Trivia / Forbidden Nights

• Dawson Casting: Liang Heng was 25 years old when he met Judith, who is the same age as him. The actor who portrayed him, Robin Shou, was 29 years old when he took the role. He was four years older than his Co-Star Melissa Gilbert, who portrayed Judith at the same age of the time they started filming the TV movie in 1989.
• Keep Circulating the Tapes: Forbidden Nights has only been released on VHS and no other medium. However, the full movie can be found on Youtube to watch.
• Luminescent Blush: Robin confessed in an exerpt that he doesn't like filming Rape nor sex scenes as it makes him feel embarrassed to have been involved. So if anyone is weirded out by the Birthday Sex scene between him and Melissa, now you know.
• Playing Against Type: Many of Robin Shou's Hong Kong film roles before Liang, with the exception of Burning Ambition, Death Cage, and Fatal Chase, were either as villainous henchmen affiliated with the Triads or assassins such as in City War. His first main villain roles in Fatal Termination and Tiger Cage 2 would follow later in the same year.
• Star-Making Role: An Exerpt from Robin goes into detail about how this happened. Thanks to Robin accepting his role in the TV Film, it laid out a foundation that lead to him getting the lead role in Mortal Kombat: The Movie. That's right! A cheesy, low budget Romantic TV Film where Robin made love to Half Pint helped Robin become the Chosen One to fight Shang Tsung and save Earth Realm.
  I have to say this was a dream come true for me and as an Asian American actor. It was one of those project that comes only once in a life time, like Mortal Kombat, where the central story revolved around a Asian male.

  It'd been three years since I left L.A. to pursue my happiness in HK. I'd been getting bit parts here and there but I was doing really well for a newbie. They were mostly action stuff, of course.

  I got a call to audition for an American movie. I didn't think much of it as first. I figured they wanted some body guard or a triad guy. Anyhow, I went in and met Tristin Rainer, the movie's writer/producer, and Marcia Ross, the casting director. Then they asked if I could come in again and do some reading. Wow, I though, "I have lines?!" Excited and surprised. I took the lines home and memorized them. The next day, I went in, dressed for the part - white shirt and grey trousers. I read, then they stop me and gave me some direction. I read again. This time I read all the way through. They didn't say very much, but I got a sense that they liked it. And that was it.

  A month later, they called and asked if I could go to the States to read with Melissa Gilbert. Wow, go back to L.A.? A free trip! First class and a limo ride! That was awesome.

  After I arrived, I lock myself in my room and study my lines. The very next day, I had to go to CBS to read with Melissa. I was very nervous. I remember I was sitting outside in this long hallway, waiting. I'd never been to a studio before so it was an eyes opening experience.

  The door opened, they called me in. There were about six people in the room. I recognized Tristin and Marcia. I forgot the others names the minute they introduced themselves. I acted the scene with Melissa. It was very wired. I'd never acted with another actor before so it was very surreal. After I finished, they said thank you and I left.

  Few days later, I got a phone call from Marcia. I got the part! I couldn't believe it. We all got together to celebrate—Tristin, Marcia and me. I told them I didn't really know what I was doing during the audition and that I was surprised I got chosen. They said it was because I was inexperience so I was authentic to the part. They didn't want an "actor actor" they wanted someone real. And, later, Melissa told me, in one of the scene, I have a line telling her that I love her. When I said the line I nodded, "Yes, I love you," and the other actors who auditioned, they all shook their head left and right like, "I'm saying the line, but I don't mean it."

  So here's a lesson for all actors, say the line with intension—like you mean. Don't play the attitude.

  I had an amazing time on the shoot. Made many friends. In fact, to this day, I still keep in touch with Marcia. She's been an excellent friend.
• Write What You Know: The story is based on the article The Rocky Course of Love in China written by Judith Shapiro.

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