Interview with Ridley Tsui (Smoke)

[titothetitan]

MK Center: What made you get the part of Smoke, over all the other applicants?
Ridley Tsui: The producer of MK wanted to use some HK style action, so the lead actor, Robin Shou recommended me to be the action choreographer. We casted some action actors & stuntmen, but were not good enough. Therefore, I took up the role of Smoke.

MK Center: What do you think about scenes of fight in this movie (especially fight between Smoke and Liu Kang)?
Ridley Tsui: Actually I did not like it very much because I did not have enough say in the fight sequences--i.e. the way of shooting & editing. Besides, it was my first
time doing a Hollywood film, so I'm sure it could have been better if I had more say.

MK Center: Do you know why in MK Annihilation Smoke have got Sektor's special moves (I mean about a missile)?
Ridley Tsui: I don't know either...perhaps just to add more elements than physical fighting.

MK Center: What is your opinion about MK Annihilation?
Ridley Tsui: Good storyline that is very suitable for teenagers.

MK Center: Is there a third mortal kombat film in the works?
Ridley Tsui: I heard they are working on MK3 at the moment.

MK Center: Are you working on anything right now at your job?
Ridley Tsui: I just finished an Australian commercial & heading to UK in a few months to work on a project.

MK Center: Do you play any Mortal Kombat games?
Ridley Tsui: I don't play video games at all.

MK Center: How was it to film with Robin Shou?
Ridley Tsui: Very good, because he's a very good friend of mine. We've known each other for a long time & knows my style of working. It was easy to work with him.

MK Center: What do you think about J.J Perry?
Ridley Tsui: Great guy. He's a real fighter--capable & professional action actor who's also easy to work with. We just did an Indian film together a few months ago.

MK Center: Do you know what happened to your costume from MKA?
Ridley Tsui: I don't know...probably still in the studio?

MK Center: Did you do your own stunts or did you have a stuntman?
Ridley Tsui: Of course I did my own stunts on MKA.

MK Center: How long did actually MK: Annihilation pictures last?
Ridley Tsui: I don't quite understand this question. Do you mean shooting days or last in the theatres? If you mean shooting duration, it was about 9 months. If in the theatre, it lasted about a month in Hong Kong...but don't know about rest of the world.

MK Center: Tell me what was the atmosfere on the set?
Ridley Tsui: Very good, everyone was professional & worked hard!

MK Center: How long did you study marshal arts?
Ridley Tsui: Since the age of 7.

MK Center: You played in a plastic (or other material) costume, was it comfortable?
Ridley Tsui: It was tough to move around with the plastic costume.