Tzi Ma
Tzi Ma's Response
Q: How was the role of Henry Wah different for you, playing the husband of your real-life partner?
Tzi: It was fantastic. I normally don't like to talk or reveal my motivations about my work 'cause you lose the magic of giving the audience's imagination the chance to fully participate and transport themselves to another place and time.
... This time I will make an exception 'cause who knows when my wife will play my wife again? The last time that happened was in an episode of “Martial Law,” a CBS series with Sammo Hung as the hero and I -- his nemesis. And I ended up shooting Christina dead. ☺. Every husband's fantasy. ☺.
With Dragon Boys, however, it's a drama with characters so well written and so complex that working with someone who truly can pick up your every subtle nuance on a subconscious level is rare with a total stranger. So, Christina and I were blessed with that rare opportunity as Actors, and I believe the audience do benefit from our “real-life” to “reel-life.”
I hope by revealing a little of what is underneath the surface did not take away too much of your viewing pleasure but to enhance it by knowing all of the emotional life of these characters are real. That’s all an Actor can ask for.
(Tzi Ma, via email. December 14, 2006)