Josie Ho
Interview with Josie Ho
Josie Ho
Butterfly (Hu Die)
Hong Kong 2004, dir. Yan Yan Mak, 124 min.
Cantonese with English subtitles
Friday April 7 - 19.45 hours - Rialto Amsterdam
by Angela Dress
Currently filming a gangster movie with Johnny T o in Hong Kong – working title Exile, Josie Ho will take time out from her shooting schedule to visit us in Amsterdam for Cinemasia 2006. She will be in town from 6 th –9 th of April, and will attend the CinemAsia Filmlab reception at The Binger Filmlab on April 6 th and will come to the festival party in the Power Zone on April 7 th . Prior to the party itself, she will of course also attend the screening of Butterfly at the Rialto , in which she plays the lead, Flavia.
CinemAsia caught up with Josie in Hong Kong to talk about her role in Butterfly...
C – So, it's two years or so ago for you now, but the movie is a big draw for us at the festival. It's quite an unusual role, so I was wondering what it was about that role that appealed to you so much.
JH – When I read the script I really liked it, there was one particular scene where the major character Flavia and her mother went to the beach, and her mother decided to commit suicide, taking her kid along. Obviously she didn't succeed, but then in the script it says that Mom took Flavia to get new clothes because they were soaking wet. So they went to get new clothes and pick up Father and meet the family for dinner. They sit there as if nothing happened – they never said one word. To me that's deeply touching, that scene – Flavia's relationship with her mother is so deep that they don't even need to talk about it.
C – You talk about that scene in an interview on an extra DVD that comes with the feature, you were saying that it would have been a great scene for the back–story of Flavia's character, because then you would understand so much more about her and why she's so withdrawn
JH – That's the whole reason why I wanted to do this movie because I really liked that scene
C – And then it wasn't in the final cut, they took it out?
JH – yeah (laughing)
C – That's a shame!
JH–yeah, but that's alright, I think the film is still complete and very good as it is
C – I think it's a very impressive film – you talk in that DVD interview about how challenging you found the role – did you have doubts about taking that role on?
JH – I did – I really liked the script, but I was really doubting myself, and if I could deliver this character well because I've never done such a thing and it was a giant challenge for me. I was struggling because I was wondering if I should take it on as I did not feel very confident with it but I liked the story so much and after all I decided, ok, I'll take this challenge on, I'll take on this responsibility. But after each take I'd always ask Yan Yan (Mak – Director of Butterfly) if that was enough – Have I done enough? Was I good enough? I was so nervous about it.
C – Why were you so nervous about it? Was it because of the subject matter? I mean it's partly a gay love story but there's a lot more to the film than that, but was that the main reason for your nervousness or was it more about the film as a whole? There's a lot in that film it's not just about the love story, it's set against the backdrop of all the unrest in China when the girls are younger…
JH – Well my problem is basically because the character herself is so withdrawn, that I was afraid I might not be able to express that enough on screen. I wanted to give more and Yan Yan kept telling me, that's alright, it's enough, you don't need to give any more, I can see your acting, and it's good enough. The way I used to perform in other films was very different, everyone always asks for more. Everyone always thinks that the way I perform is maybe under–acting. They always push me for more, that's why I was afraid because it's a huge responsibility to take this role on. And it is the gay thing, because it's hard to show how you love this other girl.
C – Is that because the character is such a withdrawn character so it's hard for her to show a lot, I think, it's not just her love for this girl, it's about all the other kinds of restrictions she feels on her life.
JH – Yeah – that's why!!
C – There's a really interesting quote from you on that in that DVD interview – you said that you'd really grown through that role, and that you'd met “ a new me”…
JH – Yes, actually I found a new side of myself through this film, through this performance and the experience of the whole process.
C – Is that because you changed your methods, as you say on the DVD, and decided to go much more on instinct, because it seems that it was a kind of role that you hadn't taken on before…
JH – That's right, because I used to try all kinds of different ways to act, and I was kind of lost. Everyone wants something different. So I really didn't know in my own core, what is the right feeling – when is it right, when is what I'm doing right. But after this film I finally understand that actually when you really feel each moment, than that's right, there's no need to do anything more.
C – It's a very under–stated performance, but I think that's perfect for that character, precisely because, as we've said, she'd been so withdrawn.
JH – yeah that was a surprise to myself because, if I'd acted like that in any other films, the director would have cut me immediately!
C – But that's what was required for that character, so I think you did a good job! Was it a rewarding experience? I get that impression from what you are saying….
JH – Yeah it's a great feeling! I found out that there is another side of myself that I can actually expand, that it's unlimited
C – That was that was the next question – do you think that it expanded your range as an actress?
JH – Yes! Definitely! I hope I never lose that feeling again!
C – Two years on, has your perspective on that movie changed at all? Is there anything you regret?You've said that you felt at times that you'd been a bit conservative in your performance, but that's part of the understatement, I think. But how do you see it now, 2 years later?
JH – I still think the same, I still think I could have made it more colourful, even though it's under–stated. If I'd been a much more experienced actor or if we'd had more time to work on this.
C – Was it done in a short space of time?
JH – Yes I think so, and the time span of each shooting day was between 18–22 hours. That's really stressful – we shot that film in one and a half months. Knowing that you have to go to work for 18 hours each day. After half of the day your energy level drops and it's really hard to push it. It's due to the budget problem, that's they way we had to shoot it.
C – Is that something that you find in independent film in general, that your budget restraints squeeze your shooting time?
JH – It is definitely one big problem with Hong Kong that we don't have enough funding. And it affects everything, everyone's tired. The lighting crew is tired, the camera crew's tired, the director's tired, all the actors are tired!
C – About the gay thing….Did you get a lot of annoying questions from the press about it?
JH – Well not surprisingly I had a lot of weird questions from the press, but surprisingly I have a lot more fans in the gay community now!
C – Well I'm not surprised! But what kind of weird questions did you get then, can you remember any?
JH – Oh it was awful, in Hong Kong they kept asking you all kinds of purely “physical questions”….
C – I think that misses the point really because it's a role, you're an actress, that's what you do – it receives that kind of attention from a certain kind of press, I think
JH – Yes to me it's just loving somebody, and this time it's just different, it's a girl! It's the same thing, it's loving somebody's soul, it's the way you love someone, it's the same as if you love a guy
C – Do you think that taking that role had any effect on the work that you were offered after that?
JH – After that? I was approached for a few other “gay” roles, but I never got a better script than Butterfly, so I thought I'd better just stick with that!
C – So do you have any plans to work with Yan Yan Mak or any of the cast again?
JH – Yeah we're planning something….!
C – Oh?!
JH – Actually I just had a drink with Yan Yan last night. We're planning to shoot something in China within this year. She was telling me that we might be able to work with our dream cast. Both Yan Yan and I, we both really fancy some other actors from Taiwan and China . I think Yan Yan's going to approach them so we'll get to work together.
C – Can you say anything about what the project is, or is it too early?
JH – It's too early…!
C – So what kind of other projects do you have on at the moment? What's going on right now?
JH – I'm producing my 5 th CD, and Yan Yan's doing one of my music videos
C –You played at a Hong Kong music festival as well – do you see yourself combining that musical career with your acting, or is acting taking priority?
JH – Acting definitely takes priority – singing is my hobby. Every time I release a CD it's a conceptual CD, more like a multi–media product.
C – So what's the CD called?
JH – It's going to be called Desperate ! It's about humanity, it's about what human beings will do when they are desperate..Actually the Chinese translation of the title sounds like a very pretty girl's name!