The Viral Factor : Jay Chou And Director Dante Lam in Malaysia (Photos & Vids)
————————————————————–
————————————————————–
Jay Chou and Director Dante Lam in Kuala Lumpur to Promote “The Viral Factor”
Asian superstar Jay Chou and renowned Director Dante Lam (The Stool Pigeon, The Beast Stalker, The Sniper) were here in Kuala Lumpur on 15 January 2012 to promote their latest action movie “The Viral Factor”. Both the superstar and director attended a press conference, media interviews, gala premiere as well as an appearance at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
“The Viral Factor” is 2012’s Chinese New Year action blockbuster which will be released in cinemas nationwide on 19 January 2012. The movie marks the collaboration of two of the hottest Asian stars Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse, powered by high-impact action by director Dante Lam and action director Chin Kar Lok. “The Viral Factor” which also stars Andy On, Liu Kai Chi, Bai Bing and Lin Peng was being filmed primarily in Kuala Lumpur with a production budget of US$17 million.
Fans and movie enthusiasts got the chance to meet Jay Chou and director Dante Lam in person at 7.30pm on 15 January 2012 (Sunday) at Centre Court, Level 2 of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. Fans were given a chance to participate in the stage games and walk away with fantastic movie merchandise and prizes. Apart from the mall appearance, the duo were also at GSC Pavilion KL to grace “The Viral Factor” Gala Premiere on the same night.
SHARP AQUOS, the Exclusive Presenter of “The Viral Factor” will be offering movie and products giveaways through its extensive campaign on TV, radio and print. Meanwhile, fans could also look out for MY FM and www.gscmovies.com.my to win “The Viral Factor” gala premiere invites and movie merchandise. For more information on “The Viral Factor”, please log on to www.gscmovies.com.my and www.facebook.com/gscmovies.
————————————————————–
UPDATED : AFTER PRESS CONFERENCE : PHOTOS :
Jay Chou and Dante Lam
Dante took the first few questions…
then gave our photographer ‘ling ling ‘ a big smile…
MY FM’s Entertaining and lively host has a question …
Jay get’s ready to speak …
Dante can’t stop …
”ok my turn Dante …”
————————————————————–
PRESS CONFERENCE VIDS TO FOLLOW …
————————————————————–
THE VIRAL FACTOR PREVIEW
————————————————————–
About the Movie
IDC Agent Jon (Jay Chou) sustains grave injuries on a mission and decides to spend his final days with his mother. She tells him a long-held secret. To fulfill her wishes, Jon goes to Kuala Lumpur. He befriends medical specialist Rachel (Lin Peng). When she is forced into the schemes of a criminal organization, Jon attempts rescue and becomes the target of the organization that includes his estranged brother Yang (Nicholas Tse)! When the organization betrays Yang and kidnaps his daughter Sheng, the brothers join forces to rescue Rachel and Sheng.
————————————————————–
THE VIRAL FACTOR
Release: 19 January 2012
Synopsis
The Viral Factor, an Emperor Motion Pictures production with a US$17 million budget, filmed in locations in China, the Middle East and Southeast Asia using real military weapons, bursts onto cinema screens in January 2012! The action-packed adventure is directed by award-winner Dante Lam (The Beast Stalker, The Stool Pigeon), and stars award-winning Nicholas Tse and Asian superstar Jay Chou.
IDC Agent Jon (Jay Chou) sustains grave injuries on a mission and decides to spend his final days with his mother. She tells him a long-held secret. To fulfill her wishes, Jon goes to Southeast Asia. He befriends medical specialist Rachel ( Lin Peng). When she is forced into the schemes of a criminal organization, Jon attempts rescue and becomes the target of the organization that includes his estranged brother Yang (Nicholas Tse)! When the organization betrays Yang and kidnaps his daughter Sheng, the brothers join forces to rescue Rachel and Sheng.
————————————————————–
Characters :
Yang (played by Nicholas Tse)
Since his mother left, Yang stayed with his father in Southeast Asia. As his feelings of abandonment grew, he became a hardened criminal and fugitive. He fights, robs and even kills for survival, but on a personal level, he respects his father and loves his daughter. When his estranged brother confronts him, his conflicting feelings come to a head.
Jon (played by Jay Chou)
IDC agent Jon lost his fiancee and his job on a mission. He goes away to find his father and brother – in part for his mother, in part to make up for his losses. Jon always does the right thing — until he meets his brother Yang. Jon’s righteous nature and brotherly love plunge him into a world of conflict.
Dr Rachel Kan (played by Lin Peng)
A doctor working at the Asian Center for Disease Control, Rachel very much dislikes her mother’s addiction to riches and has chosen against fame and fortune to work for the needy. She may appear demure, but her strength is clear when she, aware of all the dangers involved, offers herself up in exchange for Yang’s daughter as hostage.
Ice (played by Bai Bing)
Jon’s fiancée, Ice, is the only woman in the IDC team. She may be small physically, but is braver and stronger than a giant and fights on the front lines. Underneath her tough and cold exterior, she has a woman’s intuition and attention to detail and is an amazing marksman.
Sean (played by Andy On)
Underneath his tall, strong interior throbs a wolf-like ambition. Sean has no trouble exploiting the trust and faith of the rest of his team for his private gain. Sean is cold and calculating, but uses his considerable abilities to do evil. He has no qualms removing people in his way.
Tian (played by Liu Kai Chi)
Because of his gambling habits, Tian had driven away his wife and younger son. To escape from creditors, he and elder son Yang go to Southeast Asia, but there his addictions continue. Yang pays his father’s debts by criminal acts; Tian had given up his leg for his son.
Fengling (played by Elaine Jin)
Like her ex-husband Tian, Fengling will do anything for her children. She abandons her gambling addict husband and takes Jon with her, destroying Yang’s wish for a united family. But she lives in guilt and self-deprecation, and in the knowledge that Yang hates her. She wishes to reunite the family.
Sheng (played by Crystal Lee)
The eight-year-old daughter of Yang; her full name, meaning “always win”, was given by her gambler grandfather. Her mother’s early death and father’s long absences give her an independent personality. She is a good girl, always the best student in her class, and even takes care of her grandfather.
About the cast
Nicholas Tse
Tse has starred in over 3o films since he burst upon the screen with his first film in 1996, for which he won a Best New Performer Award from the Hong Kong Film Awards. He was awarded the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for New Police Story. Tse began working with director Dante Lam in The Beast Stalker in 2006, after which he won the Asian Film Award and Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Bodyguards and Assassins. He won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor with Dante Lam’s The Stool Pigeon.
Jay Chou
An icon in Taiwan’s world of pop music and film and a superstar throughout Asia, Chou has starred in numerous international best-selling films, including Andrew Lau’s Initial D, Zhang Yimou’s Curse of the Golden Flower, Secret and Hollywood action comedy The Green Hornet. Secret, his third film, was also his directorial debut. In addition to directing, he also starred in, helped score and performed most of the songs for Secret. His work in Initial D made him Best New Performer in both the Hong Kong Film Awards and Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards. Chou is a magician in his own right.
Lin Peng
Lin performed in Zhang Yimou’s 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony before graduating from China’s Central Theatre Academy. She has starred against Jackie Chan and Leehom Wang in Little Big Soldier, and as the White Snake Witch in Wilson Yip’s Portrait of a Nymph, for which she also sang the theme song.
Bai Bing
Bai earned a degree in Law before becoming an actor. She has performed in numerous best-selling films, including Shaolin, Let the Bullets Fly, Beginning of the Great Revival. She won Best New Actress in the Golden Tripod Awards. She also sings and has appeared in many popular television series.
Andy On
Since beginning his acting career in 2002, On has showed off his considerable martial arts skills in more than 20 films including New Police Story, Black Mask 2, Star Runner, Election 2, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon and YYYY. He won Best New Performer in the 2003 Hong Kong Film Awards for Star Runner.
Liu Kai-chi
In a career spanning over three decades, Liu has appeared in over 100 films and television series. He has won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1993 for Cageman and again in 2009 for The Beast Stalker, and has been nominated three times for Best Actor.
Director Dante Lam
Dante co-directed Beast Cops which won Best Film and Best Director at the 18th Hong Kong Film Awards. Dante then directed numerous blockbusters, including Option Zero, Hit Team and The Triad Zone. In 2003, The Twins Effect made Dante a household name. In 2008, The Beast Stalker garnered much praise during its release, and also at Berlin International Film Festival “International Forum of New Cinema”. Its lead actor, Nick Cheung, won numerous film awards, and Dante himself won Best Director at Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFAN) in Korea. Dante won two Best Director awards for The Stool Pigeon and the film was the only Hong Kong film selected by Berlin Forum 2011.
Director’s Statement
The Chinese title of this film, “Uphill Battle”, is very meaningful to me. We go through uphill battles every day. With each choice, challenge and conflict, we must keep fighting. And in the end, when we know love, right and wrong are no longer important.
In movies as in life, we continuously battle. Every film is another journey of self-discovery for me: Man, the king of all animals, is not so unique. Everyone is equal as they battle their own destinies; not only humans but even microbes have the instinct to fight for survival, and to break through barriers. Any chance to be with loved ones, if even for a moment, is not to be missed.
During the tumultuous production process, each day brings its own revelations. We shot in different foreign locations. The changes in rhythms and styles of each place were all uphill battles for me. But in the end, when I go home and see my wife and daughter, my heart is that much more grateful.
————————————————————–
————————————————————–
