Maybe the name of Anthony Ng or even his face is not familiar for you, but he turned with the most famous directors : Tsui Hark, Johnnie to, Fruit Chan... Anthony Ng is only at his career's beginning and play for the moment only small roles which grow progressively with the time. This interview is the occasion to see the world of Hong Kong cinema with a different angle.

1. How did you start in the movie business ?

It was back in 1996 summer or so. I was attending college at University of Pennsylvania at the time, and was back in Hong Kong during the summer holidays. During that summer, an actor who was then training in the same gym as me was working on a movie called "The Spirit of the Dragon", a funny comedy spoof of the Bruce Lee movie "Spirit of the Dragon". They were looking for a big man to play the part of a Japanese bodyguard. I'm Chinese but in years past people have commented that I look Japanese, so I guess I fit the bill.
I did that movie and liked the experience very much. But I went back to college and hadn't acted at all until a few months after I graduated from University and returned to Hong Kong in 1999. I wanted to try acting again so I turned up at the doors of various agents who gave me work. That's how it started.


2. You've worked with some of the best director from Hong Kong. I'm thinking about people like Tsui Hark, Fruit Chan or Johnny To. What memories do you keep from these collaborations ?

I worked with Tsui Hark in "Time and Tide". I remember it was the second movie that I did and I had little experience. It was a very small part where I get hurt and had to go "Ouch"! and I wasn't doing it very well. The crew were getting annoyed at me but Tsui Hark instead demonstrated to me exactly what he wanted, afterwhich I got it hands down. Fruit Chan was very nice to me. During the filming of "HollyWood - Hong Kong", I remember that things were not running smoothly at one point, and he was getting angry at some people, which was very understandable. But everytime he got annoyed at others while I was on the set, he always pat me on the shoulder and said "Sorry big man! Sorry to hold you up. It's not your fault. You're doing very well." Also I notice he was always very passionate about his work, and paid attention to all the little details. He is a true artist in my eyes. As for Johnny To, I remember him as very professional, and we all know his great work, but as the parts I did with him were very small, and the cast was very big, I really did not have any chance to interact with him directly.



3. In the team of our website Hk Mania, there are a lot of Michael Wong's fan and you've played in Miles Apart. Can you tell us more about him as an actor and director ?

Michael Wong is a very nice person. He always treated me with respect even though I may only be playing a small part. He is obviously a great actor and director.


4. How come you get a part in the japanese movie Dead or Alive Final ?

Well, they were filming part of the movie in Hong Kong, so obviously they had to look for actors here locally. One of the agents whom I have contact with does a lot of casting and recruiting for Japanese Television and movies that are filmed in Hong Kong. I remember I played a part as a rebel soldier. It was fun working on the set.


5. Do you have some disappointments about the fact that you played mostly small part ? Is it something you would like to change in the future of your career ?

Well I am in acting for the love of acting, not money or fame or anything like that, and the bigger the part you have, the more acting you get to do. So of course I wish to play bigger parts in the future. That is something I aim for everyday. I have played some medium sized parts. The biggest part I've played so far is in the movie "Stolen Love", a love story/comedy, where I was one of three brothers who appear throughout the film for laughs, kind of like the three stooges. I AM getting bigger and bigger parts though, as the directors and casting agents seem to know that I am willing to work and am able to deliver. So I guess they are giving me bigger parts. In fact, I have a few relatively "big part" jobs lined up in the next few months, but that's another story.



6. In Hong Kong, by which personality have you been the most impressed ?

I guess I'll have to say my own. (laugh)


7. What is the role you are the most proud of ?

For the roles that I have played, I guess it would be in the movie "Stolen Love". As I already mentioned, it was the biggest part that I have played so far. I am also proud of having been in an episode of the TV series "20:30 Dictionary", and was in their press conference. As a result of which I was featured in 4 newspapers the next day as well as television. However, I treat each of the little parts I play as important as any other, because each is a stepping stone towards bigger and better parts. You cannot skip the process of progress and just want to get to your goal immediately. Meanwhile, while things can get tough and difficult at times, I still enjoy my work and take even the smallest part most seriously.


8. If you could choose to work with one director, who would it be ?

I don't think I would choose one director! To me, acting is doing many different kinds of roles in many different movies and shows. While all the great directors are capable of creating different kinds of movies with different characters, they still have their own "forte" and specialty. So working with a variety of directors will allow me to play many different roles.



9. What are your next projects ?

I can tell you I have a big project coming up, but as a rule I do not name the projects that I am GOING to do. This is because in the movie industry, nothing is certain. Things get cancelled. People get switched. I remember when I got a project I used to go around telling everyone, then if it got cancelled I had a lot of explaining to do. People would ask me "how is that project going", or would have gone and watched a certain movie thinking I'd be in it and said they didn't see me. It puts me in a very embarrasing position. All I can tell you is that it is a TV series, and I may have to go back to mainland China to film it.


11. And at last, have you something to say to our readers ?

I must say thanks to all of you for taking the time to read my interview, even though I'm still a very small actor as of yet. I do hope you are not bored! And I hope that one day you will read an interview of me as a "big time" actor. Also I must show my gratitude that people in other countries are appreciating and watching the movies in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong movie industry is in a difficult state right now and the larger the audience we get, the better the chances of us making better movies. Lastly, I hope that you will support me and watch my movies. I will always try my best to deliver the best acting no matter what part it is I get.

Our warmest thanks go to Anthony Ng for answering our questions.

- Clic HERE so see his filmography.

- Official website : http://www.anthony-ng.com/

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