Ziyi Zhang, Tony Leung and Wong Kar-wai talk 'The Grandmaster'

Published on August 15, 2013  in The Examiner

On Tuesday evening into the early hours of Wednesday morning, Examiner.com was on the scene for the New York premiere of Wong Kar-wai's latest film "The Grandmaster" presented by Martin Scorsese, The Weinstein Company, DeLeon Tequila and Dolby. The film's stars Tony Leung, Ziyi Zhang, and director Wong Kar-wai all walked the red carpet, in addition to executive producers Harvey Weinstein and Megan Ellison.

On the red carpet Ms. Zhang, who is one of the most famous actresses in Asia, looked stunning in a J. Mendel dress. The New York fashion community came out strong to support her. She warmly embraced Jason Wu on the red carpet. And Designer Vivienne Tam, who brought Angela Simmons as her guest, raved about Zhang's style. "She's just always very sophisticated and very elegant and she's always representing the Chinese Ying and Yang. Inside is very strong, but very feminine...she has great style," Tam told Examiner.com. Actor Chin Han, who can next be seen in "Captain America," was proud to attend the premiere. "I'm just here to lend my support to all the Asian actors in this film: Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi. Tony Leung I met actually about 16 years ago, so it's just really great to see him in a martial arts movie. And also for Wong Kar-wai to actually cross genres and to do something like that. I'm thrilled and very excited to see it." Samuel L. Jackson also made an appearance the premiere and party. He posed with Zhang, Leung and Wai on the carpet.

The film is an epic action feature inspired by the life and times of the legendary Kung fu master, Ip Man. The story spans the tumultuous Republican era that followed the fall of China’s last dynasty, a time chaos, division and war that was also the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Filmed in a range of stunning locations that include the snow-swept landscapes of Northeast China and the subtropical South, "The Grandmaster" features virtuoso performances by some of the greatest stars of contemporary Asian cinema, including Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang. The film was re-edited and the sound was remastered by Dolby for American audiences.

Conversation between Examiner Questions (Q),  Zhang ZiYi (Ziyi), Wong Kar-Wai (Kar-wai), Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (Leung)

Zhang Ziyi is incredible in the film. She plays Gong Er, the daughter of an esteemed Kung Fu master who vows to continue his legacy.

Q: What does this film mean to you.

Ziyi: Well, it will be my last martial arts film and that means a lot.

Q: Why?

Ziyi: Because...maybe after you watch the movie you'll know why I made such an important decision. I've done a few action movies and I've learned so much of the history of martial arts. This time when I finished shooting this movie...I felt that for me, it's just so hard to surpass this...everything, you know? The martial arts part, the acting, the character is so complicated and very deep. I just want to leave all the best memories to this movie. That's why.

Q: And what are some of the teachings that you learned? What is the biggest thing that you've learned about doing martial arts?

Ziyi: I think it teaches you strongly about how to have a very strong perseverance....not only for your physical bodies, it's for your brain and how to be strong and not give up easy.

Q: So tell me what was it like collaborating with Wong Kar-wai?

Ziyi: In the beginning it wasn't that easy. This movie was my second time to work with him. I got relaxed a little bit and because we're longtime friends and we've known each other quite well, so we understand each other. So everything just relies on trust.

Q: What was it like working with Tony?

Ziyi: He's the best. I'm hoping I have another chance to work with him. There's a scene, a fighting scene, it was very difficult and intricate, but only because we have this great working relationship it was made easier.

Q: What did you love about the story?

Ziyi: In this movie it has action and romance. There's forbidden love and also there's a struggle... a power struggle.

Q: And what are you going to be working on after this film?

Ziyi: I'm shooting John Woo's new movie...It's the Chinese version of "Titanic." So I have to spend a lot of time in the water.

Wong Kar-wai is a legendary filmmaker who brought the story of Ip Man to screen.

Q: What inspired you to do this story?

Kar-wai: I always wanted to make a film - a Kung fu film, but I always wanted to find an angle and I think the story of Ip Man actually is something that I wanted to do. It's not because he's a great master, he's a trainer, he's the one who trained Bruce Lee. But also his life story because he's not just a typical fighter. He's someone that is a grandmaster. What we call him, a grandmaster, is not only the skill, but also his idea, vision, and also his generosity to share his skill with other people.

Q: Can you speak a little bit about the cast and getting Zhang Ziyi and Tony and why they were perfect?

Kar-wai: Well, they're amazing because without them, this film would not be possible. And just imagine for this film because in the last ten years we've seen so many Kung fu films with CGI, with wires. And sometimes we thought well it's Chinese Kung fu; it's just a show or something? So I wanted this film to be hardcore and so all the stunts have to be done by themselves. And if Bruce Lee didn't need special effects, so does our grandmaster.

Tony Leung, who is one of the most sought-after actors in Asia, was superb as "The Grandmaster." He trained four years to perfect the intricate King fu sequences.

Q: What was the greatest challenge of playing this character?

Leung: I would say the most challenging aspect is how to display the grandmaster's confidence and his vision towards Kung fu. Of course we need to do the physical training and I read a great deal to improve my knowledge of Kung fu. One can certainly mimic the physical action. But what is difficult to capture is his state of mind. Once I know his mental state, I can approach the character

Q: What do you admire about Wong Kar-wai?

Leung: I feel I am quite similar to Wong Kar-wai. We share the same passion for cinema and we are both perfectionists. I think it is difficult to find another person so similar. When we work together, it is easy for me to grasp his thinking.

Q: What was your favorite scene to shoot?

Leung: My fight scene with Ziyi in the Gold Pavilion! It was a very romantic scene with a lot of balletic movement. I thought I was shooting a drama not action.

Additional notables who were spotted at the premiere included Yigal Azrouel, Marc Bouwer, JC Chandor, Kelly Choi, Kelsey Chow, Judah Friedlander, Cuba Gooding Jr., Julia Hafstrom, Chin Han, John Hodgman, Gaby Hoffmann, Samuel L. Jackson, Evan Jonigkeit, Nanette Lepore, Humberto Leon, Phillip Lim, Natasha Lyonne, Bennett Miller, Maxwell Osborne, Lou Reed, Nick Sandow, Susan Sarandon, Angela Simmons, Anna Sui, Vivienne Tam, Finn Wittrock, and Jason Wu. The party continued at Forty Four at Royalton, where guests snacked on spring rolls and sipped on DeLeon Tequila Cocktails like Hong Kong Garden and The Grandmaster.

Filmed over the course of 22 months in a range of stunning locations that include the snow-swept landscapes of Northeast China and the subtropical South, the actors underwent several years of rigorous and extremely challenging kung fu training for their roles in the film. Years of research before production and a virtual battalion of martial arts trainers on set ensured that "The Grandmaster" portrays both the Chinese martial arts and the world of the martial artists with unprecedented authenticity, with fight scenes choreographed by renowned action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping ("The Matrix," "Kill Bill," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.") "Wong Kar Wai has turned martial arts into a modern dance. Every movement hit with precision, every emotion drenched with underlying honor. "The Grandmaster," arranged with both elegance and fury, left me mesmerized," Martin Scorsese said in a statement when he announced that he would be presenting the film nationally. "Marty has always been a great inspiration," said Wong Kar Wai. "We are so thankful for his support of the film."

"The Grandmaster" will open in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto on August 23rd and nationwide on August 30th.

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