Look for a Star
Encyclopedia
Look for a Star is a 2009
Hong Kong
romantic comedy film
that was produced and directed by Andrew Lau
. Inspired by the relationship between Stanley Ho
and his fourth wife, Angela Leong, the film stars Andy Lau
as a millionaire, who falls in love with a feisty casino dealer played by Shu Qi
. Look for a Star was shot at the MGM Grand in Macau
, and was released in Hong Kong on 26 January 2009.
overnight.
and Cantopop
singer and actor Andy Lau
. It is also the second film collaboration between Andy Lau and actress Shu Qi
. Both actors and the director worked together on the 2002 science fiction film The Wesley's Mysterious File
, although Andy Lau had expressed wanting to make a romantic comedy with Shu.
Look for a Star was distributed by Media Asia Entertainment Group
in Hong Kong and produced by Media Asia, Chinese film studio Huayi Brothers, and Andrew Lau's production company, Basic Pictures
. Shot under a budget of HK$
45 million, the film is reportedly based on the relationship between casino tycoon Stanley Ho
and his fourth wife, Angela Leong.
, best known for its spectacular Grande Praca swimming pool and deluxe villa suites. Other filming locations included Macau's Southern European architecture, including the Old Ladies House, the Guia Lighthouse and the Coloane village.
Hong Kong films of 2009
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 2009:.-2009:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 2009 at...
Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
that was produced and directed by Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau Wai-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer and filmmaker. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong Kar-wai. In the 1990s, Lau decided to have more creative freedom as a cinematographer by becoming a film...
. Inspired by the relationship between Stanley Ho
Stanley Ho
Stanley Ho, GBM, GLM, GBS, GML, OBE , also known as Ho Hung Sun, Stanley Ho Hung Sun, is an entrepreneur in Hong Kong and Macau. Ho is sometimes nicknamed "The King of Gambling", reflecting the government-granted monopoly he held of the Macau gambling industry for 40 years...
and his fourth wife, Angela Leong, the film stars Andy Lau
Andy Lau
Andy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...
as a millionaire, who falls in love with a feisty casino dealer played by Shu Qi
Shu Qi
Shu Qi is the stage name of a Taiwanese actress born Lin Li-Hui . Her stage name is occasionally romanized as Hsu Chi or Shu Kei . Her name is sometimes seen in the Western order as Qi Shu.-Early life:...
. Look for a Star was shot at the MGM Grand in Macau
MGM Grand Macau
MGM Macau is a 35-story, 600-room casino resort in Macau which officially opened on 18 December 2007. Under a sub concession approved by the Macau government, the project is owned and operated as a 50-50 joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Pansy Ho Chiu-king, daughter of Macau...
, and was released in Hong Kong on 26 January 2009.
Plot
It is love at first sight when Sam chances upon a feisty, fast-talking woman with the odd name of Milan (Shu Qi) at a Macau casino. But the catch is, she is a part-time poker dealer and a full-time cabaret dancer, “careers” not exactly congruent with his station in life. Fallen in love against all odds, this mismatched couple soon makes headline in all media which turn Milan into an It girlIt girl
"It girl" is a term for a young woman who possess the quality "It", absolute attraction.The early usage of the concept "it" in this meaning may be seen in a story by Rudyard Kipling: "It isn't beauty, so to speak, nor good talk necessarily. It's just 'It'."...
overnight.
Cast
- Andy LauAndy LauAndy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...
as Sam Ching - Shu QiShu QiShu Qi is the stage name of a Taiwanese actress born Lin Li-Hui . Her stage name is occasionally romanized as Hsu Chi or Shu Kei . Her name is sometimes seen in the Western order as Qi Shu.-Early life:...
as Milan Sit - Zhang HanyuZhang HanyuZhang Hanyu is a Chinese actor.-Biography:Zhang graduated from the Beijing Central Academy of Drama in 1988. He started his career by doing Chinese voice dubbing for films such as Shark Tale, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and Troy...
as Lin Jiu - Denise HoDenise HoDenise Ho Wan-See, also known as HOCC, is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer.-1996-2001:Denise Ho was born in Hong Kong and received her education in Canada and Diocesan Girls' Junior School, Hong Kong. She emigrated with her family to Montreal, Quebec at the age of 11. She studied and graduated High...
as Jo Kwok - Lam Ka-WahDominic LamDominic Lam Ka-Wah is an actor in Hong Kong, and a disc jockey in both Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.-Early Life in Hong Kong:...
as Tim Ma - George LamGeorge LamGeorge Lam Chi Cheung, also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor of Xinhui area origin. Lam studied at the Diocesan Boys' School in Kowloon, Hong Kong...
- Ella KoonElla KoonElla Koon Yun Na is Hong Kong-based Cantopop singer, actress and model. She is French by citizenship.-Biography:Ella Koon was born in the French Polynesian island of Tahiti, of Cantonese descent. She was raised in Hong Kong and attended high school in Birmingham, England...
as Chihuahua - Maria CorderoMaria CorderoMaria Cordero, MH is a singer, actress and chef from Macau. She also has her own cooking show, Maria's Kitchen on Cable TV. Her fans nicknamed her "Fat Mama" .- Biography :...
as Auntie - David ChiangDavid ChiangJohn Chiang is a Hong Kong actor. His Chinese name is Chiang Da-wei . He is sometimes credited as David Chiang.-Biography:...
as Uncle - Rebecca PanRebecca PanRebecca Pan Di-hua is a Chinese actress and singer.She was born in Shanghai on 29 December 1931. She moved to Hong Kong in 1949. Her singing career began in 1957...
- Pei Weiying as Fanny
- Po Lok-Tung as Yumi
Production
Look for a Star is a Hong Kong and Chinese co-production that marks the sixth collaboration between producer, director, and cinematographer Andrew LauAndrew Lau
Andrew Lau Wai-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer and filmmaker. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong Kar-wai. In the 1990s, Lau decided to have more creative freedom as a cinematographer by becoming a film...
and Cantopop
Cantopop
Cantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
singer and actor Andy Lau
Andy Lau
Andy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...
. It is also the second film collaboration between Andy Lau and actress Shu Qi
Shu Qi
Shu Qi is the stage name of a Taiwanese actress born Lin Li-Hui . Her stage name is occasionally romanized as Hsu Chi or Shu Kei . Her name is sometimes seen in the Western order as Qi Shu.-Early life:...
. Both actors and the director worked together on the 2002 science fiction film The Wesley's Mysterious File
The Wesley's Mysterious File
The Wesley's Mysterious File is a 2002 Hong Kong science fiction film directed by Andrew Lau starring Andy Lau, Shu Qi and Rosamund Kwan. Hong Kong director Wong Jing also makes a cameo appearance.-Summary:...
, although Andy Lau had expressed wanting to make a romantic comedy with Shu.
Look for a Star was distributed by Media Asia Entertainment Group
Media Asia Entertainment Group
Media Asia Entertainment Group , Media Asia Group , is a Hong Kong production company and distributor for films made in Hong Kong and throughout China. It is a subsidiary of Lai Sun Development Company Ltd.- History :...
in Hong Kong and produced by Media Asia, Chinese film studio Huayi Brothers, and Andrew Lau's production company, Basic Pictures
Basic Pictures
Basic Pictures Ltd. is a Hong Kong production company that was established in 2002 by filmmaker Andrew Lau. Since its establishment, the company has gone to produce film that include the Infernal Affairs trilogy and other films in which Lau serves as either director or producer.-Filmography:...
. Shot under a budget of HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
45 million, the film is reportedly based on the relationship between casino tycoon Stanley Ho
Stanley Ho
Stanley Ho, GBM, GLM, GBS, GML, OBE , also known as Ho Hung Sun, Stanley Ho Hung Sun, is an entrepreneur in Hong Kong and Macau. Ho is sometimes nicknamed "The King of Gambling", reflecting the government-granted monopoly he held of the Macau gambling industry for 40 years...
and his fourth wife, Angela Leong.
Filming
Look for a Star was supported by the Macau Government Tourist Office, and shot at the MGM Grand MacauMGM Grand Macau
MGM Macau is a 35-story, 600-room casino resort in Macau which officially opened on 18 December 2007. Under a sub concession approved by the Macau government, the project is owned and operated as a 50-50 joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Pansy Ho Chiu-king, daughter of Macau...
, best known for its spectacular Grande Praca swimming pool and deluxe villa suites. Other filming locations included Macau's Southern European architecture, including the Old Ladies House, the Guia Lighthouse and the Coloane village.
Awards and nominations
29th Hong Kong Film Awards29th Hong Kong Film Awards
Ceremony for the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards took place on 18 April 2010 . Here are the nominees listed taken from the official website.Wang Po Chieh's original nomination for the Best New Performer was withdrawn after he was confirmed to be an actor in the 2008 Taiwan film Winds of September...
- Nominated: Best Actress (Shu Qi)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress (Denise Ho)