And they both inspired Hongkong writer/director Derek Yee enough to make the movie, The Truth About Jane and Sam.

"About 10 years ago, I met a girl named Jane. I was captivated by her wild character, and that was what I wrote into this movie," said Derek, 41, in an interview with The New Paper on Monday.

"Then, in 1995, I also met this guy called Sam. He was very pure, very innocent."

"So the idea formed in my head. I thought it would be very strange if I put them together," said the director.

The second movie from Raintree Pictures, in collaboration with Derek's production company, Film Unlimited, stars Channel 8 actress Fann Wong and Hongkong singer Peter Ho.

The real Jane and Sam, both Hongkongers, never met, but Derek built a romance around their characters.

In the movie, however, Sam (Peter Ho), is Singaporean and Jane (Fann Wong) is from Hongkong.

As to why Derek chose to make Sam a Singaporean, he smiled and explained: "I don't know how true it is, but I heard that Singaporean are more simple and pure."

He admitted, however, that it largely had to do with the collaboration with Raintree.

He also thought it would be fun to have a Singaporean play a Hongkonger and vice versa.

"Singaporeans are used to seeing Fann play a Singaporean. There's nothing new about that," he said.

But, said Derek, there's no difference between working with a Hongkong actor and a Singaporean actor.

He said: "Basically, all actors are the same. Fann's expressions and the ways she did things were how I saw the character, even though her looks aren't the same."

STAR MAKER He launched Anita Yuen and Shu Qi But will Hongkong director Derek Yee do the same for Fann Wong, who stars in his latest outing, The Truth About Jane And Sam? "It is very possible that Fann will be nominated at next year's Hongkong Film Awards," he says.

JOINT VENTURES 'GOOD'

Derek, who is best known for his film, Viva Erotica which starred Shu Qi, revealed that Hongkong film companies are doing more and more joint ventures with overseas production companies.

Partly because the film industry is declining in Hongkong.

"We can no longer depend on just one market. Many countries want to co-produce with Hongkong and this is good for the whole industry. Of course, we must be able to find subject matter that applies to both countries," he said.

He also felt that Raintree's idea, to co-produce with foreign companies, is one which would help the local film industry.

"When Hongkong started, we learned a lot from the Hollywood people who came over. Similarly, Singapore can benefit from Hongkong's experience," said Derek, who included some Singaporean crew for this film.

The Truth About Jane And Sam opens here on July 8.