Call If You Need Me

Interview with James Lee, the director:

Q: This is not your first gangster film; you had done something like that before (Ah Beng Return). Please tell us if you have special interest in gangster film?

A: As a teenager I grew up watching a lot of American and HK gangster films, I think it's natural that most filmmakers come in contact with this genre in their early days because of the dark underdog subject matter and violence involving the characters. Also gangster genre sometimes do portray quite near accurate condition of the society.

Q: We also know that you had seen many gangster film. Which is your favorite and who is your favorite gangster film director?

A: Casino, Good fellas, Hanabi, Martin Scorcese & Takeshi Kitano

Q: Why did you cast Pete Teo and Sunny Pang?

A: Both of them had the ordinary working class look that also at the same time is not intimidating and would just fit in a real world scenario. And I have also seen Pete in a few different roles so it was natural to cast him and as for Sunny it was a working opportunity to work with him.

Q: How were the audience's responses in HKIFF?

A: Have to ask Pete, cause I was in the jury meeting for the Freshwave Award.

Pete Teo as AH SHUN.

Interview with Pete Teo, the actor:

Q: This is not the first time you are cast as a gangster. In fact, you had been cast too many times as a gangster. Why did you accept this role in spite the risk of being stereotyped?

A: I have not been cast as many times as a gangster as most people seem to think. Not counting the cameo role as a pool shark in Ho Yuhang's 'Sanctuary' and Yasmin Ahmad's recent Earth Hour TVC, this is really only the second time I've played a gangster - and the first time in a leading role. Anyway, the role of Ah Soon was too good to pass up. My character was on the surface a pretty violent man - full of rage and somewhat caged - but after a few rehearsals, it became very clear that we needed to make the audience see the tragedy of the man despite all his flaws. So we added lots of dimension to the character that in the end took him away from the stereotypical gangster. I enjoyed playing Ah Soon immensely. As it turned out, he wasn't such as bad man after all.

Q: How was working with James Lee again after Before We Fall in Love and Waiting for Love?

A: I've always enjoyed working with James. It is very interesting how his style has evolved over the last few films. He put different demands on me in each of the films we've worked on - but never unreasonable ones and always with a sense of fun as well as mischief. He is also careful to let the actor bring his or her interpretation to the role - which I happen to believe is the only way to get the best out of an actor. James is also very open to discussion and patient even with dissenting ideas from his cast. For a filmmaker somewhat famed for making his actors 'under-act', he is also a director who understands how to get the best out of actors when he needs it. The charismatic performance of the ensemble cast in 'Call If You Need Me' is a testament to this.

Q: We heard that someone cried during the screening. Can you tell us more about that?

A: I thought that this was a strong film as soon as I saw the rough cut. It was unmistakably a 'James Lee film' - yet it has more than that - it engaged the audience at an emotional level in ways that we never quite saw in other James Lee films. Still, I was somewhat surprised to hear sniffles during the first screening at HKIFF. When the lights went up after the end credits, a film journalist I know came up to me to chat. As it turned out, it was her who cried all the way through the second half of the film. Then the programmer from the Moscow International Film Festival came to me and said he'd like to program the film for his festival. It was pretty clear many were moved by the film. It was the same in the second screening - when Fruit Chan was in the audience. The audience was small, but there was electricity. I was quietly confident that the film will do well after that - and I am not really surprised the film won something. I am happy and proud for James that it did.

Sunny Pang as BLACK KID.

Interview with Sunny Pang, the actor:

Q: Tell us what was in your mind when you first heard that James Lee was looking for you and offering you a leading role in his film?

A: I was very happy that James ask me to be his lead as i know about James through people that I know and festival about him
Never thought I would work with him and I am very lucky that I have work with him and work with other casts and crews.

Q: You have been actively involved in Singaporean independent cinema. As is your first time acting in a Malaysian film, playing a character which is totally different from your previous experience; did you face any difficulties when you interpreted this character?

A: The experience was wonderful and there wasn't any difficulties working with the Malaysian film maker not even a bit, as an indie film actor I have come to understand the pro and con of indie film making regardless of any countries.
For being in different character, I must say thanks to James, Pete Teo and other casts in helping me to understand acting to a whole new level, as I am constantly trying to learn more about acting myself till this stage and I want to come back again to work with the whole group again, if possible.

Q: (I'm running out of questions) anything you would like to say? Any unforgettable moments when you working here?

A: Every moments of the shoot was unforgettable, All I have to say is that the Malaysian indie film maker are good of what they do, no ego, fun, untied and motivated passion towards film making that's what I have learn too, should there be another change for me to come back again, Call me if you need.