
#SHOWBIZ: Andy Lau accepts 70 per cent pay cut for thriller role
HONG KONG: Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau recently took a 70 per cent pay cut to appear in Herman Yau's crime-thriller, A Gilded Game.
Dimsun Daily reported that Lau revealed investors were hesitant to finance a film about finance that lacked explosions and fast-paced sequences.
"I'm not afraid to reveal that all of us took just one-third of our usual salaries to allow most of the budget to be used for the completion of the film," Lau said.
"As a result, the budget for A Gilded Game was only 20 per cent of that of previous films Yau had directed and which starred me."
In A Gilded Game, Lau portrays an equity analyst with unwavering principles, who becomes a mentor to a new finance graduate faced with a moral dilemma.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Capturing country's diversity through art
Penangite's solo exhibition at Bukit Jalil mall features unity through texture, colour and emotion A PENANG-born artist is capturing the essence of Malaysia's unity and beauty through vibrant textured paintings that celebrate diversity, nature and positive energy. Sandy Lau Lai Pheng, 55, channels her multicultural upbringing into artwork that explores themes of harmony, belonging and the Malaysian spirit. Using textured acrylic techniques and abstract forms, she creates pieces that are both visually captivating and emotionally resonant. 'Growing up in a diverse state like Penang, taught me to appreciate my surroundings and the people around me. 'I want my paintings to evoke unity and bring good vibes,' she said during an interview at The Star's office in Jalan Hang Tuah, Melaka. Lau, who began painting professionally in 2015 after graduating from the Malaysian Institute of Art, said her work was a reflection of her life journey and love for the country's natural and cultural richness. 'I've always been passionate about art. 'It's a way for me to tell stories from my childhood, about growing up in a multiethnic community and to express the strength of our shared identity,' she said. Lau is the author of a Mandarin-language book titled Listen to My Heart, which explores personal reflections and emotional healing themes that often appear in her artwork. Her paintings blend images of hills, rivers, coastlines and everyday life to evoke nostalgia and connection. 'We may not be able to go back to the past, but we can still honour it through art,' she said. Spirituality and inner peace are also central to her creative process. 'My work often carries visions that help others find calmness and healing. 'I believe art can touch the soul and connect us in meaningful ways,' she said. Lau's solo exhibition will be held at Tsutaya Books in Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, until June 29. It features her latest series celebrating Malaysia's unity through texture, colour and emotion.


The Star
31-05-2025
- The Star
Art Hong Kong Expo: Cultural leaders rally to promote HK's global hub vision
In this file photo dated Dec 19, 2024, artists from Guizhou province perform folk dances during the 'Night of Colorful Guizhou' session at the second Art Hong Kong Expo. - Provided to China Daily HONG KONG: Hong Kong enjoys ample strategic determination, as well as a global profile, together with enough policy and talent support to be a frontrunner of the future culture and creative industry, cultural pundits and government officials said on Friday (May 30). The remarks sparked ovations at a cross-boundary exchange session during a forum on Hong Kong's international cultural and creative industry, a highlight of the third edition of the Art Hong Kong Expo, which opened on Friday at AsiaWorld-Expo near the international airport. The four-day expo showcases the city's burgeoning culture and creative industries in a kaleidoscope of themes, ranging from cultural industry integration, digital cultural tourism, and low-altitude economy, to gaming and e-sports, digital creativity, international culture, Hong Kong-mainland culture exchange, intangible cultural heritage, and national trend cultural creativity. Addressing the forum, Raistlin Lau Chun, Hong Kong's undersecretary for culture, sports and tourism, underscored the city's resolve to elevate local characteristic brands such as 'Hong Kong Culture', 'Hong Kong Design' and 'Hong Kong Manufacturing', while strengthening ties with the Chinese mainland and international industry to help step up Hong Kong industrial players' influence in broader markets. 'My bureau will work hand-in-hand with the industry, leveraging government resources to better support creative projects that exhibit big industrial potential,' noted Lau. Recognising creative industries as the city's new economic booster, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government promulgated the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in 2024, aiming to turbocharge the city's establishment of a conducive industry ecosystem and as a platform for international arts and cultural exchanges. Two dedicated government funding programmes — the Film Development Fund for moviemakers and the CreateSmart Initiative for other creative sectors — have respectively approved a cumulative total of over HK$1.3 billion ($165.7 million) and about $3.4 billion in funding that benefited more than 120 film projects and 30,000 enterprises since their establishment, according to the 2025-26 budget. Ding Wei, deputy general manager of the Bauhinia Culture Holdings Limited — the expo's advisor — highlighted Hong Kong's strategic strength as both a 'cultural reception room' for Chinese civilization to engage with the globe and a 'crucial pivot' where international creative resources converge. 'Hong Kong's highly open economic system, international financial platforms, and strong business networks, made it deeply integrated with the global creative ecosystem,' noted Ding. 'This is where Eastern and Western cultures interact and merge, where tradition and modernity shine in mutual glamour.' John Howkins, a leading mover in the global development of creative economies, who is also program leader and academic advisor at the University of Hong Kong's Institute for China Business, added an optimistic note. Hong Kong's greatest asset lies in its free flow of creative talents, said Howkins. He noted that true creativity thrives on free exchange of ideas, and being a regional transport hub with world-class universities offering high-quality programs in the field, Hong Kong is advantageously positioned to attract top faculty and students who can contribute to its creative landscape. - China Daily/ANN

Barnama
29-05-2025
- Barnama
Malaysia Well-Placed To Become Key Player In Global Edutourism Sector
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is well-placed to become a key player in the global edutourism sector, leveraging its strengths in education, cultural diversity, and affordability to attract international students, said Datuk Lau Wai Cheng, president of the National Association of Private Educational Institutions (NAPEI). In a statement, Lau said edutourism, the convergence of education and tourism, offers Malaysia a timely opportunity to diversify its visitor economy while highlighting the nation's educational strengths. "As demand for experiential travel grows globally, international students and families are increasingly seeking programmes that offer more than classroom instruction,' he said. He noted that the country's affordability, cultural diversity and English-speaking environment make it well-suited to capitalise on the growing shift towards edutourism, aligning with Visit Malaysia 2026 by providing learners with enriching experiences that blend education, culture and personal development. Lau added that Malaysia has been able to take the lead in delivering immersive learning experiences that are relevant, inclusive and globally competitive, with strong partnerships, supportive policy frameworks and institutional readiness. 'We are not simply promoting programs through edutourism. We are helping to build mutual understanding, empower communities and shape a future where education extends beyond borders and leaves a lasting impact,' he said. On NAPEI's role, Lau explained that for over three decades, the association has played a pivotal role in enhancing the private education ecosystem and its global presence. By engaging with its member institutions, the association has promoted high standards in academic delivery and supported initiatives that have expanded the global reach of Malaysian education, he said. He noted that NAPEI members have offered short courses for students seeking to improve their English proficiency while immersing themselves in Malaysian culture, incorporating cultural and heritage experiences, collaborations with local schools, homestays with local families, sports tourism, eco- and nature-based activities, as well as modules aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.