[profile]
- [news/interviews] - [filmography] - [movie reviews] - [pictures] - [links] - [www.JackieChanMusic.com] - [JC
Message Board]
Ming Pao Weekly issue 23, February 1, 1998
Lam Fung Giu (Lin Feng-Jiao) makes an exception and speaks of her husband and son
Written by: Lam Sai
Since becoming Mrs. Jackie Chan, Lam
Fung Giu has become almost invisible and rarely talked about her husband and son in
public; but, in front of an old friend, Ah Giu finally made an exception and shared her
joy with everyone.
Lam Sai's job as a screen writer has taken her from Hong Kong to Taiwan, then from
Taiwan to Malaysia. After a big loop she returned to Hong Kong to be a producer. One day
while shopping for instant noodle at a supermarket, she ran into someone she hasn't seen
in years, Lam Fung Giu, who was with a cart full of stuff. After a round of small talks
and laughter, she said to Ah Giu, "Shopping for the Lunar New Year?"
"It's that time of the year, I have to do some shopping, I've got a family you
know." Fung Giu said, "Unlike you, with 4 bags of instant noodles in your hand,
I say there is a 90% chance that you are still flying solo."
Years ago because both of their last names were Lam, although she was a big star,
Ah Giu still said they were like sisters. Unfortunately the last names are the same but
lives are different, since working together on
Wong Yeung Jung Dik Yut Tiu Suen (Lit: A boat on an ocean), soon the news came about her
retirement. Initially she was investing on a photo studio and a travel agency. Suddenly
all traces of her disappeared, as she secretly
dated and married Jackie Chan.
"Hey, Ah Giu, how long as it been?"
"Can you please not mention years, by all accounts we both are old now. Come
on, let's have some coffee." Even though she hasn't been seen for awhile, Lam Fung
Giu's voice didn't change at all. Neither did her looks and body. At the time "Two
Lam Two Chun" stood atop the film industry. Among Lam Fung Giu, Lam Ching Ha
(Brigitte Lin), Chun Hong and Charlie Chun Cheung
Lam, Ah Giu was the one who retired the earliest. She met, fell for and married Jackie
Chan after she was out of the business. Ah Giu said, "Yeah, I got married after I
became a business outsider, I haven't been a star for
a long time. I wanted to have a peaceful world of my family, that's why I don't want to be
interviewed by the media. Many rumors said I hid myself because of Jackie, actually I did
it for myself. Of course the more important reason is a normal school life for our son Cho
Ming."
HOPING HE WILL RETIRE FROM IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA
"Yeah, if you constantly appeared in the press and publicized your life, he
couldn't study and grow up like the average children."
"Ha, indeed only an old friend would understand me." Ah Giu enjoyed the
understanding and laughed, "There was a huge article in Taiwan saying I am like (San
Hau Bat Wai), keeping my promise of not appearing in public. Actually I didn't
deliberately follow anyone, it's just there was plenty for me to do between my Taiwan and
Hong Kong homes. Earlier when Ma Ma was old,
weak, and constantly sick, I even had to constantly travel back and forth. Last year
Mother passed away. So now I have more time to spend in Hong Kong."
"People say for Jackie Chan's image and career did you become invisible."
"During the first few years of our marriage, it was somewhat like that. There
were two Japanese female fans who committed suicide, we couldn't bare to see that happen
again. In these years Jackie's fans have matured. The
new younger female fans already know he has a wife and child, so they are only crazy for
his film and spirit of his stunts." Ah Giu said, "Lately, on almost every trip
to Taiwan, he has said publicly that he is a son-in-law of
Taiwan. Our relationship wasn't a secret a long time ago, perhaps he doesn't mention it
because he is afraid of upsetting me."
"Jackie is getting more and more popular, as he even becomes an international
star. How do you feel about that?"
"It's almost as if his career has made him more and more competitive. In my
heart I really want him to retire from the front of the camera earlier. Those scenes are
always full of danger." Lam Fung Gui said, "But I also keep our habit. I won't
add any opinions to his work. Raising the child is my duty. My husband has such glory,
naturally I am happy. My son and I
are very proud to have this hubby and papa. Thus when Golden Harvest held an exhibit for
him earlier, Cho Ming and I couldn't stop ourselves from going."
SON TO STUDY IN AMERICA
Ah Giu said at the time Jackie said
to her a huge group of reporters are there daily, and she should be prepared to be
photographed. "Right there and then I hesitated. It wasn't been easy to achieve
today, when I run out there are very few people who can recognize me to be Lam Fung Giu. I
can even take my time to shop. If my look is publicized again, all of my hard work goes
out the window. So I waited for two days, on the third day, Jackie's
god mother Mrs. Ho said to me, 'It's the last day, if you don't take a look at how popular
and glorious your husband is, you definitely won't be able to sleep for three nights.' I
said okay, let's go and see. Finally Mrs. Ho's driver took a few photos for me."
"The paper said Jackie used a press conference to pull the reporters elsewhere, so you can enjoy the exhibit in peace."
"I don't know if that was coincidental or deliberate. He didn't mention it when he got home. If he did that for me then I have to thank my hubby." Lam Fung Chiu said as she took out a few photos of her visiting the exhibit to show Lam Sai. She took a few photos and said, "Meeting again after so many years, give them to me as something to remember the occasion by." Then she asked, "Have you seen every one of Jackie's life risking films?"
"Of course, besides watching
Golden Harvest's exciting videos, sometimes I sneak into theaters to watch them. Every
time he performs
a dangerous stunt, I couldn't be more worried, because we don't know beforehand when it's
finished it's already a product on the silver
screen. Asking him to stop taking risks? Not unless he retires from the front of the
camera. I too have made several movies, I understand
the psychology behind film people's challenge themselves, thus I absolutely won't talk
about work with him at home." Ah Giu said, "I believe that he has his own
principal."
"Jackie lately spends most of his time overseas making movies, you don't feel
the long separation is not normal?"
"Cho Ming and I have visited him, sometimes with Papa Chan. Our whole family
also have gone to Australia to see Mother-in-law, but we couldn't be too overt. Cho Ming
is in the 11th grade now, his grade has been decent. When he gets good grades, I am
happier than when his father's film does well at the box office. Next year we will let him
study in America."
SIMILAR LOOKS AND ACTION
"Are you going with him? Buying a house near his school to keep him
company?"
"No, I will only visit once in awhile. We hope to raise him to be independent
and don't want him to be relying on his mother for too long.
Outsiders said Cho Ming is a counterfeit Jackie Chan, actually he isn't exactly 100%
alike. In speech, looks, and action there is an amazing hereditary resemblance. Now when
he runs around with his classmates no one knows he is Jackie's son. That's good, just like
after avoiding the camera for so many years, the younger reporters wouldn't know who am I
when they run into me.
Only then do we have the freedom to run around!"
"But, I talked with you this long of course there is a goal. I will publish
your recent photos and write an interview for Ming Pao Weekly, because there are too many
readers and fans who want to know about what you are up
to. That's a service to the people. Naturally I have to earn some money for travel
expenses. That's also Lam Sai's main goal."
Ah Giu said, "You better not. I knew you were going to write, but is it
possible to just write and not publish the photos. Otherwise I don't know how long I would
have to hide before people forget about this look? Besides I now am not the Lam Fung Giu
of then, I already am not pretty."
"Ah Giu, treat it as a favor to an old friend. I wouldn't publish Cho Ming's
photo so his teenage life wouldn't be affected, as for you just this one time please.
Otherwise a good piece of interview will be without a soul. On top of that beauty isn't
for you to judge. I feel now your heart is much prettier than your face."
~~~ Thanks to Kathy for recovering this 4-year-old interview!! I lost it during the last 2 years! Xie xie!!! :D *hugs* #Jewel# (March 2002)