22nd May 2010 Event - 'The Legend Is Born Ip-Man' Movie Promotion

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Why would there suddenly be an event?? Well, I did not expected it too, until 22nd May 2010, around 12:30am. LOLS. I was chatting with Wai Wai on MSN regarding something else, totally nothing to do with this function and also chatting with Eunice(another friend from school). I was planning with Eunice to go to One Utama for a movie and then suddenly on the other window, Wai Wai told me that Bernice Liu will be coming for a function at One Utama on 22nd May. And I was like huh!? Really!!?? What a coincidence! And so I asked what event is that? And Wai Wai didn’t even know. LOL. She only knows Bernice will be there. So that’s when I have to do more research and found out she’ll be here for a movie promotion, [The Legend is Born-Ip Man]. This is not the Donnie Yen Ip-Man. And besides Bernice, other casts of the movie including Yuen Biu, Louis Cheung, Fan Siu Wong, Rose Chan and Dennis To Yu Hang will also be attending. Seems like this is a big event supported by the Malaysian government to promote Wing Chun (a form of Chinese martial art made prominent by Master Ip Man himself). Event starts at 3pm, thus bye to my movie plan and hello to another event! HAHA…very very last minute…reminds me of the Sherman and William function.

So I reached the event venue with my friend at around 1pm and not many people there yet actually. And also I have a feeling that not many people will know of the function as its not actually very heavily promoted. And considering this, Ip-Man 2 (Donnie Yen’s version) would probably outshine this version of Ip-Man. Its probably their technique to confuse the audience as a tool of promotion (to the organisers, this is an honest opinion from a blogger okay?) HAHA. Since its still so early, so we went for lunch. After lunch got back to event venue at around 2.30pm and waited. One of the reasons for not liking public events. HAHAHA..having to crowd with people and especially when you have little kids pushing beside you.

The casts arrived at around 3.30pm and I have to say, this must’ve been one of the most boring event I attended. HAHA. The gist of the event was mostly talking, talking and more talking. They played a little game on playing the Wing Chun kung fu, however it wasn’t much fun. Audience reaction was low too. Not much respond. HAHAHA. The only thing I enjoyed was listening to Louis Cheung singing a few verse of the theme song. Actually, I was wondering why is he there too? I think he did have a role in the movie, however he said that the main purpose for him to be here is the theme song, which I think he will be performing later in the evening during the gala dinner held at One World. For those wondering who is Louis, he is Kay Tse’s husband. He mainly composes songs, although he do have a few albums and he is also the host for TVB‘s ‘The Voice‘ together with Prudence Liew. So mostly throughout the event, it was picture time. I just shoot pictures over pictures…HAHAHA. I personally don’t like Bernice’s hair during the function. LOL. It looks weird!! So mainly throughout the event, they talked about the movie and their experiences while filming. So here is a video I took to share, and also some pictures!!

More pictures from the event please view this album:
http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj204/Ivy_ryc/The%20Legend%20Is%20Born%20Ip%20Man%20Movie%20Promo/

Password: ivycreations


So after that, Wai Wai sms-ed me and said they will be heading to One World hotel. So me and my friend Eunice went over there and met up with them. After chatting and talking, we suddenly saw Rose Chan and Louis Cheung walking into the lobby! So we walked over, and actually we didn’t really know Rose Chan, however we managed to get Louis’ attention and took photos with him. And also got him to sign autographs on the movie posters which me and Eunice got from the event earlier. As Wai Wai and the rest got their photos first, after singing, the security guard actually wanted to stop us from getting anymore pictures. However, Louis was really nice. He told the guard, “Its okay.” And the guard backed-off LOLS..And me and Eunice took a photo with him, and the funny thing was before he took the photo, his hairstylist actually helped him style the back of his hair…we were laughing after that because only the front of Louis’ hair will be visible from the picture right? And yet, the hairstylist was styling the back of his head. HAHA. After that, we thanked Louis and he left into One World Ballroom, probably to rehearse.

Here’s a picture of us getting autographs from Louis (thanks to Wai Wai):


Then after awhile, Rose and Louis came out again. Rose was just standing there but we all didn’t manage to utter anything out, because at that time, we didn’t know how to pronounce her name!! HAHAHA…so failed to ask anything from her. After walking back to lobby, somehow, we ended up deciding to go to Eastin Hotel where they are staying, So Okay, off we go to another place. LOLS.

We waited at Eastin Hotel and after awhile, we saw the Wing Chun Grand Master Ip-Chun. Ip-Chun is the eldest son of Ip-Man and he together with Bruce Lee was the person who spread the art of Wing Chun Kung Fu to the world. We went over and asked for autographs from him, and he was really okay with it! He could not be considered an artiste, but a martial art master suits him more. His student was following and when ’Sifu’ was signing I feel for him. He’s 85 years of age so he was having much trouble signing an autograph because he was shaking a lot. Then his student came and apologise to us and hope we wouldn’t mind it. Of course we didn’t!! We are happy enough he actually is willing to sign an autograph for us. His student told us, ’Sifu’ can perform Kung Fu, however signing autograph, that needs more effort. HAHA. After that, his student scribbled something on the poster, I guess its his autograph to prove the validity of the signature. Then we thanked them as they left. At about 6:30pm, Bernice came in to the lobby…I think she went for shopping and just returned. We wanted to ask for autographs or photos, however, we were blocked by the crew which stopped us. And so, we just saw Bernice walk pass up to the lift. So back to chatting, gossiping, bla bla while waiting for other artiste to come down.

The first to come down is Yuen Biu, looking all smart dressed in a coat and tie. I first spotted Yuen Biu and I was like telling the others, Hey! That’s Yuen Biu! And just continued sitting there for a few seconds until we realized, what are we doing sitting down!? Walk to him!! HAHAHA….So we walked to approach him, and typical, the crew said no pictures…and we were @&#@% in our hearts. Then we asked for autographs instead, and luckily they said autographs are allowed. So we got Yuen Biu to sign and he signed as if he’s writing calligraphy..hahaha…so I told him, “Wah hou leng.” (Nice signature) and he grinned. After done signing, he asked the crew, so how now? Where’s the car? And the crew said 7.30pm? And he looked into his watch and siad: “chat dim bun!!???gam, yam bui ye sin lar!” (7.30!? Then have a drink first!) So he walked off to the lobby café…. LOLS. Eunice and another friend wanted to try approach him for photo so they walked off and gave him sign languages asking for photos, however he pointed at the crew helplessly…LOLS.

Then we waited on and Louis Cheung came down. We rushed towards him and the security guards were pushing him forward. However, he stopped and told them he’ll take one picture. Then, one of my friend took one with him. Then, he got pushed away again, and he turned back and said, “ng hou yi si ar” (sorry about that)…so we nodded and then I shouted out to him, “nei hou ying ar” (you look very stylish!)…HAHAHA..and he smiled at that. LOLS. But indeed, he looked very stylish that night in a suit. HAHA. He somehow kinda reminds me of Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp’s character in Pirates of the Caribbean especially when he left a little beard for this function. I’m starting to feel Louis is so nice. He never refuse a picture with fans and even apologises. Very few artiste will do that. Then after that, Dennis To, Fan Siu Wong and Rose Chan came out and this time the guards were smart enough to use the opposite side so we didn’t have a chance to get an autograph or pictures from them. So who are we left with? Ms Liu of course. She came back at 630pm and everyone is waiting for her now in the car. So while waiting, suddenly one of us saw that Rose Chan was beside the road talking with a crew member. As I was a little frustrated by the crew members who kept blocking us, so I went forward and through the glass door window, I tried to catch her attention. The crew member which was talking to her saw me and asked Rose to look around. Then I gestured to her with my poster and pen, asking for an autograph. And Rose nodded and said Okay. So Yay, I asked the rest to follow me out. When I reach out the security guard started blocking me. I wanted to pass by but he stretch out his arms blocking me. I was like..WTH! I told him Rose said its okay for me to go! And he shook his head and said no! Then Rose saw me being blocked and she walked over and told the guard, “bei kui la!” (let her through). Then the guard walk aside and Rose came forward and took the poster from me and she saw the concierge counter and said, “li bin lar” (this way) so that she can sign on a solid surface. While she signed the first poster we then quietly asked her can we take a group picture with you? And Rose was like, “Ar…li goh ar? Yiu man kui dei wor…“ (this, have to ask them). So she asked the crew who was talking to her just now, “wei, kui dei man ho em ho yi ying cheung siong wor?” (hey, they asked if they could take pictures?). Then we quickly added in, a group picture and the crew also agreed, yes okay a group photo. So yay! We got to take a picture with her…HAHAHA. I’m glad that I took the guts to approach her personally haha. Seems like she’s kinda nice too. And she’s young. If I’m not mistaken she’s 17 years old. LOLS. We then thanked her and walked back into the lobby. Sometimes I wonder what are the security guys sooo afraid of? We are actually decent fans only asking for autographs/photos then we’ll just leave the artsite alone. Not as if we’ll harm them!!

We actually waited quite awhile more before Bernice came out. I think the crews were also waiting and about to the level of complaining on her lateness. We were also having the mindset that we won’t be able to get an autograph/picture because she’ll probably be rushing down. She finally came down around 8pm and true enough, she rushed out. We managed to shout her name Bernice!! And she turned around and said a hello and waved to us (Wai Wai didn‘t manage to shout her name because her mouth was filled with the cheesecake she was eating halfway when Bernice came out. HAHAHA). And once she got up the car the car rushed straight off to function. LOL!

Where we went next then?? Back to One Utama for dinner! HAHA. After dinner, we went to peek around One World hotel ballroom. I looked into the dinner function, and it seemed kinda boring LOLS. We did some shopping, well mostly Wai Wai and Aiko did…hahaha..then we went back to Eastin hotel. Not long, Louis Cheung came back. He’s the first to come back. And he naturally stopped when he went in the lobby allowing us to take pictures. The people around him which I am wondering who, was very kind they just stepped aside while Louis attended to us. They were probably from his record company. I would say Louis looked very tired after the event…HAHA. His face just looked sleepy and tired. It must’ve been a boring event for him. Maybe that’s why he came back early. LOL. Then after that when I was helping Wai Wai to take a picture, I joked to Louis, “Yeng zai, fan lei lar?” (Stylish/smart guy, youre back already?) HAHA…and again he smiled. LOLS. So after that I took a picture with him. Then he was about to walk when my friend Eunice asked, “May I?” and Louis was like, “Yeah, sure!” I was about to laugh out at that. HAHA. Then we thanked him and he started walking with his bunch of crew and one of us asked in Cantonese, “when will you be leaving?” He said, “tomorrow.” “what time?”…”Not sure..have to ask them…” Then I think they told him afternoon. So he said, “not sure of the time, but afternoon.” We then said ok and thanked him and waved bye to him and I added, “come more to Malaysia!” before he left.

After that, we waited on and not long, Bernice came back. We walked forward and when I reached her, she was talking with Peng (another friend) which I didn’t know about what. But she was waking fast pass us and I shouted if I could get an autograph from you? But I think she didn’t heard it. Candy (her manager) noticed though, however, she didn’t do anything to stop Bernice. Then after Bernice went up the elevator, we asked Peng what did Bernice said? And she said, Bernice said that the organisers do not allow photos to be taken throughout the functions. After hearing that, we were thinking, “what did Louis did just now then?” Was that a mere excuse or should we give her the benefits of the doubt? After that, next to return was Fan Siu Wong, Yuen Biu and Rose Chan. We didn’t bother Rose as she already did signed and took photos with us earlier, so we went to ask from Fan Siu Wong instead. At first he didn’t want to take any photos, so we took out the poster and asked him to sign and he said he’s okay with autographs. After that, while he’s signing, we asked if we could take a group picture? After thinking through, he said Okay, I’ll take a group photo. Then his hairstylist took the camera from Wai Wai and snapped the picture ‘very not sincerely’. Then he left and when we looked at the picture, it looked blur. HAIHZ. As to Yuen Biu, I didn’t saw him, however the rest said they saw him walked in and refused photos. After loitering around lobby area longer, I spotted Bernice. She came down again and was chatting with one of the crew. So me and Eunice went forward and Eunice asked if she could get an autograph. Then Bernice was okay with it and signed. While signing the second poster, I asked her in English, “Did you do any shopping?” and Bernice replied with her Canadian accent..LOL, “In the middle….we did a lot of interviews.”..then she was looking for her picture in the poster as it was dark, thus I pointed at her image and told her, “You’re here.” And she signed at the spot. While signing, someone tried to take photos, and Bernice was like, “em hou ying siong” (do not take photos). GEEZ!!! I wonder if it really is any big deal with a photo anyway? Then Peng asked her if she’ll be coming back tomorrow? And Bernice answered, “ngoh wooi fan, em hai ting yat fan” (I’ll be back, not tomorrow). And we were confused with her answer…I think she thought we asked if she’ll be coming back to hotel later. HAHA. Then after Bernice walked out and the thing that made us mad was that we saw her taking pictures with the crew members outside!! So what’s with you saying no pictures allowed throughout the function eh?? Rose and Fan Siu Wong also came down and they left for supper too. No pictures or anything because the security guard blocked anyone from approaching them. After they left, it could be considered end of event. Its already midnight by this time and Dennis To did not appear. Like what Eunice told me, he may have gone to visit his mum’s family since his mum is Malaysian or probably met up with the rest somewhere else.

Conclusion from the event: One of the most boring stage event and also Surprising! I did not expect Louis to be humble and nice when I first saw him on stage. Turns out he’s really nice and courteous. Thus, Don’t judge a book by its cover! Watching through the tv screen and experiencing it in a life one-to-one experience is a totally different thing! Sharing the signed poster I got from the event:


I left out this part above. We did took pictures with Master Ip Chun. He was sitting on the same sofa at the lobby with us. HAHA. And he's happy to take pictures with fans. Thanks to him!

P.S. I believe my elaboration is a good explanation for the reason of lack of photos for the bottom half of the event. Do excuse me for any spelling errors etc as I am posting this in the middle of the night!