Chow Yun Fat hospitalised, put on drip
Posted: 11 November 2009 1248 hrs

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BEIJING: International star Chow Yun Fat had to be hospitalised and put on intravenous drip earlier this week after catching a cold while filming upcoming movie “Let The Bullets Fly” in Beijing.

However, during the press conference for the movie in Beijing on Tuesday, the actor candidly joked that it was his co-stars’ formidable acting skills that ‘stressed’ him out rather than the cold bug.

“It seemed like there’s a ploy going on. One the first day of the shoot, I had a headache after witnessing Ge You’s masterful display. On the second day, I saw Chen Kun in action and my heart started beating so fast. He may be young but he is really good. Two days later, it was Jiang Wen and his brother’s turn and I couldn’t handle both of them. In the end, I had to be hospitalised and put on the drip for two days. This shows how good the actors are,” said Chow.

Touted as Asia’s “Ocean’s Eleven”, “Let The Bullets Fly” features big names such as acclaimed Chinese actor Ge You and Jiang Wen, who also doubles up as director for the movie.

In the film, Jiang plays a bandit chief who tries to take over a remote provincial town in 1920s China, only to meet resistance from a triad leader played by Chow.

The US$18 million (S$24 million) movie is slated to be released in the second half of 2010.

The trio clearly had a good time working together judging by the friendly bantering and ribbing at the press conference on Tuesday.

When the director was asked how he managed to get Chow and Ge on board, he replied, “There are actually two ways to invite them. The first is to tell Ge, ‘Chow is interested, are you on board?’ Next, I will inform Chow that Ge is interested and ask him if he will be joining us. Both will definitely be interested.

“My second method is to tell Ge that Chow wants his role, and likewise, tell Chow that Ge is eyeing his role,” said the award-winning director on his plans to ‘con’ them.

However, Jiang did not resort to either method.

“In the end, I used a third method. I wrote them a 140-page letter, which is the script, and followed up with another short letter, a cheque,” he said.

Despite having just recovered from the flu, Chow was in his comedic element.

“I ignored the first letter and only took notice of the second letter. I don’t know how much was written on the cheque as my wife kept it, but I understand that there were a lot of zeroes on it.”

With three superstars on set, who calls the shots?

Jiang said, “Look at how you guys address them here, ‘Master Ge’, ‘Fat-Gor’, and when it comes to me, it’s just ‘Jiang Wen’. This clearly shows who’s calling the shots.”

Chow immediately refuted the claim, saying, “When I and Ge You felt that we had done a good take, he would jump in and say that we required another take. It happened so many times.”

Ge backed Chow adding that the situation changes when Jiang is acting alongside them.

“When the three of us are involved in the scene, he will approve the take even if the both of us thought that it needed a retake. Now, who is the boss here?” said Ge.

- CNA/fa