunity to meet young Thai and Korean film-makers whose enthusiasm rubbed off on him.

'I thought, 'God, I wish I could be one of them'. I had just done The Love Letter then and had no intention of doing anything yet but I felt like I wanted to be here doing something. I wouldn't be able to spend a lot of time here, doing something like this could make that happen,' says Chan, who also plans to direct one film for Applause in the next two years.

Directors and producers-to-be aren't the only ones who have been lured back to the region, however. Director Ang Lee's Mandarin-language Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, for example, managed to attract Chow Yun-fat back even though the latter had once said he would probably not be doing any more Hong Kong films.

With investment from US studios such as Columbia Tristar - which co-financed Crouching Tiger  and Sword Of Zu  - and local expansion plans attracting top talents back, there promises to be better days ahead for audiences.

Over the past few years, it has been sad that many people have been so biased against Hong Kong films. But the truth is there are also bad Hollywood films Graphic: turn05gan 



Giving in to the homing instinct