Charles Heung
Encyclopedia
Charles Heung Wah-Keung is a Hong Kong
actor
-turned-film producer
and presenter
. As founder of Win's Entertainment in the 1980s and China Star Entertainment Group
in the 1990s, he has helped established the careers of various cinematic icons in Hong Kong that include Stephen Chow
, Chow Yun-fat
, Johnnie To
, Jet Li
and Andy Lau
among countless others.
, the actress, who is remembered today primarily because of the "mysterious" death of Bruce Lee
in her apartment. The marriage, however did not last, and Charles later married Tiffany Chen
, in the early 1980s.
Charles is the older brother of Jimmy Heung
, who later became his partner in the formation of Win's Entertainment. The partnership between the two ended in 1992.
s) in Taiwan during the 1970s, before later becoming a producer. In 1984, he and his brother, Jimmy Heung, formed Win's Entertainment Ltd., which, beside Golden Harvest
, became one of the most successful film studios in Hong Kong. Charles was quoted for saying that, "Every film is a battle" when asked why he named the production company Win's.
Heung became a producer and a presenter for films, but he had also gotten fame from acting in supporting roles during the 1990s, with his best known role being as Lung Wu, the God of Gamblers' bodyguard in God of Gamblers
and its numerous sequels and spin-offs. He has also appeared in others films, making a cameo appearance in The Prince of Temple Street and co-starring in Casino Raiders, which was co-directed by his brother, Jimmy. In 1993, he received a Hong Kong Film Award
nomination for his supporting role in Arrest the Restless.
In 1992, Heung formed China Star Entertainment Group
and became the studio's chairman and CEO, with his wife, Tiffany Chen, serving as vice chairman and administrative producer. As a producer, Heung has highlighted a majority of Hong Kong's biggest cinematic icons, including Jet Li, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng
, Cecilia Cheung
, Simon Yam
, and Lau Ching-Wan
. This includes filmmakers, such as Johnnie To
, Wai Ka-Fai
, Wong Jing
, Herman Yau
and Dennis Law
.
In 1999, Heung established One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd.
, a subsidiary for China Star. His initial plan for the company was to make at least 100 films within three years
Heung plans to continuing producing and presenting films, now aiming for big-budgeted projects. Following the partnership split between himself and his brother, Heung closed down the Win's Entertainment studio in 2000, and continued to produce and distribute films under the China Star label.
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...
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...
-turned-film 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 presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
. As founder of Win's Entertainment in the 1980s and China Star Entertainment Group
China Star Entertainment Group
China Star Entertainment Group is a Hong Kong film production company and film distributor. It was established in 1992 by film producer Charles Heung, and has been known as a huge distributor and film producer of films made mostly in Cantonese dialect....
in the 1990s, he has helped established the careers of various cinematic icons in Hong Kong that include Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow Sing-Chi is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, screenwriter, film director and producer.- Professional career :Stephen Chow began as a temporary actor for TVB. He entered TVB in early 1980s, and was trained there, although he had few opportunities to appear in films. Chow graduated from...
, Chow Yun-fat
Chow Yun-Fat
Chow Yun-fat, SBS is an actor from Hong Kong. He is best known in Asia for his collaboration with filmmaker John Woo in heroic bloodshed genre films A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled; and to the West for his role as Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
, Johnnie To
Johnnie To
Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas...
, Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
and 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...
among countless others.
Background
In the 1970s, Charles subsequently married Betty TingBetty Ting
Betty Ting Pei is a Taiwanese actress who joined Shaw Brothers in 1967. Despite acting in more than 30 movies, nowadays she is known because of the mysterious and controversial death of Bruce Lee in her apartment.-Career:...
, the actress, who is remembered today primarily because of the "mysterious" death of Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
in her apartment. The marriage, however did not last, and Charles later married Tiffany Chen
Tiffany Chen
Tiffany Chen Ming-Yin is a Hong Kong administrative producer for films made by China Star Entertainment Group. Chen has been named one of The Hollywood Reporter's international Women in Entertainment. Women in Entertainment is an annual list of 100 women power players in Hollywood as well as...
, in the early 1980s.
Charles is the older brother of Jimmy Heung
Jimmy Heung
Jimmy Heung Wah-Sing is a former Hong Kong film producer, director, and presenter. He is the younger brother of film producer/presenter Charles Heung.-Career:...
, who later became his partner in the formation of Win's Entertainment. The partnership between the two ended in 1992.
Career
Heung started off as an actor making films (mostly martial arts filmMartial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
s) in Taiwan during the 1970s, before later becoming a producer. In 1984, he and his brother, Jimmy Heung, formed Win's Entertainment Ltd., which, beside Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest is a film production, distribution, and exhibition company based in Hong Kong. It played a major role in becoming the first Chinese film company to successfully enter the western market for an extended period of time, especially with the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan...
, became one of the most successful film studios in Hong Kong. Charles was quoted for saying that, "Every film is a battle" when asked why he named the production company Win's.
Heung became a producer and a presenter for films, but he had also gotten fame from acting in supporting roles during the 1990s, with his best known role being as Lung Wu, the God of Gamblers' bodyguard in God of Gamblers
God of Gamblers
God of Gamblers is a 1989 Hong Kong action comedy-drama film written and directed by Wong Jing, and featuring an ensemble cast.- Synopsis :Chow Yun-fat plays Ko Chun, an extremely talented and well known gambler...
and its numerous sequels and spin-offs. He has also appeared in others films, making a cameo appearance in The Prince of Temple Street and co-starring in Casino Raiders, which was co-directed by his brother, Jimmy. In 1993, he received a Hong Kong Film Award
Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
nomination for his supporting role in Arrest the Restless.
In 1992, Heung formed China Star Entertainment Group
China Star Entertainment Group
China Star Entertainment Group is a Hong Kong film production company and film distributor. It was established in 1992 by film producer Charles Heung, and has been known as a huge distributor and film producer of films made mostly in Cantonese dialect....
and became the studio's chairman and CEO, with his wife, Tiffany Chen, serving as vice chairman and administrative producer. As a producer, Heung has highlighted a majority of Hong Kong's biggest cinematic icons, including Jet Li, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng
Sammi Cheng
Sammi Cheng Sau-Man is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Having enjoyed much success in the Hong Kong music industry, Sammi has been known as a diva and has been one of the most successful female singer in Hong Kong since the 1990s. Her albums have sold more than 25 million copies through...
, Cecilia Cheung
Cecilia Cheung
Cecilia Cheung Pak-Chi is a Hong Kong actress and cantopop singer. She is the ex-wife of Nicholas Tse, thus being the daughter-in-law of Patrick Tse and Deborah Lee. She and Nicholas have two sons, Lucas and Quintus Tse...
, Simon Yam
Simon Yam
Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
, and Lau Ching-Wan
Lau Ching-Wan
Sean Lau Ching-Wan is a Hong Kong Film Award–winning and Golden Bauhinia Award–winning film and former television actor based in Hong Kong.Lau was born in Hong Kong in 1964. He joined the TVB acting classes in 1983 and made his first appearance on TV the following year with TV drama Draw Out the...
. This includes filmmakers, such as Johnnie To
Johnnie To
Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas...
, Wai Ka-Fai
Wai Ka-Fai
Wai Ka-Fai is a Hong Kong writer, filmmaker, producer and former TV director and producer.Wai is best known for his frequent collaborations with Johnnie To, another former TV turned film director and producer. In 1996, they formed Milkyway Image, which is now one of the most successful independent...
, Wong Jing
Wong Jing
Wong Jing is a Hong Kong film director, producer, actor, presenter, and screenwriter. A prolific filmmaker possessed of strong instincts for crowd-pleasing and publicity, he is often cited as the most consistently successful filmmaker , in commercial terms, in the Hong Kong cinema of the last...
, Herman Yau
Herman Yau
Herman Yau Lai-To , born 1961 in Hong Kong is a film director, actor, cinematographer, scriptwriter and film producer.-Background:A Chiuchow by origin, Yau studied film at The Department of Communications, Hong Kong Baptist College from 1981 to 1984 where he spent much of his early days hanging out...
and Dennis Law
Dennis Law Sau-Yiu
Dennis Law Sau-yiu is a Hong Kong film producer, screenwriter and director. He is the former chairman and executive director of Milkyway Image, and a founder of its subsidiary company Point of View Movie Production Co. Ltd...
.
In 1999, Heung established One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd.
One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd.
One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd. is a Hong Kong film production company. It is a subsidiary for Hong Kong film distributor China Star Entertainment Group. The company was formed by Charles Heung in 1999.-Company:...
, a subsidiary for China Star. His initial plan for the company was to make at least 100 films within three years
Heung plans to continuing producing and presenting films, now aiming for big-budgeted projects. Following the partnership split between himself and his brother, Heung closed down the Win's Entertainment studio in 2000, and continued to produce and distribute films under the China Star label.
External links
- China Star Entertainment Website
- The H.K. Actor Index
- Charles Heung Wah-Keung: Filmography/Biography
- One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd. (founders and filmography)
- China Star Entertainment Group (founders and filmography)
- Signs of New Life at AsiaWeek.com
- Kaiji Shakedown: CHINA STAR CLOSING ITS DOORS?