News ... or mere Rumours?

October 2002

-- Hero Trailer --

Hero Official Site has been launched and, together with it, the release of the much awaited trailer (with English or Cantonese commentary) to the movie.

-- Jackie Chan Lowers Fee for The Twins Effect--

Actor Jackie Chan will earn just HK$10 million for two days' work and throw in three days' work for free, say reports about his role in the new Hong Kong movie, The Twin Effects. Jackie Chan, who commands US$20 million per Hollywood movie, had left the media guessing about his fee when the Emperor Multimedia Group, which also produces Jackie Chan's forthcoming Highbinders, launched the major project on Monday, 21 Oct. But apparently, as a nod to his friendship with Emperor's boss Albert Yeung, he has boarded the project by giving a massive discount off his usual quoted rates. Still, Jackie Chan's fee reportedly helped to inflate the production budged for the movie from HK$30 to HK$50 million, said Hongkong papers, citing sources. Donnie Yen (Hero, Blade 2), who earns US$800,000 a movie in Tinsel Town, is the action director, while Dante Lam (Beast Cops, Hit Team) is directing. The action-horror movie also stars Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung of girl-group, The Twins, as high-kicking schoolgirls who are called on to battle a horde of vampires.  Straits Times

-- Zhang Yimou Hero Vying for Oscar --

Zhang Yimou's Hero has joined a rapidly-growing list of national submissions for the best Foreign Language Film Oscar. The film is seen as the next Chinese film with the potential to earn Oscar stripes after Taiwanese's Lee Ang's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon took the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2000. Hero beat Together, the first film made by Chinese director Chen Kaige and his actress-wife Chen Hong, to be chosen as China's entry, sina.com reported. The film, starring Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Chen Daoming and Zhang Ziyi, will open in cinemas in China on Dec 20 for it to qualify for the Oscar race. On Sunday, leading senior film officials in China praised the Hollywoodised Hero for exceeding Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in artistic aspects. Chinese actor Chen Daoming, who plays Emperor Qin Shihuang, and Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung were singled out for their good acting. Hong Kong's The Touch by Michelle Yeoh is also competing for Oscar.  Straits Times

-- The Twins Effect --

The question at a press conference yesterday launching Jackie Chan's first Hong Kong movie in two years was: How much would he be paid? Executives of Emperor Entertainment (Emperor Multimedia Group), which is making the film, would not divulge the fee. They would only say that it was company boss Albert Yeung who got Jackie Chan, who earns as much as US$1 million a day working on movies, to sign on (as a guest star) for the HK$50 million film. The company spent HK$1 million for the open-air launch event, which saw Jackie Chan making his appearance on a helicopter. In the sci-fi comedy The Twins Effect, he will play a teacher who guides Ekin Cheng's character in catching jumping corpses. Singers Gillian Chung and Charlene Choy from the group Twins will also star while Donnie Yen is choreographing the action scenes. Straits Times

-- Ping Zong Xia Ying --

The cast for the male and female leads for Ping Zong Xia Ying series was supposed to be announced on 22nd. Howevver, Producer Fan Xiao Tian told the press yesterday that due to disagreements between the sponsors and also the conflicting schedules of the actors and actresses, the confirmation date for the lead stars had to be delayed yet again.  Sichuan News

-- A Chinese Ghost Story --

Originally, China's kungfu star Wu Jing's was to play the role of Great Demon Subduing Taoist, Yan Chi Xia's younger brother in Taiwan's Bada TV Production's A Chinese Ghost Story. However, so as to link him romantically with Hong Kong's Jessica Hsuan, he was "relegated" to being Yan Chi Xia's disciple instead for period drama forbids cross-generation love. After the success of Great Monkey King Sun Wu Kong series, Yang Deng Kui made preparations to shoot the TV version of A Chinese Ghost Story. Nie Xiao Qian and Ning Cai Cheng will be played respectively by "Da S" Xu Xi Yuan and Daniel Chan. The two would be responsible for romances in the series while Wu Jing's responsibility is to do perform beautiful martial arts routines. On the other hand Producer Yany Deng Kui still did not forget to arrange a bonus for him, for Jessica Hsuan and him to to have a mini romance. A Chinese Ghost Story will be shot on location in China's Guangzhou, Guizhou, Yun-nan. United Evening News

-- Ping Zong Xia Ying and Return of Condor Heroes --

While China's Wenlian Studio has already acquired the rights to shooting Jin Yong's classic, Return of Condor Heroes, it also has another grand production, Liang Yu Sheng's adaptation, Ping Zong Xia Ying, that is supposed to begin shooting in October. To avoid clashes and as it is still in preparation stages, Return of Condor Heroes shall be shot next year. Filming of Ping Zong Xia Ying, which was slated to begin in September, was delayed for some parts of the scripts were not satisfactory and, as such, the main stars had yet to sign the contract. Right now, all the major cast has been determined save for the lead male and female roles of Zhang Dan Feng and Yun Lei. The managements at Wenlian Studio and Jiang Su Co are divided about whom to cast as Zhang Dan Feng, while the role Yun Lei can only be decided after the male lead has been confirmed. Wenlian's Ma Zhongjun declined to say if Zhang Dan Feng will fall into the hands of the four shortlisted four candidates: Zhou Jie, Huang Lei, Wu Jing and Huang Hai Bing. He only said that the actors' pay and schedule will play a part in decision making. The final decision on the male and female leads is to be announced on 22 Oct.  Sichuan News

-- Come Drink with Me Remake --

The remake of Come Drink with Me (Drunken Hero), a classic of the 1960s, is going to be filmed early next year. Cheng Pei Pei, is reprising the role of Golden Swallow which she played in 1966 version. Her second daughter, Yuan Zi Sui, shall play her student. Mainland action star, Zhao Wen Zhuo, who starred in the TV version of the movie, is being considered as the best choice for the male lead. Currently, he has not made any clear indication of his intention. Hong Kong's Tin Ying Entertainment says that the script shall be modified slightly to suit the taste of the contemporary audience.

-- Visiting Jackie Chan on The Tuxedo Set --

It's a freezing 11 degrees - a temperature unbearable by Singaporean standards - on this Canadian morning. You hug your thin blue fleece coat tighter as you are shepherded to a DreamWorks Pictures soundstage, 30 minutes from downtown Toronto. You're here to visit the set of The Tuxedo starring action star Jackie Chan and singing actress Jennifer Love Hewitt. In this blockbuster spy caper opening in cinemas this week, Jackie plays bumbling cabbie-tuned-chauffeur Jimmy Tong, whose boss, super agent Clarke Devlin, gets hurt in a bomb explosion. When he goes to Devlin's house to puck up his personal belongings, he unwittingly tries on Devlin's gadget-laden, turbo-powered tuxedo. Now it is left to him to stop evil scientist Dietrich Banning from poisoning the world's water supply.  >> Full Story <<
 

-- The Era of Vampires --

Producer: Tsui Hark; Director: Wellson Chin; Action Choreographer: Tam Chun To; Cast: Ji Chun Hua, Yu Rong Guang, Ken Chang, Michael Chow, Lam Suet, Chan Kwok Kwan, Anya, Horace Lee Wai Shing, Chan Koon Tai, Lee Lik Chee, Wang Zhen Lin, Zou Na, Wong Yat Fei, Sze Mei Yee, Lee Kin Yan; Release (Asia): Oct 2002

Short clip/Trailer: Tao Films

Master Mao Shan (Ji Chun Hua, for the first time, he plays a goodie) lost some of his disciples while he himself goes missing in action an attempt to subdue a vampire king. His four favourite disciples - Wind, Thunder, Rain and Lightning (Ken Chang, Michael Chow, Lam Suet, Chan Kwok Kwan - All the four share almost equal importance in their roles - which means none of them really stands out) - witness their Master being blasted in the explosion. The vampire king is gone, so is their master. Wind, Thunder, Rain and Lightning, who are not especially competent in sorcery, go around in search of vampires for Master Mao Shan had told them before that he would appear wherever the vampires are. Three months later, they come to the creepy Jiang Manor, owned by Master Jiang (Yu Rong Guang), a retired constable. This manor is famous for its unparalleled art of preserving dead bodies forever. Master Jiang's attempts to find his son a bride has met with failures for they all died mysteriously on the night of his marriage. The butler employs the approaching four disciples to help out in the chores as they are now holding the nth marriage for Master Jiang's son...

While this is produced by Tsui Hark, The Era of Vampires lacks the brilliance and visions of his other fantasy works such as Green Snake and Legend of Zu. The Era of Vampires turns out to be a typical vampire hunting movie with a really grotesque vampire while offering nothing different in the subject. On the other hand, it does have a couple of nifty fights involving Yu Rong Guang, Ji Chun Hua, the bandit leader, and one of the four disciples (The vampire battles though are rather uninspiring with straight actions, no kungfu). To keep the story less unoriginal, they have this bandit leader plotting to rob Jiang Manor of its wealth. A couple of scary moments, courtesy of sudden blares of some effects accompanying those sudden appearances. On a side note, Tsui Hark makes a dig at hero who saves the girl wins her heart convention through some witty repartee from Ji Chun Hua.
 

-- In Contention for the Top Pugilistic Honour --

Wu Jing recently graced Taiwan's Golden Clock Awards and presented Best Drama and Best Single Unit Drama Awards. He has left Taiwan and will be taking up his next project, a 20 part TV series, later this month, Shao Nian Long Hu Bang (In Contention for the Top Pugilistic Honour). Also starring in the series are child kungfu star Sik Siu Lung (Shi Xiao Long) and his somewhat errant sidekick in Shaolin King of Martial Arts, Chun-Yu Shan-Shan.

-- Retun of One-Armed Swordsman? --
The once-mighty Shaw Brothers studio hopes to revive Hongkong's film industry by remaking several of its classic movies such as One-Armed Swordsman and 36th Chamber of Shaolin. It has asked 1970s stars such as Chen Kuan Tai and Lo Lieh - who used to work with the studio - to act in, produce or publicise the remakes, says Shin Min Daily News, quoting a report from Hong Kong. One-Armed Swordsman (1967) turned actor Wang Yu into a star, while The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) set the standard for martial arts movies on Shaolin monks. The studio has not made many movies since its heyday in the 1970s. Last year, Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures, an affiliate of Malasia's Astro All Asia Networks, paid HK$600 million for rights to more than 800 old Shaw movies. These were well-received when aired on cable television around the world, encouraging the studio to attempt a comeback by making new versions of them. Shaw is producing them with Celestial in hopes of releasing them by end of this year. The Straits Times

-- Romance of the Book and Sword Promotion in Singapore --

Zhao Wen Zhuo, Esther Kwan, Guo Liang and Kym Ng will be at Great World City World on 5 Oct, 2.30pm, for promotion of Romance of the Book and Sword, which is going to be shown on Channel U from 30th October onwards.

-- Stephen Chow Eyes US Market, Given Action-hero Label --
Last Sunday (22nd Sept), Hongkong comedy icon Stephen Chow made it to the cover of a special of The New York Times Magazine, which called him not Asia's Jim Carrey, but "a consummate Asian everyman, a bowl-cut Jimmy Stewart, a barefoot Tom Hanks". The magazine quoted Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino as saying: "Stephen Chow is one of the funniest comedians in cinema. Add to that the fact that he's also Hongkong's best actor." Stephen Chow's commercial and critical hit Shaolin Soccer will be released in the United States next April and Miramax has already been marketing Chow as a new Asian action star. "If that's what gets me before an American audience, then call me an action hero. I am ready," he tells the magazine. The 40-year-old says he has been practising Wing Chun boxing for 20 years, but adds that he is not a master of the martial art. "Brue Lee was a master, a master of masters. I am just a practitioner."  The Straits Times

September 2002

The Empire is of More Importance has been released in Singapore.

-- Shaw Brothers Taking a More Active Role in Movie Making --

Seeing the highly enthusiastic interests from the audience pertaining to the re-mastering of their films by Celestial Pictures, Shaw Brothers is recalling their former cast and crew to make more movies. They are going to do remakes of One Armed Swordsman, Shaolin Thirty Six Chambers, etc. They'll be investing lots of capital into movie-making and intend to be more actively involved in film production after 10 years of inactivity. Presently, they are putting all their best resources into post production of Drunken Monkey.  Xingxi Time

-- Southern Shaolin and A Chinese Ghost Story --

Wu Jing played the role of Fang Shiyu (Fong Sai Yuk), which had been portrayed by Jet Li and Dicky Cheung before, in Southern Shaolin series. Was he under any any stress? He answered, "Jet Li was rugged yet youthful and innocent, Dicky Cheung was whimsical and cheeky beyond reasons; I am somewhat in between - I have my own style." However, compared to the two earlier Fang Shi Yus, Wu Jing's version has significantly more fights. He admitted, "They looked for me was mainly because of the fights and I was also aware of it." What all action stars fear most is getting injured, and Wu Jing is no exception. However, once the camera starts rolling, he becomes oblivious to anything. He said, "I am Aries, the very hyper-active type. Once filming begins, I never think twice about doing any kinds of rolling, flipping, etc. It is only after having finished shooting do I realise I have bruises everywhere. I have long forgotten to protect myself."   Mingsheng Daily, Ge Pei Jun

-- Feeling So Close to Karen Mok --

Dressed in simple outfit, she was the first to arrive at the studio. The costume designer helped her choose 3 sets of clothes. Looking at them for a brief moment, she only said “Okay” and went into the changing room. She did not raise any objections at all. During photo session, she was told by the photographers to do many different poses. Whatever was requested, she simply acceded, without any opposing views. Professionalism and confidence made the camera and clothes supplementary.  >> Full Story <<

-- Wu Jing in Singapore --

Wu Jing is on a vacation tour right now and is currently in Singapore. He found that some of his shows had been shown in Singapore and Malaysia and that when he was walking in the streets, there were quite many people who recognised him. He shall be in to Taiwan from 30 September to 9 October. In addition, he is gracing Golden Clock Awards as one of the prize presenters in 4 October.  Jet Star Entertainment

Note: Wu Jing has left Singapore on 21 September midnight.

-- Snow White and the Seven Shaolin --
Disney is planning a live action version of Snow White that features Chinese martial arts. They were reported to be negotiating with Yuen Wo Ping to be the film's martial arts choreographer. However, both Disney and a source close to Yuen Wo Ping decline to comment on it. The project, which had working title of Snow White and the Seven Shao Lin, is currently untitled and Disney insisted that the film had nothing to do with Snow White, except for the plot, maybe. Variety said the live action version of Snow White would be set in the 1890s and deal with a woman's return to Hong Kong to attend her father's funeral after many years abroad. Once home she discovers she has an evil stepmother plotting against her and so she flees to the safety of a monastery of Shao Lin monks who protect her, thinking she "holds the fate of the world in her hands." But whether monks would have personalities equal to Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful and Sneezy remains to be seen. The film has yet to be agreed on, let alone cast.  Reuters | The Article at Yahoo

-- A Chinese Ghost Story --

In October, Wu Jing will be teaming up with Sik Siu Lung in a 20 part TV Series. After that, he will be joining a big scale production, the TV version of A Chinese Ghost Story, in December. Tentatively Daniel Chan will be playing Ning Cai Cheng, Da S is playing Nie Xiao Qian, Jessica Hsuan is taking on the role of Yan Chi Xia's daughter, and Wu Jing is playing a mischievous young priest, someone who has lots of wisdom and the best kungfu.

-- Hero: Equal Sharing of Footage among Heroes, Jet Li's Kungfu's the Best --
Chen Dao Ming who had not acted in period wuxia movies before doing Hero, found it to be rather interesting. As was the case with Zhang Yimou, they were exploring new frontiers in this genre. Chen Dao Ming is playing the role of Emperor Qin in the movie. Emperor Qin's is a lethal opponent who's skilled in swordplay and has a great sword. However, Chen Dao Ming said that Jet Li's kungfu in the movie is still the best, living up to his name as an action star. According to Chen Dao Ming, all the five major stars, Tony Leung, Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi (Actually, Ziyi has lesser screen time) and him, has about equal footage. He is in a type of ancient warrior outfit, which gives him a somewhat redoubtable presence. Chen Dap Ming said that as it was the first time he was doing action scenes, he felt that there are many areas which he could improve on. He had worked with Zhang Yimou in 1982 in One and Eight Persons and found that Zhang Yimou hasn't changed much and that he is still an excellent director.  Xingxi Time

-- Itzhak Perlman Interview: The Movie, Hero, is Great; Its Soundtrack is Even More Intriguing --

On 17 August afternoon, in a little hall on the 25th floor in Shanghai's Jincang Wenhua Hotel, the world renowned, critically-acclaimed violinist, granted this paper's reporters an interview.The award winning virtuoso violinist, Itzhak Perlman, has, inter alia, received 15 Grammy Awards and 4 Emmy Awards. In the classical music world of the present era, there exists in Itzhak Perlman some sort of oxymoron: While he is an earnest musician who is being well-respected, he also possesses an infectious charisma. His innate humour blends flawlessly with his pyrotechnics of musical technical perfection and ardour, imparting his performance a singularly novel, refreshing charm.  >> Full Story <<

August 2002

-- Yuen Clan Doing Martial Arts Choreography for the Star-Studded Southern Shaolin Series --
Last night, 15 Aug, one of the biggest productions in Fujian, Southern Shaolin series, a 14 million Renminbi project, held a news conference and announced that it's going to wrap up soon. Southern Shaolin is set in the Machurian Dynasty, where some provinces are in a state of unrest. Heaven and Earth Society is actively recruiting members to rebel against the government. Emperor Yongzheng sends Third Prince, Hongshi, and Fourth Prince, Hongli, to Fujian's Southern Shaolin to investigate Heaven and Earth Society. Along the way, which is fraud with dangers, Southern Shaolin's lay disciple, Fang Shi-Yu, renders help to them frequently, and thus, they become good friends. Hongshi gathers troops in Quanzhou and begins on a killing spree that leads the death of Southern Shaolin Abbot. Hongshi, who is eager for make his mark, falls into a trap, and is saved by Fang Shi-Yu and Hong Xi-Guan. By now, Hongshi comes to know that Fang Shiyu's father is the Chief of Heaven and Earth. How to deal with Fang Shiyu becomes a major worry of the two princes. Southern Shaolin's Fang Shiyu is played by Wu Jing. Fang Shiyu has become a household name, being successfully depicted by Jet Li and Dicky Cheung. To enable Wu Jing to shine in the series, the production has Hong Kong's noted Yuen Clan to choreograph the martial arts, and Hong Kong's He Ping Films' Yuen Cheung Yan be its director. Emperor Yongzheng is being played by "Professional Emperor" Zhang Tie-Lin while Li Nan, the young Kangxi in Kangxi Dynasty, acts as Prince Hongli. Famous Hong Kong actress Theresa Lee plays a swindler, Zhuo Lin. while Qiong Yao's favourite actress, Le Jia Tong, is playing the Governor's daughter, Zhang Xiao-Bao. In the recent days, the productions has been doing on-location shooting in Fuzhou's Mt Gu, Yongtai's Red Wall, and Fuqing's Southern Shaolin Temple. It is scheduled to be broadcast in Mainland in spring or summer next year.  Fuzhou Evening News, Guwei

-- Shen Quan Xiao Zi (The King Boxer)  --

-- Southern Shaolin - Meeting the Cast on the Set --

Southern Shaolin, a joint production between Beijing Hanyu Films and Fujian Great Dragon Films, has been eyed with great interests by people from within the industry and the audience. Director Yuen Ying Ming hopes to attain the intended outcome, while the actors and actresses on the set bring you yet another form of joyous delights. Theresa Lee: Playful and adorable, mingles around easily. In Southern Shaolin series, it seems that she gets to be bestowed with all things pleasant.   >> Full Story <<
 

-- Hero --

Zhang Yimou's planner on literature, Wang Bin, was spoken to recently to clarify some matters relating Hero. He denied speculations about Zhang Yimou's plans to shoot a Hero sequel. Regarding questions about Hero's overseas target audience, Wang Bin said they are not specifically aiming at any specific market when engineering a movie. Hero is wuxia film, one strong in Chinese ethnic flavour, and they hope it will do well in Mainland China for the domestic market means a lot to them. As for Zhang Yimou's next movie, the theme has yet to be decided, be it something new or old. Yang Cheng Evening News

-- Hua Mulan --

Michelle Yeoh's next project is Hua Mulan, a movie about a cross-dressing woman who goes to war on behalf of her ailing father. It will be produced by Mythical Films and shot in China next month, with Peter Pau directing. Stanley Tong is also producing his version of Hua Mulan which is to begin production by at end of the year and costs US$25 million. There is yet a third version by Shanghai Films which seeks Zhang Ziyi to be the eponymous heroine.  Xing Xi Time

-- The First King --

Jet Li may be restaging the fight against himself in his next film, The First King, a project based on his idea. Word has it that the film's ending climaxes on Jet Li vs Jet Li. Addressing to the audience's concerns and doubts, Producer Joel Silver said that The First King is not a duplicate of The One. The two scriptwriters for the movie said that they did not feel the need to modify the script and revealed that they wished to present to the audience the results that The One had set out to but did not quite succeed in accomplishing. In the First King, Jet will be playing the role of the first emperor of China, King Qinshi, who is brought back to life in current times. The film's main focus is on  how once the king, from a very ancient period, reappears in the present day society will be able to face the drastic changes. King Qinshi shall also discover that he was ten times a greater person than his current egoistic self.  Jing Hua Time

-- Michelle Yeoh On Touch --

Buried beneath the deserts of Dun Huang is an ancient relic that holds the essence of a Buddhist holy man. Michelle Yeoh and Brandon Chang are siblings from a long lineage of acrobats, setting forth on a hazardous journey to uncover its secrets...From Tomorrow Never Dies to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to her latest self-produced The Touch -- does everything Michelle Yeoh touch turn to blockbuster gold?   >> Full Story <<

Drunken Monkey is an action comedy with a pretty straightforward story on seeking revenge. It combines talents from three lands: Wu Jing from Mainland, Shannon Yao Yao, the only female lead from Taiwan. However, the most striking personality is Lau Kar Leung, Wong Fei Hung's third generation disciple. As one who insists on having authentic, traditional kungfu and fights in a similar fashion to Bruce Lee, he is being acknowledged as one of the most influential figures in Hong Kong movie industry. During the shooting inauguration, when Lau Kar Leung was interviewed, the still energetic, vibrant old man explained confidently that his secret weapon is no reliance of special effects. Rather, Drunken Monkey is a movie of orthodox Chinese kungfu, in its original form. Pic  Hangzhou Daily

The success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, brought about a surge in popularity of wuxia films. Liu Chia Liang thought otherwise, "Lee Ang once sought me to be Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's martial arts director. However, I am not that keen on working with Americans. Our understandings are different. Moreover, later, after watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I found the action to be too simplistic. Maybe, the Americans liked it. I admire Lee Ang, and admiration doesn't mean support." So, whom does Liu Chia Liang support? Bruce Lee. Hangzhou Daily, 13 March 2002, Song Xiao Mei

-- Shanghai Knights Trailer --

Shanghai Knights Trailer is now available online.

[ Main ]