My Date with a Vampire

''My Date with a Vampire'' is a 1998 Hong Kong television series produced by ATV. The story is based on the future events of the plot of ''Vampire Expert'', a similar two-season television drama aired on ATV in 1995 and 1996. It blends aspects of the "hopping" corpses of jiangshi fiction with those of western vampires, while injecting elements of Chinese mythology and modern horror legends. The series is a tribute to Lam Ching-ying, the lead actor of ''Vampire Expert'' and a prominent cast member in the '' Mr. Vampire'' franchise, who died of liver cancer in 1997. It was followed by ''My Date with a Vampire II'' (2000) and ''My Date with a Vampire III'' (2004).

According to Netease Report, Fox Networks Group will remake the series. Cora Yim, the head of Fox Networks Group Asia, claimed that one-third of ATV's inventory had been acquired by Fox Networks Group, including 28 television series; ''My Date with a Vampire'' is one of the 28.

Plot

Fong Kwok-wah was a Chinese guerrilla fighter during the Second Sino-Japanese War. In 1938, he was duelling with Yamamoto Kazuo, a major of the Imperial Japanese Army, when they were interrupted by Cheung San, the progenitor of all vampires. The two men and Fuk-sang, a boy who was hiding nearby, were bitten by Cheung San and they became vampires.

In the present-day (1998), Fong has changed his name to Fong Tin-yau and now lives in Hong Kong. His physical appearance has not changed since 60 years ago. He works as a policeman while Fuk-sang lives with him, attends primary school, and pretends to be his son. Fong meets Ma Siu-ling, the heiress to a clan of ghostbusters who have dedicated themselves to ridding the world of evil supernatural beings. Fong gradually becomes embroiled in a love triangle with Ma and Wong Jan-jan, Ma's close friend and confidante.

Meanwhile, Yamamoto has become the influential boss of a big company and has a small group of vampire followers under his command. Planning to turn every human into a vampire, Yamamoto unleashes his minions to attack people and spread the "vampire gene". Chaos break out in Hong Kong as vampires multiply and roam the streets freely. At this point, Fong teams up with Ma and his friends to stop Yamamoto and destroy him.

Not long later, a magician, Yu-meng Sap-sam, resurrects Yamamoto and controls him to do his bidding. The magician is actually Lo Hau, an evil sorcerer from ancient times who wants to dominate the universe. Once again, Fong, Ma and their allies combine forces to confront Lo Hau and put an end to his wicked ambitions.

Cast

* Eric Wan as Fong Tin-yau (), the protagonist of the series. Originally named Fong Kwok-wah (), he was the chief of a Chinese guerrilla group during the Second Sino-Japanese War. He led an attack on a Japanese military base and killed Yamamoto's father. During the attack, he was injured but managed to escape to a nearby village. Yamamoto brought his soldiers to the village to hunt for Fong and started killing civilians. Fong showed up, stopped Yamamoto and engaged him in a duel which lasted until nightfall. Yamamoto's men seized the boy Fuk-sang and used him as a hostage to threaten Fong. Cheung San interrupted the fight and bit Fong, Yamamoto and Fuk-sang, turning them into second generation vampires. Fong survives until the present-day (1998), adopts a new name and works as a policeman in Hong Kong. Fuk-sang lives with him and pretends to be his son. Both of them have not fed on the blood of living humans for the past 60 years and have been drinking expired blood samples from hospitals.
* Joey Meng as Ma Siu-ling (), the heiress to a clan of ghostbusters who have dedicated themselves to ridding the world of evil supernatural beings. She earns a living by helping people "clean up" haunted locations and perform exorcisms. Her ancestors had established a rule forbidding her from shedding tears for a man or she will lose her powers. Her most powerful skill is a nine-character mantra which, when chanted, will summon a Divine Dragon to destroy any evil being. She starts a romance with Fong Tin-yau.
** Joey Meng also portrayed Ma Dan-na (), Ma Siu-ling's grandaunt and predecessor. 60 years ago, she tracked down Cheung San and attempted to destroy him moments before he bit Fong, Yamamoto and Fuk-sang, but failed. After she died, she appears as a ghost to her grandniece, giving her advice and poking fun at her. She sacrifices herself to restore her grandniece's powers after the latter cried for Fong and lost her abilities.
* Kristy Yang as Wong Jan-jan (), Ma Siu-ling's close friend and confidante who works as a teacher. She falls in love with Fong Tin-yau after their first encounter in Japan. Yamamoto sees her as his deceased wife because of the striking resemblance, and develops a crush on her. After she is mortally wounded, Fong reluctantly bites her to save her life and turns her into a vampire. Towards the end, Lo Hau captures her and wants to use her a sacrifice to complete a ritual so that he can dominate the universe. Later on, after she is revealed to be a reincarnation of the Heaven Warrior's fiancée, she dies trying to persuade Yamamato (who has been possessed by Lo Hau) to give up on his wicked ambition.
** Kristy Yang also portrayed Yamamoto Yuki (), Yamamoto's wife and Mirai's mother. Her death causes Yamamoto to become depressed and more obsessed with turning all humans into vampires.
* Kenneth Chan as Yamamoto Kazuo (), a major of the Imperial Japanese Army and the primary antagonist in the series. After his father was killed by Fong Kwok-wah, he pursued Fong and duelled with him. The two men slashed at each other with swords, drawing blood and attracting the attention of Cheung San, who was in a nearby cave. Cheung San interrupted the fight and bit the two men and Fuk-sang, transforming them into second generation vampires. Yamamoto is deeply traumatised by his encounter and behaved oddly after returning to Japan. When his wife died, he sank into despair and feared losing his daughter as well, so he bit her and turned her into a vampire too. He lives until the present-day (1998) and becomes the influential boss of a big company in Hong Kong. He intends to turn every human into a vampire so he unleashes his minions to attack people in Hong Kong. Fong, Ma Siu-ling and others combine forces to defeat and destroy him. However, after his death, Yu-meng Sap-sam resurrects him and controls him to complete a ritual so that he can dominate the universe. During the final battle, he recalls his past life as the Heaven Warrior (), one of the Five Warriors who fought against Lo Hau in ancient times. He uses his power to assist Fong in destroying Lo Hau, who has possessed his body.
* Chapman To as Kam Ching-chung (), a resident in Ka-Ka Building. He claims that he is an incarnation of a deity and earns a living by conning people and pretending to be a ghostbuster. Later, he decides to be a real ghostbuster so he becomes Ma Siu-ling's apprentice and receives a flyswatter-like weapon. During his romance with the White Snake, he is revealed to be a reincarnation of the White Snake's lover, Xu Xian (), as told in the ''Legend of the White Snake''. Lo Hau kills him in the final battle.
* Pinky Cheung as Yamamoto Mirai (), Yamamoto's daughter. When her mother died, her father was afraid of losing her as well, so he bit her and turned her into a third generation vampire. When she first became a vampire, she was unable to control herself so she bit her lover Domoto instinctively, turning him into a vampire too. She hates her father, leaves him and moves to Ka-Ka Building, where she meets Fong Tin-yau and his friends. After her father's death, the vampire gene in her and those linked to her father are destroyed, so she becomes human again. She marries Domoto and bears him a son (Domoto Sei). However, after her father is resurrected, the vampire gene in her is restored and her father comes back to take the vampire gene from her, destroying her in the process.
* Berg Ng as Ken / Domoto Shingo (), Mirai's lover and Yamamoto's henchman. When Mirai first became a vampire, she was unable to control herself and bit him instinctively, turning him into a fourth generation vampire. He appears as Yamamoto's right-hand man but he secretly hates his boss and plans to kill him. After his plan to assassinate Yamamoto fails, he is seriously injured and forced to join Fong Tin-yau. When Yamamoto dies, the vampire gene in Domoto is destroyed and he becomes human again. He marries Mirai and has a son with her. After Yamamoto is resurrected, the vampire gene in him is restored and Yamamoto comes to take back the vampire gene from him, destroying him in the process.
* Cheung Kwok-kuen as Fuk-sang (), a boy vampire who lives with Fong Tin-yau. He was held hostage by Yamamoto's soldiers during the duel between Fong and Yamamoto. Cheung San appeared and bit the three of them, transforming them into second generation vampires. He survives until the present-day (1998) and lives with Fong in Hong Kong, pretending to Fong's son and attending primary school. He is kidnapped by Yamamoto's henchmen and forced to suck the blood of a woman, arousing his bloodlust. Unable to control himself, he starts attacking people and drinking their blood. When Fong learns the truth, he reluctantly allows Ma Siu-ling to cast a freezing charm on Fuk-sang which will put him in hibernation mode.
* Wong Shee-tong as Ho Ying-kau (), the successor to Mo Siu-fong (the protagonist in ''Vampire Expert'') and an ally of Ma Siu-ling and Fong Tin-yau. He runs a video game arcade, which is secretly a shop selling ghostbusting equipment. He is killed by Yamamoto shortly after sending off the spirit of his deceased son.
* Kam San as Cheung San (), the progenitor of all vampires. He bit Fong Kwok-wah, Yamamoto and Fuk-sang, turning them into vampires.
* Sin Ho-ying as Master Peacock (), a Buddhist monk from Mount Kōya in Japan. Later, he is revealed to be a reincarnation of the Fire Warrior (), one of the Five Warriors who fought against Lo Hau in ancient times. He dies in the final battle against Lo Hau.
* Ching Tung as Lo Hoi-ping (), a tailor living with his mother in Ka-Ka Building. After his mother dies, he commits suicide, becomes a vengeful ghost, and returns to seek revenge on his neighbours, whom he perceives to be responsible for his mother's death. He is eventually subdued and reformed, and sent to study supernatural arts under Mo Siu-fong's tutelage in the underworld. With the aid of the Air Pearl, he is brought back to life and revealed to be a reincarnation of the Air Warrior (), one of the Five Warriors who fought against Lo Hau in ancient times. He dies in the final battle against Lo Hau.
* Chan Lai-wan as Lo Hoi-ping's mother who lives with her son in Ka-Ka Building. When she is on the verge of death, her son begs Yamamoto Mirai, who was passing by, to save her. Mirai uses one drop of her vampire blood to save Lo's mother, who then turns into a semi-supernatural being. She stirs up much trouble in Ka-Ka Building when she insists that Wong Jan-jan marry her son. After being subdued by Ma Siu-ling, she realises how she has been too controlling towards her son, and agrees to let him make his own choices.
* Mak King-ting as Pak So-so () / Pak So-ching (), the White Snake in the ''Legend of the White Snake''. She runs a bar near Ka-Ka Building where she meets Kam Ching-chung, falls in love with him, and learns that he is a reincarnation of her lover, Xu Xian. She dies of natural causes and transfers her powers to Kam before her death.
* Wong Mei-fan as Siu-ching (), the Green Snake, the White Snake's companion. She disguises herself as a property agent, meets Kam Ching-chung by chance and leads him to Pak So-so. After Pak dies, she starts a romance with Kam and helps Fong Tin-yau and his friends in the battles against Yamamoto and Lo Hau. She dies from her injuries when Yamamoto comes to kidnap Wong Jan-jan for the ritual.
* Keung Ho-man as Ko Bo (), Fong Tin-yau's colleague in the police force. He joins Fong in the fight against Yamamoto and his vampires. He is revealed to be a reincarnation of the Earth Warrior (), one of the Five Warriors who fought against Lo Hau in ancient times. He dies in the final battle against Lo Hau.
* Chung Yeung as Peter, a Catholic priest and Ma Siu-ling's friend. Ma often consults him on matters regarding exorcism and ghostbusting. He is revealed to be a reincarnation of the Wind Warrior (), one of the Five Warriors who fought against Lo Hau in ancient times. He dies in the final battle against Lo Hau.
* Lisa Lui as Au-yeung Ka-ka (), Wong Jan-jan's mother and the owner of Ka-Ka Building.
* Lau Kwok-shing as Kam Shau-cheng (), Kam Ching-chung's father. He is bitten by a vampire during Yamamoto's terror rampage and blows himself up with the vampires to buy time for his family and companions to escape.
* Ng Wan-yee as Kam Ching-chung's mother. She is greedy for money and used to collaborate with her son to con people before their lies are exposed. She is killed by Yamamoto when he comes to kidnap Wong Jan-jan for the ritual.
* Wai Lit as Yu-meng Sap-sam (), a traitor of the Mount Kōya school. He pretends to be a servant of Yamamoto and resurrects him after his death. Later, he is revealed to be Lo Hau (), an evil sorcerer of ancient times. He intends to control Yamamoto and use him to complete a ritual so that he can dominate the universe. He is defeated by the combined efforts of Fong Tin-yau, the Five Warriors, and others, but only Fong survives the battle.
* Alice Chan as Miu-sin (), the incarnation of the bodhisattva Guanyin. Every 33 years, she will appear in a different location and meet only 33 people. Each person she meets is entitled to ask her three questions.
* Raymond Tsang as Lau Hoi (), Fong Tin-yau and Ko Bo's boss in the police force. He is bitten by Yamamoto and becomes the latter's henchman, helping to spread the vampire gene throughout the police force.
* Yeung Ka-nok as Lam Kwok-tung (), the executive director of Yamamoto's company. He suffers from liver cancer and refuses to undergo treatment. He is attracted to Au-yeung Ka-ka when she comes to work in Yamamoto's company as a secretary. He knows that Yamamoto is a vampire and often begs his boss to bite him and make him a vampire so he can be spared from suffering. Yamamoto grants him his wish eventually.
* Leung Bik-tze as Bik-ka (), a vampire working for Yamamoto. Before she became a vampire, she already possessed psychic powers. The people around her thought she was a demon and persecuted her. Yamamoto saved her, bit her and turned her into a vampire. She develops a crush on Yamamoto and becomes jealous of Wong Jan-jan when her boss feels affection for Wong. Yamamoto kills her in anger after she attempts to harm Mirai.
* Lee Yung as Herman, a vampire working for Yamamoto. He uses his charming good looks to seduce female employees in his boss's company and suck their blood. He is seriously injured in a fight against Ma Siu-ling.
* Lau Shek-yin as Vairocana (), the omnipotent divine being in the series. When Lo Hau becomes a serious threat to the universe, he attempts to cast a Universal Cleansing Spell to end all life in the universe and make way for a fresh beginning. Guanyin manages to persuade him to wait and give Fong Tin-yau one last chance to stop Lo Hau before casting the spell. Fong succeeds and Vairocana grants him his wish to go back in time and be a vampire no more.

Vampires

The vampires depicted in this television series trilogy are based on the Chinese jiangshi and the western vampire. They are beings that do not belong to the Trailokya or any of the Six Paths in Buddhist cosmology. They do not age and need to regularly feed on blood to sustain themselves. They may also possess powers such as superhuman speed or the ability to shapeshift, in addition to their immortal status. Their powers and invulnerability to sunlight, religious symbols and other things that typical vampires fear, however, become weaker as the generation gap between them and Cheung San (the progenitor of all vampires) increases. An example to illustrate this concept of "generation" is as follows: Person A, who became a vampire after being bitten by Cheung San himself, is known as a second generation vampire. Person B, who became a vampire after being bitten by Person A or another direct victim of Cheung San, is a third generation vampire, and so on.

At the end of the second season, it is revealed that Pangu, the creator of the universe in Chinese mythology, is not a single entity, but a clan of divine beings who are all first generation vampires. Unlike others, these vampires do not need to feed on blood to survive. It is hinted that Cheung San is a member of the Pangu clan. In the third season, two important Chinese mythological figures, Fuxi and Yaochi Shengmu, are first generation vampires.

A vampire's generation or type can be identified by his/her eye colour when he/she is in "vampire mode". See the table below for details.

Production

The script for ''My Date with a Vampire'' was written by Leung Lap-yan in 1997. Leung attempted to market the script to TVB but was rejected, so he went to ATV instead. Chan Sap-sam, who wrote the script for the two sequels, revealed that Lam Ching-ying, a prominent cast member in the '' Mr. Vampire'' franchise, was their original choice for the lead actor, and that Joey Meng did not have a place in their initial cast list. However, after they finalised the script, they were unable to contact Lam, who was critically ill. Besides, ATV's top management was not pleased with the script because they felt that it did not fit people's impressions of how vampires should be like. ATV's top management wanted to cancel the project after Lam died of liver cancer in 1997. Faced with these problems, Chan decided to make bold changes to the script and create a new character — Ma Siu-ling, a female ghostbuster wearing high heels and a miniskirt who is greedy for money. Sin Chi-wai, the producer for the series, recommended Joey Meng to play Ma Siu-ling. When Eric Wan was offered to play the male lead character in the series, he wanted to turn down the offer because he felt exhausted, but eventually agreed as he became more interested in the story.

See also

*Vampire film
*List of vampire television series

References

External links

*
''My Date with a Vampire'' official page
on ATV's website

{{DEFAULTSORT:My Date with a Vampire
1998 Hong Kong television series debuts
Asia Television original programming
Vampires in television
Romantic fantasy television series
Jiangshi fiction
Works based on the Legend of the White Snake