Alan Chui Chung-San

Chui Chung-San (often known as Shu Zhong Xin, Hsu Zhong-Xin or Alan Hsu; 16 August 1952 – 2 November 2022) was a Hong Kong actor, director, choreographer, martial artist and stuntman. He was known for being an action director and stuntman. Chui was known for films such as The Rebellious Reign, Kung Fu Vs. Yoga, Two Fists Against the Law and 7 Grandmasters; as well as other various Taiwanese television shows.

Chui directed several wireless television series. He was critically acclaimed for choreographing and co-directing Ching Siu-tung's A Chinese Ghost Story.

Background
While attending school, he would often be expelled for fighting with other students. At the age of ten, he was sent to Peking Opera school for acrobatic and stunt training. Soon after finishing his studies at Peking Opera, he joined the Shaw Brothers to continue with his career as an action director.

Throughout his career he made over 130 films including those with various stunt work and acting roles. Chui was also known for partaking in and directing Taiwanese action movies.

Early career
In 1970, he became a stuntman for companies such as Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers. As well as being an on-screen stuntman, he also worked on various TVB productions such as martial arts and Chinese historical dramas. He would also often appear as an extra role in films such as Hapkido, Enter the Dragon, and When Taekwondo Strikes. Alongside Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Ching Siu-tung and others, Chui worked on various other roles throughout the 1970s.

Chui also worked in various independent movie studios and as minor roles in several Shaw Brothers productions, mostly under Chor Yuen's direction and would frequently appear as a supporting actor or extra until 1978.

Success and later career
Later around 1979 and 1980, Chui became known for roles such as 7 Grandmasters (1978), Kung Fu Vs. Yoga (1979) and Two Fists Against the Law (1980), as well as being an action director for the first time in the movies such as Shaolin Ex Monk in 1978 and John Woo's Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1978).

Alan would also frequently be seen in Taiwanese productions through the later 1970s to early 1980s, such as Born Invincible (1978), Revenge of the Shaolin Master (1979), Zen Kwan Do Strikes Paris (1981), The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang (1982) and others.

Chui also helped his long-time friend Ching Siu-tung for the choreography for two films from 1986 to 1987. He first collaborated with Tung to choreograph the Witch from Nepal' starring Chow Yun-fat and Emily Chu. Along with the collaborations with Tung, Philip Kwok, and Lau Chi Ho, he shared the award for the best action choreography. The second collaboration with Tung was A Chinese Ghost Story in 1987, mainly supervising the wiring action sequence and the stunt double for the early Leslie Cheung. Along with the previous action choreographer crew members (Tung, Kwok, Ho and Bobby Wu), he was nominated for the best choreographer of 1987. Alan would later help Wilson Yip for the choreography for the same wiring stunt sequence technique on the 2011 remake of A Chinese Ghost Story.

Chui would also direct his own low-budget action movies such as Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop (1995) starring Yuen Biao and Cynthia Khan and Bloody Secret (2000) starring Anthony Wong and Ray Lui.

Throughout 2005 and 2011, Alan would reunite with the director Johnnie To (Who previously worked in two films starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, The Royal Scoundrel (1991) and Tomorrow (1995)) and would work on some of the critically acclaimed films such as Breaking News, Election 2 and Life Without Principle. After the release of Life Without Principle in 2011, he took a break from film roles and began focusing on television series and wired stunts. He later returned to filmography in Once Upon a Time in Macau - The Way of the Tiger in 2016.

Chui worked on various television shows in the years leading to his death. He played the role of a villain in the 2017 Hong Kong drama series Line Walker: The Prelude.

Personal life and death
Chui was married to his Taiwanese wife. He died on 2 November 2022, at the age of 70. Chui was survived by two children: Chui Ea-Luen (son) and Chui Yik-Mei (daughter).

Filmography as an actor

 * Come Drink with Me (1966) – One of the Little Kids
 * The Rescue (1971) – extra
 * Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972) – extra
 * The Casino (1972) – Gambler (extra)
 * Hapkido (1972) – Hapkido Student
 * The Young Avenger (1972) – Liu's Bandit
 * (1972) – Shi's soldier fellow
 * Duel of the Dragons (1973) – extra
 * Tiger (1973) – Japanese (extra)
 * Iron Bull (1973) – extra
 * The Awaken Punch – Thug (extra)
 * Fist of Unicorn (1973) – Street troupe
 * Enter the Dragon (1973) – Guard (extra)
 * When Taekwondo Strikes (1973) – Japanese who gets beaten
 * The Rendezvous of Warriors (1973)
 * The Rats (1973) – Pickpocket
 * Chinese Hercules (1973) – extra
 * Little Tiger of Canton (1973) – extra
 * Angry Tiger (1973)
 * Ambush (1973) – extra
 * The Tournament (1974) – Japanese student
 * Superior Youngster (1974) – Thug
 * Naughty! Naughty! (1974) – Boss Feng's Thug
 * The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
 * Virgins of the Seven Seas (1974) - Servant/Pirate (Extra)
 * The Young Dragons (1975) – extra
 * Gambling Syndicate (1975) – Casino thug
 * The Super Inframan (1975) – extra
 * Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975) – thug
 * The Golden Lion (1975) – extra
 * Flatfoot in Hong Kong (1975) - Casino Police Informer (uncredited)
 * Killer Clans (1976) – Chuan's Man
 * The Web of Death (1976) – One of 3 Heroes of West Moon
 * The Magic Blade (1976) – Assassin Bum
 * Bruce Lee and I (1976) – Thug at the bar
 * You Are Wonderful (1976) – Killer with knife
 * Oily Maniac (1976) – extra
 * The Girlie Bar (1976) – extra
 * Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth (1976) – Bruce Lee's Student
 * Brotherhood (1976) – Hsing's Gangster
 * Wrong Side of the Track (1976) – Rascal
 * Judgement of an Assassin (1977)
 * To Kill a Jaguar (1977) – extra
 * Last Strike (1977) – Piao's Thug
 * The Sentimental Swordsman (1977) – Hei She
 * The Adventures of Emperor Chien Lung (1977) – extra
 * Death Duel (1977) – Yen's challenger at the woods
 * The Instant Kung Fu Man (1977) – Mok Sai
 * Broken Oath (1977) – One of Qi's men
 * The Fatal Flying Guillotines (1977) – Hero with 3 section staff
 * Mantis Fists and Tiger Claws of Shaolin (1977) – Thug (extra)
 * Pursuit of Vengeance (1977) – Devil's Sword/Imposter/Assassin
 * The Supernatural (1978)
 * Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Part II (1978) – Tan Kwan Yung
 * Shaolin Ex Monk (1978) – Chih Kung
 * 7 Grandmasters (1978) – Ku Yi Fung
 * Born Invincible (1978) – Pa Chu (Senior)
 * The Proud Youth (1978) – Four Friends from Plum Garden
 * Clan of Amazons (1978) – Chongwei's Soldier
 * Flying Guillotine, Part II (1978) – extra
 * Swordsman and Enchantress (1978) – Black Inn's Thug
 * Soul of the Sword (1978) – Pai Kwa Hall's Swordsman
 * Legend of the Bat (1978) – Gentleman Sword
 * The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) – Soldier
 * Dragon of the Swordsman (1978) – Assassin with flying Guillotine
 * Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog (1978) – gets pickpocketed at Casino
 * Game of Death (1978) – extra
 * Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) – extra
 * Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1978) – Kuroi Ryu
 * Incredible Kung Fu Mission (1979) – Lo Tung
 * A Massacre Survivor (1979) – Ling's blade fighter
 * Revenge of the Shaolin Master (1979) – Chiu Chun's Thug
 * Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) – Oriental Fighter
 * The Challenger (1979) – The Spear Fighter
 * Kung Fu Vs. Yoga (1979) – Wu Shing
 * Two Fists Against the Law (1980) – Fang Er
 * Devil Killer (1980) – Liu Da Long
 * War of the Shaolin Temple (1980)
 * Shaolin Temple Against Lama (1980) – Cha Hsiu
 * The Rebellious Reign (1980) – Pak Tai Hau
 * The Loot (1980) – Thief Black Wolf
 * Daggers 8 (1980) – Wang Chen Pang
 * Black Eagle's Blades (1981)
 * Zen Kwun Do Strikes in Paris (1981) – Ken Shiu (Liu's Friend)
 * Kung Fu from Beyond the Grave (1982) – Fang Zheng
 * Night Orchid (1982)
 * Miraculous Sword Art (1982)
 * Dragon Lord (1983) – Lu Chen's Gang Member
 * Swordsman Adventure (1983)
 * Angry Young Man (1983) – Liu Ping
 * The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang (1983)
 * Shaolin Vs. Ninja (1983)
 * Lost Virginity (1984)
 * Demon Strike (1984) – Fan Kuei
 * Five Fighters from Shaolin (1984) – Kum Dat Jin
 * The Innocent Interloper (1986) – Opera Performer (Cameo)
 * The Good Buddies (1987) – Japanese Fighter
 * Story of Nam (1989)
 * The Killer's Blues (1989) – Suet's Father Killed by Ming
 * Manchester Death Warrant (1990)
 * The Fun, the Luck and the Tycoon (1990) – Robber (Uncredited)
 * The Killer (1990) – title char (cameo)
 * The Story of My Son (1990) – Policeman with debt
 * The Monks From Shaolin (1991)
 * The Fatal Game (1991) – Hu Xiongdi
 * The Fatal Mission (1991)
 * Live and Die in Hong Kong (1991) - (Cameo)
 * Royal Scoundrel (1991) – Lo To Keung
 * Running on Empty (1991)
 * The Queen of Gamble (1991) – Kitaro
 * The Little Shaolin Monk (1992)
 * Direct Line (1992) – Lai Jun Tao
 * Girls Without Tomorrow (1992) – Brother Er
 * Powerful Four (1992) – Suspect in Teahouse
 * Angel Terminators (1992)
 * Bogus Cops (1993) – Man bragging at bar
 * The Secret File (1993)
 * The Wild Girls (1993)
 * Last Hero in China (1993) – Lui Yat Siu
 * Beyond the Copline (1993)
 * S. D. U. Mission in Mission (1994) – Mao Ying
 * Tomorrow (1995)
 * Fatal Assignment (1995)
 * Drugs Fighters (1995) – Main villain
 * Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop (1995) – Peter Wu
 * Scarred Memory (1996) – Hu Shing
 * Street of Fury (1996) – Kwong Yan Fai
 * Haunted Karaoke (1997) – Francis Chui
 * Return of Dragon (1998) – Japanese boss
 * Gold Rush (1999) – Tsui Bill
 * No Sweat (2000)
 * Prostitute Killers (2000) – Brother Shark
 * Man Wanted 3 (2000) – Brother Wind
 * Breaking News (2004) – Chun's Target
 * Election 2 (2006) – Uncle Tank
 * Hong Kong Bronx (2008) – Uncle Man
 * I Corrupt All Cops (2009) – Limp
 * Turning Point (2009) – Master Da
 * Vengeance (2009) – George Fung's Bodyguard
 * Adventure of the King (2010) – Beggar
 * A Chinese Ghost Story (2011) – Prisoner
 * Life Without Principle (2011) – Sung's thug
 * Punished (2011) – Yao's ex-triad boss
 * Once Upon a Time in Macau - The Way of the Tiger (2016)
 * My Alien Girlfriend(2017)- Luo Bo Tu
 * Kungfu Stuntmen (2020) - Himself
 * Quan Dao: The Journey of a Boxer (2020)
 * New Kung Fu Cult Master 1 (2022) - Deleted Scenes Only
 * Endless Battle (2023) - Lee Chien Long (Posthumous Release)

Filmography as an action director and assistant action director

 * The Instant Kung Fu Man (1977) – (assistant action director) uncredited
 * Shaolin Ex Monk (1978)
 * Ways of Kung Fu (1978)
 * Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) - (assistant action director)
 * Kung Fu Vs. Yoga (1979)
 * The Incredible Kung Fu Mission (1979) – (co-choreographer) uncredited
 * The Rebellious Reign (1980)
 * Shaolin Temple Against Lama (1980)
 * War of the Shaolin Temple (1980)
 * Two Fists Against the Law (1980)
 * Zen Kwan Do Strikes Paris (1981) – (Co-choreographer) uncredited
 * Shaolin Temple Strikes Back (1981)
 * Black Eagle's Blade (1981)
 * Miraculous Sword Art (1982)
 * Kung Fu from Beyond the Grave (1982)
 * Crazy Horse, Intelligent Monkey (1982)
 * Night Orchid (1982)
 * Shaolin Vs. Ninja (1983)
 * Demon Strike (1984)
 * Witch from Nepal (1986) (Co-choreographer)
 * A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) - (Co-choreographer)
 * Midnight Angel (1990)
 * Fatal Mission (1991)
 * The Killer (1991)
 * Direct Line (1992)
 * The Inspector Wears Skirts IV (1992)
 * Painted Skin (1992)
 * Super Lady Cop (1992)
 * The Thief of Time (1992)
 * The Wild Girls (1993)
 * Magic Sword (1993)
 * Hero – Beyond the Boundary of Time (1993)
 * Fatal Seduction (1993)
 * The Trail (1993)
 * Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop (1995)
 * Drug Fighters (1995)
 * Street of Fury (1996)
 * Haunted Karaoke (1997)
 * Leopard Hunting (1998)
 * White Storm (2000)
 * Man Wanted 3 (2000)
 * Boxing Hero (2003)
 * Internet Disaster (2003)
 * A Chinese Ghost Story (2011 film) (2011)
 * Nightmare (2011)

Filmography as director

 * The Incredible Kung Fu Mission (1979) – (assistant director)
 * Hero – Beyond the Boundary of Time (1993) - (assistant director)(uncredited)
 * Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop (1995) - (co-director with Yuen Bun)
 * Bloody Secret (2000)

Drama

 * The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983)
 * Invincible Swordsman (1984)
 * Genghis Khan (1987)
 * Zheng Cheng Gong (1987)
 * Wing Chun (1988)
 * The Justice of Life (1988) - Gibson Hu Li (Australian Gangster)
 * The Hunter's Prey (1990)
 * The Witness of Time (1990)
 * On the Edge (1991)
 * The Commandments (1992)
 * Gik Dok Hung Leng (1992)
 * The Intangible Truth (1994)
 * The Criminal Investigator II (1996)
 * Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (1996)
 * Weapons of Power (1997)
 * War and Remembrance (1998)
 * A Smiling Ghost Story (1998)
 * Highs and Lows (2012)
 * Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles (2012)
 * Friendly Fire (2012)
 * Highs and Lows (2012)
 * Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackle (2012)
 * Always and Ever (2013)
 * Brother's Keeper (2013)
 * ICAC Investigators 2014 (2014)
 * Young Charioteers (2015)
 * Youth Huo Yuan-Jia (2015)
 * K9 Cop (2016)
 * Come Home Love: Dinner at 8 (2016)
 * Recipes to Live By (2017)
 * Burning Hands (2017)
 * Line Walker: The Prelude (2017)
 * Heart and Greed (2017)

Variety shows

 * The Green Room (Issue 2013)
 * Hong Kong People Say (2015)
 * Sunday Stage Fight (2016)

Awards and nomination

 * 6th Hong Kong Film Awards (1986) - Best Action Choreography (Won)
 * 7th Hong Kong Film Awards (1987) - Best Action Choreography (Nominated)
 * Hong Kong Action Stunt Performers Guild (2023) - Outstanding Action Performance Award (Won, Posthumous Award)