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Stephen ChowActor
Date of Birth: 22.06.1962
Country:  Thailand |
Content:
- Stephen Chow's Biography
- Early Career
- Breakthrough
- Challenges and Success
- Success of "Shaolin Soccer"
- Future in Hollywood
Stephen Chow's Biography
Actor Stephen Chow is the brightest star in recent times in Hong Kong cinema. An actor, director, screenwriter, and producer, he is known outside of Hong Kong for his collaborations with Jackie Chan, so the incredible success of "Shaolin Soccer," his most successful film to date, is entirely deserved. With the facial expressions of Jim Carrey, energy, and great talent, he has become a star of Asian cinema. Chow's family had no connection to show business. He was born as Sing Chi on June 22, 1962 - the Year of the Dragon. He grew up as the only boy in the family (with one older sister and two younger ones) and, like any Hong Kong child, idolized Bruce Lee and practiced martial arts. He spent all his pocket money on posters of his idol, which adorned his entire room. His parents took a long time to get used to the fact that their son would not become an engineer.
Early Career
Dreaming of replicating the success of his idol, Bruce Lee, Chow tried to get a job at the TVB television company after graduating from college in 1982, but he was not accepted. However, with the help of friends, he enrolled in an acting school owned by the same television company. And within a year, he signed his first contract, becoming a breakthrough in the world of showbiz and film. For four years, Stephen Chow hosted the children's show "430 Spaceships," which was highly successful.
Breakthrough
In 1987, he finally played his first dramatic role in the TV series "The Price of Growing Up" - a supporting role. At the same time, Chow "tasted the Hong Kong film industry," starring in the movie "Final Justice." He received the "Taiwan Golden Horse Award" for this role, which was the award for the best supporting role. This award oriented him towards roles in dramas and action films, although he also applied his comedic talent, starring with Jackie Chan in the film "All's Well, Ends Well." In 1990, he got his first lead role in the film "All for the Winner," which turned out to be a box office hit. His popularity began to grow, and starting from that year, he actively appeared in films, receiving numerous awards every year. Stephen Chow's status as a star was firmly established by the end of the 90s, and he began to appear in Jackie Chan's films as an invited guest star.
Challenges and Success
However, despite this, Chow's career was not as smooth as it may seem. The films in which he acted and directed from 1997 to 1999 failed at the box office. Perhaps this happened because his fans had too high expectations of him - his popularity on the Internet led to numerous unofficial fan sites, and his name became truly cultic for his fans. The two-year hiatus after "King of Comedy" caused concern among his fans, and some even thought he had permanently left the film industry. As it turned out, all the worries were in vain - Chow's break in work was nothing more than the calm before the storm. And this storm came when "Shaolin Soccer" was released in Hong Kong screens in 2001.
Success of "Shaolin Soccer"
This film became an absolute hit in the history of Hong Kong, earning over 60 million Hong Kong dollars. The film received all imaginable and unimaginable awards at Hong Kong film festivals (Chow swept all the prizes, such as "Best Director," "Best Young Director," and "Best Director of All Time"). What makes this film so remarkable, instantly becoming a cult in its home country and the highest-grossing film of all time, is that millions of comic books based on the film were immediately released. It earned three million at the box office in Japan, second only to "Spider-Man." It is a true Asian miracle, just like the director himself. It is a hilarious mix of stunning special effects, truly original humor, Indian passions, and Asian values. What could be cooler than that? And most importantly, the film conveys such a touching and naive view of the world: a belief in the magical power of the spirit, in flying people, and the supernatural power of a soccer ball. For Stephen Chow, all of this is serious, even though it may be difficult for us to understand. Needless to say, he is currently working on a sequel. In the end, this film not only elevated Chow to the throne of the king of Hong Kong cinema, but also became a true springboard for him, if we consider Hollywood hills.
