Kevin Chu
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Kevin Chu or Chu Yen-ping (; born December 1950) is a Taiwanese
film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...
. Chu once said in an interview that he is "not an artist," but rather "a movie factory that puts out products to match the season", and is compared to Hong Kong director
Wong Jing Wong Jing ( born 3 May 1955) is a Hong Kong film director, producer, actor, presenter, and screenwriter. A prolific filmmaker with strong instincts for crowd-pleasing and publicity, Wong Jing played a prominent role in Hong Kong cinema duri ...
.


Career

Chu studied in Soochow University, and began to work in a studio of Central Motion Picture Company next to the school. In 1980 Chu directed his first film, ''The Clown''. The film is a successful comedy, which boosted the career of Taiwanese comedian Hsu Pu-liao, and began a series of successful and formulaic collaboration between Chu and Hsu. Hsu became known as "Taiwanese Chaplin", and Chu's ''The Funny Couple'' in 1984 with Hsu and child talent "Little Bing-bing" pays heavy homage to Chaplin's ''
City Lights ''City Lights'' is a 1931 American silent romantic comedy film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. The story follows the misadventures of Chaplin's Tramp as he falls in love with a blind girl (Virginia Cherrill) and ...
''. Though the collaboration was a big success, Hsu and Little Bing-bing suffered from exploitation and Hsu died in 1985 due to stress and alcoholism. Chu met difficulties until he established his own company and came back in 1987 with ''Bighead Brigade'' (also known as ''Naughty Cadets on Patrol'' in Hong Kong), a farce-comedy series about military drill. Chu also began another series, ''The Kung-fu Kids'', featuring child talents Yen Cheng-kuo, Tsuo Hsiao-hu and Chen Tsung-jung. Both series were successful until the formula got worn out. In 1985 Chu also made ''Seven Foxes'' starring Taiwanese pop singers
Dave Wong Dave Wang (; born 20 October 1962) is a Hong Kong-Taiwanese singer, songwriter and actor. His popular hits in the late 1980s,early 1990s and 2000s include "一場遊戲一場夢" (A Game A Dream) and "幾分傷心幾分痴" (Bits of Sadness, ...
, Tom Chang, and
Samuel Tai Samuel Tai (, born 6 November 1966) is a Hong Kong-born Taiwanese singer-songwriter. Tai debuted in 1988 and then released his first solo album ''Good Boys'' (理想男孩) in 1990. In 1993, he wrote the song "999 Roses" (九佰九拾九朶玫 ...
, and actress Yip Chuen Chun. The film was shot when these young Taiwanese talents became famous in Hong Kong. In 1990 Chu directed '' A Home Too Far'' based on
Bo Yang Bo Yang (; 7 March 1920 – 29 April 2008), sometimes also erroneously called Bai Yang, was a Chinese historian, novelist, philosopher, poet, and politician based in Taiwan. He is also regarded as a social critic. According to his own memoir, t ...
's novel about the Chinese troop taking refuge in
Santikhiri The village of Santikhiri ( th, สันติคีรี), formerly known as Mae Salong ( th, แม่สลอง, ), is in the Thai highlands on Doi Mae Salong mountain of the Daen Lao Range, in Mae Fa Luang District, Chiang Rai Province ...
(near
Golden Triangle Golden Triangle may refer to: Places Asia * Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia), named for its opium production * Golden Triangle (Yangtze), China, named for its rapid economic development * Golden Triangle (India), comprising the popular tourist ...
). The two films were a commercial success and were nominated for
Golden Horse Award The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards () is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962 by the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. The awards ceremony is us ...
. The controversial issues it featured stirred wide discussion. Chu considered this to be his best film. He also directed its sequel in 1993. Throughout the 1990s Chu made a variety of films ranging from physical comedy, action,
wuxia ( ), which literally means "martial heroes", is a genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. Although is traditionally a form of historical fiction, its popularity has caused it to be adapted f ...
(swordsman), drama to erotic films.
Slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such a ...
s and body part jokes were staple. Collaboration with Cantonese speaking talents was common and their lines were dubbed with Mandarin. Most notably, Chu worked with the child talents Hao Shao-wen and Shaolin-trained Shi Xiaolong (
Ashton Chen Ashton Chen Xiaolong (born 6 January 1988 in Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan), also known by his stage name Shi Xiaolong ("Sik Siu-Lung" in Cantonese), is a Chinese actor and martial artist. He is also credited as Xiaolung, Tommy Sik, Shi Xiao-Lu ...
) in many comedy-kungfu-flicks. Chu's ''Shaolin Popey II: Messy Temple'' in 1994 starring the two was a local success in the face of strong competition from Hong Kong and Hollywood, and Chu was considered as an alternative to art films of "Taiwanese New Wave". There seems to be some confusion about the English titles in this series. The 1994 film is known to Taiwanese as 新烏龍院 (''Xīn Wūlóngyuàn'' in pinyin), and Teng and Heinrich's report (1996) gives the 1994 film an English title, ''Super Mischievous''. Yet according to IMDB, ''Super Mischievous'' is the English title of the sequel in 1995. Also according to IMDB, in 1994 Chu made two films featuring Hao Shao-wen and Shi Xiaolong: * The first is 笑林小子 (''Xiàolín Xiǎozi'', while IMDB's "original title" is ''Shao Lin xiao zi'') whose "International (English title)" is "Shaolin Popey". * The second is the sequel of the first, called 笑林小子2新烏龍院 (''Xiàolín Xiǎozi 2 Xīn Wūlóngyuàn'', while IMDB's "original title" is ''Shao Lin xiao zi II: Xin wu long yuan''), and the "International (English title)" is "Shaolin Popey II: Messy Temple". The film seems to have another Chinese title in Hong Kong and in China, called 無敵反斗星 (Simplified Chinese: 无敌反斗星, Wúdí Fǎndǒxīng). It should be also noted that most romanization of the Chinese title follows
Pinyin Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally written in Chinese for ...
, which is based on Standard Mandarin and neglects the Cantonese pronunciation.
In the 2000s Chu again met difficulties in Taiwanese market, with two of his film breaking the record of lowest ticket sale (less than twenty tickets sold in Taipei City). Some of his films earned well in China. In 2009 Chu ambitiously made ''
The Treasure Hunter ''The Treasure Hunter'' () is a 2009 Taiwanese action film directed by Kevin Chu and starring Jay Chou and Lin Chi-ling, with Ching Siu-tung served as action director. Plot In the northwest desert where countless prosperous dynasties have flouris ...
'', an action film shot on location in
Gobi Desert The Gobi Desert (Chinese: 戈壁 (沙漠), Mongolian: Говь (ᠭᠣᠪᠢ)) () is a large desert or brushland region in East Asia, and is the sixth largest desert in the world. Geography The Gobi measures from southwest to northeast an ...
, starring
Jay Chou Jay Chou ( zh, t=周杰倫, s=周杰伦, poj=Chiu Kia̍t-lûn, p=Zhōu Jiélún, first=t, w=Chou Chieh-lun; born January 18, 1979) is a Taiwanese singer, songwriter, record producer, rapper, actor, and television personality. Dubbed the " King ...
and
Lin Chi-ling Lin Chi-ling (born 29 November 1974) is a Taiwanese model, actress, singer and television host. Early life Lin Chi-ling was born on 29 November 1974 in Taipei, Taiwan. Lin's father, Lin Fan-nan (), and her mother, Wu Tzu-mei (), are both from ...
. The film was screened in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong but met serious box office failure.


Selected filmography

(Some films have different English and Chinese titles in Hong Kong.) * ''
My Geeky Nerdy Buddies ''My Geeky Nerdy Buddies'' () is a 2014 mainland Chinese-Taiwanese romantic comedy film directed by Kevin Chu. It was released on July 10, 2014, in China but the film was withdrawn on the next day, citing "malicious competition" from the studio B ...
'' (2014) * ''New Perfect Two'' (新天生一對 Xīn Tiānshēng Yīduè, also known as ''The Funny Couple'', 2012) * "Citizens Without Nationality" (short sequel to ''A Home Too Far II'', collected in the anthology film ''10+10'', 2011) * ''
Just Call Me Nobody ''Just Call Me Nobody'' () is a 2010 comedy-martial arts film directed by Kevin Chu. The film is about a bumbling cobbler ( Xiao Shen Yang) who becomes a martial arts master. Plot In ancient China, a poor shoe repair man Wu Di ( Xiao Shen Yang) ...
'' (2010) (Da Xiao Jiang Hu) * ''
The Treasure Hunter ''The Treasure Hunter'' () is a 2009 Taiwanese action film directed by Kevin Chu and starring Jay Chou and Lin Chi-ling, with Ching Siu-tung served as action director. Plot In the northwest desert where countless prosperous dynasties have flouris ...
'' (2009) (Ci Ling) * ''
Kung Fu Dunk ''Kung Fu Dunk'' (), also known by its former title ''Slam Dunk'', is a 2008 Chinese-language action comedy film. It was directed by Taiwanese director Kevin Chu and filmed in Taiwan and mainland China. The film was previously titled ''Slam Dunk'' ...
'' (2008) (Gong fu guan lan) * ''
How Young How may refer to: * How (greeting), a word used in some misrepresentations of Native American/First Nations speech * How, an interrogative word in English grammar Art and entertainment Literature * ''How'' (book), a 2007 book by Dov Seid ...
'' (2003) * '' Expect a Miracle'' (2001) * "''
Treasure Venture ''Treasure Venture'' (侠女闯天关) is a comedy TV series which was produced in mainland China and Taiwan in 2000. It starred Zhao Wei and Nicky Wu. Cast *Zhao Wei starred as Lu Jianping and Du Huixin *Nicky Wu Nicholas Wu Qilong (born 31 ...
''" (2000) (TV series) * '' Lady in Heat'' (1999) * '' Forever Friends'' (1996) * '' The King of Comics'' (1996) * '' The Feeling of Love'' (1996) * '' Young Policemen in Love'' (1995) * '' Super Mischieves'' (1995) * '' Trouble Maker'' (1995) * '' Shaolin Poppy'' (1995) * ''
Angel Hearts is the eighth studio album by Japanese entertainer Miho Nakayama. Released through King Records on December 5, 1988, the album features the No. 1 single "Witches". "Sweetest Lover", "Too Fast, Too Close", and "Try or Cry" were featured in Nakayam ...
'' (1995) * '' No Sir'' (1994) * '' Grandpa's Love'' (1994) * '' Hunting List'' (1994) * ''
Shaolin Popey ''Shaolin Popey'' (; released in the Philippines as ''Little Shaolin'') is a 1994 Taiwanese kung fu comedy film directed by Kevin Chu. The movie premiere was on 21 July 1994. It is starred Jimmy Lin, Lin Zhiying, Vivian Hsu, Xu Ruoxuan, Hao Shaowen ...
'' (1994) (笑林小子) * ''Shaolin Popey II: Messy Temple'' (1994) (笑林小子2新烏龍院) * '' A Home Too Far II'' (1993) * ''
Slave of the Sword Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
'' (1993) * ''
Flying Dagger ''Flying Dagger'' (神經刀與飛天貓 = Nervous Knife and Apsara Flying Cat) is a 1993 ''wuxia'' comedy film directed by Kevin Chu and written and produced by Wong Jing. The film features a large cast of stars and parodies numerous Hong Ko ...
'' (1993) (credited as Kevin Chu) * '' Requital'' (1992) * '' You xia er'' (1990) (Wandering Heroes) * '' A Home Too Far'' (1990) * ''
Island of Fire ''Island of Fire'' () is a 1990 Taiwanese- Hong Kong action film directed by Kevin Chu, and starring Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Tony Leung Ka-fai and Tou Chung-hua. The film was shot in Taiwan and the Philippines in 42 days from 5 Apr ...
'' (1990) (credited as Lawrence Full) * '' Seven Wolves'' (1989) * '' To Miss with Love'' (1988) * ''
A Book of Heroes ''A Book of Heroes'' (, released in the Philippines as ''Fight to Win Again'') is a 1986 Taiwanese-Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Kevin Chu, produced by Raymond Wong Pak-ming, and starring Yasuaki Kurata and Yukari Oshima. Plot Policem ...
'' (1987) * ''Bighead Brigade'' (''Naughty Cadets on Patrol'', 1987) * '' Young Dragons: Kung Fu Kids'' (1987) * '' The Funny Family'' (1986) * '' Happy Union'' (1985) * '' Seven Foxes'' (1985) * '' Phoenix the Raider'' (1985) (as credited as Ulysses Au-Yeung) * '' The Funny Couple'' (1984) * ''
The Demon Fighter ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...
'' (1984) * '' Seven Black Heroines'' (1983) * ''
Fantasy Mission Force ''Fantasy Mission Force'' ( Pinyin: ''Min ne te gong-dui'') is a 1983 Hong Kong Horror film, horror Hong Kong action cinema, action Mo lei tau, mo lei tau film directed by Kevin Chu and starring Jackie Chan (who got top billing in a supporting ...
'' (1982) * '' Golden Queen's Commando'' (1982) (as credited as Lawrence Full) * '' Pink Force Commando'' (1982) * '' Island Warriors'' (1981) * '' Victims of the Killer'' (1980) * '' The Clown'' (1980) * '' The Ghost's Sword'' (1971)


Notes


Reference and further reading

* *


External links

*
hkcinemagic entry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chu, Kevin 1950 births Taiwanese Buddhists Taiwanese film directors Living people Soochow University (Suzhou) alumni