ANDY NEWS JULY 2000

ANDY NEWS JULY 2000

16/7---Hope not all gone yet, let's work harder to keep the song longer on the chart!!...You are The Pride Of My Life, rolls back to #7 today on S'pore 933 Top 20 charts, 8th times on the chart. Dear fellow S'pore fans, call, call, call, calllll, 1900-912-0933, thanks a lot..

Errata: Madame Tussaud's , not Madam Trousseau

Date: 20 July 00
Source: The Straits Times
Headline: Want a dot.cc domain name? Pay Andy Lau
Entertainer's company has been given rights to sell the Internet name in greater China, and he is throwing his weight behind the marketing effort

HONGKONG celebrity Andy Lau, whose endorsements of products are already earning him megabucks, will use his star appeal to peddle cyberspace next.
A company that he founded, Secure Site Technology, has been given the exclusive rights to market the domain registration ""dot.cc'' in the greater China region.
Companies or individuals that want to own domain names, as Internet addresses are referred to, with the suffix ""dot.cc'' for China, Hongkong and Taiwan must register first with Secure Site.
The celebrity is the chairman of Secure Site.
In the United States, a number of well-known corporations such as Intel, Coca-Cola and Goodyear Tire and Rubber have their websites registered under ""dot.cc''.
The more popular domain registration in the region is ""dot.com''.
As more than nine million ""dot.com'' domain names have been registered by the end of last year, few sensible Internet names are available.
For newcomers, another option to making their presence in cyberspace felt is to register their Internet names with ""dot.cc''.
Secure Site, which will spend about HK$10 million (S$2.2 million) to market the domain name of ""dot.cc'', has already secured its first customer: entertainer Anita Mui, who is a good friend of Mr Lau's.
Sporting a moustache and wispy goatee these days, he emphasised that it was important to have website names registered. And nobody knows the consequences of not having one better than him.
He could not use ""andylau.com'' for several years because somebody else beat him to it.
It took three years of legal battles before he got it back, he recalled on Tuesday when revealing his company's business plans.
""As a result, a lot of my plans were affected,'' said Mr Lau, who exhorted his fellow entertainers to be sure to register their domain names.
And in a subtle message in case there are free-loaders, he said that he, too, has to pay a registration fee of US$100 for a two-year period for the use of his domain name under ""dot.cc''.
Apart from English Internet addresses, Secure Site would also register Chinese addresses.
Mr Lau, whose andylau.com portal site features his music, videos and interactive chatlines, expressed confidence that his company would do well because of his interest in computers.
His portal gets two million page views a day.
Secure Site's rights to market the domain registration of ""dot.cc'' were given by DotCC Ltd, a Malaysian company controlled by businessman Vincent Tan of the Berjaya conglomerate.
DotCC, in turn, received its marketing rights for the Asia-Pacific region from eNIC Corporation, which is a private-held Internet company based in Seattle. It functions as the worldwide registry of the ""dot.cc'' names.
DotCC has plans to market ""dot.cc'' in Singapore.

Diary from andylau.com
18/7---Had 2 press con continuously, all on introducing 'dot cc', the latest internet domain name.
Those I want to say you can read from the papers, I dont want to repeat. If you want to have you own website with your own name, hurry & register. Nite time, went to record audio drama, till 3am, so tired! Andy

Date: 19 July 00
Headline/Source: Andy dreams of setting up Andy Lau Kingdom (Apple Daily)
Andy full of confidence in setting up net kingdom, self-selected web address for Anita Mui (Oriental Daily)
Andy becomes a small entrepreneur, invested millions in domain registration right (Ming Pao)
Andy not giving all to Richard Li (Sing Tao)
Andy to sell regional domain .cc (The Sun)
Andy hopes to be Richard Li the second (Wen Wei Po)
Andy clinches sole marketing right (Ta KUng Pao)
Andy is sharp on web development, but does not want to be the second Richard Li (HK Commercial Daily)

Andy had a press conference yesterday at Jin Cong Hotel. Donning smart full suit, he was like a successful bussinessman. He has become the chairman of Secure Site Technology, & secures the right from the world's domain name right organisation eNIC Corp to sell domain names in Asia Pacific region, with the domain nane of dot cc.

Andy gave a speech, followed by the launch, together with eNIC director they launched the opening ceremony of dotcc.
Domain name is used by compaies on the internet, the commonest used is 'dotcom', but it has exceeded 9 million registration, most usable names had been taken up. The trend on using .cc has spread from America to this region.
Andy Lau becomes the sole marketing proprietor for dotcc in Asia Pacific region. Andy's company Secure Site Technology has set up aweb.cc for the registration & promotion. Registration opens yesterday. Mandarin version will be available from August onwards.
Andy said those companies who could not secure a dotcom domanin name can opt to register with dotcc, or get another dotcc domain to protect its name from being abused. There are abt 300,000 .cc domain ames in the world currently, including Intel, Cocacola, Amazon.
(..wah!...www.katherinelee.cc???)

The CEO of Secure Site Technology disclosed that 10 M will be used to promote in the next 1 year, he predicts abt 250 to 300,000 will register . The contract with eNIC is 4 years, extensible to another 3 years.
Fee for registration with .cc is US$100 for 2 years or $250 for 5 years. He added they have no power over cybersquatting.
Andy said he had waited 3 years to get back his dotcom domain name, he has registerd andylau.cc, & anitamui.cc for Anita. ASked if he needs to pay for it? He said there is no discount for his registration but he is giving it to Anita for free.
Andy said he has big projects on the net, maybe he will set up 'Andy Lau Web Kingdom' next, he hopes to extend to kindergaten, primary, secondary & university, entertainment, life...all inclusive."
Is Andy aiming to be the second Richard Li, reporters asked.
"Dare not, my father is not Li Ka-shing, I am myself."
There was a survey saying that andylau.com is the most profitable & yet investing the least on by CCT multimedia, which has 2 other domains, & can be listed anytime. Andy does not exclude the possibility, he said it is true, but he wont get listed in a hurry, the longer a company is on the amrket, the more reliable it is.

Diary from andylau.com
17/7---Waited for the driver to pick me up at Hai Yi Hotel entrance, the guard at the hotel entrance could not even recognise me as Andy Lau, because I have kept the beard........! Laughed all the way to the car, it was suck a joke. Followed by a series of meetings, from 2 to 8 pm, even the salive dried up, cant be help lah......becuase leaving HK soon. Andy.

Date: 18 July 00
Source: Ming Pao
Headline: Looking at Needing You again

Needing You box office has exceeded 30 million 2 days ago, it is a rare & the best box office collection for HK movies these few years, though the concurrent Hollywood movie M:I-2 has alreday collected 35m & is leading, Needing You collection is catching up.
For years if a HK movie can hit 1 million in box office it is considered good, last year no HK movie hit 30 m ( '99 best box office collection movie is the horror Japanese movie The Ring, which collected 31 m, the whole market was low), this year market is better, at least a few HK movies can attract movie buffs, the point to note is Needing You does not depend on big actions or scenes nor high tech skill, it is only an average model of love comedy.
Johnny To, Han Jiawei group has been filmimg many police-triad movies series... all has its own charastictics & is unique by itself, but somehow the movies are just lacking in drawing power. The movie last year asking Andy Lau to act & revert to comedy entertainment, Running Out Of Time, collected 14+ million, it is the best movie for the year, now Needing without guns & actions has return to the market main stream, reaping a good harvest.

Actually Johnny To had filmed a movie '8 Stars Sending Good News' (literal translation) 8 years ago, it was a middle-class urban love, & had set a new box-office record at that time, he filmed 'Ah Lang's Story' starring Chow Yin Fat, & in '92 Stephen Chow & Anita's 'Death Sentence Judge' had also collected 49 M, Johnny To is actually very experienced in filming comedy movies.
But Needing You is different from To's previous comedy movies, it is very fresh & the attractive point is it caught hold of office love affair, this arouse resonance from the white-collar office group . ...
Needing You is able to bring out vividly a combination of love & office work, very few HK movie is able to combine love, comedy, office politics with a interestinmg theme. Though story of lady-in-grey, it is still very realistic.

The author accompanied his wife to watch the movie again, it is still captivating to watch, but find that the ending is absurd & is a failure. The 'Web Prince' liking Sammi is not unexpected, but making use of it to stage a wedding, has no connection on helping Andy actually, it is too dramatic & illogical. To promote Johnny To's A Time Of Romancce 10 years ago is excusible & playful.
On seeing the movie again, Sammi though outstanding, but if this movie has NO Andy Lau, it is impossible. Comapred to A Time Of Romance 10 years ago, Andy Lau has really become more matured.

Diary from andylau.com
16/7---Fianlly today has no activity, can rest for a day.
But still a few people who are not only good friends, but also good working partners came to HK, for private or for work, I am too hahppy to be together with them, relaxing & talking on new development. Andy

Date: 17 July 00
Diary from andylau.com
15/7---Woke up this am, did 2 very happy & very meaningful things.
The first was there is this small boy called Wang Lin Jie, who has a dream since the age of 3, to take a helocopter, with the help of an organisation, he had his dream fullfilled today.
From the treat given by one hotel, this family & I had a sumptuous free lunch. with pilot's detail explaination, I & Wang Lin Jie samll friend, together with his mommy, a total of 5 people took the helicopter to circle the sky, Wang Lin Jie was really v happy today, this happiness spread to me & all around him!
I turned & went to Ocean Park, with Shen Mei & Xiao Yi & a few hundreds friends spent an afternoon together, though the weather was sometimes rainy sometimes sunny, v unstable, with the enthuthistim of all, everyone was happy & moved!
That 'Ready or not' game is very fun to play indeed! Other than this, the thing to mention is... ... ...
Thanks to Shen Mei & Xiao Yi who brought me a most happy afternoon!

Date: 16 July 00
Diary from andylau.com
(Forgot to add this am)
14/7---Today bought a new computer, put it in the office, so beautiful & satisfied! Went to message board, so happy to see people praised that I am stylish with the new beard, I feel so too!
Ha``ha``..also many different reports, it is better than reading newspapers lah```..Andy
(if you can, please tell me how does Andy type in a dot that is not` nor . but in the center of the line?????)

Headline/Source: Andy Lau led 600 people to set 'man-shoulder-man' world record (Apple Daily)
Andy hopes to set 'man-shoulder-man' world record (The Sun)
Andy sets 'man-shoulder-man' record (Ming Pao)
Andy says artistes are very poor too (Wen Wei Po)
Andy: actually earn so much spends so much (Ta Kung Pao)
Andy bushy look frightens 2 year-old girl, Andy jocked that reporters today are like restaurant waiters (Show 8)

The weather yesterday was somewhat cloudy but Andy was still present at the Ocean Park, he was the guest of Commercial Radio station, to lead 600 people in setting a world record, 'man-shoulder-man'.

The organiser arranged 3 to a group, there were abt 200 groups, they will carry one another at the back for a whole 30 secs, together, with this, they hope to enter Guiness Book Of World Records. The stn also invited 2 ministers to witness the occasion.
Actually Andy wanted to piggyback a 2 year-old girl, but the little girl on seeing Andy's bushy beard, immediately sprang away, refused, no matter how she was coaxed. Later Andy covered up his beard, said that his back has no beard, told her not to be scared, can hold on to his back, but the girl just resisted his invitation, she even hit Andy on his back & turned away. Many fans looking on were all dying to take over her place! Andy carried the 2 DJs Shen-mei & Xiao-yi to accomplish the feat.
Andy was seen bearing the load with his head down, but when the reporters called to take photo of him, he looked up, though appeared much laboured, he still held up a V sign, he is really very sporting.

(Andy was spotted wearing a black thread around his left hand 4th finger, he has a stye, his mother gives him the thread to wear. Andy Town doctor advice: Dear Andy, ....put the thread, but see doctor too, okay?!)
Taiwan-based S'pore singer Stefani Sun was grabbed by a gun-tottoing man at an autograph session, Sylvia Cheng's son was kidnapped recently. Andy said values in society is deteriorating. Actually the artistess because of heavy expendiature, do not really earn much. The newspapers always reported so much an artiste earns, advertising co said so much to employ an artiste, actually it is misreported.
Said Andy, "Nowadays the reporters like to ask the artiste, 7 or 8 ?(figure), these words should be heard in the restaurant, why it also comes from the reporters, sometimes I thought it is at the restaurant where the waiters asked me,"Sir, how many for tea?"
Regarding cooperation with Kelly, Andy said Kelly is going overseas he will announce the news together with her.

Schedule from andylau.com
17 July---andylauworld.com press con
24 July---Filming movie in Thailand (Take note: Thapanee!)

Date: 15 July 00
Headline/Source: 8 costume-change with little exposure, Kelly depends on Andy Lau to attain concert climax (Apple Daily)
Kelly Chen invited Andy as guest but guest stole the show (Sing Tao)
Andy as guest but charm overides the host (HK Commercial Daily)
Kelly Chen concert is like fashion show (Wen Wei Po)

...the appearence of Andy on the stage immediately brought cheers from the whole Coliseum, at the duet with Kelly, cheers & screams from fans almost covered the singing, at Andy's solo it was even worse, the response from audience was the highest, it was the climax for the day. Luckily Kelly does not mind the guest stealing her show, she said, "Andy what, sure welcome la..Most important is the atmosphere is good, this time really has to thank Andy for helping..."..
(Comment of a fan from andyalu.com message board---no matter how much Andy tried to hide his brillient showy display or tried to be in low profile, his entrance is the climax of the night...., Thanks from Andy Town.)

Source: Ta Kung Pao
Headline: Andy only asked for peace of mind

Andy is keeping the beard for filming movie, said he, "Not sure how long I have to keep.." Do you have to trim everyday? "Of course must trim everyday, otherwise it is very ugly, how to meet people." Yes, Andy who is always conscious of his look, no matter how he change the look, he will not change his usual style in being impeccable...
On the matter of misundertanding on change-face, Andy said it is not important, he just asks for peace in heart for all the things he does...

Diary from andylau.com
13/7---Thinking back, it has been 3 months since I get the Best Actor award, until today still have poeple treated me to dinner, is a group of real bosom friends from the media, they from sort of '8-beauty picture arrangements', it is like '8-beauty acconmpanying the King......really happy! Everybody chat & laugh, no restrains, for a long time I do not have such a relaxing lunch, before I leave, even give me a big cake, really so thankful to speachless!! Andy

Date: 14 July 00
Headline/Source: Metro Station to promote Mandarin songs (Ta Kung Pao)
Metro Station to hold 'Red & White Singing Contest' for HK & Taiwan singers (Show 8)
(Special thanks to Hsiu for the info.)

In order to promote Mandarin songs, HK Metro 104 Station, in collaboration with Taiwan 'Flying Saucer' Station, TVBS, will jointly hold a 'Good Friends Musical' Award ceremony at Exhibition & Convention Center on the 27th of Sept (...huh?! Andy's birthday!). The contest is between HK & Taiwan singers. 21 awards will be given to singers from both sides. (...must give one to the birthday boy...)
Metro 104 Station director Liu Tian Lan indicated that this award ceremony is first of its kind, it will solely based on fans voting, fans from HK & TW who has an identity card can vote, wherever he is in the world. But HK fans can only vote for TW singers & TW fans can only vote for HK singers. From the votes, 10 singers from each side will be selected, the 20 singers will receive the awards & perform live that night, one other singer from outside HK & TW such as S'pore, M'sia, Mainland, will be given an award.
A list of nominees will be released at the end of the month, fans from both sides can vote thro' www.musicfriendlyaward.com. then.
The programme will be telecasted live, at the end of the show, there will be a on-the-spot voting, to see which group performed better, an award 'Good Friend Musical Memorial Award' will be given to the winning group. The contest will be once a year. The singers must sing in Mandarin.
This is an imitation of the Japanese Red & White singing contest, it aims to inspire best out of the singers.
Lately there are many lovebirds in the music circle, such as Nic & Faye, Ekin & Gigi, Daniel & Cecilia, this contest by Metro Station is like asking these couples to cooperate, to avoid appearing together on the same stage, they may forgo the awards. To this, Tian Lan is not worried, because TW fans will vote for HK singers, their liking may be different, as to who can be nominated is still unsure, if they are already worried then it is tad too early, she believed the singers are professional, they will not absent themselves because of this. If it really happen, arrangements can still be made.

Source: Show 8

...Andy was guest at Kelly Chen's concert last night. Andy & Kelly are really not too familiar with one another, how is it Andy is invited as guest? Kelly's manager Chong Chen & Andy are both involved in movies, so when Chong Chen invited Andy, Andy agreed without hestitation. (Andy Town: Andy is the best person!...). Though Andy is invited as guest, he is not unserious abt it, he even went to the Coliseum for rehearsal one day earlier.
...Andy was guest at curtain closing. When Andy appeared, the whole Coliseum turned high instantly, it was the climax for the night. Though it helped to move the concert atmosphere, it stole the limelight form Kelly. Andy sang a solo Only You In Heart & dueted with Kelly Moon Represents My Heart.
Kelly said she does not mind Andy stealing the show as long as the audience likes it. She is thankful to Andy for being so helpful, she disclosed that they will have some colloboration in music later on, details will wait for Andy to disclose.
Andy will hold a charity concert 'Dao Ti Andy & Friend Concert'for the Nature Foundation on the 13 Sept, proceeds will all go to the Foundation. The response accordingly is very good....

Source: Apple Daily

...Deng Penghui was interviewed by the media in the Mainland, he said he wont be teaching Andy privately, & Andy is not learning from Sichuan School, the only wish he has now is to let the matter rest...
(Andy Town agrees, the less is talked, the better...)

Diary from andylau.com
12/7---Went to Coliseum for rehearsal today, when I stepped onto the stage, a thousand feeling overwhelmed me, really fell it, really really wish can have own concert again soon! Andy

Date: 13 july 00
Source: Wen Wei Po

...Li Li-cher's newly established publishing company, 'Li Publisher', will cooperate with andylau.com, to publish story serials on the net, few books were launched at its opening ceremony, many friends including Andy lau attended...

Source: The Sun
Headline: Kelly Chen's concert has Andy Lau as guest for the first show

Kelly Chen 6-nights concert at the Coliseum kicks off tonight, Andy Lau will be her guest for the first night, William So, Andy Hui, Wang Lihom are the other guests..

Source: The Sun

..Box-office for summer holiday movies: M:I-2 collected 33 millions in 20 days, Needing You 26 millions in 19 days, Little Darling (literal translatiion) 7 mil in 12 days, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 7.4 mil in 6 days. HK movies are still far behind Western movies, Needing You is considered to be doing not bad...

Diary from andylau.com
11/7---Today shoot photos for album cover, this is the first time the album cover having moustache, not sure what the feeling is like when it comes out? But, I think everyone wont mind! Everyone wishes I can try different looks, right? Since I am one in the showbiz, has so many different styles, try lah! Andy

Date: 12 July 00
Headline/Source: Andy's wax figure to be in London (Ming Pao)
Andy as happy as a lark on hearing wax figure will be made(Sing Tao)
Andy plans to learn Sichuan opera (Ta Kung Pao)
Andy targeted by wax museum (Apple Daily)
Andy feels high talking on wax figure (Show 8)
Confirmed to learn art of change-face, Andy follows regulations paying full school fee (The Sun)
(Andy Town: ...wahlau!! Pic on the far right.... so man & superhandsome...)

Andy attended KOD Karaoke opening ceremony yesterday, he was told about the news of being spotted by Mdm Trousseau Wax Museum. Appeared to be shocked at first, he said, "I have not been informed officially, not sure true or not, but even if they dont choose me, they have considered me, I am already very happy..."

He said he is chosen maybe because he represents the most hardworking artiste in the showbiz.(Andy Town:...so humble...)
Andy said he has not thought of what to wear for the wax figure, but he thinks he will wear chongsum. But Jacky Chan also wears chongsum? Andy eyes blinked, "Jacky can wear, so can I. Though both are chongsums, the feel & look is different."
In his past showbiz history, Andy has 2 occasions when he is happiest & most unforgettable. One is getting Best Actor award & Most Popular Singer this year, the other is when he was awarded Most Popular Singer 10 years ago. Talking on this, Andy is still all smiles & happy.
Yesterday Andy also admitted that he can now enrol in Sichuan Opera Research School to learn Sichuan opera & change-face. Andy said there are many valuable Chinese cultural art besides change-face in Sichuan art, he has been exposed to it before, he wont dare to say he will glorify the art, but as a Chinese he hopes to be exposed to the Chinese cultural art, as in calligraphy.

Asked when is he starteing? Andy said he has not decided, as in this near future he is busy with work, but the moment he has time, he will learn. He said he will be attached to Sichuan Opera Research School, but he may not need to go Sichuan, the teacher may be able to give him private tuition. He added he has to learn not only chane-face, but the opera, including singing, hand-gustures, & of course the language first. He will pay full school fee like any other student. The reporter pressed him when he is starting? Andy said do not ask him, as he is not sure of the date too, he has felt the pressure, just in case he fail to learn the art, he is embarassed.
He hopes everyone can allow him to learn peacefully, & do not disturb him.How long will he take? Andy said it depends on individual ability.

Source: Oriental Daily
Headline: Andy's look most formidable, Jacky most funny, comic looks of Huang Hui Hong exposed

...Li Li-cher invested 5 million on a publishing company, at the opening ceremony, many of the shobiz friends including Andy Lau came to support, 5 comic books were lauched... Andy wrote reviews of books
In one of the comic book on Huang Hui Hong, Li LI-cher had drafted a few comic looks taken from the artistes' face to be used as the lead figur of the book. It will be used only after permission is granted by the artiste himself.
The artistes include Andy, Alan, Ekin, stephen & Jacky Chan, everyone is comical, but the most good-loking & forminable is Andy Lau....

Source: The Straits Times dated 11/7
Headline: Andy Lau allowed to study at Sichuan opera school
Sichuan Trick
Beijing's ban on Andy Lau mastering the art of bian lian finds a solution when he is told he could learn it by joining a Sichuan opera school Ban lifted for Andy Lau in a roundabout way.

HONGKONG singer Andy Lau might have a passion for face-changing or bian lian, the Sichuan art of changing faces on stage.
But it is the Chinese authorities who appear to be changing more faces than Lau, who has shown a dogged persistence and desire to learn the traditional art.
Two months ago, Beijing had banned Lau from being allowed to learn the art, saying that it is a trade secret and should not be taught without authorisation. But, on Sunday, news surfaced that the Chinese authorities are now ready to give him the okay to learn it.
According to Taiwan's Central News Agency, China's Sichuan Opera School and its official Xinhua News Agency are arranging for Lau to take the more proper route of joining a Sichuan opera school to master the art instead of learning it from Sichuan opera instructor, Mr Peng Denghuai.
In May, Sichuan's cultural authorities had objected to Mr Peng accepting Lau as his disciple to learn the skill.
Bian lian is a performance technique of changing face masks in a matter of seconds, which is unique to Sichuan opera. Artistes using the skill change their masks so quickly that the audience barely notice it.
The Sichuan Opera School had also rebuked Mr Peng, its instructor, for promoting himself as the ""Master of Bian Lian''. Mr Peng is the world record-holder for changing faces at a rate of 14 faces in 25 seconds.
The apparent change of mind appears to be due to a recent appearance by Lau and Mr Peng in an advertisement shown over broadband on the website of Hongkong's Internet Service Provider, HKNet.
The ad, apparently sanctioned by Xinhua as a way of propagating the bian lian art, had featured Lau and Mr Peng showing off the face-changing skills.
HKNet (www.hknet.com) had commissioned the TV commercial to launch its high-speed Internet broadband service.
It says the commercial, shown on prime-time TV over TVB Jade and ATV Home, is to showcase the key values it now brings to Hongkong: ""Quick to change, power to lead''.

Diary from andylau.com
10/7---Dont know why? Many friends after watching HK beauty pageant, all come to ask me, is your moustache real? Never thought you are so big-size!
Truly speaking,,,,I am really very big-size, dont want people to say I am thin everyday, moustache of course is real, I just want to do a new look for everyone to see, I feel so handsoeme, so style yeah !

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since 12.7.00