Prolific Hong Kong director Johnnie To recently secured two US theatrical distribution deals after a working for almost twenty years within the industry. Getting his start at the famous Shaw Brothers studios he would continue work as a producer and director until forming his own production company, MilkyWay Image, with collaborator Wai Ka-Fa.
Exiled takes place in 1998 in Macau, Portugal just before it came under Chinese rule and concerns four close hit men who are starting to feel the heat from this new government.
Exiled was a mainstream film by Hong Kong’s standards and was filled with humor, action and drama. It’s a tight, fun film. I was able to ask Mr. To about some of his experiences working in the Hong Kong film industry.
Benjamin Crossley-Marra: What were some important early lessons you learned coming up through the Shaw studios?
Johnnie To: I came to Shaw Bros. studios fairly late and I've made 3 films with them. I've always been impressed with the Shaw Bros. because it was the most powerful film studio in HK. I believe a viable film industry needs to be supported by such system. This is why HK films today face a bigger challenge in terms of production output and creativity – We no longer have a studio system.
BCM: What film that you've directed is your favorite film to date?
JT: Throw Down is a film that is closest to what I think of a Johnnie To personal film. The film's philosophy, about how one should never give up, is told through a very abstract cinematic language. This was a film I made for myself and I didn't think about the audience at all.
BCM: What was the shoot for Exiled like?
JT: I spent over a year on ELECTION and ELECTION 2 and the experience was very intense. Researching and writing for such a complicated subject matter presented a great challenge for me. Shooting EXILED soon after gave me an opportunity to take a break. For me, shooting EXILED was like a vacation. I didn't have a finished screenplay and I improvised a lot on the set. The shooting schedule was longer because I didn't want to rush it.
BCM: What's your favorite scene in the film?
JT: I enjoyed the clinic shoot-out scene because all of the characters from all sides collide in one ridiculous encounter. I liked the humor of the scene as well as the drama. They give the gun play so much more intensity and variety.
BCM: Do you have a desire to ever work in the American studio system?
JT: Only if I can find a good screenplay. I have been presented with stories but have not found some thing I like yet.
BCM: What do you think the differences are between making a film in Hong Kong and making a film in America?
JT: The Hong Kong film industry is more of a director's system, whereas Hollywood seems to be more of a producer's system. In HK we as directors have the power to decide the creative and the overall shape of the film. And because we are working with smaller budget films, we get to enjoy more creative freedom. However, I think it's important to point out that we shouldn't easily dismiss one system as inferior to the other, because both systems have produced original and entertaining films.
BCM: Do you have any dream projects?
JT: I've been wanting to do a movie about the notorious crime city in Hong Kong, also known as “The Walled City”. This was where Hong Kong's organized crime was born and the place was infested with prostitutes, drugs and gangs. The Walled City came into existence in the early 1900s and was burned down in the 60s. I hope to do a film to document this colorful history.
BCM: Are there any projects you regret?
JT: No.
BCM: What’s your next film?
JT: I've just finished MAD DETECTIVE with my long-time creative partner Wai Ka Fai. We're co-directing this film together and we are bringing back actor Lau Ching Wan, another old friend of mine. As the title suggests, the film follows a gifted cop whose special ability to solve crime eventually drives him crazy.
BCM: Where do you see Milkyway Image and yourself as a director ten years from now?
JT: I hope we can continue to push the creative and stylistic boundary of Hong Kong cinema. What matters to me most is to make original movies. This was the reason Milkyway was created and I always remind our other filmmakers to follow this objective.
Magnolia Pictures released Exiled in theaters August 31st. Check your local listings!