Public welfare comedy to support HK film workers

The Hong Kong Performing Artists Guild and the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, together with 10 Hong Kong film companies, shot a public welfare comedy to help support the basic staff in Hong Kong's film industry.

The comedy "All U Need is Love", featuring over 100 Hong Kong stars, slipped in plots of many classic Hong Kong movies well-known to audiences. Some of the plots are about facing life and death with boldness, while some are about the reconciliation of self and family. The whole theme of the movie is learning to cherish the happiness of the moment amid challenges brought by COVID-19.

All box office income of the film will be donated to support grassroots-level workers in Hong Kong's film industry. All actors starring in the movie are working for free, and many also donated to support production.

COVID-19 brought a great shock to Hong Kong's film industry. The work of a great number of Hong Kong movie crews was affected, and many had difficulties making ends meet. The box office income of the movie will be used to fund those grassroots-level employees who are struggling to live and still devoted to the film industry.

Kai Man Tin, spokesman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, said the epidemic was making Hong Kong's film industry, which had already entered a depression, worse. Investors and production companies were unwilling to shoot films locally, and over 80 percent of crew members had no work.

According to the film's producer, actors in the movies will reconstruct epic roles in their previous classic films, bringing up fond memories in audience members.

Famous stars involved in the movie include Eric Tsang, Bak-Ming Wong, Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Michael Hui, Francis Ng, Gordon Lam Ka Tung, Alex Fong, Julian Cheung, Annie Lau, Fiona Sit, Carlos Chan and Louis Koo.

During the film's promotional period, they tried to act in a low-key manner, shifting more attention to the film workers behind the scenes.

Actors said in the movie, they are just a foil for the real main characters, the grassroots staff that had been working hard and quietly for Hong Kong's film industry.

In addition, a theme song, If There is Love in Your Heart, will be presented by numerous Hong Kong stars, encouraging people to hold on to hope and join together to get through hard times.

The movie was released in cinemas in Hong Kong on April 22 and broadcast on online streaming platform iQiyi on May 4.