At 49, award-winning actress and now director Shu Qi is experiencing a new era in her career. His directorial debut Lass it recently earned her the best director award at the Busan International Film Festival, cementing her evolution from a controversial past to artistic success.
But as Shu Qi celebrates his latest success, an explosive revelation from Hong Kong producer and director Huang Wenquan has reignited discussions about his early years – in particular, the 18+ film contract which almost derailed his life.
In a new video uploaded to his personal YouTube channel, Huang Wenquan revisited the tumultuous story of how he “saved” Shu Qi from a predatory deal with Taiwanese movie mogul Hsia Chun Hung in the 1990s.
According to Huang, the saga began in 1995, when Hong Kong director Wong Jing spotted Shu Qi on the cover of Taiwan’s Easy Finder magazine. Captivated by her extraordinary beauty, Wong sought to bring her to Hong Kong for a series of Category III (adult) films and enlisted Huang Wenquan to broker the deal.
At the time, Shu Qi, then an aspiring model in Taichung, Taiwan, was already known for her poses Penthouse and appear in erotic drama Unexpected challenges. His manager, the late Tai Cheng Liang, son of veteran director Tai Yang Ming, facilitated the meeting.
“She showed up hours late,” Huang recalled. “She looked tired and aloof, but her plump lips were unforgettable. That’s what caught everyone’s attention.”
Negotiations went smoothly and a three-film contract was signed. But soon after, Wong Jing discovered that Shu Qi’s manager had already signed a six-film contract with Hsia Chun Hung — a well-known Taiwanese producer — under which only one film (Unexpected challenges) had been hit.
When Huang Wenquan attempted to redeem the contract, Hsia Chun Hung refused.
“He told me, ‘If I want him to film Category III, he will. Category IV too if I say so. You’ll never buy it,'” Huang said.
After examining the original contract, Huang discovered that Shu Qi had signed it when he was a minor. Seizing the opportunity, he filed a legal complaint in Taiwan to nullify the agreement – and won, both in the initial trial and on appeal.
According to Huang, Hsia’s associates later confronted him in person, demanding “hush money” and threatening to leak private material involving Shu Qi. He refused to pay, arguing that he “had a way to silence the problem legally.”
Eventually, Huang managed to bring Shu Qi safely to Hong Kong, marking the beginning of her transformation from scandal to celebrity.
In Hong Kong, Shu Qi began his career appearing in Category III films such as Long live Erotica AND Sex and Zen II. However, Long live Erotica it became the turning point. Directed by Derek Yee and starring Leslie Cheung, the semi-autobiographical film blurred the lines between commercial and artistic cinema, turning Shu Qi’s once-stigmatized background into a commentary on the industry itself.
Her performance earned her the title of Best New Performer and Best Supporting Actress at the 16th Hong Kong Film Awards, firmly establishing her as a legitimate artist.
But Huang Wenquan’s revelations don’t stop there. She claimed that Shu Qi’s former manager Tai Cheng Liang treated her like a “money machine”. When Tai later requested a blank film contract, Huang refused, suspecting that it would be used to further exploit her.
“Shu Qi came to Hong Kong by herself, working hard and putting her body on the line,” Huang said. “And he still wanted to profit from her suffering. I couldn’t allow it.”
While Shu Qi has not publicly commented on Huang’s statements, the story reignites long-buried questions about the exploitation, consent and vulnerability of young women in the Asian entertainment industry.
Today, Shu Qi is one of the most respected actresses in Chinese-language cinema, an artist who has not only survived but redefined its narrative. Her journey from Category III actress to Cannes Film Festival red carpet icon remains one of the most compelling transformations in the history of modern Asian cinema.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
