Pauline Chan Bo Lin belongs to what is known in Hong Kong film circles as the second wave of lll rated actresses (the first being Veronica Yip and Amy Yip). Pauline Chan has appeared in 20+ films and gone from being a 17 year old beauty pageant contestant to a seasoned pro who has learned (the hard way) about all the trappings that come from the industry, its lure of easy money and the people that wheel and deal it.
For Pauline Chanit has been a rocky road but a recent new found stability is paving the way for a brighter future. Born in 1975 and raised in her home town of Shanghai, China, Pauline's first exposure to the media came at the age of 17 when she entered the Miss Asia Pageant sponsored by TCV, Hong Kong's second largest television network.
Immediately there after she headed straight for the quick buck and flash stardom of the lll rated movie scene. For Pauline Chanit was the fastest way to use what she had to get what she wanted; money and exposure (no pun intended). Her producers felt the same way; a tall leggy Pauline Chan to seduce any man who gazes upon them. Both sides figured the other correctly and it created a highly profitable box office sizzle. But even with all the money Pauline Chan never saw the film business as anything more than a fast food job (the McD*nalds of motion pictures).
Her
real aspirations for the future lay elsewhere. In late 1991 and right through
1992 was Pauline's most productive time in the lll rated genre pumping
out hits like the melodramatic revenge film THE GIRLS FROM CHINA, the cannibalistic
sex fantasy
EROTIC GHOST STORY 3 or sleazy potboilers like ESCAPE FROM
BROTHEL.
It was during this time that she was most often cast as
an attractive woman of ill fortune. ESCAPE FROM BROTHEL pedestaled that
stereotype by casting Pauline Chain as a low rent whore whose sympathetic
involvement with her ex-boyfriend lures her into organized crime.
Though she broke out of that mold for films like ANGEL
THE KICKBOXER (bit part only) and ROGUES FROM THE NORTH, she was quickly
rerouted back into . whorish roles in films like A WILD PARTY and BEHIND
THE PINK DOOR.
All the while Pauline Chan was actively pursuing her childhood
dream of a singing career. She was receiving lessons from the renowned
vocalist Chan Kit Ling and by May of 1992 she had signed a record contract
with a company in Mainland China.
During this time her schedule had become extremely hectic.
Between film shoots she was performing live concerts in Mainland China
and as far away as America. In August 1992 she even took part in a large
festival styled show in Taiwan, singing along side many other singers and
dancers.
The
money she earned from such performances was generous. In an inter view
with Affairs Weekly Magazine #658 Pauline Chan claims that one concert
in Atlantic City alone earned her a 6 figure salary. She then went on to
say how, in the course of a week, she spent every last dime of it in New
York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles buying clothes.
She maintains "I find it easier to buy outfits in the States because the clothes are bigger there. My legs are 44 inches long and most clothes in Hong Kong don't come in my size" Apparently neither do most condos as it was rumored that Pauline Chan had to move several times just to find enough closet space to hold her vast wardrobe.
After a string of concerts in the U.S. Pauline Chan traveled to the Philippines to produce and star in a fluffy romance, travelogue drama entitled A SUDDEN LOVE (1992). The film, in which Pauline Chan plays a photo journalist whose tropical vacation leads to romance, was her own financial attempt to separate herself from the usual sex driven characters that producers heaped upon her. But upon her return to Hong Kong an interview appeared in the magazine FRESH WEEKLY #567 (5117/92) in which Pauline Chan said the film was trouble and vowed never to produce again. With such a busy schedule Pauline Chan was often perceived as a workaholic.
Pauline Chan later attributed her busy film schedule and
recent stage performances in Mainland China as the reason for not seeking
the required medical attention. As busy and productive as Pauline Chan
was that year she just couldn't seem to get her record deal off the ground.
As 1992 came and went so did promises by her management
to finally put her on vinyl (or CD as it were). By early 1993 Chan was
sick, concert performing was starting to get the better of her. To make
matters worse she was shooting a movie in Tai wan when someone lifted her
cellular phone and ran up over $2,000(H.K.)dollars in phone calls.
Then a so-called friend stole her wallet and took out
a $200,000 (H.K.) dollar loan on her credit card. Fortunately both thieves
were apprehended and Pauline Chan was exonerated from all charges. Coupled
with the stress, such incidents were sufficient evidence to make Pauline
Chan realize she'd had enough of this business. So in April 1993 after
a string of completed films, Pauline Chan officially announced her retirement
from the lll rated film industry.
Surprisingly this decision coincided with the emergence
of two new faces, Yung Hung and (Loletta) Lee Lai Chun. Like Pauline, Yung
Hung was a former beauty contestant (claiming the title Miss Asian Pacific)
while Lee Lai Chun was an already established actress (with better than
25 dramatic films to her credit) who suddenly stripped off her clothes
and dived into the lll rated scene.
Because of Yung Hung and Lee Lai Chun, Pauline Chan claims
she was neglected by many former producers and work had become scarce.
With the industry behind her Pauline Chan left Hong Kong and returned to
her home town of Shanghai where she stayed with her mother and continued
to practice her singing.
In 1981
It was during that time that she contemplated returning
to school for either business or languages. To Pauline Chan it was a way
of possibly securing her future. For unlike many 3 rated actresses, Amy
Yip among them, Pauline Chan was against finding some rich Asian gentleman
to take care of her.
She is, and always has been, an aggressive self-starter
who prefers to fend for herself and live her life on her own terms. But
like many Hong Kong residents she re mains skeptical about 1997 and is
already planning residence out side the country. Her first choice would
be either Singapore or the U.S., Canada she says is too boring.
In regards to schooling, Pauline Chan first considered
San Francisco, but an over abundance of friends who reside there would
be too great a temptation for here to neglect her studies. Knowing that,
she settled on Hawaii.
That was in the summer of '93. As of the summer of '94
she has yet to follow through with her plans. Upon her return to Hong Kong
in August 1993 Pauline Chan was confronted with a posse of reporters and
scandal hunters just waiting to. pounce on her for the release of several
lll rated movies (i.e.: SEX FOR SALE, SPIDER FORCE) all of which gave her
star billing.
In a story that appeared in Oriental Sunday, September
26, 1993 a reporter accused Pauline Chan of being a hypocrite, saying "First
she says she quit the industry and now she has more movies coming out".
Pauline Chan immediately denied all involvement with such films claiming
they were the fabrication of dishonest producers would took "end cuts"
(scenes never used) from her old films, spliced them into a new film and
then billed it as a new Pauline Chan movie. That process infuriated Pauline
Chan but it was nothing new.
In a past interview with Fresh Weekly Magazine #615 (5126193)
Pauline Chan stated "when they do that it makes me look bad because
I tell people I'm retired and then another movie comes out. Some of those
producers have no conscience." So now, even though she gets million
dollar offers to return, Pauline Chan refuses to reacquaint herself with
producers of lll rated films. Her goal now remains a singing career, a
move that would follow in the footsteps of former lll raters Veronica Yip
and Amy Yip.
Unfortunately Pauline Chan has had little success. Even
with an endorsement from superstar Andy Lau who called her "one of
the best new singers with potential she has yet to hit the recording studio.
In response, Hong Kong entertainment tabloids have had a field day with
her career and aspirations. Headlines like "CHAN BO LIN NOT AFRAID
OF BAD OPlNlONS and "PAULINE CHAN WANTS TO END SANDY LAM 'S CAREER"
were frequent attention getters. But behind it all there lay the truth.
In a story that appeared in Oriental Sunday#143 (1/30t94) Pauline Chan
stated that the reason for the continued delay in her career was that she
was waiting for her record producer, Tsai Yat Khan (who produces for Jacky
Cheung) to give her the go ahead.
That go ahead was suppose to happen on June 4th, 1994
but the recording session was can celled. Pauline Chanhas since filed for
con tract re negotiation which would in effect allow her to break ties
with the company -who just recently threw her a$1 ,000,000 (H.K.) dollar
birthday party.
According to a report in Metropolitan Weekly #560 (7123194)
the contract in question assured her 3 album releases between 1992 - 1995.
One can only assume that the canceled recording session on June 4th (the
producer never showed) was the straw that broke the camel's back. In the
same article Pauline Chain is quoted as saying she doesn't blame her producer,
rather the company itself for misrepresentation and poor management. Pauline,
stern as ever, continues to promise her fans a forthcoming album release. Cover Page Index
But
as careful as she was to guide her personal life and finances, there was
carelessness. Foran extended period of time in July 1992 she neglected
to re move her contact lenses and contracted an eye infection. Another
time she took over a month to see a doctor regarding an ear ailment.
During
this time she had a complete physical and discovered her recent bouts of
fatigue and stress were linked to low blood pressure and a slow heart beat.
Fortunately it was nothing too serious. In June 1993 she traveled to Hawaii
where she stayed until the end of July.
|
