Hong Kong star Gigi Leung led the cast of Reversing the First Half (tentative translation) at its premiere last night (December 19), reflecting on the physical demands of filming, cultural hurdles faced in unauthorized song usage, and her upcoming role as a major reality show judge. Alongside co-stars including Kaki Sham, Lau Man-lung, and Joey Leung, Leung provided insight into balancing cinematic challenges with the professional growth of youth actors, while addressing setbacks concerning the film’s promotional activities.
Behind the Scenes: Dedication and Setbacks
Leung detailed a particularly challenging sequence in the new sports drama involving a football directly striking the back of her head. In a measure of professional dedication, she admitted to requesting the co-star kick the ball harder to ensure the shot was completed in a single take. Despite her efforts, the scene required two retakes.
Downplaying the impact, Leung characterized the incident as minor, emphasizing the more grueling environment faced by the younger performers. “It was just a small thing,” she explained, noting that the child actors endured long hours under the intense heat, leaving them all visibly tanned. She commended their preparation and commitment, observing that their on-set performance improved significantly throughout the production.
A particularly resonant moment for Leung was observing the initial shyness of newcomer Chow Chi-yuet, who is also a professional footballer. The experience brought Leung back to the start of her own storied career, specifically recalling her collaboration with cinematic legend Andy Lau. “I was so timid back then; I didn’t dare look directly into [Lau’s] eyes, fearing I’d be ‘electrocuted,’ and I felt so anxious,” she shared, highlighting the universal experience of professional intimidation.
Copyright Dispute Halts Iconic Theme Song Release
The film has faced an unforeseen promotional snag involving an attempted cover of the classic Japanese anime theme song Slam Dunk’s Cantonese version, originally performed by Dicky Cheung. The cast successfully recorded a new rendition for the movie’s promotion. However, plans for its release were scrapped after the Japanese rights holder denied authorization, citing discrepancies between the new lyrics and the original meaning.
Leung expressed deep disappointment over the setback, though she stressed the importance of respecting the copyright owners’ decision. “I genuinely feel it’s a shame,” she admitted, but added, “Life is like this sometimes; you can prepare everything perfectly, and it still might not come to fruition.”
She addressed online speculation questioning why the original version was authorized while their cover was not. “I also found it strange, but we must respect all decisions,” Leung asserted. Embracing the challenge proactively, she stated the team would simply increase “meet-the-audience” events (known as xie piao activities) to compensate for the lost soundtrack promotional tool.
Co-star Reflects on Fatherhood and Future
Co-star Lau Man-lung, who plays an affluent but flawed father in the film, spoke about his experience playing a paternal role. He found working with children uncomplicated, noting it offered a taste of fatherhood. Lau described his character as often making mistakes, resulting in scolding from both his own father and his on-screen son, allowing him many moments of unscripted improvisation.
When asked if the role inspired him to start his own family, Lau acknowledged the idea but emphasized the profound commitment involved. He noted that raising children is not merely a financial or physical strain but requires long-term planning for their lives. Currently still “searching for direction,” he feels the emotional weight of raising a family would be too heavy at this stage. Separately, Lau revealed he was unable to participate in the theme song recording due to losing his voice from illness, adding to his regret over its cancellation.
Leung confirmed her upcoming commitments, which include a December visit to family in Spain, followed by more promotional events. She also revealed her debut as a major reality competition judge for King Maker VI Grand Final, confirming she will review all contestants’ performance clips and use individual charisma as a key assessment metric, sitting alongside director Andrew Lau, Koo Tin-lok, and Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon.
