Herman Yau

Herman Yau Lai-To (Chinese: 邱禮濤), born 1961 in Hong Kong is a film director, scriptwriter.

Background

A Chiuchow by origin, Yau studied film at The Department of Communications, Hong Kong Baptist College from 1981 to 1984 where he spent much of his early days hanging out with music lovers and making independent films.

Upon leaving school, Yau devoted most of his time working in the film industry, and writing for a number of magazine and newspapers as a columnist and freelance writer. Yau has also participated in a number of productions including music videos for Chang Kuan, Jie Cheng-jiang, Anthony Wong, Jacky Cheung, Andy Hui and the American jazz player Eric Marienthal. He has also produced TV commercials and promos for the Hong Kong Film Awards.^[1]

From 1997 to 1998, Yau participated in the filming of a TV series produced by Radio Television Hong Kong. In 2003, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Independent Committee Against Corruption, the ICAC produced a television drama series and invited Yau to direct one of the episodes.^[2]

Yau is also one of the founders of the cultural newspaper, Chinese Youth Weekly, and two movie magazines (these three periodicals have stopped releasing). Yau has also published two books of his own.

Career

Yau has produced and directed over 70 movies, which include The Untold Story, The Untold Story III, War of the Underworld, Walk In, Ebola Syndrome, Master Q 2001, From the Queen to the Chief Executive and the Troublesome Night series.

Yau's films have also been shown in the Hong Kong International Film Festival and film festivals in Europe and the United States. The Untold Story and Ebola Syndrome were praised as "cult classics" (Yau himself considers Ebola Syndrome as his most achieved work). From the Queen to the Chief Executive was awarded the Golden Torch Award by the International Catholic Organization for Cinema and Audiovisual.

In 1997, together with a group of people coming from different fields who share the same belief in writing and the power of words, Herman founded Step Forward which specialises in publication.^[3]

In 1999, Hong Kong Polytechnic University invited Herman as their first "Artist-in-Residence". For seven years, from 1996 to 2002, the Hong Kong Art Centre invited Herman to be a member of the jury for the "Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards".

In 2002 and 2003, Herman was invited as a consultant for the "Master Degree Programme in Multimedia and Entertainment Technology" and Art Consultant for the Hong Kong Art Development Board.^[4]

Filmography

• 1987: Tragic Hero – Co-Cinematographer
• 1987: No Regret – Director
• 1988: The Truth – Cinematographer
• 1988: Reunion – Cinematographer/Music
• 1988: Law or Justice – Cinematographer
• 1989: Triads: The Inside Story – Cinematographer
• 1989: Sentenced to Hang – Cinematographer
• 1989: Stars and Roses – Cinematographer
• 1990: Vampire Kids – Co-Cinematographer
• 1990: Fantasy Romance – Cinematographer
• 1991: Don't Fool Me – Director
• 1991: Freedom Run Q – Cinematographer
• 1991: My Flying Wife – Cinematographer
• 1991: The Magic Touch (film) – Cinematographer
• 1992: With or Without You – Cinematographer
• 1992: Best of the Best – Director
• 1992: Deadly Dream Woman – Cinematographer
• 1993: No More Love, No More Death – Director/Cinematographer
• 1993: The Untold Story – Director
• 1993: Taxi Hunter – Director/Scriptwriter
• 1994: Don't Shoot Me, I'm Just A Violinist! – Co-Director
• 1994: Fearless Match – Director
• 1994: Twenty Something – Co-Cinematographer
• 1994: Cop Image – Director
• 1995: No Justice For All – Director
• 1995: City Cop II – Director
• 1995: Highway Man II – Co-Cinematographer
• 1995: Red Zone – Cinematographer
• 1995: There's Rock'n Roll in China – Director/Editor
• 1996: All of a Sudden – Director
• 1996: Ebola Syndrome – Director
• 1996: Adventurous Treasure Island – Co-Director
• 1996: War of the Underworld – Director
• 1996: Best of the Best – Actor
• 1997: Walk In – Director
• 1997: Troublesome Night – Co-Director
• 1997: 97 Aces Go Places – Cinematographer
• 1997: Troublesome Night II – Director
• 1998: Troublesome Night III – Director
• 1998: Troublesome Night IV – Director
• 1998: 9413… – Producer/Cinematographer
• 1999: Troublesome Night V – Director
• 1999: Fascination Amour – Director
• 1999: Troublesome Night VI – Director
• 1999: The Untold Story III – Director
• 1999: The Masked Prosecutor – Director
• 2000: Crying Heart – Cinematographer
• 2000: Time and Tide – Co-Cinematographer
• 2001: Master Q 2001 – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2001: From the Queen to the Chief Executive – Director
• 2001: Nightmares in Precinct 7 – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2001: Killing End – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2002: Happy Family – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2002: Shark Busters – Director
• 2003: Give Them A Chance – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2003: Happy Go Lucky – Cinematographer
• 2004: Herbal Tea – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2004: Papa Loves You – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2004: Astonishing – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2004: Dating Death – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2005: Himalaya Singh – 2nd Unit Director
• 2005: The Unusual Youth – Producer/Cinematographer
• 2005: Seven Swords – Co-Cinematographer
• 2006: Cocktail – Co-Director
• 2006: Lethal Ninja – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2006: Love @ First Note – Producer/Cinematographer
• 2006: Fatal Contact – Producer/Cinematographer
• 2006: On The Edge – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2007: Whispers and Moans – Director
• 2008: True Women For Sale – Director
• 2008: Gong Tau: An Oriental Black Magic – Director
• 2009: Permanent Residence – Cinematographer
• 2009: Rebellion – Director
• 2009: Turning Point – Director
• 2010: The Legend is Born – Ip Man – Director
• 2011: The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake – Director
• 2011: Love Actually... Sucks! – Cinematography
• 2011: Turning Point 2 – Director
• 2012: Love Lifting – Director/Scriptwriter
• 2013: Ip Man: The Final Fight – Director
• 2014: Kung Fu Angels – Director
• 2015: An Inspector Calls – Co-Director
• 2015: Sara – Director
• 2016: The Mobfathers - Director
• 2016: Nessun Dorma - Director
• 2017: Shock Wave - Director/Scriptwriter

References

External links

• Official website
• Herman Yau at the Internet Movie Database
• Video Interview of Herman Yau on 9 Dragons