Wai Ka-Fai
Encyclopedia
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 film
studios in Hong Kong. The films that the two have made together as directors and producers include Needing You..., Fat Choi Spirit
, Love on a Diet
, Help!!!, Love for All Seasons, Fulltime Killer, Turn Left, Turn Right
and Running on Karma
.
Two of his films were released in the US
theatrically: Fulltime Killer and Mad Detective
.
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...
writer, filmmaker, 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 former TV director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
.
Wai is best known for his frequent collaborations with 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...
, another former TV turned film director and producer. In 1996, they formed Milkyway Image, which is now one of the most successful independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
studios in Hong Kong. The films that the two have made together as directors and producers include Needing You..., Fat Choi Spirit
Fat Choi Spirit
Fat Choi Spirit is a 2002 Hong Kong comedy film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, and starring Andy Lau, Gigi Leung, Louis Koo, Cherrie In and Lau Ching-Wan....
, Love on a Diet
Love on a Diet
Love on a Diet is a 2001 Hong Kong romantic comedy film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, starring Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng.The movie reunites Lau and Cheng, who last paired up in 2000's Needing You......
, Help!!!, Love for All Seasons, Fulltime Killer, Turn Left, Turn Right
Turn Left, Turn Right
Turn Left, Turn Right is a 2003 joint Hong Kong-Singaporean romance film, filmed in Taipei. Produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, the film stars Takeshi Kaneshiro and Gigi Leung. The story is based on the book A Chance of Sunshine by Jimmy Liao, who makes a cameo appearance in the film...
and Running on Karma
Running on Karma
Running on Karma , also known as An Intelligent Muscle Man, is a 2003 Hong Kong film, produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai. It is ultimately a Buddhist parable about the nature of karma. There were some cuts in the Mainland China edition to meet the requirements for release...
.
Two of his films were released in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theatrically: Fulltime Killer and Mad Detective
Mad Detective
Mad Detective is a 2007 Hong Kong psychological crime thriller film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai. The film centers on a schizophrenic, former police inspector , who decides to come out of retirement to help a rookie cop solve a complex murder case, involving a missing...
.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1982 TV series) Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is a 1982 Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. The 50 episodes long series is divided into two parts, with their Chinese titles as 天龍八部之六脈神劍 and 天龍八部之虛竹傳奇 respectively.-Cast:*Bryan Leung... |
Writer |
| 1982 | Soldier of Fortune Soldier of Fortune Soldier of Fortune is another term for an adventurer or mercenary. It may also refer to:- Film :* Soldier of Fortune , a 1955 film starring Clark Gable, Susan Hayward, and Michael Rennie... |
Writer |
| 1983 | The Old Miao Myth | Writer |
| 1983 | The Return of the Condor Heroes The Return of the Condor Heroes (1983 TV series) The Return of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. It was first broadcast on TVB in 1983 in Hong Kong.-Cast:*Andy Lau as Yeung Kuo*Idy Chan as Siu-lung-noi*Bryan Leung as Kwok Ching... |
Writer |
| 1984 | The Duke of Mount Deer The Duke of Mount Deer (1984 TV series) The Duke of Mount Deer is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Deer and the Cauldron. It was first aired on TVB in 1984.-Cast:*Tony Leung as Wai Siu-bo*Andy Lau as Hong-hei Emperor*Carina Lau as Fong Yee... |
Writer |
| 1984 | Police Cadet '84 Police Cadet '84 Police Cadet '84 was a TV series which included such stars in TVB as Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, and notably, Carina Lau. The story centered on a couple of young "cadets" in the Police Academy. Tragedy, romance, conflicts, and intrigues were featured. It was immediately followed by a sequel... |
Writer |
| 1985 | The Young Wanderer | Writer |
| 1986 | The Feud of Two Brothers | Writer |
| 1988 | The Final Verdict The Final Verdict The Final Verdict is a syndicated radio program heard on radio stations throughout the United States. The daily program is presented by renowned attorney J. Coleman and covers legal topics such as divorce, real estate, working conditions, accidents, religion, marriage, and money... |
Writer |
| 1989 | Looking Back in Anger Looking Back In Anger Looking Back in Anger was a 1989 Chinese TV series and one of the most watched TVB series by Chinese people in Hong Kong and around the world. Many factors contributed to the success of this series... |
Producer |
| 1989 | War of the Dragon | Producer |
| 1990 | Heaven's Retribution | Producer |
| 1992 | The Greed of Man The Greed of Man The Greed of Man is a TV drama series broadcast by TVB in Hong Kong in 1992. The story, spanning three decades from the 1970s to the 1990s in Hong Kong and Taiwan, addresses various social and financial phenomena of the times, from violence in triad criminal organizations to corruption in the Hong... |
Producer |
| 1993 | Racing Peak | Producer |
| 2000 | Divine Retribution | Producer |
Filmography as director
- Written ByWritten ByWritten By is a 2009 Hong Kong fantasy drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Wai Ka-Fai, and starring Lau Ching-Wan and Kelly Lin. Lau plays a lawyer who is killed in an accident, leaving behind his wife, daughter, and son...
(2009) - Mad DetectiveMad DetectiveMad Detective is a 2007 Hong Kong psychological crime thriller film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai. The film centers on a schizophrenic, former police inspector , who decides to come out of retirement to help a rookie cop solve a complex murder case, involving a missing...
(2007) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - The ShopaholicsThe ShopaholicsThe Shopaholics is a 2006 Hong Kong romantic comedy film directed by Wai Ka-Fai, and starring Cecilia Cheung, Lau Ching-Wan, Jordan Chan, Ella Koon, and Paula Tsui.-Cast:* Cecilia Cheung* Lau Ching-Wan* Jordan Chan* Ella Koon* Paula Tsui* Dennis Law...
(2006) - Himalaya SinghHimalaya SinghHimalaya Singh is a 2005 Hong Kong comedy film co-written and directed by Wai Ka-Fai and starring Ching-Wan Lau, Ronald Cheng, Cherrie Yng, Francis Ng and Gauri Karnik, with a special appearance by Cecilia Cheung.-Plot:...
(2005) - Fantasia (2004)
- Running on KarmaRunning on KarmaRunning on Karma , also known as An Intelligent Muscle Man, is a 2003 Hong Kong film, produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai. It is ultimately a Buddhist parable about the nature of karma. There were some cuts in the Mainland China edition to meet the requirements for release...
(2003) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Turn Left, Turn RightTurn Left, Turn RightTurn Left, Turn Right is a 2003 joint Hong Kong-Singaporean romance film, filmed in Taipei. Produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, the film stars Takeshi Kaneshiro and Gigi Leung. The story is based on the book A Chance of Sunshine by Jimmy Liao, who makes a cameo appearance in the film...
(2003) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Love for All Seasons (2003) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - My Left Eye Sees GhostsMy Left Eye Sees GhostsMy Left Eye Sees Ghosts is a 2002 Hong Kong film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, and starring Sammi Cheng, Lau Ching-Wan, Lee San-San, and Cherrie Ying...
(2002) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Fat Choi SpiritFat Choi SpiritFat Choi Spirit is a 2002 Hong Kong comedy film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, and starring Andy Lau, Gigi Leung, Louis Koo, Cherrie In and Lau Ching-Wan....
(2002) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Fulltime Killer (2001) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Love on a DietLove on a DietLove on a Diet is a 2001 Hong Kong romantic comedy film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, starring Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng.The movie reunites Lau and Cheng, who last paired up in 2000's Needing You......
(2001) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Wu yenWu yenWu yen is a 2001 historical Hong Kong comedy film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai.-Cast and roles:* Anita Mui - Emperor Qi/Great Great Great Great Great Ancestor* Sammi Cheng - Wu Yen* Cecilia Cheung - Enchantress/Yinchun* Ai Wai...
(2001) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Needing You... (2000) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Help!!! (2000) (co-directed with Johnnie ToJohnnie ToJohnnie 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...
) - Too Many Ways to Be No. 1 (1997)
- The Peace Hotel (1995)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Film | Awards and Nominations | Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Written By Written By Written By is a 2009 Hong Kong fantasy drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Wai Ka-Fai, and starring Lau Ching-Wan and Kelly Lin. Lau plays a lawyer who is killed in an accident, leaving behind his wife, daughter, and son... (2009) |
Nominated: Best Screenplay (shared with Au Kin-Yee) | 29th Hong Kong Film Awards 29th 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... |
External links
- The Limits of Control, interview with Wai Ka-fai, MUBI
- IMDB entry