Producer, supplier, distributor ... Salon Films touches all aspects of film in Hong Kong for almost 50 years. Its founder, TC Wang, and his two son, has another passion: French culture. And they never missed an opportunity to host French film shooting. Fred Wang back on these collaborations.
"My father was attracted to France, great country of art according to him," says Fred Wang. The word "lounge" inspired him a lot without knowing its exact meaning at the time. This resonated with the arts show in Paris, and referred him to many images it was classy. It is that it has selected French flair to create the name of his company. " Thus is born Salon Films in early 1959. "The first film he worked was The World of Suzie Wong". The film American Richard Quine, with William Holden and Nancy Kwan is very successful and can sit the little fledgling company.
The main activity of Salon Films is to provide equipment on movie sets. The company has also diversified into the production and distribution of cinematographic works. "We have always offered many services, technical or financial, for cinema," says the officer. And our collaborations with France have been many! "Starting with the company Pathe Overseas Georges Bigot, which we have already spoken. "We have known he had become a close friend. "
In 1974, Greetings from Hong Kong, the film Chariot is one of the first opportunities to shoot Franco-Hong Kong. Wang's brother Fred, Charles, was in charge of the case. "There was very strong cultural differences between French technicians and those from Hong Kong. There were often misunderstandings and implementation of the work was not always easy. " The stunts have resulted in some funny situations. "The French had requirements that the teams here were not ready, yet fun Fred Wang. Since then, our stunt is are much improved! "
Overall, the French were coming in very relaxed on set because" many laws allow them to rest and tranquility. Teams from Hong Kong, by contrast, have different benefits and should always be alert. " Fred Wang was not surprised by more than reason for these differences. "In 1965 I went to France as a student, he recalls. I did an internship at the ORTF long! I've had a great time! "
Charles Wang, his elder brother, followed very closely all records Filming French, facilitating the best possible achievement. He otherwise has been rewarded with the distinction of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. For the Guardian Angels in 1994, the team of Jean-Marie Poire sought in vain for a place to film. Charles Wang proposed the headquarters of Salon Films, on Devon Road in Kowloon Tong ... to serve as a backdrop to the film.
"I also remember that the film Emmanuelle 2 [1975] gave us some problems in terms of technique: we had brought the U.S. All new cameras, took Fred Wang. It was the first When the French used them and they fell down. We had to schedule a repair at a distance by telephone with the U.S. ... in 1975, it was not so easy now! ".
And Fred Wang to evoke nostalgia and even all these years of relationships, Charlot Coluche (for Banzai 1983), until the most recent passage of Alain Delon. "We welcome Alain Delon during his vacation in 1997, he is famous in China for Zorro," says the entrepreneur. Moreover, during his visit, he has even been talk of remaking of this film! "The projects are numerous and show films Fred Wang is always busy. About a new collaboration with France? "Why not, obviously ... It is true that it's a little quieter in recent years, but we're always ready."
The main activity of Salon Films is to provide equipment on movie sets. The company has also diversified into the production and distribution of cinematographic works. "We have always offered many services, technical or financial, for cinema," says the officer. And our collaborations with France have been many! "Starting with the company Pathe Overseas Georges Bigot, which we have already spoken. "We have known he had become a close friend. " In 1974, Greetings from Hong Kong, the film Chariot is one of the first opportunities to shoot Franco-Hong Kong. Wang's brother Fred, Charles, was in charge of the case. "There was very strong cultural differences between French technicians and those from Hong Kong. There were often misunderstandings and implementation of the work was not always easy. " The stunts have resulted in some funny situations. "The French had requirements that the teams here were not ready, yet fun Fred Wang. Since then, our stunt is are much improved! "
Overall, the French were coming in very relaxed on set because" many laws allow them to rest and tranquility. Teams from Hong Kong, by contrast, have different benefits and should always be alert. " Fred Wang was not surprised by more than reason for these differences. "In 1965 I went to France as a student, he recalls. I did an internship at the ORTF long! I've had a great time! "
Charles Wang, his elder brother, followed very closely all records Filming French, facilitating the best possible achievement. He otherwise has been rewarded with the distinction of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. For the Guardian Angels in 1994, the team of Jean-Marie Poire sought in vain for a place to film. Charles Wang proposed the headquarters of Salon Films, on Devon Road in Kowloon Tong ... to serve as a backdrop to the film.
"I also remember that the film Emmanuelle 2 [1975] gave us some problems in terms of technique: we had brought the U.S. All new cameras, took Fred Wang. It was the first When the French used them and they fell down. We had to schedule a repair at a distance by telephone with the U.S. ... in 1975, it was not so easy now! ".
And Fred Wang to evoke nostalgia and even all these years of relationships, Charlot Coluche (for Banzai 1983), until the most recent passage of Alain Delon. "We welcome Alain Delon during his vacation in 1997, he is famous in China for Zorro," says the entrepreneur. Moreover, during his visit, he has even been talk of remaking of this film! "The projects are numerous and show films Fred Wang is always busy. About a new collaboration with France? "Why not, obviously ... It is true that it's a little quieter in recent years, but we're always ready." FD.
Sources and photo credits: thank you to Mr. Fred Wang for the time we spent, and the documents he has kindly placed at our disposal.
Photo captions, top to bottom: A, Wang brothers about their father, Charles and Fred left to right; B, Sylvia Kristel Emmanuelle on the set of 2 Hong Kong C, Alain Delon as it passes in the Wang family.
Photo captions, top to bottom: A, Wang brothers about their father, Charles and Fred left to right; B, Sylvia Kristel Emmanuelle on the set of 2 Hong Kong C, Alain Delon as it passes in the Wang family.