Alan Tang
Encyclopedia
Alan Tang Kwong-Wing was a Hong Kong
film
actor
, producer
and director
.
His secondary education was at the New Method College. After graduation, he received a full scholarship to the University of Hong Kong Law School. He deferred his acceptance to pursue an acting career.
, Chen Chen, and Connie Chan Bo Jue
throughout the 1960s. Tang was often voted "Best Male Actor" by film magazines.
Tang found fame when he moved to Taiwan
during the 1970s, where he had made over 60 feature films. The films he made were often dramas and romances
, where he would often pair off with Brigette Lin Qing Xia
, in such films as Run Lover Run.
It was reported that Tang made a salary of HK$150,000 per picture because of his popularity. In one 1974 article, Tang said that he was working on six movies at the same time, however, he only worked on one film a day and that made it difficult for producers. In 1974, Tang not only starred in the Splendid Love in Winter with Chen Chen but he also produced it. Also that same year the film, Dynamite Brothers
was released. He co-starred with American Football hero Timothy Brown
and James Hong
. Tang continued his popular film career in both Hong Kong and Taiwan in the late 1970's. In 1977, Tang starred in director John Lo Mar's romance movie Impetuous Fire with up-and-coming teenage star Candice Yu, later the first wife of Chow Yun-Fat. The movie was primarily shot in Macau which opened up Tang's business ventures there. Candice Yu, seventeen at the time, became the youngest actress to appear as Tang's leading lady.
Later in 1977, he formed the production company
, The Wing-Scope Company.
With Tang working in Taiwan, and his girlfriend at the time (Janet Yim) in Hong Kong
, the pair had occasional difficulties especially since the press reported their every move. Tang and Janet, however, remained together, in spite of living under constant scrutiny.
In 1987, Tang established another production company, In-Gear Film Production Co., Ltd.
, working alongside his brother, producer/presenter Rover Tang, and continued to produce and act in films, establishing himself as an action star. He appeared in a number of films—generally of the triad genre—such as Flaming Brothers, Gangland Odyssey, Return Engagement, Gun N' Rose and The Black Panther Warriors. He has also produced two films directed by Wong Kar-wai
--As Tears Go By and Days of Being Wild
.
became a scriptwriter/director at Wing-Scope and In-Gear. He had written the scripts for the films, Return Engagement and Flaming Brothers which both starred Tang.
Wong's current nostalgic artsy style took shape during his apprenticeship with Tang, who invested in the first movie Wong directed, As Tears Go By. Wong's career took off when he directed the film Days of Being Wild in 1990, despite Tang losing millions of invested dollars.
Tang was the godfather of Joyce Cheng
and close friend of late actress Lydia Shum
(mother to Cheng). Tang is famous for his angry remarks to the absence of Adam Cheng
in and around the time Shum was dying. Cheng is the ex-husband of Shum and father of Joyce.
On 29 March 2011, Tang died in his home in Mong Kok
at around 9pm from a stroke
.
Hong Kong people
Hong Kong people refer to people who originate from Hong Kong. The term has no legal definition in Hong Kong. Rather, terms such as Hong Kong permanent resident and Hong Kong resident are used...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Biography
Tang was born in Shunde, Guangdong, China, He is the youngest of four children, having two older brothers and one older sister. His first starring role was actually at age 16 in the 1963 film The Student Prince, a role he had gotten after some school friends showed his picture to the people making a movie at their secondary school. His role in this early movie earned him the nickname of "The Student Prince."His secondary education was at the New Method College. After graduation, he received a full scholarship to the University of Hong Kong Law School. He deferred his acceptance to pursue an acting career.
Career
Upon graduation from secondary school, Tang acted in Hong Kong youth films starring Josephine Hsiao Fang-fangJosephine Siao
Josephine Siao Fong-Fong MBE is a Hong Kong movie star who became popular as a child actress and continued her success as a mature actress, winning numerous awards including Best Actress at the 1995 Berlin Film Festival...
, Chen Chen, and Connie Chan Bo Jue
Connie Chan Po-chu
Connie Chan Po-chu was born in 1946 to impoverished parents, one of at least nine siblings, in Guangdong, China. To increase their children's chances of survival, Chan's birth parents gave away some of their youngest to other families. As a result, Chan was adopted by Chan Fei-nung and his wife,...
throughout the 1960s. Tang was often voted "Best Male Actor" by film magazines.
Tang found fame when he moved to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
during the 1970s, where he had made over 60 feature films. The films he made were often dramas and romances
Romances
Romances is the fifteenth studio album by Mexican singer Luis Miguel, released on August 12, 1997, by Warner Music Latina. It is the third album of the Romance series, in which Miguel covers Latin songs from 1940 to 1978...
, where he would often pair off with Brigette Lin Qing Xia
Brigitte Lin
Brigitte Lin or Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia is a Taiwanese actress. She was a popular actress, regarded as an icon of Chinese cinema, who acted in both Taiwanese and Hong Kong movies...
, in such films as Run Lover Run.
It was reported that Tang made a salary of HK$150,000 per picture because of his popularity. In one 1974 article, Tang said that he was working on six movies at the same time, however, he only worked on one film a day and that made it difficult for producers. In 1974, Tang not only starred in the Splendid Love in Winter with Chen Chen but he also produced it. Also that same year the film, Dynamite Brothers
Dynamite Brothers
Dynamite Brothers, also known by its alternate title East Meets Watts, is a 1974 martial arts and blaxploitation film.It was filmed on location in Watts, Los Angeles, and San Francisco...
was released. He co-starred with American Football hero Timothy Brown
Timothy Brown (actor)
Thomas Allen Brown is a former professional American football player and actor.-Early life:Brown was born in Knightstown, Indiana...
and James Hong
James Hong
James Hong is an American actor and former president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists . A prolific acting veteran, Hong's career spans over 50 years and includes more than 350 roles in film, television, and video games.-Early life:Hong was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His...
. Tang continued his popular film career in both Hong Kong and Taiwan in the late 1970's. In 1977, Tang starred in director John Lo Mar's romance movie Impetuous Fire with up-and-coming teenage star Candice Yu, later the first wife of Chow Yun-Fat. The movie was primarily shot in Macau which opened up Tang's business ventures there. Candice Yu, seventeen at the time, became the youngest actress to appear as Tang's leading lady.
Later in 1977, he formed the production company
Production company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...
, The Wing-Scope Company.
With Tang working in Taiwan, and his girlfriend at the time (Janet Yim) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the pair had occasional difficulties especially since the press reported their every move. Tang and Janet, however, remained together, in spite of living under constant scrutiny.
In 1987, Tang established another production company, In-Gear Film Production Co., Ltd.
In-Gear Film Production Co., Ltd.
In-Gear Film Production Co., Ltd., or In-Gear Film, was a Hong Kong production company that was established by actor/film producer Alan Tang in 1987....
, working alongside his brother, producer/presenter Rover Tang, and continued to produce and act in films, establishing himself as an action star. He appeared in a number of films—generally of the triad genre—such as Flaming Brothers, Gangland Odyssey, Return Engagement, Gun N' Rose and The Black Panther Warriors. He has also produced two films directed by Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai BBS is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized, emotionally resonant work, including Days of Being Wild , Ashes of Time , Chungking Express , Fallen Angels , Happy Together and 2046...
--As Tears Go By and Days of Being Wild
Days of Being Wild
Days of Being Wild is a 1990 Hong Kong film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film stars some of the best-known actors and actresses in Hong Kong, including Leslie Cheung, Carina Lau, Maggie Cheung, Jacky Cheung and Andy Lau. Tony Leung Chiu Wai also appears in a silent cameo role lasting several...
.
Working with Wong Kar-wai
In the mid-1980s, Wong Kar-waiWong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai BBS is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized, emotionally resonant work, including Days of Being Wild , Ashes of Time , Chungking Express , Fallen Angels , Happy Together and 2046...
became a scriptwriter/director at Wing-Scope and In-Gear. He had written the scripts for the films, Return Engagement and Flaming Brothers which both starred Tang.
Wong's current nostalgic artsy style took shape during his apprenticeship with Tang, who invested in the first movie Wong directed, As Tears Go By. Wong's career took off when he directed the film Days of Being Wild in 1990, despite Tang losing millions of invested dollars.
Today
Tang has long since left the H.K. movie scene yet still remains respected by his peers in the entertainment industry. Following his retirement, Media Asia Group had gained rights to release his In-Gear film titles on DVD. Throughout the 1990s, Tang pursued a second career in the restaurant business. Additionally, he is an active philanthropist in Hong Kong and mainland China as both an individual and an involved Rotarian.Tang was the godfather of Joyce Cheng
Joyce Cheng
Joyce Cheng Yan-yee with family root in Taishan is a Hong Kong singer, writer, actress and performer. She is the daughter of Hong Kong comedian Lydia Shum and actor Adam Cheng....
and close friend of late actress Lydia Shum
Lydia Shum
Lydia Shum Din-Ha, also known as Lydia Sum , was a Hong Kong comedienne, MC, and actress known for her portly figure, signature dark rimmed glasses and bouffant hairstyle. She was affectionately known to peers and fans as Fei-fei...
(mother to Cheng). Tang is famous for his angry remarks to the absence of Adam Cheng
Adam Cheng
Adam Cheng Siu-chow is a Hong Kong TVB actor and Cantopop singer.-Career:Cheng started his career in the 1970s, where he gained a reputation for playing the lead roles in TVB Wuxia drama series based on the works of Louis Cha and Gu Long, such as The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and Chor Lau Heung...
in and around the time Shum was dying. Cheng is the ex-husband of Shum and father of Joyce.
On 29 March 2011, Tang died in his home in Mong Kok
Mong Kok
Mong Kok , less often known as Argyle , is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong District on Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong...
at around 9pm from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.