Michelle Yip Shuen (葉璇), Actress Rating Options

[「kahing ♥」]

Yeah, @ least it's her hair. I'm almost positive that she is going to grow it out, she doesn't seem to like her hair short anyways. I don't think she ever had her hair that short before, right? The shortest I've seen her hair was @ shoulder length.

This post has been edited by 「kahing ♥」: Jul 10 2009 6 23 PM

[Kimmers]

She had her hair short up to her chin in "Reaching Out" and maybe at shoulder length in "Network Love Story".

Michelle seems to be filming movie after movie. So her next movie after this would probably be with short hair too. I mean if she just changes the short hair style a bit, it could work. Kind of like how Victoria Beckham had it. hehe But I def. do think she looks her best with longer hair. It was just inches from her waist before too.

This post has been edited by Kimmers: Jul 10 2009 6 51 PM

[foreverleila]

'The Legend of Lady Yang' Role votes with Michelle Ye as unexpected favourite
Friday July 17, 2009 Hong Kong
Source: Sina Entertainment
Credits: to http://www.michelle-ye.com


Michelle Ye in 'Lost in the Chambers of Love' series


Netizens digitally illustrating Michelle Ye as Lady Yang

'The Legend of Lady Yang' directed by You Xiaogang has recently started its voting for the characters. Michelle Ye who was first nominated on 11th by netizens came to fore , her votes rose drastically into the top five, and is currently ranked 4th favourite for the role.

Michelle Ye whose talent and skill is widely recognized managed to come fourth within just four days. Winning the Miss Chinese International pageant crown as well as the Most Classic Beauty award, Michelle has come a long way from her youthful and bubbly 'Eternal Happiness' to her adorable and touching Xiao Qiao in 'Liao Zhai 2', as well as her elegance in 'Lost in the Chambers of Love'. These series have emerged top in viewing rates in Guizhou channel. Charm, grace, wisdom and elegance – she has the four natural aura for the role 'Lady Yang'. These became the reasons she is most supported for the role, it is expected that within few days time she would emerge top and become the hot favorite for the role 'Lady Yang'

[foreverleila]

Michelle Ye to Cannes Film Festival; Attire sponsored by top brand
Friday July 17, 2009 Hong Kong
Source: Sina Entertainment
Credits: http://www.michelle-ye.com



Cannes Film Festival will be organized in France from 13th to 24th May, Hong Kong director, Johnny To's 'Vengeance' is nominated, female lead Michelle Ye will go along with director as well as lead cast, Anthony Wong, Simon Yam to Cannes for the film premier. It is revealed that Michelle's attire and appearance in Cannes will be sponsored and taken care by Christian Dior brand.

Michelle who was born in Hangzhou was once the student of Wellesley College and then won the Miss Chinese International pageant. Michelle is fluent in Pu Tong Hua (Mandarin), English, Cantonese, French, etc language. She is also familiar with the four Chinese arts – music, chess, literature and art, dancing, writing poems etc, and thus earned the label of 'Hong Kong talented girl'. Her detailed performance allowed her to become Hong Kong's TV fa dan at such a young age with 'Central Affairs' and 'Eternal Happiness' as her representative works.

In the recent years, Michelle got Hong Kong Media Asia's solid support, and is concentrating in the movie industry, earning recognition from Alan Mak, Dante Lam, etc. 'Moonlight in Tokyo', 'Lady Cop, Papa Crook', 'The Sniper' etc are among her successful works. In early 2009, Michelle got Johnny To's recognition, and is invited to cast in international big production 'Vengeance', and is thus anticipated to work in movies at international level.

[foreverleila]

Michelle Ye reveals her road to fame: Praises or criticism (flowers or slaps), I have to accept them
Friday July 17, 2009 Hong Kong
Source: Sina Entertainment
Credits: http://www.michelle-ye.com/



Wellesley College which was once school of outstanding ladies such as Madeleine Albright, Song Mei Ling, Bing Xin, etc, Michelle takes political science. She is talented in calligraphy, loves to study Buddhism, and had once won the 'Little Nobel prize' at International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), etc…

Back to the side of Michelle Ye who faces the camera, she is the popular 'Rumor Queen', most of the time, news regarding her are none other than, "hand in hands in a deep kiss", "late night mysterious visit", etc similar topics…

Wise women are always said to be most beautiful, but how many actually bother to care for the inner beauty of these beauties? Even lesser for someone in the entertainment industry.

As a young female celebrity, it is not most painful not being recognized, but being recognized 'for the wrong things'

Michelle Ye's name, Ye Xuan, was given by her mother, because her mother had wanted to become an actress like Zhou Xuan, but in vain, thus put her hope on her daughter instead.

After entering the industry, Michelle Ye indeed had the chance to play her mother's favourite actress. However, that Zhou Xuan was said to be unlike the real Zhou Xuan, because Ye Xuan (Michelle Ye) loved smiling too much.

"Zhou Xuan is not always bitter, I played the younger version of her, the Zhou Xuan of that age is like any other young ladies her age, has her own vision, her dreams and is happy."

As for Zhou Xuan's change later, it was the influence of her surroundings, not the people.

" …in order to survive, we become very minute, we can only try to adapt, if we fail, we are then disqualified, then may perhaps take the extreme end."

Determined Michelle will not allow herself to be 'disqualified'.

Stepping into the film industry, she believes in the day where everyone will see the details behind the surface. Just as how she anticipates to be able to be in simple tongs, and observe silently how others shoot a film, no one to notice her 'sexiness', and 'rumours', 'best if they treated me as though I wasn't present'.

This sounds like a paradox, if she really wants so, she can quit her job now, and she will soon be out of everyone's sight, no one will notice her any longer.

But she continues accepting one film after another, advertisement, hosting, she rejects none. In the end, the current Michelle will not be satisfied just to lay low: "Actually, it is only in the recent 3 years that I am clear of the direction and way I wish to venture. When I was just a newbie, I don't know anything, I will just do what others ask of me, it is a passive acceptation; I have no choice, and also know not how to choose. Be it fragrant flowers or slaps, I accept it."

"As a young female celebrity, it is not most painful not being recognized, but being recognized 'for the wrong things'." 'Slaps' did not make Michelle despise the road she chose: "These 'rumours' instead allowed me to love acting more, love the stage more, and even starts to love photography, lighting, one day I'll be familiar with everything onstage.

Michelle's recent work includes Johnny To's 'Vengeance' and Cheng Pou Sui's 'Assassins'. "Assassins is Johnny To's production, it filmed for a year, and is still patching up here and there, focusing on the relationship between Louis and I, it is quite a troublesome process. Although the scenes are excellent after patching up, the repetitive transfers of emotions, repetitive confessions, repetitive weeps, really consumed quite some efforts." Michelle was making up during the interview, she was still in the 'Vengeance' crew T-shirt.

In Michelle's eyes, Johnny To is a very smart director. He is a natural in shaping his characters' persona and the rhythm of their inner emotions, he creates apparent conflicts in his movies. Thus she minds not when others comment that she is just a 'vase' in Johnny To's movie.

"Finish watching Johnny's movie, every ending of a movie tells you, that the wisest one, allow those 'vases' character to decide the ending. Johnny To is cleare than anyone else of the equality between man and woman. It is in the end that everyone understands who the lead is."

Hardships, a gift from parents.

13 years old Michelle suggested to move out. "I'm not willing to live with a stranger."

She rented an apartment outside, and goes to her father's company for pocket money every month, laundry and meals, she deals it all by herself.

When she was 9, Michelle's mother could no longer bear the long period of separation, and decided to divorce, the last words she gave Michelle was "Mummy and Daddy are divorced, so I can no longer live here. I've taken care of you for 9 years, while he comes back two, three times a year, its time for a taste of his own medicine!"

A year later, Michelle was taken to the States by her father. Her father told her, career is a man's first priority, bringing her to the States was to allow her better education, and the road thereafter is up to her to walk down alone.

"Initially, I did hate him." Michelle will not avoid talking about Mother, "Many years ago, my birth mother became my life's biggest mystery, I kept wondering why she left me, until just one day I stopped thinking about it. It's not that I finally got th answer, but I understood about relationships, I know that she gave me life and that was the biggest compassion for me. When I arrived at States, Father was still busy with his business like in the past. My grandparents who went together decided to return back to China two years later as they could not adapt."

At this time, 13 years old Michelle suggested to move out. "I'm not willing to live with a stranger."

She rented an apartment outside, and goes to her father's company for pocket money every month, laundry and meals, she deals it all by herself.

Father only gave Michelle the necessary school fees, just like any other students, she had to earn for any other expenses. Michelle chose to work in a video rental shop, in her view, the job was actually paying double. "I do watch movies and rent tapes anyway, it's a kind of expense."

18 years old, Michelle qualified into the 500 pax quota per intake Wellesley College with straight A's results. In her first year, she was influenced by her step mother to take part in the beauty pageant, and emerged champion and thus entered the entertainment industry.

20 years old Michelle, with only two things in hands, beauty and brains, she chose to allow more to notice the former first.

On her blood relationship, Michelle feels that Buddhism's karma circle is applicable, such thought has strung her, her birth mother, stepmother, birth father, as well as her step brother, and perhaps even the future children together.

Gradually growing up, when she began experiencing life personally, began dating, began having pressure in life, Michelle's opinion towards her mother changed; "She gave me life, whatever it is, she also took care of me for nearly a decade. My relationship with her is very good now. It is very interesting that due to the separation of more than a decade, she became my friend forever, and not a strict mother, in fact, we're closer than ever."

Earlier on, 15 years old brother (mother's son in new marriage) called Michelle, saying he wants to study in the States, Michelle arranged everything within 4 weeks for him to go overseas. Michelle's opinion was like her father's years ago – for better education. Just so, nothing more.

[foreverleila]

Michelle Ye Plays a Couple with Jordan Chan in New Movie
July 13, 2009, Hong Kong
Credits: Michelle Ye's Realm Forum
Source: ent.tom.com
July 13, 2009



Director Felix Chong and Producer Alan Mak were filming their new movie, ‘Flying Sand Spinning in the Wind’ at Cyberport. The cast includes, Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan, Michelle Ye, Alex Fong, and etc.

Jordan and Michelle play a couple in this movie. There are many intimate scenes, including a passionate kiss. Jordan stated, “The first day we were filming, we were already making out and it wasn’t just one time.” He praised Michelle for being a professional actress and that her acting skills were very natural causing no awkwardness.

After filming in “Moonlight in Tokyo” and “Lady Cop and Papa Crook” this would be the third time Michelle collaborates with Felix Chong and Alan Mak becoming a favorite for the two directors.

[foreverleila]

Michelle Ye exclusive interview: Praises Anthony Wong to be trustworthy; Hallyday's eyes deep as ocean
Monday August 3, 2009 Hong Kong
Credit : Source: Sina Entertainment
Credits: Michelle Ye's Realm



Female lead in Johnny To's 'Vengeance', Michelle Ye accepted an interview with Sina at France. Having the chance to come to Cannes for her first collaboration with To, it felt like summer vacation, her biggest dream is to watch movies. She was full of praises for the two male leads in the movie, Anthony Wong and Hallyday – "Anthony Wong is very trustworthy in and out of the movie, while Hallyday's green eyes is deep as an ocean, very refined, very romantic."

Michelle does not have much screen time in 'Vengeance', but the role she plays is in fact the key person to the success of Hallyday's revenge. She is pregnant and has a crowd of mixed-blood children with Anthony Wong. "This role is quite extreme at two ends, she is sometimes a normal mother, and at times a cold-blooded assassin, her past is unknown, it gives everyone the freedom of imagination."



Impression of Cannes

Waking up early every morning to watch movie, all the best movies worldwide are available, can watch a lot of emotions and admiration.



Impression of Cannes Red Carpet

It is much longer, Hallyday is a mega star who attracted a lot of attention, as though entire population was there.

About her role

I play Anthony Wong's wife, he have a lot of children. Anthony died in his efforts to help Hallyday revenge. I had to help him take care of Hallyday, and even accomplished his revenge.

This role is quite extreme at two ends, she is sometimes a normal mother, and at times a cold-blooded assassin, her past is unknown, it gives everyone the freedom of imagination.

Appraising Anthony and Hallyday

Very grateful to Anthony Wong, he taught me a lot of my dialogues and scenes, he is an expert in movies, he really taught me word by word. In 'Vengeance', he is stylish, trustworthy, a lot said that they got to know him all over again through the movie.

Hallyday has a pair of ocean deep green eyes, his eyes contained too much, very refined and very romantic, most suitable for the role in the movie.

Appraising Johnny To

In my first collaboration with Johnny To, witnessing his manipulation and his competence as a director, I can only gasp in amazement.

'Vengeance' will have a sequel

Initially our movie ends with Hallyday murdering Simon Yam, but director realized that my chemistry with Hallyday was good, and used the scene before as the ending. Perhaps we may have a sequel, to tell the story between him and I.

Actually, every of Johnny To's movies does seem like it has sequel, cause it is filmed so, the roles seem to have more to go on, for example, Anthony Wong's role is named 'Ghost' in 'The Mission', 'Exiled' and 'Vengeance', Lam Suet's role being 'Fatso'

Cannes' Wish

Her biggest dream is to watch all the 15 nominated movies, she has watched 5 up to now: I have seen the Japanese, England and States, and has yet watched the Mandarin, but we bumped into director Lee Ang on the premier night, the airing of their movie is clashing with our work time.

[AtinaDaAznGurl]

foreverleila, Thanks for the news! Do you know what the new movie is about?

I really want to watch Vengeance, it seems like a dark movie, too bad I have to wait to buy the DVD. >_<

[Kimmers]

Michelle is becoming more and more known in the movie industry! I'm really happy for her. I can't help but smile with satisfaction to all those Michelle haters that said she would fail miserably. The haters must be pissed that Michelle is in all these mega movies with renowned directors and actors, and acting alongside actors like, Leon Lai, Anthony Wong, Louis Koo, Richie Ren, etc. Michelle's movie career has just started...and it will keep raising I'm sure!

Anywho...

This is a really good informative interview that talks about all of Michelle's upcoming movies.

Credits: Twitch
August 4, 2009

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Michelle Ye talks VENGEANCE, DREAM HOUSE, UNLEASHED and lots more



JM= James Marsh
MY= Michelle Ye

Born in China, raised in the US and now an established name in Hong Kong, Michelle Ye is hardly your typical Chinese actress. After starring in a decade’s worth of hugely successful TV series, including comedies, romances and even martial arts serials, Michelle signed with Media Asia and dived headlong into Hong Kong’s film industry, and in just a couple of years has worked with some of the city’s finest directors and gone head to head with a string of Mainland and Taiwanese wannabes. On the eve of VENGEANCE’S Hong Kong premiere, Michelle very graciously let me buy her lunch and we discussed working with Johnnie To, Alan Mak and Pang Ho Cheung, being in-competition at Cannes and the general state of the local industry. Beware - here be SPOILERS!

JM – OK, so let’s talk about VENGEANCE. It seems like a logical progression from working with Alan Mak and Dante Lam, doing serious thrillers, a bit of horror to working with Johnnie To, arguably the biggest director working in Hong Kong today.

MY – Well, that’s how it might appear from the outside, but the fact is Johnnie To approached me two years ago, it’s just that the first project, ACCIDENT, has not been released yet. VENGEANCE came after that, so I officially started my movie career two years ago. MOONLIGHT IN TOKYO was just a tryout, because I went straight back to doing TV after that. Johnnie To is the guy who really helped me become a movie actress. When I was being passed over by other directors, he was the one who came to me, out of nowhere.

J – So, the set of a Johnnie To film must be a bit of an old boys’ club, right? It’s Wong Chau Sang, Lam Suet, Gordon Lam and Simon Yam, did you think about that going into the project? Thinking it’s going to be me and all these heavyweight guys who are all really tight?

M – I was quite nervous at the beginning. My first day on set I didn’t know what to do. I had no script before I arrived. I didn’t know Johnnie To personally, he was the producer of Accident but we had never spoken personally, face to face about that project. He would just discuss his ideas with the director Cheang Pui Soi, and he’d tell us what to do. So I was in chaos, internally, on my first day. Johnnie To has his requirements and Wong Chau Sang and Lam Suet – they all have their requirements. They’re all big brothers in this industry and I’m just like a little kid. What was great was how much they helped me, especially Wong Chau Sang. I was given all kinds of instructions, I was directed from everywhere – by Gordon Lam, Lam Suet, Wong Chau Sang and Johnnie To. I remember I had to cook in the first scene – I couldn’t even do that. I had a baby on my back and I had to walk around and remember my lines and cook at the same time. It was kind of chaotic and Johnnie To had to come and show me how to do it. He’s a great cook, you know.

J – So even though they are such a tight-knit group, they are quite welcoming?

M – Absolutely. Director To always treated us to good food on set and short working hours. He gives very precise instructions and he never yells at actors. He’s also very humorous, but of course on-set he is very professional. But after work, at lunch or dinner he’s a completely different person. He’s very funny. At Cannes we had a lot of fun together. Actually one night while we were at the festival, Director To took us to this Vietnamese restaurant – it was Wong Chau Sang, the scriptwriter Wai Ka Fai, Mrs. To, Simon Yam and some other assistants – about ten of us. It was about midnight, after a party and we were so hungry! So we ate and it came time to pay the bill and we found out the restaurant didn’t take Visa or MasterCard. They only took cash or American Express. Johnnie To had Visa, his wife had MasterCard, nobody had any cash on them, we were all in tuxedos and evening gowns. But luckily I had an AmEx card in my purse! I had never had the chance to treat them all before. They’re the big bosses and I’m the only girl and also the youngest – so I saved them all from a night of washing dishes! Now they owe me hundreds of dinners because I saved them big face in front of the foreigners! (laughs)

J – Speaking of foreigners, what was it like working with Johnny Hallyday?

M – Oh, he is a gorgeous gentleman! I felt very sorry for him on set to begin with, because nobody talked to him. Only a few people could speak English and everyone was so busy. But he’s a very generous guy, very gentle. We had one scene at the end of the movie where we say goodbye and the script said that we should hug. When we did it, he kissed me on my cheek – unrehearsed with the cameras rolling. I was a little bit shocked, being such an innocent Chinese girl. He changed the script! He gave me this really deep look and all of a sudden I’m welling up with tears, and it completely changed the outcome of the scene. When the director saw it on the monitors, he saw a spark and actually changed the ending of the movie because of that scene.

J – So tell me a little bit about your character and how she fits into the story.

M – I’m Wong Chau Sang’s woman, it’s quite ambiguous but you can tell there’s something between them. There’s a child and although it’s not stated outright that it’s his, you can tell. Johnnie To likes to tell relationships in a very subtle way, not to say, “I love you” directly. So Wong puts Johnny Hallyday in my place to live because he has lost his memory and needs to be taken care of. So I take care of him and after Wong Chau Sang and all his teammates die I take over the mission.

J – You probably shouldn’t have told me that.

M – Ha ha, yeah maybe. So, I’m a small part in the movie, but quite important. I like that. But, check out at the beginning of the movie there’s another role - Simon Yam’s mistress - originally I was asked to play that part, but my company said no, not me. I would literally take any role Mr. To offers me. I’ll be working with him again this year. But we can’t talk about that yet.

J – So, let’s talk about ACCIDENT then. Why has it taken so long?

M – Because Mr. To wants to make it as good as possible. The director, Cheang Pui Soi has made a lot of changes, we all have – we’ve been working together for two years now. My hairstyle has changed so many times! But, it has turned out to be a much more interesting story than it was originally. At the beginning it wasn’t even a complete story, no one had a script, we were just being told what to do. It’s more of an art house movie now.

J – I read that basically Louis Koo is an assassin who stages elaborate accidents.

M – Yeah, we’re in a team together.

J – You’re a killer too?

M – Oh damn, I shouldn’t have told you that either. But let’s talk about that when it comes out later. It’s going to Venice, I hope I can go! They haven’t made up my shooting schedule yet, but I should go.

J – Absolutely. It’s another world stage event and people will be going “Oh look, it’s that chick from Cannes.”

M – No! They won’t recognise me. When I was working on OUT OF LEASH (for director Dante Lam) these people from the Udine Festival came to the set. That morning they had watched Pang Ho Cheung’s DREAM HOUSE and ACCIDENT, and they had seen VENGEANCE at Cannes and when they saw me with my short hair (Michelle now sports a rather fetching bob) they didn’t recognise me at all!

J – So what did you think of Cannes? Is it as sleazy and superficial as they all say it is?

M – (Laughs) No, it definitely didn’t feel like that. I spent most of my time in the theatres, watching movies. I saw about 17 movies altogether, most of them in the competition. But I was so stupid. I bought a pass before I went but I didn’t need it. We were all given free passes because our film was in competition. So this time, when I go to Venice, I won’t buy a pass ahead of time.

J – So what did you see?

M – I saw LOOKING FOR ERIC, I saw Jane Campion’s new film…the poetry one. It’s very similar to the Chinese love story, the Butterfly Lovers. I saw IN THE BEGINNING, that was very good, about a guy who comes out of prison and builds a highway out of nothing. Also I saw INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

J – Now that’s someone you should talk to, Tarantino loves his Asian actresses.

M – I was stupid I guess. I mean, I met him, he shook hands with me. He was sitting right in front of me at our premiere, laughing the loudest throughout the whole movie, applauding all the time. But yeah, at the after-party I didn’t go talk to him. He invited me to the INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS party but I was too tired and I planned to get up early the next morning to watch movies. I’m not much of a party girl!

J – So what are you doing at the moment?

M - After I returned from Cannes, I decided to take French classes again. I’m also taking Tai Chi classes now. I’ve always liked Kung fu since back when I was doing TV.

J – How good did you get?

M – I’m pretty good, for an actress. I had really hardcore training for half a year. I studied dance when I was young, so I have a base of flexibility.

J – So what style of kung fu did you learn?

M – Oh, how do you say it in English? With the swords and also with the…knife? The big knives, one in each hand. In Chinese it’s called “Seung Doh.” It’s like “double knife”. I did that for a TV series, and my coach was Zhang Zi Yi’s coach on CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. That’s when I first realised how hard kung fu was.

J – So how much do you practice?

M – Not too often, but now I have to because the film I’m working on with Dante Lam, OUT OF LEASH…

J – UNLEASHED?

M – (Laughs) Yeah, it should be UNLEASHED, but it’s OUT OF LEASH!

J – Is that a direct translation of the Chinese name?

M – No, the Chinese name is “FIRE DRAGON”, but it was printed on the fliers when we were at Cannes. There were posters announcing “OUT OF LEASH.” (laughs)

J – So that’s with Leon Lai as well?

M – Yeah, in that one we have a lot of gunfire and explosions, so we have to do a lot of chasing and kung fu.

J – So what’s the story of OUT OF LEASH?

M – Leon Lai is a cop whose wife has died recently in an accident. We have a couple of cases to solve and through the course of the film he explores his grief and inner turmoil.

J – And what’s your character?

M – I’m his teammate. I’m the only female on his team. I am in love with him, but we never really talk about it. We try to avoid discussing love issues. I do save his life a couple of times! But we never get together. His wife has just died; it’s too soon to talk about that.

J – So you’re basically on set with Leon Lai every day?

M – Except for the last couple of days. I’ve been working on the Alan Mak movie because Leon is rehearsing for his concert.

J – So OUT OF LEASH is finished?

M – No, we’re just on a short break.

J – So have you been actually shooting for the Alan Mak film?

M – Yeah, I’m actually doing both at the same time. This one’s a comedy, it’s very funny. Also we get to work indoors! (The weather has been alternating between sweltering heat and tropical storms). It’s about gangsters. You know there was a really famous gangster movie ten years ago with Jordan Chan and Ekin Cheng, there’s like seven episodes…

J – YOUNG AND DANGEROUS?

M – It’s like a comedy remake of that. Jordan and Ekin are both back.

J – Does it have a name yet?

M – I don’t know if it has an English name but in Chinese it is named after a song sung by Chow Yun Fat many years ago. I don’t know the English name, but the song was written by a very famous Taiwanese composer, who also worked with Johnnie To, he did the music for VENGEANCE – Law Tai Yau. Anyway, that song is quite famous, called Fei Sa Fong Jung Joon – it means Sand Blowing in the Wind. Like a gangster, floating in the gang, I don’t know. So that’s the name of the movie. It’s mainly focusing on Jordan Chan’s character, who’s already become the “big brother” of the gang. This will be my third movie with Alan Mak, actually we should say fourth, because during the course of this movie, he asked me to do the Cantonese dubbing for Zhang Jingchu’s character in OVERHEARD.

J – I want to talk to you about this actually. Why aren’t there any decent HK actresses working anymore? Why are they all from the Mainland or Taiwan?

M – Well, I’m a Hong Kong actress! I mean, I was born in the Mainland but I was trained in Hong Kong.

J – Which makes you…what?

M – (Laughing) I think I’m one-of-a-kind. But seriously, I don’t think there are many people who fit the same description as me. I don’t see anybody else who’s doing what I’m doing.

J – Do you think TV was a big help?

M – Of course, and my background helped me to work in both languages, Mandarin and Cantonese. I don’t think anyone is doing that. Like Zhang Jingchu, in OVERHEARD she has a lot of dialogue. In NIGHT AND FOG her character was from China, so speaking non-standard Cantonese is acceptable, but when you’re playing a native Hong Kong girl then you need to speak like a native. But hey, when Alan Mak asked me to do it I said, “Hey, I’m not native Hong Kongese.” They actually asked a professional voice artist to do it, but her voice was too…stiff? I don’t know…it’s not really acting, it sounds like a commercial. Especially when you’re acting with Lau Ching Wan, his voice is very natural, it has a lot of expression in it. That’s why they decided to ask me.

J – You make a good point. If you’re playing a Hong Kong character, you should speak Cantonese. I was watching MURDERER the other day and Aaron Kwok’s wife speaks Mandarin, everyone else speaks to her in Cantonese, no one mentions it and there’s no reference to her being from Taiwan or wherever. Surely this is an issue that can’t just keep going.

M – I know. I mean if we were a couple at home I have to speak the same language you speak, right? Whichever it is I’ll have to try at least! It’s impossible for a couple to one speak French and one speak English.

J – I have to ask. In MURDERER, surely when you read that ending you just thought “Sorry, but that’s rubbish, that doesn’t make any sense”?

M – I didn’t choose to do that. The producer, Candy Leung, I worked with her on THE SNIPER too. She came to me and asked me to do that. She’s also working with me on OUT OF LEASH – she’s a friend. This is still the beginning of my movie career so most of the time I don’t choose what I work on, it’s my company, Media Asia, or the producers who choose for me.

J – Well, good for you then, as a Hong Kong actress, for winning roles when you’re up against all these flavour-of-the-month Mainland and Taiwanese actresses who can’t even speak the language.

M – I think where you have been trained, where you learn the most marks where you truly belong. If you ask me who I am, I’m Chinese, but as an actress, Hong Kong is definitely the place that has nourished me the most.

J – LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK is being cited in a lot of recent arguments and discussions about the influence of China on HK Cinema. Filmmakers are being forced to change their work in order to get past the Chinese censors. To what extent did you feel that while you were making the film and how conscious were the cast and crew of it during filming?

M – It’s the whole environment, it’s not the directors’ fault. For any filmmaker in any market, if you want to get to the audience, you have to completely understand what they want to see or what the market needs. Besides your creativity and artistic expression, moviemaking is also a business, and we are trying to make a commercial movie that will be accepted by an audience. Unless you’re trying only to please yourself or to scale some form of artistic height, then that’s another story. I think for LADY COP it was a learning process for Hong Kong moviemakers. Feng Xiaogang’s movies are huge in China, but they come to Hong Kong and nobody goes to see them. You know IF YOU ARE THE ONE, with Shu Qi and Ge You, that didn’t perform at the box office here at all. But, they didn’t make a big deal out of that because they weren’t trying to tap into the HK market. For us, why do we make such a big deal? Because we want to get their money, we want our share of the market and we are not completely prepared or fully armed about their culture and their tastes. So it’s great for someone like me who has a bit of understanding about both cultures. The producers should obviously understand ahead of time, but there aren’t many such people in Hong Kong right now. We’ve only rejoined China for ten years. But there are people who know both cultures, who understand both markets and we just have to pick those people to do this kind of work. I can feel in my acting, in order to do that kind of movie, everyone from the director to the writers to the actors have to understand.

J – So you are tailoring your acting, you’re consciously playing to a mainland Chinese audience?

M – Well it depends. If I am doing a film that I know is going to be mostly targeting a Mainland market I’ll speak Mandarin myself, instead of letting someone else dub my part for me. I’ve realised that recently. Richie Ren advised me that I should do that, which makes sense. You want that massive audience to see the true you as much as you can.

J – Right, Hong Kong is famous for having sloppy dubbing in all its films and it pisses audiences off to watch that.

M – Well, sometimes you have to be dubbed because it has to be watched in both languages, but I will dub it myself if I can. If I act in Cantonese, like in this Young and Dangerous movie, I’ll do the Mandarin dubbing myself. In OUT OF LEASH also, I’ve requested to do the dubbing myself. But for the projects I’m working on in China I’ll speak in Mandarin, like the next thing I am doing, a TV series called THE LEGEND OF LADY YANG. Wong Chau Sang is going to play the emperor.

J – This is where you won an online poll to be cast.

M – Right, because of my work with TVB I built up a pretty big following in China. A lot of HK TV actors have big fan bases in China, just that they don’t get to exploit it and do this kind of project because they don’t speak Mandarin.

J – Can’t they just get somebody to dub them?

M – They could do that but the other important reason is that you don’t look like a mainlander. You just don’t fit in. If you have ever watched a mainland TV series, they have a very different style of acting. You can distinguish between Hong Kongers and Mainlanders out on the street, right?

J – I’d say the same thing about Mainland actresses coming down here. They stick out a mile, and it’s not just because they are speaking Mandarin.

M – Their acting is different, right? And they aren’t accepted by the Hong Kong audience either. But, the truth of the matter is that the Hong Kong market is so small, all the filmmakers hear is that their move is going to be shown in China, where these actresses will not stick out, up there they’ll be an asset.

J –Pang Ho Cheung has made a lot of very interesting films, he seems to be one of the few directors in Hong Kong who is not overly-concerned about whether or not his films will play well in China or not. He seems to make exactly what he wants to make. Also Josie Ho seems to be on her own mission, because she’s got the money, to finance exactly the projects she wants, exactly the way she wants to do them and to use her English skills to go west rather than go north. Did you find it a particularly different experience working with them on DREAM HOUSE than working within the system?

M – Definitely. Pang Ho Cheung is a very good friend of mine so I can speak for him. You should not say that he is not concerned with what is going on in China. He is so smart, so knowledgeable, he knows exactly what is going on everywhere all the time. He really understands the industry, and if he chose to work within the system he would be one of the most successful directors in town. But he is so stubborn about what he wants to do, about his vision. He will do take after take until the shot is done perfectly, maybe wasting a lot of money and time in the process, he’s that artistic type.

J – It’s good to know there is still that kind of perfectionism around.

M – Absolutely. He’s very precise about what he wants, unlike some people, who might claim to be artistic, but they don’t know what they want and just do it over and over and nobody knows why. Pang is very good at communicating with people and explaining what he wants. And it means that when he wants to do the scenes over and over you’re happy to do it. He has that power to put people together in the same direction and make everybody want to do their best work for him and for the movie. You’ll see that passion when the film comes out, I’m sure.

J – So what’s your role in DREAM HOUSE?

M – It’s a very small part. I’m one of the first people Josie kills.

J – Why does she kill you?

M – You’ll have to wait and see, I can’t tell you. I don’t want to spoil it, because the movie is all about why she’s killing us.

J – OK, fine. Don’t let me push you into making enemies with Josie Ho.

M – No no, it’s not that, I just want you to enjoy the movie.

J – So how is it working with Josie, who’s also the producer. That’s a very popular thing to do in Hollywood, but doesn’t really happen here.

M – Right, well no one really has the ability to do that over here. But she’s very good at that, I think. Josie is a very smart and capable woman and working with her is very pleasant.

J – But it doesn’t affect the way the set works at all?

M – No no, the set was completely Pang’s.

J – So when can we see DREAM HOUSE?

M – I was told it will come out at Halloween, but I’m not sure. I know they’ve been trying to get it into some festivals but it’s tough for horror movies, unless you make something like ANTICHRIST, which is really disgusting and controversial. I think by Western standards, Hong Kong horror movies are considered quite tame. But I’m sure in Hong Kong it will be a blast. Pang Ho Cheung has a lot of fans here.

This post has been edited by Kimmers: Aug 5 2009 4 37 AM

[AtinaDaAznGurl]

Thanks a lot Kimmers, that interview made me really excited about her upcoming movies. I'm happy that she's working with a lot of big stars, especially a lot of the ones that I have admired like Richie Ren, Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan, Anthony Wong and many others. It seems like there could be a chance for her to break into Hollywood with all of her movies and ability to speak mulitiple languages including English.

[foreverleila]

Translated by: Michelle Ye's Realm & MYR Forum
Source: Sina Entertainment
17th Jul 2009

'Double Eve' Michelle Ye; 'Vengeance' nominated in two major international film festival


Johnny Hallyday praises Michelle Ye



The 34th Toronto Film Festival and and Spain's San Sebastian Film Festival organizing committee announced that 'Vengeance' directed by Director Johnny To and casting French rock mega star Johnny Hallyday, Michelle Ye, Anthony Wong and Simon Yam is nominated in both the two major international film festival. Michelle transforms in the movie into 'Double Eve', alternating very smoothly between a plain housewife and a cold-blooded assassin, her acting is highly praised internationally.

'Vengeance' got the highest point ranking in the earlier 62nd Cannes International Film Festival, leading among the 4 Chinese movies. Female lead Michelle Ye plays Anthony Wong's wife. Anthony Wong was unfortunately murdered in his attempts to help Hallyday revenge, thus she took over the responsibility to take care of Hallyday, and helped him accomplish his revenge. At times a plain housewife, and other times a cold blooded murdered, she is able to vividly portray the inner emotions of the character. Michelle Ye's outstanding performance and fluent English was praised by media to be expressive and explosive, winning good comments, and she became headlines in several major French media together with male lead, Johnny Hallyday, becoming the most anticipated Chinese actress of the western film society. Her new works such as 'Accidents', 'Dream Home' are also getting much attention from respective major film festival, she is expected to become the popular movie icon for the latter half of this year.

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Translated by: Michelle Ye's Realm & MYR Forum
Source: Sina Entertainment
31st Jul 2009

Louis Koo, Michelle Ye nominated in Venice with new movie



'Accidents' directed by Chen Pou Sui, and produced by Johnny To, was nominated in the 66th Venice Film Festival to contest for the Golden Lion award. With 'Accidents' nominated, male lead Louis Koo and Mainland's only actress representative, Michelle Ye now have the chance to contest for the Venice Best Actor and Best Actress awards.

'Accidents' casts Louis Koo, Michelle Ye and Richie Ren etc stars, and also has Hong Kong's top filming crew, with renowned Golden Trailer Director Johnny To, thus causing the film to be media's focus since the start of its filming.

Male lead, Louis Koo has led in 'Protégé', 'Election' and the recently released 'Overheard', where all has achieved excellent result, becoming the new favorite of male lead. Female lead, Michelle Ye has recently gone international with international collaboration 'Vengeance' winning award at Cannes Film Festival and will once again be internationally recognized for the said festival, becoming Hong Kong's most promoted actress. Besides her outstanding performance and elegant appearance, she becomes the motivation for the younger generation actress. She is currently busy filming 'unleashed' and 'Sang Blowing in the Wind', with Leon Lai and Jordan Chan respectively.

Louis Koo and Michelle Ye stand a chance for Best Actor, Best Actress

'Accidents' is nominated in Venice Film Festival , bringing the male lead, Louis Koo, and Mainlands sole actress, Michelle Ye the chance to contest for Best Actor and Best Actress award. Both play a pair of assassins in the movie, where the story begins with one accident after another.

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Translated by: Michelle Ye's Realm & MYR Forum
Source: Sina Entertainment
02nd Aug 2009

Michelle Ye's appearance as cold-blooded assassin exposed



One of the three major film festival worldwide, Venice Film Festival has released its 66th nomination list. Media Asia invested movie 'Accidents' casting Louis Koo and Michelle Ye, is nominated, thus Michelle Ye now stands a chance to win Best Actress awards in Venice, her assassins appearance has been exposed.

'Accidents' is a film on intuition analysis, the movie is about 5 assassins who were hired by a mysterious mastermind to assassinate criminals who managed to escape legal punishment through loopholes, by setting up fake accidents. When Johnny To accepted an interview with Hong Kong media, he highly praised female lead Michelle Ye to be exceptionally outstanding, and will be on the same run with Isabella Hupert, Monica Belluci for Best Actress award.

Young Michelle Ye from Hangzhou is only 29 this year, and was once a student of Wellesley College. She entered TVB when she won Miss Chinese International pageant as well as the Most Classic Beauty award. Her fluency in English, Mandarin and Cantonese as well as her solid performance has allowed her to emerge as the leading fa dan in the early years. Now becoming the successor of the big screen talent, she is bringing new hopes to the drought of movie industry. Under the appreciation of Johnny To's sharp talent spotting, Michelle Ye has acted in two movies, 'Vengeance' and 'Accidents' which has both been nominated in Cannes and Venice Film Festival respectively.

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Additional pictures
Source: Sohu Entertainment

[「kahing ♥」]

Ooh, congrats on Michelle's nomination
She definitely deserves it, and I'm so happy she is getting known not just around Asia but in other parts of the world too! Can't wait to see her new movies

[Rose]

Wow...Datz great news to all michelle's fans...btw, was she the female lead in all her upcoming movies?? I only watched LCPC and does any1 here recommends to watch her other movies as well?

[Kimmers]

Wow...Datz great news to all michelle's fans...btw, was she the female lead in all her upcoming movies?? I only watched LCPC and does any1 here recommends to watch her other movies as well?

The First 7th Night Michelle is the lead. It's a bit spooky at first..but the storyline is interesting...if you like supernatural and mystery stories. I recommend that. Gordon Lam and Julian stars in that movie as well. That is already released on DVD.

Michelle will be the lead in Accident with Louis Koo. That will be released in theaters Sept 17.

All the other Michelle movies is a bit minor. However I recommend watching Vengeance since the movie is in English and Michelle plays a rather interesting role. Her role is minor, yet she impacts the movie greatly.

She's filming another movie right now with Leon Lai, I think her role might be big in the series..but not sure.

This post has been edited by Kimmers: Aug 11 2009 10 29 PM

[Rain_84]

I personally think Accidents will be good, if not very good, it must be among Michelle's top movies, if not the best, because she is the real lead instead of the guys dominating as usual, and shes working with Louis Koo! I just can't wait.

1st 7th Night is proably another one with an interesting plot, but it probably isn't such a mega production as in it is most probably a low budget movie, but I'd give the script two thumbs up, now we have to see how justice much they do the script with the minimal resources they have...

[Rose]

Thanks a lot 4 d recommednations.....is vengeance realeased in dvd yet?

[foreverleila]

'Accident' And Its Stars Scored High Points At Venice Film Festival
September 11, 2009, Venice
Source: Sina, 163
Credits: RichyKent@ http://heartthrobworld.invisionplus.net



With clever story structure, exquisite footage and excellent performances from its stars, 'Accident' won the admiration from European audience, particularly media outlets. They gave the movie a pretty high mark, received 31/2 out of 5 stars from media and 7.2 out of 10 points from online rating, ranked at 7th place. The highest point belonged to 'Life During Wartime' with 4 stars and 8.09 points. The other Chinese-language film 'Prince of Tears' was in the bottom pack, scored only 21/2 stars from Italy media but only 2 stars from other outlets and 4.71 points online rating, just merely escaped the last place.

Michelle Ye and Louis were highly praised for their acting skills and commented as the golden couple, a perfect combination on silver screen. The critics and fans were convinced Louis will be the heavyweight candidate for the best leading actor award. Michelle Ye was seen as a pleasant surprise and they titled her as 'Asian Goddess'. It's reported that many Hollywood film companies intend to purchase the film copyright to make a remake, following the movie 'Infernal Affairs' that won the glory for the Chinese-language film years ago.

Many also predicted that 'Accident' and its stars Michelle Ye and Louis will be hot candidates for the upcoming year Hong Kong Film Awards and this golden couple will become the backbone of the future status of Hong Kong cinema.

[VTV8]

some behind the scenes pix from The Sniper...such a cute family

Credit @ SeaHorse Town michelleye. org



http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper14.jpg
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper15.jpg

http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...elle/sniper.jpg
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper01.jpg
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper13.jpg
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper14.jpg
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper15.jpg
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper02.jpg
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper03.jpg
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/ye...le/sniper04.jpg

Credit @ SeaHorse Town michelleye. org

This post has been edited by MoonlightD: Nov 7 2009 3 55 PM

Reason for edit: 3 large images max per post. Please leave rest in links or at most 10 thumbnails.

[cogaihalan]

Some new pix of Michelle with short hair
Credits: Seahorse Town www.michelleye.org







http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt96/ha...y/090922_05.jpg

Although she is still sexy with the short hair, but I miss her long hair so much

This post has been edited by MoonlightD: Nov 7 2009 3 55 PM

Reason for edit: 3 large images max per post. Please leave rest in links or at most 10 thumbnails.

[cogaihalan]

I've just uploaded the Lady Yang Intro clip in youtube, u can go there and search. I'm not allowed to send URL here

Some pics of Michelle in this series
Credits: Seahorse Town www.michelleye.org







http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt96/ha...m/090922_04.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt96/ha...m/090922_05.jpg

This post has been edited by MoonlightD: Nov 7 2009 3 55 PM

Reason for edit: 3 large images max per post. Please leave rest in links or at most 10 thumbnails.

[Rain_84]

I can't wait for this series to be up, I actually also prefer to watch her in ancient series just as how she prefers to act in ancient series / movies... Also it is a plus that is is about palace conflicts, my fav genre of ancient series!

[foreverleila]

'Legend of Lady Yang' full of beauties; Michelle Ye plays Lady of Guo legendary beauty
Wednesday October 21, 2009 China
Credits: Michelle Ye's Realm @ michelle-ye.com
Original Link: http://www.michelle-ye.com/bulletin_detail...id=2&id=379
Source: Wangyi Engertainment



Long Xiao Gang's 'Legend of Lady Yang' is currently being filmed, and recently filming photos of Yin Tao, Shi Xiaoqun, He Saifei, Michelle Ye, etc female casts are being revealed. "Legend of Lady Yang' has assembled several beautiful female actresses, and is definitely a series of beauties.

Tang Dynasty's 'Lady of Guo'

As Miss Chinese International pageant and fa dan of TVB, Michelle Ye is definitely a female lead material, and has produced several successful TV series. Michelle who has the ancient beauty grace, deals with matters in a low profile manner, and has an accurate portrayal of role, allowing her skills and beauty to earn the recognition of all her supporters. Her career has been a smooth sail, the transition from TV series towards movies, and who has recently been internationally recognized, and under the recommendation of good friend, Anthony Wong, she becomes Emperor Xuanzhong's (of Tang dynasty) favorite among the chambers of imperial concubines. From this photo, Michelle's gentle grace has brought Lady of Guo's charm to life.

After Lady Yang got the love of Emperor Xuanzhong, this sister of Lady Yang appeared in stunningly beautiful manner and her appearance becomes the focus of attention. Lady of Guo who knows of no boundaries, made used of her sister's power, collects briberies, interferes with ruling matters, stirs nepotism among ministers, while flirting with Emperor Xuanzhong, while also spending nights with imperial cousin Yang Guozhong, knowing no boundaries, and bothers not for etiquette. As elder sister, Lady of Guo in fact receives good education since young, and is a recognized wise beauty. However, Lady of Guo is naturally arrogant, and is flirtatiously beautiful, she does not like making up. Every time she enters the palace, others would be thickly covered in make up with exception of Lady of Guo who simply put on light make up to meet the emperor. Her uncommon personality yet blessed with natural beauty not only won the deep love of Emperor Xuanzhong, but also was granted the special access to palace anytime she feels like to.

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Michelle Ye admits to be a homebody
Tuesday November 3, 2009 China
Credits: Michelle Ye's Realm @ michelle-ye.com
Original Link: http://www.michelle-ye.com/bulletin_detail...id=2&id=381
Source: http://stars.zaobao.com/pages8/movies091103.shtml

Female celebrity, Michelle Ye who was born in Hangzhou, and grew up in the States admitted that she is a homebody.

While filming series in Beijing with Anthony Wong, she accepted an exclusive interview, saying: "I'm more prone to be quiet, unless if I was having a meal with friends, otherwise I don't really go out much, I don't like to shop for clothes."

Will such character be a disadvantage as she is in the entertainment circle? She said: "It doesn't affect, my works are arranged by my manager. An actor's self-cultivation will bring opportunities."

Michelle has different perception towards the four actors she has collaborated with, she said French man Hallyday's gaze is deep: "Friendly and warm. We've become good friends after filming."

She said Director To is very serious: "When not filming, he's like a hero, he weighs loyalty heavily."

She said Simon Yam is a friendly and warm brother. As for Anthony Wong, she said: "He is very skilled and loves to read and write poems, loves calligraphy, and is literate in Chinese as well as foreign literature."

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New version of 'Young and Dangerous' anticipated; Michelle Ye and Jordan Chan in Shanghai
Credits: Michelle Ye's Realm @ michelle-ye.com
Original Link: http://www.michelle-ye.com/bulletin_detail...id=2&id=377
Source: Wangyi Entertainment

19th Oct 2009


Michelle Ye and Jordan Chan in Shanghai


New version of 'Young & Dangerous' anticipated



Hong Kong's popular celebrities Michelle Ye and Jordan Chan are recently filming for Golden Horse award winning director Felix Chong and Alan Mak's new production, the new version of 'Yougn and Dangerous' movie 'Sand Blowing in the Wind'. Both leads were in Shanghai on the invitation of a Europe brand sportswear for a promotion event.

On the evening of the event, Michelle Ye and Jordan Chan arrived at the venue and immediately became the point of attention. Although the organizer has arranged tens of bodyguards, the atmosphere at the scene was still chaotic due to excited fans who were cheering their idols. After their performance that night, Michelle Ye and Jordan Chan were also invited onstage for the closing ceremony of the event, stirring quite a commotion at the scene.

When Jordan Chan was interviewed if his proposal was successful and when will he tie the knot with his girlfriend, Jordan expressed: My work has been scheduled until next year, the soonest is next year, I have to buy a house before getting married so I still need to work hard. Reporters turned attention to Michelle asking if she has plans on getting married, she laughed saying she is too busy and has no time to plan for her lifetime happiness, and does not even have a partner in relationship yet, however friends around her are very anxious to introduce partners to her, when Jordan immediately interrupted, "Don't find good looking ones, find an honest one!", causing Michelle to only smile bashfully.

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'Accidents' unexpected nomination in Asia Pacific Film Festival; Michelle Ye, Louis Koo have hopes for awards
Credits: Michelle Ye's Realm @ michelle-ye.com
Original Link: http://www.michelle-ye.com/bulletin_detail...id=2&id=375
Source: Sina Entertainment



53rd Asia Pacific Film Festival will be organized in Taiwan (Kaoshiung) on 12th until 20th December. A production of Media Asia and Johnny To, with director Cheng Pou Sui and lead cast Louis Koo and Michelle Ye, 'Accidents' has been nominated by Hong Kong film production association to participate in the Asia Pacific Film Festival. Louis Koo and Michelle Ye will be able to compete for the best actor and actress award once again after the Venice Film Festival.

'Accidents' initially named 'Assassination' is about an assassination organization organized by Louis Koo and Michelle Ye, they execute their assassination through accidents-like scenarios. In a series of battle of strategies and courage, it also demonstrates a variety of human nature. The movie has been nominated in Venice' Film Festival due to its impactful and unique theme as well as both the leads' outstanding performances, which have achieved exceptional box office results and is now recognized as the golden partners.

It is revealed that 'Accidents' will be participating in several awards, including best film, best director, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best script, etc.