I want to talk about the technology you used—How did you create the scene where the soccer ball turns into a flame and then a tiger (what kind of special effects were used)?
The company that worked on all the great CG was "Centro Digital Pictures Ltd.", they are the leading effects house in Hong Kong. Recently they did work on Zhang Yimou's Hero. They won Best Visual Effects with the film. We needed to show the devastating power of a flying soccer ball so it's only with CG can it be possible. Actually the "over the top" CG and kinetic soccer moves were an inspiration that came from a classic Japanese anime called "Captain Tsubasa". The animation was very big in Hong Kong over ten years ago when it sweeped kids of all ages and even adults loved it. It has a cult following in Europe as well. But it was only possible with pen and ink back then, now with the advent of CGI, it can really be done....(the idea of combining it with Kung Fu was in my head for many years but we had to wait for the CG technology to mature)

The scene is trying to emphasize the power of the ball and it's so powerful. So to go like a flash, like a rocket and end up becoming an animal is just a way to express this power. Of course, with the special effects involved that makes it funny and powerful.

Were you in the process when they were editing?
Yeah—everything done is under my idea. I don't think this soccer movie can be done like ten years ago without special effects.

What are some of the other techniques or tricks do you use while shooting —were there –
Wires? Yeah, of course. I think something—nowadays technology and also the traditional way to do the stunt, like a lot of wire and very good action director, Ching Siu-Tung, and the special effects—it's all a combination. He was the same action director as The Hero—you know, the Chinese martial art film.

Do you think people are drawn to the movie because of the martial arts aspect or because it's a comedy, because soccer is popular, or because of the love story—
All of that. You've given a perfect answer. Some people just like it because it's soccer and some people just like the comedy, and some people like special effect, and some people like the drama. I read a lot of critics in Asia that they think it is not only a comedy but also a drama. And you find I don't know how to say in English—I'm sorry—you just—after you watch a movie, then you—it's some kind of feeling— like a long time ago, after watching a movie, I was full of energy and I just wanted to go learn Kung-fu—you know I kicking and punching, you know. A feeling like that. It's something. Some kind of thing like when you explode. After you watch a movie and you're full of energy and you so confident of yourself and you think you can make it. That you can solve any problems.

Are there any films in particular that made you want to make comedies?
Yeah but I want you to understand that in Hong Kong, there is a lot of film and movies showing every night—after midnight, after hours and a lot of show, which is movie form the past. Like from the 60's or 70's. And there is a lot of great actors and a lot of great acting. And a lot of comedy and comedians from them. So—of course, in Hong Kong—everybody know who they are but I'm afraid that it's hard to tell you which one and which movie and who it is that I admire all the time—but I just want to tell you—I watch a lot old movies, traditional old movie.

Photo courtesy of Miramax.