by CHAN KA BO
Next Magazine
1999

Over the last few years, each time Chow Yun Fat is interviews, the topic never left Hollywood, and questions were bound to become repetitive. Having just completed Ang Lee's CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON (NGOR FU CHONG LUNG) in Beijing and returned to Hong Kong on the 28th, Fat Jai and Fat Soh in few days would have to pack again for the Los Angeles premiere of ANNA AND THE KING. As for new projects, reportedly he has 6 scripts lined up, and that one of the top American management agencies CAA has begun to drop hints to Chow Yun Fat. Since his first foreign film in 97, THE REPLACEMENT KILLER, Fat Jai has obeyed Hollywood rules -- he does not mention a project until the day of confirmation and contract signing, and toward his personal developmental future, he still modestly says he is a new comer. Actually Hollywood and Hong Kong really are different, you could have broken into the outer space market, but you still cannot behave like a spoiled brat, or even talk nonsense. Thus, please excuse the repetitive questions. Take note, the woman beside Fat Jai, is also the 17 years unchanged and impossible to change repetition Fat Soh. The faithful Fat Jai says, "I can't afford to fool around."

From the start, Chow Yun Fat has changed his faith in film and his wife. "Any place is the same, time, place and opportunity has to come together. Of course, going to Hollywood is very simple, all you have to do is buy a plane ticket and after a 12 hour flight you are there. The most important part is your personal view. I made this choice because I was very sure that if I keep on going, what else can I do? Can I take another step forward?"

"I went to Hollywood to widen my horizons. If I was lucky and ran into opportunities I could make a new attempt, if not then a vacation was not bad either."

"Sometimes, you will always hear quite a few praises; but don't believe them too easily. In front of the camera you might let the entire world believe you can, but behind it, how sure are you? Where can you go? Actually you can't lie to yourself. Perhaps, at least after 8 or 10 movies, you can be sure of the stability of your quality."

FAT SOH BREAKS THROUGH OBSTACLES OUTSIDE

Fat Jai feels an actor acts not to satisfy himself. He can only satisfy the director or the audience. An actor's sense of satisfaction has no limit.

"Until the day I stop, acting is still my career. The situation, good or bad, actually doesn't have any great effect because I have already experienced them before. I have no baggage, nothing to lose." Hollywood's road is not an easy one to travel, but he can try walking it. Comparing to him, the real blockbuster is Fat Soh.

Over their 17 years together, when Fat Jai was working in Hong Kong, Fat Soh would sleep in the car and be responsible for his transportation. Today, whether in Hong Kong or in China, in order to make up for the time difference in Los Angeles, Fat Soh gets up 6AM to handle documents, make long distance calls, and starts her work day. She does not stop until noon.

VALUABLE RELATIONSHIP CANNOT AFFORD FOOLING AROUND

Fat Jai honestly says that he really appreciates Fat Soh. She has become his shield, making him into Mr. Nice Guy. He understands the Singapore native Fat Soh is a direct person who says and does things from her heart, someone who does not manipulate. She has a very uncomfortable time on the job.

"Her shoulders are heavy, I can completely feel it. After so many years with her, the feeling of sharing the good and the bad has been very real. That feeling is like when I lived in Lamma Island, carried two baskets of fruits and went over mountain after mountain to buy. We never complained, we should cherish that." Toward Fat Soh, family, or friends, Fat Jai held an attitude -- cherish those in front of you.

Perhaps life is like an act. After years of acting, the stories' exhausting relationships made Fat Jai realize that to love someone he has to give.

"Since you signed the marriage certificate you have to take the responsibility. You take the man's hand and be with him until old age. When two people are together, it is impossible for their entire lifetime to be like the honeymoon. Maintaining a marriage is not easy, but they should prepare to care of each other into their golden years."

Without any distraction, how easy is it to say that?

"I don't have the energy to love another woman, unless those women could get together and play mahjong, sleep in the same bed, but that's impossible. The old society standard allows multiple marriages, but in today's world, many family tragedy came due to a moment of weakness. Life, time, love are too valuable, even if it is free, I can't afford to fool around." Chow Yun Fat got right to the point.

YOU ARE HAPPY SO I AM HAPPY

Whether it was the Cinema City or the Golden Princess era, Chow Yun Fat from early morning to late night on the set days, or when he grabbed a market share in the American Hollywood film market, he was not alone. Accompanying him for 17 years was Fat Soh Jasmine Chan Wui Lin.

Hong Kong people has long ago treated this bride from Singapore as one of their own. Even in Hollywood, who does not know besides Chow Yun Fat's management agency William Morris, Terence Chang (Cheung Ka Chun), there is Jasmine Chow/Fat Soh.

Three years of dating and 14 years of marriage, during this long yet practical period, Fat Soh is not only Chow Yun Fat's wife, housekeeper, she is also a close business partner and confidant. With everything that they have shared, their marriage is not just binded to that piece of marriage certiciate.

"Perhaps some would feel I am old fashioned, but my personal view is when I love someone, I live for him. So when my husband is happy I am happy. No matter the situation, Fat Jai always comes first. Marriage is a mutual collaboration, giving and taking responsibility. We can't and shouldn't just worry about ourselves. Like going to Hollywood, Fat Jai has to worried and face many problems, but he was very strong. I was behind him 100%."

"Fat Jai works very hard. First he had to resolve the language problem. Besides studying with an English tutor, I became his practice partner. In the begining, besides meals, he spent more of this day locked inside his study and repeatedly practice.

Every time he received a new role, Fat Jai couldn't wait for the film company's arrangement. He always begins his preparation early. When he made ANNA AND THE KING in the beginning of the year, he knew that he had to make an English version and a Thai version, and a waltz scene with Jodie Foster. Besides learning Thai with a tutor, every week he studies the waltz for five days.

After ANNA AND THE KING, he started Ang Lee's CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON in which he plays a master swordsman. Fat Jai utilized a month of his time before going to Beijing to lose weight in Hong Kong and to study fencing. Every night as soon as he put down his bowl he left, just like going to school.

No matter how tired Fat Jai feels he would not complain once. He doesn't want me to worry, but as his wife I definitely notice. I know he is tired, and I would give him a massage. His muscles are all tight.

In a husband and wife collaboration, the most important thing is dividing up the work. In terms of related legal documents, film company negotiation details and other outside jobs, besides myself, there are Cheung Ka Chun, the management agency and the lawyers. On the set, I take care of Fat Jai's safety on the set as the contract stipulates. Besides Fat Jai asks, I would not question other things because in terms of creativity there is no reason for me to suspect the director and Chow Yun Fat.

Like earlier on location for CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON in Hengzhou, the director in order to strengthen the effect added a 60 foot drop for Fat Ji. The shot was one clean shot. Fat Jai did not decline and on top of that personally performed the scene. He was very clear on whether he could handle it or not. I watched beside the director and watched my husband performed the stunt first hand. I was covered in cold sweat.

How Chow Yun Fat will develop in Hollywood in the future no one knows or can guarantee. I understand that is already written in stone and cannot be changed. I leave it to the heavens! Let's hope the heavens can give my husband back what he has given, hope that he is recognized for his hard work, even when he doesn't feel it isn't hard for him.

ABANDON EVERYTHING TO RETURN TO SINGAPORE

Honesty can increase mutual understanding. After so many years together, words are not neessary for us to catch what the other one is thinking. In the beginning of the year, after THE CORRUPTOR promotional tour we came back to Hong Kong for a few days then immediately flew to Malaysia for ANNA AND THE KING. After that for CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON we had to go all over China. I can say, we have not stopped for an entire year.

I have always had a habit of reading before bed. On night in Bejing, perhaps because I was too tired, I sat there in a daze. Fat Jai suddenly said to me, "You have done so much for me, why not let me do something for you for once. I can end everything, you and I can go back to live in Singapore..."

I was very moved, my husband actually said that to me. I was shocked, I couldn't believe that came from Chow Yun Fat's mouth. Toward his husband I really have no complaint, especially since I know for certain how much Fat Jai likes to act. He is only 40 something, yet he is willing to leave his dreams behind for his wife.

Life has its ups and downs. In marriage of course there are differences of opinions due to different views on life, but we will never throw a tantrum at the other. We cool down then resolve the problem.

Fat Jai sometimes can be very stubborn. If he insists on something then he couldn't be won over. For example on cooking my best dish, our procedures are different. Being challenged on what I feel is my best, no one is comfortable with that. Or like cooking curry. First I would fry the curry powder to accentuate the flavor and reduce grease, but Fat Jai would mix the powder into water then add coconut milk to bring to boil, because of our different cooking methods, the kitchen would become our battlefield.

Actually disputes are inevitable, if Fat Jai cooks, I definitely will keep my distance from the kitchen and run for my life. When Fat Jai cooks curry besides his favorite way would also try mine.

ESTABLISH FUND TO REPAY SOCIETY

You can fight for what you believe in, but it does not work for everything. Living with mutual understanding can give both comfortable. I trust my husband, Fat Jai gives me the same sense of security. I am not suspicioius because some things are meant to be, I have to cherish those around me.

Sometimes I would think, why did the heavens have to take away my baby (in 92 Fat Soh was pregnant but suffered a miscarriage). Perhaps it was meant to be. If I have a child who has to follow us around, constantly changing schools and moving. That way, I would owe her too much.

As for next generation, Fat Jai and I see it far down the road. The society and environment are complicated. We are afraid that our child would suffer, but if we really have one, then it's no big deal either. People sometimes couldn't ask for too much because when they don't get it they would really suffer. Fat Jai and I have talked about this. In the future we will establish a fund to benefit needy charitable organziations or people. Everything Fat Jai has, besides from his hard work, is from what the heavens gave him. We should use the money he made with his God given talent to help others.

After 17 years with Fat Jai, if the heavens only give me 20 more years, time together with those around me actually isn't too long. Money of course is important, but we can't make it all. One day when we no longer have to run around for work, I only hope for a house with an ocean view in a quiet place and settle down with my husband, enjoy life and live our simple lives.

FALLING FOR A HERO

In his 20 some years in film and television, Fat Gor has continuously created new peaks for himself. In the 70s and 80s, he starred in HOTEL (KONG CHIU), THE GOOD THE BAD THE UGLY (MUNG JUNG YUN) and THE BUND (SEUNG HOI TAN) and became TVB's top actor. He then jumped out of television into film and made THE STORY OF WOO VIET and other unsuccessful films which made him the box office poison. He toughed out a few years before coming around with Mark Gor in A BETTER TOMORROW (YING HUNG BOON SIK). Then AN AUTUMN'S TALE (CHAU TIN DIK TUNG WA) and GOD OF GAMBLERS (DOE SUN) solidified his top actor status in the film industry. During that period, he even won 7 Best Actor awards. In 95 Fat Gor in order to bring his career to new heights dropped everything in Hong Kong, flew to Hollywood and turned a new page in his career. Fat Gor from Hollywood newcomer to today has always been the target of the foreign press. The following are excerpts from a few well known American magazines, check out how much they like Fat Gor.

MAY 96 - TIME first introduced Fat Gor, the newcomer to Hollywood, and how he was doing in America. It described Fat Gor's gun totting images in the movies as "strong as steel" heroes.

JULY 96 - An Asian American magazine has Fat Gor on the cover, and greatly praised him as the Hong Kong Robert DeNiro.

JULY 97 - LOS ANGELES TIME has stills from Fat Gor's first Hollywood film THE REPLACEMENT KILLER on the cover

OCTOBER 97 - In FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW, Fat Gor expressed that the Hong Kong film industry has limited room for development and hopes for even higher achievements in Hollywood.

NOVEMBER 97 - DETAILS listed Fat Gor as one to watch in 98.

JANUARY 98 - Former Columbia Pictures executive in TIME's interview with Fat Gor pointed out that as the audience's demand becomes higher, Hollywood continues to need new faces. Fat Gor fits the bill.

FEBRUARY 98 - John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's interview with Fat Gor pointed out that Fat Gor is an equivalent to America's Tom Cruise.

MARCH 98 - PEOPLE pointed out Fat Gor's image as friendly, to which Fat Gor modestly says, "Everyone treats me like a brother."

MARCH 98 - Mira Sorvino (THE REPLACEMENT KILLER lead actress) in PREMIERE's Fat Gor interview says that "Just by looking at Fat Gor, I already have learned a lot."

AUGUST 99 - NEWSWEEK's cover was Fat Gor's new film ANNA AND THE KING's regal look. This was Fat Gor's first time without a gun. He only courts and romances his partners.

NOVEMBER 99 - Fat Gor is chosen as PEOPLE's Sexiest Action Star. Bai Ling calls Fat Gor handsome, John Woo also says that he is like old time movie star Cary Grant, but Fat Gor modestly says, "Maybe now people think stability and modesty is sexy!"

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