Five stars led by Andy Lau will set their glamorous images aside to play breakthrough roles in Protégé, a movie described as Hong Kong's answer to Traffic and Donnie Brasco.

 

 　

 Five stars in the movie

 

Based on a true story, the film will have Andy Lau playing a big-time drug dealer with Daniel Wu as his protégé. Louise Koo, Anita Yuen and Zhang Jingchu will round out the cast. 　　

 

During a press conference on August 3, the actors said they undertook extensive research for their parts. Koo and Zhang said they spoke with recovering drug addicts, while director Derek Yee met former dealers referred to him through police contacts.

 

The stars' dedication to their art stopped short of completely getting into their roles, as they denied they had ever used drugs or considered using them to prepare for their roles. 　

 

Protégé'producers say the film will portray the underworld realistically and emphasize the message that "drugs kill and drugs are bad". 　　

 

The US$4.5 million project is backed by finance from England, the US, Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Singapore.

 

It is due to be released early 2007.

 

(CRI August 7, 2006)