Ho Yi
Ho Yi at the 2014 Awareness Film Festival
Born1956 (age 6768)
Other namesHo Yi Wong or Wong Ho Yi
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
  • playwright
Years active1979–present
SpouseVivian Chow
Children1
Ho Yi
Traditional Chinese浩義
Simplified Chinese浩义

Ho Yi also known as Ho Yi Wong (黃浩義) (pinyin Huáng Hào Yì; born 1956) is a Chinese actor, theatre director, playwright and theatre producer of Hong Kong origin. He has lived and worked in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Ho Yi was born educated in Hong Kong. His development as an actor/director coincided with the boom of the Hong Kong "City Hall Culture", a "renaissance" period of the former Urban Council, Hong Kong.

Professional early years

Ho Yi's professional acting career began when the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (香港話劇團), a government subsidized company prepared itself to establish in 1977, Ho Yi became one of its earliest freelance actors. His first full-time acting job was with the government run Radio Television Hong Kong (香港電台) where he worked for three years.

Career in Hong Kong

In 1983, Ho Yi founded Spotlight Productions (浩采製作) in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Youth Theatre Company (香港青年劇團), mainly to do theatrical stage work. Between 1983 and 1997, with his two independent theatre companies, he wrote/translated, produced, directed and starred in a score of stage productions, including two musicals – of which his Pa Pa Can You Hear Me Sing (搭錯車) was with the collaboration of the late David Toguri (Rocky Horror Picture Show and Who Framed Roger Rabbit) as his choreographer. He also worked with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in three seasons.

His signature play American Buffalo (勾心鬥角), first staged in 1986, became known as a theatrical milestone of Hong Kong as written up by "Film Bi-weekly" (電影雙周). Ho Yi's unique and original treatment in the delivery of the rich David Mamet dialogue in Cantonese (Cantonese is now officially recognised as a language) created a new form of acting style known as Wu Li Tou (無里頭) for the Hong Kong stage.

Ho Yi's career as a cross-genre actor, on both stage and screen, extended further afield in the early 1990s. As early as 1992, he produced, directed and acted in China. The following year he broke new grounds in Shanghai, by staging the American play Extremities (以牙還牙) in Mandarin.

He made his English-language acting debut in British television series Soldier, Soldier while still in Hong Kong, followed by a principal role in the film Victory (Wang) directed by Oscar-winner Mark Peploe (co-screenwriter of the Last Emperor), starring opposite Hollywood heavyweights Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill, in 1994.

Filmmaking in Hong Kong

Ho Yi made his feature film directing debut with Thunderstorm (雷雨), for which he also wrote the screenplay and played the leading role, in 1995.

Red Passage ("紅色的迴廊")is Ho Yi's second narrative feature film as a director for which he wrote the screenplay in 2005. It took eight years before shooting began in July 2013. Red Passage is also produced by Ho Yi. It is based on his own story set in 1970/71 and filmed entirely in Hong Kong, in Cantonese. Red Passage had its world premiere at Palm Beach International Film Festival, on 6 April 2014. According to Tim Wassberg's review for Sirk TV of Inside Reel, the film "shows the intersection of both plot and emotion on a human scale [...] this movie from the perspective of the life of one who experienced it can be so compelling [...] It shows the conflict but also, within the character, his revelation."

On 13 September 2014, Red Passage was screened at the Awareness Film Festival in Los Angeles, where it won a Jury Award. On the same day, in the United States, Red Passage was also screened at the Reel Hope Film Festival in Indianapolis. On 24 October 2014, Red Passage premiered in Hong Kong, at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival.

In May 2015, Red Passage was selected by the Garifuna International Film Festival. The film was awarded a "Best Foreign Language Film Award" as well as an appreciation certificate from the City of Los Angeles for "tremendous dedication to the preservation of indigenous culture bringing awareness through films" to Ho Yi personally.

United Kingdom works

After arriving in the United Kingdom, Ho Yi has appeared opposite Brad Pitt in Spy Game (Prison Warden)[1] and Pierce Brosnan in the Bond movie Die Another Day[2] (Mr. Chang). While residing in the United Kingdom, he also appeared in the TV series Thief Takers [3] and a feature film The Secret Laughter of Women[4] with Colin Firth.

In May 2000, Ho Yi appeared, for an entire first run term, in a London's West End production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King & I, with Elaine Paige. British critic Sheridan Morley reviewed in The Spectator and the British Teletext describing Ho Yi as the "Male Star of the Night" for his opening night's performance of The Kralahome.

Works in Shanghai, China

Upon arrival in Shanghai, he appeared in Chinese film Clay fear (陶器人形). For the stage, he directed An Inspector Calls (疑雲陣陣), A Doll's House ("玩偶之家" or "傀儡家庭"), Agent Penny and A Woman's Monologue of the Classics (經典戲劇女獨白) in Shanghai.

Ho Yi was Dean (Professor) of the Academy of Performing Arts of the Shanghai Institute of Film Arts (上海電影藝術學院之演藝學院) for its first year (2004/2005). In summer 2009, Ho Yi published his 32-episode television screenplay Zhou Xinfang (周信芳傳奇之"戲子佳人") in Hong Kong.

Personal life

Ho Yi is married to Vivian Chow (daughter of Peking opera actor Zhou Xinfang), with whom he has one son, Dashiell Edmund Wong.

Major acting credits

Theatre

YearStage playPresenter/ProducerProduction language
1980As Mercutio in Romeo and JulietA Hong Kong Repertory Theatre production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
As Hu Si (胡四) in Sunrise (日出)A Hong Kong Repertory Theatre production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
1981As Morton Kiil, the Badger in An Enemy of the PeopleA Hong Kong Repertory Theatre Production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
Guest appearance in Whose Life is it Anyway?A Hong Kong Repertory Theatre production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
1982As Lucentio in Taming of the ShrewA Hong Kong Repertory Theatre production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
Ensemble lead in Side DoorA Hong Kong Repertory Theatre production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
As Constantine Treplef in The SeagullA Hong Kong Repertory Theatre production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
As the Narrator in Musical FantasticksA Seals Theatre production presented by the Tsuen Wan Town HallCantonese
1983As Edmund in King LearA Seals Theatre Company production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
As Eben in Desire Under the ElmsA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
1984As Wu Song/Xi Men Qing (武松/西門慶) in Pan Jin Lian(潘金蓮)A Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
1985Solo Recital in Hong Kong Philharmonic OrchestraA Midsummer Night's DreamA Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra production presented by the Tuen Mun Town HallCantonese
1986As Teach in American BuffaloA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
As Chen Xuan Ji (陳玄機) in Return of the Sword (還劍奇情錄)A Hong Kong Youth Theatre Company production presented by the Tsuen Wan Town HallCantonese
As Teach in American Buffalo (Second Run)A Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
As Antonio Salieri in Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Salutes AmadeusA Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
As Teach in American Buffalo (Third Run)A Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
As Joe in ExtremitiesA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
1987As Joe in Extremities (Second Run)A Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
As Teach in American Buffalo (Forth Run)A Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
As Len in SavedA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
As Coriolanus in CoriolanusA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
As Nat in I'm Not RappaportA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Hong Kong Arts CentreCantonese
As Teach in American Buffalo (Fifth Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
1988As Joe in Extremities (Third Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Nat in I'm Not Rappaport (Second Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Teach in American Buffalo (Sixth Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Cliff in the WoolgathererA Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
1989Guest appearance as one of the thugs in SavedA Hong Kong Youth Theatre Production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
As Joe in Extremities (Fourth Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Giuseppe Verdi in Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra – Opera ExtravaganzaA Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
1990As Teach in American Buffalo (Seventh Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
1991As Teach in American Buffalo (Eighth Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As George in Same Time, Next YearA Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Joe in Extremities (Fifth Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Charlie Baker in the ForeignerA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
1992As the Vicomte de Valmont in Les Liaisons DangereusesA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
1993As Charlie Baker in The Foreigner (Second Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Teach in American Buffalo (Ninth Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Teach in American Buffalo (Tenth Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
As Roma in Glengarry Glen RossA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
1994As Teach in American Buffalo (Eleventh Run)A Spotlight Productions independent productionCantonese
1995As Roy in Waterloo BridgeA Spotlight Productions production presented by the Urban Council, Hong KongCantonese
2000 to 2001As the Kralahome in the musical The King and I directed by Christopher Renshawat the London PalladiumEnglish

Film

YearFilmProducers/DistributorsLanguage
1985As the Decorator (师傅仔) in My Name Ain’t Suzie (花街时代) directed by Angela ChanA Hong Kong Shaw Brothers Studio productionCantonese
1984As Teacher Chen in Growing Up in Anger (青春怒潮) directed by Clifford ChoiA Hong Kong Independent filmCantonese
1993As Mr. Hong Kong in Mr. Hong Kong Lost in China (香港少爺) directed by Zhang GangA People's Republic of China independent filmMandarin
1993As the Union Leader (工會領袖) in Lord of East China Sea (上海皇帝) directed by Man-Kit PoonA Hong Kong independent filmCantonese
1994As the Volleyball Coach (排球教練) in "Victory (青春火花)" directed by Andy Wing-Keung ChinA Hong Kong independent filmCantonese
1996As Wang in Victory (1996 film) directed by Mark PeploeBob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein, France, Germany, United KingdomEnglish
1995As Zhou Pu Yuan (周樸園) in Thunderstorm (雷雨) directed by Ho YiA Hong Kong independent filmCantonese
1999As Chen in the Secret Laughter of Women directed by Peter SchwabachA HandMade Films and Paragon Entertainment production, United Kingdom, CanadaEnglish
2001As the Prison Warden in Spy Game directed by Tony ScottDouglas Wick, Marc Abraham, Beacon Pictures, Universal PicturesEnglish
2002As Mr. Chang in 007Die Another Day directed by Lee Tamahori Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 20th Century FoxEnglish
2005As the Mad Man in Clay Fear (陶器人形) directed by Zhang JiabeiA Shanghai Film Studio productionMandarin
2014As Teacher Mo in Red Passage directed by Ho YiHo Yi and Emmanuel ItierCantonese

Television

YearTelevisionTelevision company/NetworkLanguage
1982As the First Person/Narrator (第一人稱敘述人) in the Friends episode of the Friends & Places (香港,香港之 "三人行" ) seriesRadio Television Hong KongCantonese
As the Social Worker in Neon Bird (霓虹鳥) episode of the Profile (溫馨集) seriesRadio Television Hong KongCantonese
As Emperor Xian Feng (咸豐皇帝) in The Young Dowager (少女慈禧) seriesAsia Television, Hong KongCantonese
1986As Wan Xi Liang (萬喜良) in The Rise of the Great Wall (秦始皇) seriesAsia Television Limited, Hong KongCantonese
1992As Kwong in Lifelines episode of series 2 of the Soldier Soldier seriesCentral Independent Television, United KingdomEnglish
1997As the Pattern Buyer in Fashion Victims episode of series 3 of the Thief TakersCarlton Television, United KingdomEnglish

Awards

YearName of AwardAwarding Festival / InstitutionCountry / Territory
2014Jury AwardAwareness Film Festival, Los AngelesUnited States of America
2015Best Foreign Language AwardGarifuna International Film Festival, Los AngelesUnited States of America
2015City of Los Angeles Appreciation CertificateGarifuna International Film Festival, Los AngelesUnited States of America

References

  1. Spy Game (2001) - IMDb, retrieved 2023-04-17
  2. Die Another Day (2002) - IMDb, retrieved 2023-04-17
  3. Thief Takers (TV Series 1995– ) - IMDb, retrieved 2023-04-17
  4. The Secret Laughter of Women (1999) - IMDb, retrieved 2023-04-17
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