Press Conference given by Michelle Yeoh and Director Asif Kapadia. Film Far North.

Asif Kapadia  replied to a question  about working relationships saying that some films are very difficult  to work on . He met Michelle in London and  he felt good right away about the working relationship with her. One of the key things for him in making this very demanding film was to encourage people about how great the film was going to be but tempering this with honesty about how difficult the conditions  were going to be. He was sure that Michelle and he were going to be honest with each other . In fact Michelle became the fairy god mother of the production and looked after everybody on the production, actors and crew. There were times when they didn’t have enough to eat and she arrange dfor food to arrive in boxes in the North Pole!   He said that they were really lucky to have Michelle because she cared for everybody. 

Michelle said that when she started on the movie she knew what she was in for and she wanted to be there. It was important that when she reads a script and meets the director and

sees in his eyes that he has a dream and needs to realise it. For her it is very important  to be part of that.  The production was not difficult. The difficulty was the environment and all the people everyday working at minus 40 and most of them had not worked in this kind of extreme climatic conditions before.  They were all on the same boat, literally, and they all had to stick together.  She was lucky to have hear sweet heart , Jean and be able to call him when food was running low . There are many things Michelle can do  but cooking is not one of them!  Jean found us a chef and sent us food, It made their lives a lot more bearable. When you are working with people who are talented and believe in what they are doing , it is not difficult to be part of that team. 

Answering a question regarding her Malaysian nationality and her success in Hong Kong , Michelle said that she started her career in Hong Kong and she owes a lot to the Hong Kong film industry. She is very proud of that and for people who have seen the tremendous movies that have come from Hong Kong in its hay day she was proud of being a part of that. She is  very proud to be Malaysian  and  she is doing a documentary in Malaysia. The Malaysian film industry is not as sophisticated or vibrant as Hong Kong. Movies are not about one person; the government , the people and assistance coming from all different levels. Here in Marrakech they enjoy the patronage of the  Royal Family and this helps tremendously when a school or financing is needed. She said  that  Malaysia had a lot to learn and hoped that she could help the film industry develop there. 

Answering another question Michelle  Yeoh said that as a film maker one was never satisfied “we strive , because I have been a director, but as an actor , I have worked with amazing directors and producers”  who came to her with an idea or script and a message that they want to impart to the audience . As a producer it was much more difficult to try to deliver what the audience want, because at the end of the day there needs to be a strong balance between the commercial and the artistic sides of making movies. The films need to be  made for the audience and the film makers need to know what the audience wants. It cannot be a selfish process . She said that social issues  still needed to be dealt with  and the commercial side had to accommodate this. There were films that were hard to watch but on the other side there was a need to reach out to the younger generation. Barriers needed tro be broken down  and artistic and social movies and commercial big block busters which also carry a message though it was sometimes hard to find. 

Asif Kapadia said that  every one had their view on where the film maker was coming from and this was a difficult to decipher. The filmmaker as to do his best and sometimes a film can take on its own life. Interpretation was a difficult area and a continuing one as people see films at different times of their lives. Life is unpredictable and he recalled that he had visited Marrakech previously at the same hotel and had no idea that he would be in Marrakech again with this particular film in Marrakech. 

A questioner asked how they felt about being Asian and international film makers. Michelle Yeoh said that she was Asian . There are many Asians in America and Hollywood . It had been hard work to breakdown the barriers  and when  “Crouching Tiger hidden dragon” came out; this was the first time that the world realised that Americans could read subtitles! 

They said it would be fantastic if she were as good as “Life is beautiful” which grossed 30 million US dollars and if you could reach that it would be an amazing success because they didn’t think Americans could read subtitles. She believes that Asia will be the future driving force of films.  China is  the only big market left to be tapped into and has  a billion people and there are only a limited  number of screens there. It is a commercial market that is evolving  day by day. She said that they were laughing about it earlier this year when they were doing the publicity for “Mummy III” because these films are shifting to Asia because they want to be part of that market.  China is protecting its market , if a film does not have a co production  agreement  in China  the chances of being one of the 20 worldwide films to be screened in China  are limited. Those filmmakers who want to be part of the Chinese market have to find ways and means to  participate and many film makers are eyeing that pie . Asians have to ensure that films coming from Asia are going to live up to the expectations of  film goers and “we are working hard to ensure that Asian films will be a force to be reckoned with.” 

Asif Kapadia in answer to a question said that directors had to develop there own thoughts themes and ideas .He felt very european  because of his background and that he hadd been brought up having a dual life as an Asian living in a european environment. The different sides to his background  helped him to create for himself. He remembered being in a London production early in his career where the team thought that they  could not  find an arab character so they disguised  a British actior to look like an arab character.  He went out in the street and found an arab man and tool him on set and the production team agreed to take him for the part. It taught him that attitudes could be changed and new ideas could be opened up.  His firdt film made in the UK was not in the English language and he wondered how many British films were not made in English. It was all a question of where you were coming from.