COMING SOON TO CINEMAS // Wed, 3rd Oct 2012
Australian drama about intimacy, sex and sexuality. Shot in black and white, a faceless interviewer attempts to unravel the life of Angie, played by eight different actresses. However, Angie plans to set the record straight, exposing the man who is interviewing her.
Reviews:
by onyamagazine
When first seen Angie is portrayed by Katherine Hicks (Rescue Special Ops) as a brash and loudmouthed woman who has seemingly gotten by in life by giving men what she thinks they want. A flash of her chest and a seductive purr to her voice is the least of the director’s desire, something that sees tensions rise in between conversations ranging from the delicate issue of morality and dignity to the sordid sexual details of her clientele. She thinks he’s a prude, he thinks she’s, well, a bit of a whore; he even laughs when she says she has a degree in science. “You see me as a whore before anything else,” is the sort of abrupt dialogue here that can sound both on the nose and terrifically on point. As the balance of power begins to shift between the man and his documentary muse more and more is revealed on both sides of the camera and what develops is an increasingly fascinating tug-of-war that while rarely as audacious as, say, Julia Leigh’s Sleeping Beauty, still has its own magnetic quality about it.
Saskia Burmeister, looking and acting like a lost Deschanel sister, explored somewhat similar territory in The Jammed where she played an illegal refugee entered into sex slavery. This time she plays a willing proponent of the industry and provides a startling mirror to her award-worthy work in Dee McLachlan’s thriller from 2007.
by cinephilia
John Winter’s debut feature purports to be an interview of a “sex worker” a.k.a. “prostitute”, a.k.a. “hooker” and opens with its subject, Angie, (played by Katharine Hicks) in Marilyn Monroe wig, low cut top, mini skirt and high-heels, standing in front of the camera being “interviewed” by a seated “director” (Matthew Holmes). If one immediately wonders what interview would be conducted in this way, Angie is obnoxiously aggressive, brow-beating the superior-toned but ineffectual director who for ten minutes does nothing but parry her taunts before she pulls her top down and plays with her boobs which she calls respectively “Norma” and “Jean”.
by screentrek
The ‘power’ relationship between the interviewer (played by Matthew Holmes) and Angie swaps throughout the film, ending with Angie #8, played by the steamy dreamy Maia Thomas. Her scene, I felt, opened a window into Winter’s mind; leaving me wondering whether his depiction of the emotional world of a female prostitute was fair, or patronising? Why was it necessary, in the closing scene, to have Angie strip totally naked? We see all the Angies strip, one melding into the other, to reinforce that they are all the same person, I expect. I would have thought that was well established by the previous cross overs, from one Angie to the other.
For me, momentarily, it detracted from her character and diluted the power position all the Angies had established throughout the film. Rather than adding another level of understanding, it felt a little exploitative. But then, isn't that what all the puritanical moralisers in society say about prostitution?by theaustralian
Angie 1 is played by Katherine Hicks, who at first comes on as a Marilyn Monroe type, complete with blonde wig. Abruptly, Angie 1 is replaced by Angie 2 (Anya Beyersdorf) and, for a while, the film intercuts between the two until Angie 2 takes over. As the film progresses, six more Angies take over the role, played by Valerie Bader, Roxane Wilson, Michelle Vergara Moore, Dina Panozzo, Saskia Burmeister and Maia Thomas. Each provides a different face, and body, to the character, ranging from the mature Angie 3 (Bader) to the cheeky, dimpled, schoolgirlish Angie 7 (Burmeister). All are very good and, if nothing else, the film offers a showcase for eight very talented women.
Still, apart from some relatively brief nudity the film is more interested in describing the world of the sex worker than depicting it. At times the wide screen splits into four, providing multiple images just as the character of Angie is seen through the multiple personalities.
Interview with Saskia Burmeister and Katherine Hicks:
Q : How did you feel about some of the course language?
Katherine : Well, actually I was very specific about what I wouldn’t and would say. In the last section of the film the 8 intercuts with that and I didn’t want to say 'Can you smell my wet?’ I didn’t feel comfy and there is a huge vulnerability to my character, especially being naked at the time. John was really responsive to that and I think it’s important to acknowledge that.
Q : Did you meet the other cast members or was it each scene filmed separately?
Katherine : Filmed separately and each one was filmed in around a 10 hour day. I worked with Maia together on the script as we have studied together in the past. She came to be a support when I was filming my section. After all the nudity, I did have that thought of 'What have I done?’ but I am happy with it. It was beautifully shot and we all got a sense of that beforehand which made it easier.
Q : Are you ready for the Premiere?
Saskia : Oh yes, my husband hasn't seen it yet. It was a big family decision to take the role because we approach every job like that and he was saying with something as explicit as this you want to be sure.
Director John Winter ain't stupid. He made sure the best looking girls show their boobies at one point as well. All first-time entry into nudity hall of fame (correct me if I'm wrong about the fact). Filmed in B-and-W.
[1] 30-years old Katherine Hicks is Angie 1 : breasts (plays with them) in Monroe get-up.
With professional credits spanning film, television and theatre, Katherine Hicks is an Australian actress gaining local, national and international recognition for her strong character portrayals.Katherine is currently filming for the third series of the popular drama, Rescue Special Ops for Channel Nine and Southern Star Productions. Katherine will continue her portrayal as Special Units Officer Heidi Wilson for which she has received a nomination for ‘Most Popular Female New Talent’ in the 2010 Logies and ‘Out of The Box’ Best Actor in Television for the 2010 IF Awards. Katherine’s other television credits include the main cast role as Poppy Hammond in the BBC co-production ‘Out of The Blue’ that was filmed in Sydney and aired in Australia, New Zealand and the UK in 2009, as Tessa Mason in very popular and much loved ABC high school drama ‘Heartbreak High’ (1998 – 1999) and an appearance in ‘John Safran’s Race Relations’ as herself in 2009.
[2] 27-years old busty babe Saskia Burmeister is Angie 7 : breasts.
[3] 29-years old Eurasian hottie Maia Thomas is Angie 8 : full-frontal
Maia Thomas has worked extensively within the film and television industry since her graduation from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2004. Best known for her portrayal of Lavinia Smart, the vulnerable sole survivor in Matthew Saville's criticallyacclaimed feature Noise, Maia has also worked alongside some of Australia’s finest in the award winning feature Little Deaths and will soon be playing a dreadlocked activist in the upcoming film adaptation of Julia Leigh's The Hunter, starring Willem Dafoe. Along with the semi regular role of 'Sandrine' the troubled wife of Dom in Channel Ten’s hit drama series Rush, Maia has various guest roles, short film and theatre credits to her name. Maia's diverse and sophisticated performances make her an intriguing artist to watch.
Trailer
The CastMaia Thomas talks about her nude scene
Saskia Burmeister (Angie 7 in Black and White and Sex)
Katherine Hicks (Angie 1 in Black and White and Sex)
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sweet child of North Carolina Meg Chambers Steedle shows her Southern buns and teetees again on Boardwalk Empire [S3E2]. I don't think ma and pa will be watching this one too.
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MELISSA McCARTHY’s NAKED SHAME
by PATRICIA SHIPP, NATIONAL ENQUIRER
“MIKE and MOLLY” star MELISSA McCARTHY is terrified a nude scene she filmed years ago will come back to haunt her! The 42-year-old Emmy winner – Oscar-nominated for her role in last year’s hilarious hit “Bridesmaids” – stripped down for the 2009 comedy “Pretty Ugly People,” but she seriously regrets it now, according to pals.
“The scene required Melissa and her co-star Octavia Spencer to be filmed jumping into a hot spring totally in the buff,” an insider told The ENQUIRER.
“In the end, the scene was edited so they’re only shown in the water up to their shoulders, and the full frontal nude shots ended up on the cutting room floor.
“But Melissa knows some film editor or techie could have that nude footage locked away somewhere. Her worst nightmare is that it will ultimately show up on some tawdry X-rated website.”
The former stand-up comic has two young daughters with actor hubby Ben Falcone, and is in the running for a second Emmy.
Melissa is now filming the action comedy “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock, “so she’s certainly on her way to superstardom,” the source said.
“And she’s been around Hollywood long enough to know that movie ‘outtakes’ pop up all the time. All she can think about is that lost footage showing her completely naked.
“She’s hoping for the best but preparing for the worst in case the film gets into the wrong hands. Now that she’s made it to the top the last thing she needs is a nude video scandal!”
* Justin C. Green was the editor. Someone needs to get in touch with him and verified this story. Maybe I will soon....
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“The scene required Melissa and her co-star Octavia Spencer to be filmed jumping into a hot spring totally in the buff,” an insider told The ENQUIRER.
“In the end, the scene was edited so they’re only shown in the water up to their shoulders, and the full frontal nude shots ended up on the cutting room floor.
“But Melissa knows some film editor or techie could have that nude footage locked away somewhere. Her worst nightmare is that it will ultimately show up on some tawdry X-rated website.”
The former stand-up comic has two young daughters with actor hubby Ben Falcone, and is in the running for a second Emmy.
Melissa is now filming the action comedy “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock, “so she’s certainly on her way to superstardom,” the source said.
“And she’s been around Hollywood long enough to know that movie ‘outtakes’ pop up all the time. All she can think about is that lost footage showing her completely naked.
“She’s hoping for the best but preparing for the worst in case the film gets into the wrong hands. Now that she’s made it to the top the last thing she needs is a nude video scandal!”
* Justin C. Green was the editor. Someone needs to get in touch with him and verified this story. Maybe I will soon....
Hemlock Grove TV Show
The Hemlock Grove TV Show is a big-budget supernatural murder-monster-mystery created by Eli Roth. It is based on the novel by Brian McGreevy and created exclusively for Netflix.
The Hemlock Grove TV Show is the latest offering in a long line of super natural incarnations in pop culture. Like the Twilight movies, it is also based on a novel. However, it has the opportunity to be a point of difference in that it is breaking ground as a TV show made exclusively for Netflix and its monster murder mystery premise sounds intriguing.
Supernatural big budget TV and movie incarnations of last century’s B-horror movie monsters have been in vogue over the last few years. Zombie movies rose from mainstream oblivion to swarm pop culture once again, reinventing the genre at the box office and in its niche of straight-to-DVD. There are even comic books and a prime-time cable show. Next on the B-movie conveyer belt of horror was vampires and werewolves. These creatures pounced from the Blade trilogy to Underworld, before beginning to dominate even tween culture. While the zombie hordes are quieting down, the vampire and werewolf infestation is showing no sign of abating. But what’s next?
The recipe: take two parts twilight, one part Cruel Intentions and one part Twin Peaks, place in a blender and pulsate. Season with a dream team of horror movie champions like Eli Roth, Mark Verheiden, Eric Newman and composer Nathan Barr.
You’ve just created Hemlock Grove, a supernatural murder-monster-mystery based on the novel by Brian McGreevy and created exclusively for Netflix.
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| The Recipe for the Hemlock Grove TV Show |
Based on the Novel by Brian McGreevy
The Helmlock Grove novel by Brian McGreevy was released on March 27, 2012 and will form part of at least a three part series. It was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux and was the first book by McGreevy.
McGreevy decried the emasculation of vampires in recent incarnations, such as Edward Cullen in Twilight. He sought to reestablish the creatures as the aloof but debonair lotharios he believes they were meant to be. His language is rich and descriptive, if at times a little stream-of-consciousness, even self indulgent. However, arguably his style is could be perfect in his quest to reinvent the literary genre. Critics would be wise to appreciate that this is his debut novel.
By December of 2011, only seven months after its release the book was picked up for a TV adaptation. Author Brian McGreevy will contribute as a writer and executive producer.
The novel is set in Hemlock Grove, a town in Pennsylvania where the prominent, rich but mysterious Godfrey family have established a dynasty. The family includes a beautiful but ‘otherwordly’ matriarch, Olivia, and her two children, vampire-like Roman and Frankenstein-esque Shelly. The rich but everyman Dr. Norman Godfrey was the brother of the late JR Godfrey, father to Roman and Shelly. The other family in town are the Rumanceks, way on the other end of the social spectrum.
A young girl is found murdered near the abandoned Godfrey steel mill, with all the hallmarks of a werewolf attack. Sheriff Sworn must lead the investigation that becomes increasingly supernatural. Accusations are cast on young self-proclaimed werewolf Peter Rumancek. However, he and Roman Godfrey decide to investigate the murder for themselves.
McGreevy decried the emasculation of vampires in recent incarnations, such as Edward Cullen in Twilight. He sought to reestablish the creatures as the aloof but debonair lotharios he believes they were meant to be. His language is rich and descriptive, if at times a little stream-of-consciousness, even self indulgent. However, arguably his style is could be perfect in his quest to reinvent the literary genre. Critics would be wise to appreciate that this is his debut novel.
By December of 2011, only seven months after its release the book was picked up for a TV adaptation. Author Brian McGreevy will contribute as a writer and executive producer.
The novel is set in Hemlock Grove, a town in Pennsylvania where the prominent, rich but mysterious Godfrey family have established a dynasty. The family includes a beautiful but ‘otherwordly’ matriarch, Olivia, and her two children, vampire-like Roman and Frankenstein-esque Shelly. The rich but everyman Dr. Norman Godfrey was the brother of the late JR Godfrey, father to Roman and Shelly. The other family in town are the Rumanceks, way on the other end of the social spectrum.
A young girl is found murdered near the abandoned Godfrey steel mill, with all the hallmarks of a werewolf attack. Sheriff Sworn must lead the investigation that becomes increasingly supernatural. Accusations are cast on young self-proclaimed werewolf Peter Rumancek. However, he and Roman Godfrey decide to investigate the murder for themselves.
Bringing the Novel to Life on Netflix
Eli Roth was the perfect choice to lead the supernatural adaptation. Roth is a modern day horror movie phenom, pushing the envelope with such films as Cabin Fever and the Hostel series. He will not only be the executive producer, but will direct the pilot and at least two episodes.
Excited by the opportunity to explore this new medium of streaming television, apart from the untested medium, Roth will have few excuses not to create a smash hit. The first season of the Helmlock Grove TV series has been rumored to have a budget of US$45 million for a 13-episode season. That’s more than US$3 million an episode. This puts it alongside in the mega budget TV series like Game of Thrones, and way above most television series.
Joining Roth and McGreevy is veteran producer Deran Sarafian. He will act as a show runner and direct at least four episodes. Other executive producers are Mark Verheiden, co-producer of Falling Skies, horror movie champion Eric Newman, as well as Michael Connolly, Lee Shipman and Dan Paige. The show is produced by Gaumont International Television.
Originally planned to be filmed in Pennsylvania, filming eventually moved to Port Perry in Ontario, Canada. Filming began in July 2012. Nathan Barr, composer for the True Blood series, will compose the music for the Hemlock Grove TV Show. Barr has worked with Eli Roth since Roth’s directorial debut on Cabin Fever (2002) and went onto compose for his first two Hostel movies.
Watch out for Helmlock Grove in early 2013, coming exclusively to Netflix. Episodes will be an hour long and be available in high definition.
Excited by the opportunity to explore this new medium of streaming television, apart from the untested medium, Roth will have few excuses not to create a smash hit. The first season of the Helmlock Grove TV series has been rumored to have a budget of US$45 million for a 13-episode season. That’s more than US$3 million an episode. This puts it alongside in the mega budget TV series like Game of Thrones, and way above most television series.
Joining Roth and McGreevy is veteran producer Deran Sarafian. He will act as a show runner and direct at least four episodes. Other executive producers are Mark Verheiden, co-producer of Falling Skies, horror movie champion Eric Newman, as well as Michael Connolly, Lee Shipman and Dan Paige. The show is produced by Gaumont International Television.
Originally planned to be filmed in Pennsylvania, filming eventually moved to Port Perry in Ontario, Canada. Filming began in July 2012. Nathan Barr, composer for the True Blood series, will compose the music for the Hemlock Grove TV Show. Barr has worked with Eli Roth since Roth’s directorial debut on Cabin Fever (2002) and went onto compose for his first two Hostel movies.
Watch out for Helmlock Grove in early 2013, coming exclusively to Netflix. Episodes will be an hour long and be available in high definition.
Hemlock Grove TV Series Cast
Amazon Eve ... (Shelley Godfrey)
Bill Skarsgard ... (Roman Godfrey)
Landon Liboiron ... (Peter Rumancek)
Penelope Mitchell ... (Letha Godfrey)
Freya Tingley ... (Christina Wendall)
Dougray Scott ... (Dr. Norman Godfrey)
Lili Taylor ... (Lynda Rumancek)
Kandyse McClure ... (Dr. Chausser)
Aaron Douglas ... (Sheriff Sworn)
Tiio Horn ... (Destina Rumaneck)
* because of the unprecedented gore level in the series, the nudity should be pretty restrained and mostly consigned to secondary characters. 48-years old Famke Janssen could surprise us but I doubt it.
The main focus of T-and-A should be on gorgeous Australian model-turn-actress Penelope Mitchell. She plays Letha Godfrey - a slutty nasty teen.
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'Fifty Shades of Grey' movie: New actress would 'love' Anastasia Steele casting
In latest “50 Shades” casting news, actress Lauren Watson recently revealed this week her interest in starring as Anastasia Steele in the upcoming film. According to “Books and Review” this Saturday, the talented star is simply “hooked” on the popular trilogy of novels, and would “definitely want to be considered” for a part.
Now while talk of casting for the dreamboat billionaire Christian Grey is often on many a reader’s mind, that of Anastasia Steele is not always as discussed among fans of EL James’ excellent series. Nonetheless, a variety of actresses have been mentioned for the role, though some have already avoided the rumors or denied the role completely.
Lauren Watson, “Books and Review” reports, is also a major fan herself of the steamy books. And there’s no doubt that an eventual actress to play the part of Anastasia Steele will have to be “intimately” in tune with what the character requires:
“Yes, I have read all the books! I bought them and read them all in the week! I was just hooked,” said Watson on “50 Shades.” “[Ana’s] definitely a role I would consider,” after being asked about a certain Miss Steele.
“I’m a big fan of Chace Crawford. He could play anyone, and it would certainly work for me! I also really like Matt Bomer’s look … Jessie Pavelka is another top casting candidate for me when I think of Christian Grey’s physical image.”
No doubt the actress may have a hard time ever hitting the movie set with the many female contenders already out for the role, but EL James’ inner goddess has said that she hasn’t chosen anyone for Anastasia Steele just yet, and a lesser-known actress may just fit the bill.
* It seems like Aussie day on my blog today. Here is another Australian gearing to make her mark in US. Sending out press bytes (through rep) of her intention to play the coveted role. The producers will be interested as well. Casting a newcomer especially a foreign talent eager to impress will makes it easier during filming of the racy scenes. The audition process should begin in a month or two.
Due West: Our Sex Journey 3D
@ Yat lo heung sai 3D
(Hong Kong)
A China 3D Digital Entertainment (in Hong Kong)/Dream Movie Australia (in Australia) release of a China 3D Digital Entertainment production. (International sales: China 3D Digital Distribution, Hong Kong.) Produced by Christopher Sun. Directed by Mark Wu. Screenplay, Lam Fung, Wu, based on the online story "Dongguan Wood" by Xiang Xi Murakami Haruki.
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Allison Williams: From 'Girls' to 'It' Girl?
From the beginning for Allison Williams, it was all about Oscar.
Allison Williams: From 'Girls' to 'It' Girl?
From the beginning for Allison Williams, it was all about Oscar.
“I told her [stylist Cristina Ehrlich] when I first met her that my dream — my dream — is to wear Oscar de la Renta. It is one of the only designers I feel like I’ve always known about, and I’ve always noticed. It is so elegant and beautiful,” she says. “He has been so good for so long, he knows exactly what he is doing.”
Two days before the Emmy Awards in her last fitting at Ehrlich’s Los Angeles studio, Allison had her Oscar. The dress was a strapless, emerald green gown from the designer’s resort collection with a structured top rimmed with peplum before cascading into a Champagne flute-shaped skirt.
Two days before the Emmy Awards in her last fitting at Ehrlich’s Los Angeles studio, Allison had her Oscar. The dress was a strapless, emerald green gown from the designer’s resort collection with a structured top rimmed with peplum before cascading into a Champagne flute-shaped skirt.
In the sunlit studio, the pairing of the girl — literally one of the girls on “Girls,” the HBO hit nominated in the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmys category — and the dress seemed effortless, but, in fact, was not. It was the culmination of a year of work to slowly build Williams’ fashion profile by introducing her to the style set at the Met ball and New York Fashion Week. The Emmys would be her major fashion coming-out party for the general public.
“We’ve had a very planned-out way that we wanted to see the evolution of her style come to fruition,” says Ehrlich. “It was always about getting to this moment where she would wear Oscar de la Renta.”
The plan has been to catapult Williams into the pantheon of American beauties the likes of Brooke Shields, whom she resembles, by having her wear predominantly American designers (Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan, for example).
“She’s a thinking actress in the company of Claire Danes or Natalie Portman,” Ehrlich says. “Her career is something she’s not winging,”
Admittedly Type A, Williams, the daughter of NBC News anchor Brian Williams, brought binders filled with pictures of celebrities wearing different outfits for her initial meeting with the stylist.
“I just have always been so interested in the way actors and actresses present themselves to the world because I think it is very important and it affects the way people see you as an actor and whether or not you still can [be] believable on the screen,” Williams says. “You have to be careful about making sure that there isn’t too much of you out there so you can still play characters.”
Admittedly Type A, Williams, the daughter of NBC News anchor Brian Williams, brought binders filled with pictures of celebrities wearing different outfits for her initial meeting with the stylist.
“I just have always been so interested in the way actors and actresses present themselves to the world because I think it is very important and it affects the way people see you as an actor and whether or not you still can [be] believable on the screen,” Williams says. “You have to be careful about making sure that there isn’t too much of you out there so you can still play characters.”
Although she thinks through each fashion decision, Williams insists she doesn’t have an agenda when choosing a dress.
“I’m drawn to what I’m drawn to,” she says, explaining, “I wear jeans and loafers everyday, mostly casual, but when I really turn it on, I like a classic, simple look.”
Williams’ approach could garner her a deal with a fashion house, but Williams said she hasn’t even “tiptoed” into the endorsement arena yet. Ehrlich believes it’s too soon.
“I’m drawn to what I’m drawn to,” she says, explaining, “I wear jeans and loafers everyday, mostly casual, but when I really turn it on, I like a classic, simple look.”
Williams’ approach could garner her a deal with a fashion house, but Williams said she hasn’t even “tiptoed” into the endorsement arena yet. Ehrlich believes it’s too soon.
“It is important with these girls that it doesn’t happen too quick. I would see her doing something with beauty, whether it is fragrance or Neutrogena or something that has to do with all-American skin care,” she says, adding, “Then, down the line with fashion, I could see her definitely doing that, maybe in a little bit of time. I think it is important not to explode the girls all too fast.”
* Skin and bones. That's what American showbiz does to women. Turning beautifully figured sweet-heart into shapeless freak. Reducing a previously confident self-assured lass like Allison into insecure full of doubts about her own body. Woman will always have self-image and body issues but Hollywood amplifies them to horrific level.
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Director Cheung Wing-ho sorry for hitting Jenny Lau
Cheung, infamous for his tetchy on-set behaviour, has finally said sorry to Jenny for apparently smacking her upside her head and slamming her against a wall, reducing her to tears—and it was all captured on video and uploaded on YouTube, though nobody knows by who.
Both of them went on Eileen Cha Xiu-yan's TV show The Scoop to make amends with an apology and a handshake. "I certainly have to improve my temper," Cheung confessed. "Maybe I was being too serious about work before this. I hereby apologise to everyone and hope that everything will be over soon."
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| Cheung Wing-ho and Jenny Lau shake hands and make up after he allegedly smacked her about on the set of their TV show. |
The off-screen drama that followed after an outburst that threatened to derail the career of TVB director Cheung Wing-ho, that rallied several actors to denounce him for his temper, that forced the station to come out in his defence and for the victim, actress Jenny Lau, to deny being physically hit during the filming of their TV series has come to an end.
Cheung, infamous for his tetchy on-set behaviour, has finally said sorry to Jenny for apparently smacking her upside her head and slamming her against a wall, reducing her to tears—and it was all captured on video and uploaded on YouTube, though nobody knows by who.
Both of them went on Eileen Cha Xiu-yan's TV show The Scoop to make amends with an apology and a handshake. "I certainly have to improve my temper," Cheung confessed. "Maybe I was being too serious about work before this. I hereby apologise to everyone and hope that everything will be over soon."
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| Jenny said she was crying in the video because she was scared of the frogs in the scene. |
The pressure mounted when Cheung's alleged drug past was dug up, and stories resurfaced about how he was sacked from Asia Television Limited because of his temper tantrums in the 1990s, and how his verbal abuse drove his actresses Charmaine Sheh and Yoyo Mung to tears.
Top TVB exec Catherina Tsang, believed to a relation of Cheung's, initially tried to explain away the Jenny incident, saying that the 30something director was showing the 24-year-old starlet how to react after she failed to nail a scene involving loan sharks and amphibians.
"I don't know why this is such a big deal," she said then. "The clip only showed part of the filming. I watched the clip and he's not abusing her. … Jenny continued working after that and I don't see her suffering from the incident. If this is called abuse, no director should teach an actor how to act next time," she said.
However, top TVB star Ada Choi called Cheung's actions "ridiculous and annoying", while multi-award-winning actor Anthony Wong also lashed out at Cheung for going too far.
"It's never professional to hurt someone," Anthony said. "I don't know where he learnt this from. Emotions play a crucial role in acting. How do you expect someone to act when she's scared? Does that mean you can set fire on an actor if you're shooting a fire scene?"
Yoyo Mung spoke of her shock and urged the station to take the issue seriously, and Charmaine Sheh said she wouldn't even comment on "someone of such low moral character" while encouraging Jenny in a text message to "not to give up her dreams" because "there are still many good directors around".
Former ATV star Chapman To went one step further and swore to kill any man if they ever did that to his wife, actress Krystal Tin. "Even if he's guiding Jenny, he should be patient and use a better approach," he said. "It's his job as a director and it's not right to turn physical."
Before all these repercussions, however, both Cheung and Jenny had denied that he had hit her. Jenny, a contestant in last year's Miss Hong Kong pageant, even called her director "a nice guy" and said she was crying in the videos because she was scared of the frogs in the scene.
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Adventures in the North Korean Film Industry
Former ATV star Chapman To went one step further and swore to kill any man if they ever did that to his wife, actress Krystal Tin. "Even if he's guiding Jenny, he should be patient and use a better approach," he said. "It's his job as a director and it's not right to turn physical."
Before all these repercussions, however, both Cheung and Jenny had denied that he had hit her. Jenny, a contestant in last year's Miss Hong Kong pageant, even called her director "a nice guy" and said she was crying in the videos because she was scared of the frogs in the scene.
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Adventures in the North Korean Film Industry
Kim Jong the Illest loved cinema, both pornographic and traditional. His masterplan involved diverting considerable amounts of humanitarian aid into making films that used big scary monsters to tell the good Korean people they weren't hungry, instead of spending all that crystal meth cash on actually feeding them.
Kim Jong-il also loved giving white guys a chance on the big screen, as long as they were up for playing the white devil, so it was inevitable that someone as fame-hungry as me would travel to the asshole of the earth just to have a crack a the whole "Socialist Movie Star" thing.
I boarded the plane to Pyongyang with simple dreams: to be scouted and find fame; to be given a Korean wife and an unlimited supply of raw octupus. I wanted to scale to the swirling heights of North Korean Hollywood.
Onboard, the cabin attendant served me a "meal" that looked like a braised piece of baby wrist, served up medium rare. Just how I like it. Not sure what the garnish was, but it smelled like tears.
I made it to Pyongyang in one piece. Kim Jong-il's son Kim Jong-un has spent his first nine months as Supreme Leader sending out press releases detailing his plans to build new aquariums with backflipping dolphins and explaining how he's going to retrofit the country's deathtrap amusement parks.
Here is the post-production facility for North Korea's cinematic dream factory. This dull grey box has been pumping out the humorless revolutionary epics and dull comedies made to service the party line since the country was founded in 1948. Kim Jong-il made over 600 visits to the movie studios during his lifetime. His father Kim Il-sung (who did a much better job of running a country) only visited a paltry 20 times. 
Life in North Korea is wholesome, just like this statue I got reprimanded for taking a photo of. The guards told me that taking pictures so close denied other tourists the chance to appreciate it.
This is a replica of an ancient Korean village. There was absolutely nothing going on in the North Korean film Mecca. But we did get a sweet tour of some of these permanent film sets they use when they're making massive historical blockbusters.
This is a set built to look like Seoul in the 1920s, when Korea was still occupied by fascist Japan. This was by far the most humilating period in both North and South Korea's history. But compared to what most of North Korea is like today [see photos below], it seemed pretty clean-cut and nice:
While lost in the midst of my juxtapositional fantasy, I became aware of something going on behind me:
A wedding! I turned around just in time to see a merry band of celebratants with fancy video cameras prancing through the park. Everyone seemed genuinely happy, not crushed under a grinding totalitarian bureacracy at all.
After strolling about for a while among the nostalgic Seoul street scenes, I headed back to plain North Korea. On my way out, I passed a film shoot—these four white devils were chasing a ghost with a skateboard.
While I had been noodling around soaking up the ambience, I had missed a historical epic being filmed right behind me. The shouty director kept waving his arm and instructing the actors to act "with the passion of a man driving his expensive car into wall knowing that he can walk away without a scratch."
I asked my guide what was going on. "You want to be in the movies?" He smirked. "No problem. Ten euros."
Why is it every time I try and ask a communist for a favor they charge me? I coughed up the money and was hooked up with a skirt and a hat.
The cameraman whipped away from the other two actors and focused the camera in on me, the new star of North Korean Hollywood. I mugged a bit for my adoring audience and the director said, "Yes, very good, very good! Ha ha! You would make a great king!" before things inevitably settled into a dull, awkward silence. I sighed, figuring I had better get back to writing for a living.
Later on, they tried to charge me another 40 euros for a copy of the footage they had shot. They'd edited the video of me into a sequence with a bunch of flashy North Korean graphics and pop tunes. I found out afterwards that this kind of incidental footage of foreigners acting like idiots ends up being used as anti-foreigner propaganda on state-run television. I guess I'll only know what happened to the footage of me after Kim Jong-un is gunned down in a bloody CIA coup and they open the vaults. Can't wait!
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