Huang Xiaoming Talks Injuries and Working with Chow Yun Fat

“I have no regrets, and if the world does come to an end in 2012, I will be unafraid,” said Huang Xiaoming (黄晓明). “I am very satisfied with what I have achieved so far. There are some twists and turns, and some ups and downs, but I think my life has been perfect.”
Huang Xiaoming is currently leading the 2012 winter season with the release of two epic Chinese blockbusters, but where is the actor? His costars have all come forward one by one to promote the film in the past several weeks, but the only promotional event that Xiaoming could attend was The Last Tycoon <大上海> premiere in Shanghai earlier last week.
On November 19, Xiaoming suffered a serious leg fracture while on the film set of The Bride With White Hair <白发魔女传之明月天国>. He will not able to return to work until early January 2013.
“It was a scene where I supposed to fly across a bridge,” said Xiaoming as he recalled his accident. “I kicked up to the air, stepped on someone’s shoulder, and then flew myself to the other side of the bridge. Just that simple flying scene took 33 retakes. Luckily, I did not fall until I was on the side of the bridge; if not, I would have fallen at least ten meters. That would not be fun! When I fell, I landed on my leg. I heard a loud ‘crack’ sound, and I felt as if my leg was being ripped apart. At that time, I knew I broke my leg, and the first reaction was: I cannot film anymore.”
Xiaoming laughed, “I was also struggling with a way to tell my mother about the accident. When I was filming for The Dragon’s Note <龙票>, I got in a car accident. My mother didn’t know about it until she read the news. I don’t think I’ll be able to hide it from her this time.”
Xiaoming estimated that he would be able to return to work by early January 2013. “It would be hard filming a movie in a wheelchair,” Xiaoming said. “We plan to film all the scenes with my upper body first. It’s a pity. Originally, I would have a lot of action scenes in the movie. I haven’t done a movie with this much action in a while, and I was very excited. On the day I got injured, I was doing my first action scene for the movie. Now, there is no choice but to change the script!”
Many of Xiaoming’s friends told him that his injury was fate. Xiaoming has overworked himself in the past 10 years – going through four car accidents and numerous other on-set injuries – and maybe it is finally time for Xiaoming to take a long, much needed rest.
“Recently, I have been thinking a lot about my past and my future. I thought a lot about the mistakes I made in the past. I also thought about my romantic future!” Xiaoming added with a laugh. “But yes… I am very, very exhausted. I think it is time for me to rest.”
Working with Fat Gor
“He is wonderful to work with!” exclaimed Xiaoming when discussing about his role and chemistry with Chow Yun Fat (周潤發) in The Last Tycoon. “He has always been my idol! Chow Yun Fat hasn’t changed much all these years!”
Xiaoming portrayed Chow Yun Fat’s best-known role, Hui Man Keung, in the 2007 mainland Chinese television adaptation of 1980’s The Bund <上海灘>. Xiaoming revealed that Chow Yun Fat offered a lot of suggestions for the adaptation. “He wouldn’t let me do all the bad things, such as smoking! He took care of me very well, but I was still very nervous. I didn’t want to completely imitate his work in The Bund. When I finished filming, I didn’t dare to see what Fat Gor had to day. I was afraid that I didn’t do well enough.”
Xiaoming was very happy to be able to work with Chow Yun Fat again for The Last Tycoon. The film drew the two actors closer, and now Xiaoming refers to Chow Yun Fat as his teacher.
“When I hurt my leg, teacher called me and said ‘Who hurt my apprentice? I will avenge for you!’ He is looking after me!”