Tony Ching Siu-tung (; born Ching Tung'er on 31 October 1953), also rendered Cheng Xiaodong, is a Hong Kong action choreographer, actor, film director and producer, who has directed over 20 films, including the critically acclaimed supernatural fantasy A Chinese Ghost Story (1987). He produced the expensive music video for "L'Âme-stram-gram" by the French singer Mylène Farmer in the style of A Chinese Ghost Story at a cost of €1 million. He studied in the Eastern Drama Academy and trained in Northern Style Kung Fu for 7 years.
Early life Ching was born in Hong Kong, to parents who had relocated from Shou County, Anhui. He is the son of martial arts film director (also known as Cheng Gang or Ching Gong). As a child, he attended Hong Kong Oriental Drama School for seven years. He first became involved in his father's films at age 17 by acting as a stuntman.
Career Ching began as an actor and martial arts instructor working in Hong Kong action cinema in the 1960s and 1970s (his father, Ching Gong, was a Shaw Brothers Studio director, and Ching Siu-tung had been trained in Peking opera as a child), but he made his directorial debut in 1982 with the ground-breaking wuxia classic Duel to the Death.
Ching worked with producer Tsui Hark on 1987's A Chinese Ghost Story, which became an international sensation, although it was usually Tsui Hark who took most of the plaudits. He continued to work with Tsui Hark, directing sequels to that film in 1990 and 1991, and co-directing all three parts of the Swordsman series, starting in 1990.
Ching continued his role as action director / choreographer throughout this period, and has continued to work in that role on high-profile international successes like Shaolin Soccer (2001), Hero (2002), and House of Flying Daggers (2004).
In 2002, Ching was nominated twice for Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards, and won in 2003 for his efforts on Hero. That same year, he made his American film debut, directing Steven Seagal in the direct-to-video feature Belly of the Beast. In 2006, he choreographed the action scenes in the Indian superhero film Krrish, for which he won a Filmfare Best Action Award and Zee Cine Award.
In 2008, Ching directed An Empress and the Warriors, in which he also served as action choreographer. The film stars Kelly Chen, Donnie Yen and Leon Lai.
Filmography
Director + Year Title Notes1983 Duel to the Death 1986 Witch from Nepal 1987 A Chinese Ghost Story 1989 A Terra-Cotta Warrior 1990 The Swordsman 1990 A Chinese Ghost Story II 1991 The Raid 1991 A Chinese Ghost Story III 1992 Swordsman II 1993 Swordsman III 1993 Executioners 1994 Wonder Seven 1996 Dr. Wai in "The Scripture with No Words" 1997 The Longest Day 2000 Conman in Tokyo 2002 Naked Weapon 2003 Belly of the Beast 2008 An Empress and the Warriors 2011 The Sorcerer and the White Snake 2019 Jade Dynasty
Action choreographer + Year Title Notes1987 A Better Tomorrow II 1992 New Dragon Gate Inn 1993 Butterfly and Sword 1993 The Mad Monk 2001 Shaolin Soccer 2002 Hero 2004 House of Flying Daggers 2005 The Royal Swordsmen television series2006 Krrish 2006 Curse of the Golden Flower 2007 In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale 2008 Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam 2013 Krrish 3
Ching Siu-tung at hkmdb.comChing Siu-tung at chinesemov.com
References
External links Kung Fu Cinema interview
HK cinemagic entry