- Title: Raman Hui and Bai Baihe present fantasy epic "Monster Hunt 2" in Berlin
- Date: 18th February 2018
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 18, 2018) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR RAMAN HUI SAYING: "Actually, when I first worked with her I didn't know how to direct actors. And I would give her weird direction and she would look at me like... (BAI SAYING OFF CAMERA (English) "I think you know") Now I know. Now I think I'm more comfortable doing that now."
- Embargoed: 4th March 2018 21:32
- Keywords: Monster Hunt 2 Berlin Film Festival record breaking Chinese blockbuster director Raman Hui Bai Baihe Tony Leung Chiu-wai
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA005832UXQL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The director of China's biggest blockbuster said on Sunday (February 18) he was "totally surprised" with the success of his film, "Monster Hunt", while its sequel broke records on its opening day in China.
"Monster Hunt", a fantasy epic about an ancient Chinese town where monsters and humans live side by side, became China's biggest grossing film of all time in 2015, making a record $380 million in the box office.
Its sequel, "Monster Hunt 2" was released on Feb. 16, coinciding with the Lunar New Year holidays, taking $85 million, the biggest single-day performance in Chinese box-office history.
Starring A-listers Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Bai Baihe, the film follows the journey of a young couple in search of their son "Wuba", a friendly monster baby capable of bringing eternal peace between humans and monsters.
Releasing the sequel at the Berlin Film Festival, director Raman Hui said he hoped the film's universal theme would also help it succeed internationally.
"The core of the story is about love and family. Even though we have a different culture and different customs, we share the same values," Hui told Reuters TV.
The director, whose background is in animation, said the biggest challenges for him in making the movies were handling the set and giving directions to his actors. This time around things were easier, he said.
Bai, too, said making the sequel had been easier thanks to the experience gained on the first film set.
The actress said her young son had become a big fan of the movies.
"When I should go to work he always asked me 'what you are shooting, is it Monster Hunt 2?' If I say 'yes', he will say go, go go, you can go," she said.
Hui said his film was timely because it was about tolerance and acceptance where humans and monsters could live together. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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