HK actor Nicholas Tse was in KL on July 9 to promote his latest action film, 'Customs Frontline'. Photo: ART CHEN/The Star
As a child, Nicholas Tse would often imitate action stars Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen.
Now at 43, the Hong Kong actor has finally fulfilled his long-time dream of choreographing action scenes.
In Customs Frontline, Tse not only headlines the action flick but it also marks his debut as an action director.
The story follows customs officers Chow Ching Lai (Tse) and Cheung Wan Nam (Jacky Cheung), who stumble upon illegal weapons aboard an abandoned cargo ship.
When a gang of mercenaries led by the elusive arms dealer Dr Raw (Amanda Strang) steals the confiscated weapons, Ching Lai teams up with Interpol in a high-stakes mission to recover them.
However, the investigation becomes complicated when Wan Nam makes a drastic decision.
Tse makes his debut as an action director in 'Customs Frontline'. Photo: Handout
From the outset, viewers are treated to an adrenaline-pumping sequence where Tse’s character chases a mercenary on a boat and engages in a fierce fistfight.
As the movie progresses, we see him executing various rolls and participating in thrilling shootouts, car chases and underwater combat.
To bring his character to life, Tse started preparing a year before filming began.
He adhered to a strict diet, reducing his salt and starch intake.
“I also underwent moderate- harsh training to ensure I was fit enough to execute my stunts without getting hurt,” he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur last week.
One of the most memorable scenes in the film occurs at the halfway mark when his character leaps onto a cargo container suspended by cables.
The setup for this sequence alone took about seven days to complete due to the extensive logistics involved.
But the real challenge was executing the stunts for this scene, which took Tse about a month to perfect and wasn’t without its mishaps.
Tse had to be lifted about seven storeys off the ground for one scene in the film. Photo: Handout“I once forgot to remove my glasses while practising. When I fell, they got pushed up, causing a cut near my eye,” the award-winning actor told Hong Kong media.
Tse was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Instead of worrying about his health, he was more concerned about filming his scenes on time.
“The official shooting was scheduled to begin in two days. Thankfully, I was able to conceal my (injury) using makeup,” he said, noting that the wound took a month to fully heal.
Leading by example
That incident alone should have given Tse every reason to appoint a stunt double or rely on CGI and green screens.
However, he refused to do so in the name of preserving “traditional Hong Kong cinema”.
In Customs Frontline, many of the explosions used were real, with Tse standing as close as a metre away from a blast for one scene.
When asked why he insists on risking himself, Tse – who made his acting debut in 1998 – explained that it was just how he was trained.
“I believe in pushing actors to their limits using real props rather than green screens as it brings more authenticity to their performance.
“I want to continue the tradition of risking myself to perform action scenes in Hong Kong films.
“It’s why I chose to become an action choreographer for the first time in my acting career,” said Tse who has two sons aged 16 and 14 with his ex-wife, Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung.
Tse’s dedication to his craft earned praise from industry professionals and fans.
Director Herman Yau, who accompanied Tse to KL to promote Customs Frontline, shared that he entrusted Tse with choreographing the action scenes as he valued the actor’s passion for action.
Tse stood as close as a metre away from a blast for one scene. Photo: Handout
“He has always been curious about many things on set since he was young.
“There was one time he suggested doing an action scene differently and it came out so well.
“When we make a film, we need to find someone with passion.
“It’s better to work with someone who takes initiative instead of someone who only waits for directions,” the 62-year-old said.
Even Jackie Chan has taken notice of Tse’s enthusiasm for action.
Chan, who has voiced frustration over the lack of recognition for stuntmen in an era where most action scenes rely on special effects, told Chinese media that he has “finally found a successor” after witnessing Tse’s efforts for the movie.
In response to the comment, Tse humbly said at the KL press conference that he isn’t worthy of such a title as no one can replace seniors such as Chan who have established themselves as “legends” in Hong Kong’s action scene.
“These seniors have been training since they were in their teens and early 20s, and I don’t dare think of myself as a successor.
“I just hope that through my small efforts, I can influence the next generation’s interest in Hong Kong action films,” said the former bad boy of Hong Kong.
All-rounder guy
Beyond his acting prowess, Tse is also a gifted chef.
He previously travelled to Malaysia in 2018 to compete with Canadian chef David Rocco in a cooking production and frequently shares his culinary adventures on Instagram as “Chef Nic”.
Additionally, Tse is a talented singer-songwriter.
He made his singing debut with the album My Attitude in 1997 before shifting his focus to acting the following year.
He wrote and composed the official theme song for Customs Frontline, titled A Far Off Place, which is performed by his co-star Cheung.
Tse described his experience working with Cheung as “exciting”, noting that it was a rare opportunity to star opposite the “God of Songs” and even rarer to write a song for him.
Tse (left) and Cheung star as a close mentor-mentee pair in the movie. Photo: Handout
“He’s a gentle and flexible person. We have known each other for a long time but barely keep in touch. It’s very seldom you get chemistry this natural,” Tse recounted.
Tse’s last released an album, Chef Nic, in December 2015.
When asked about potential plans for a concert tour, the singer-actor neither confirmed nor denied the possibility.
“I have very high standards for concert productions,” he added.
As for whether he would stage a concert in Malaysia someday, Tse responded: “If I can, I definitely will.”
Customs Frontline is showing at cinemas nationwide.
