Stephen Chow’s Short List

Actor Stephen Chow is a Hong Kong screen legend, in a town that reveres the cinematic arts. From slapstick kung fu comedies such as Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle to the surprise CGI hit CJ7, he is an evergreen in what many see as a lagging industry. Here are some of the things that influence him.

Beginnings
The first movie I ever saw was The Battle of the Bulge. I was just a young kid. I remember coming away thinking what an amazing experience it was, and over time I came to regard cinematography as something mysterious, which only increased my desire to be involved in it.

Tai Chi
Tai Chi is, to me, the most graceful and poetic expression a person can have. It’s something that is part of the spirit of Hong Kong. In the morning, so many public spaces are taken up by hundreds of practitioners, slowly going through the movements. It was a big influence on me when I was learning my own martial-arts skills.

Hong Kong Heroes
[Martial-arts novelist] Louis Cha is someone I admire and respect a great deal. He has the ability, unlike anyone else I’ve read, to skillfully interweave fictional and historical events. And of course, Bruce Lee is another huge influence, because of his background and his great achievements. He represents Hong Kong as a unique place, this intersection of Western and Eastern cultures.

Animation
This is a medium that allows the realization of the human capacity for endless imagination. Things that are impossible in live-action movies are possible in animation. There are different directions to take, from that of Miyazaki, who is a traditionalist, to those of the American studios like Pixar and DreamWorks, where the distinction between live action and animation is becoming blurred.

— Reported by Euan McKirdy

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