Silkroad Hero and Interview with Cheung Chi Leung

Plot Synopsis

A conspiracy, hatched for eight years, twists the glorious, scenic Silk Road,

The desire for power, reveals the monstrosity in man's heart,

A succession of melancholic songs of romance and vengeance,

reveals the complexity of human nature,

While serenading gains and losses beyond one's control.

In the majestic, imposing, auburn Western Region lies the largest, most influential trading juggernaut, Flying Camel Commercial Conglomerate. It consists of five halls, twelve banners, commanding tens of thousands of people. They are the middlemen for Central Plains and countries beyond the West, and no bandits dare covet their wealth. However, one day, on its way back from the Central Plains to Western Region, Gliding Tiger Banner, disappears mysteriously in the vast desert. Investigations reveals that Gliding Tiger Banner was ambushed by a mysterious group, Jinxed Minions. Flying Camel is utterly astonished. What's even more shattering to them is that, an elusive, top drawer assassin, Yan Xiao Yao, suddenly arrives at Western Region, with the aim to kill Flying Camel's leader, Blade Baron.

The chiefs of the remaining eleven banners, under Blade Baron's order, gather their men at Grapes City, an important port of call, for ships of the desert, along Silkroad, preparing to catch their enemies, the mysterious Jinxed Minions and the great assassin Yan Xiao Yao, unawares. However, unbeknownst to them, their enemies have already learned of their planned assault. Once they enter Grapes City, they would be stepping right into a series of well-conceived traps.

Yet more inscrutable is Yan Xiao Yao comes to kill Blade Baron on the account of himself having fallen for someone else's ruse.

What is the most enigmatic of all is that the Jinxed Minions are Flying Camel's enemies, Flying Camel is Yao Xiao Yao's enemy, while Yan Xiao Yao is also the Jinxed Minions' target. They attack one another, keep one another in check, make use of one another, on the vast stage of Western Region, enacting a fascinating, yet tragic play of a series of love, hatred, cunning, deceptions, killings.

So, how did the young and capable emperor, a unfathomable marquis whose wealth rivals the nation's, notoriously fearsome brigands, highly skilled wanderers, beautiful young ladies, all get embroiled into a gargantuan maelstrom of life and death struggle? It's because of a peacock knife, a sacred artefact left behind by Lord Buddha. The peacock knife possesses mystic powers and is also a symbol of authority. Whoever holds this knife gains control of all esoteric sects in India. Yet this priceless treasure of the West happens to land in the hands of a Han business cartel. An Indian sect's envoy poises himself as an impartial marquis, yet covertly dabbles in shady dealings. A loyal general who has contributed to the peace of the nation gets framed and thrown into prison. Surfacing in Flying Camel Commercial Conglomerate, whose member are sworn to brotherhood and loyalty, is more than one traitor among the twelve banner chiefs, while its leader inexplicably goes missing. And an assassin, known as the swiftest blade among the pugilistic fraternity, inadvertently steps into this feud, where friends or foes are unknown.

Introduction

Hero on the Silkroad is a twenty-part series based on Mainland writer Mai Tian's novel, and was in pre-production for three years. It began production on June 20, is shot mainly in Western China with half of the show happening in Dunhuang desert, and is wrapping up on 20 August. The project, produced by Xi-An Film Corp (Warriors of Heaven and Earth), depicts the tale of a swordsman in Han dynasty. Apart from a cast from Mainland and Hong Kong consisting of Nicky Wu Qi Long, Theresa Lee, Niu Zhen-Hua, Jing Gang-Shan, it also has an extraordinary production crew: Its directors are Jacob Cheung Chi Leung and Chin Siu Ho, art designer is Liu Lu Yi who has worked with Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, costume designer is Yao Xiao-Hong, the person behind Warriors of Heaven and Earth and Swordsman in Double Flag Town. Chin Siu Ho (Fist of Legend, Taichi Master, New Shaolin Temple), Hong Kong's action star, came on invitation of Cheung Chi Leung and is also responsible for directing the action scenes.

Nicky Wu, Tae Kwan Do black-belt holder, plays a highly skilled, aloof assassin Yan Xiao-Yao who treads on a thin fine line between good and evil. Niu Zhen-Hua plays a high-ranking, important court official, Prince of Life-Snatching, who is also the lord of the West. He suspects someone among his subordinates is betraying him and so hires Nicky Wu to make assassination attempts on himself, to find out who are loyal. Nicky Wu is only a bait. Due to these special circumstances, he would always pretend to bring his troops to hunt him down. Theresa Lee plays Xie Tian-Qin, an Envoy of a sacred sect, who falls for Nicky Wu when she comes to Central Plains on an agenda. She is one who would do anything for love and secretly protects him when they meet again in the West. Ma Ya-Shu plays a swordswoman who is in love with Nicky Wu and is always at odds with Theresa Lee. Jing Gang-Shan plays Nan Tian-Xing, a spy for an enemy of Han kingdom, an unfathomable marquis whose heart belongs elsewhere.
 

I have affinity with the Western Regions

Working under the hot sun amidst fluttering sand is no simple task. A production that still shows such an unyielding and professional attitude to work despite such a harsh weather is certainly worthy of respect. On that day, this reporter could hardly recognise Cheung Chi Leung, who was wearing a scarf across his face. However, the radiance on his suntanned face showed that he has never lost his confidence.
 

I wish to close the gap between times

As an art-house director, why do you choose to shoot a wuxia series set in the West?
Cheung Chi Leung: Prior to taking up Seven Swords of Mt Tian, I told Cheung Sing Yim that I would like to have a look at the western part of China to understand the local customs. And he gave me a book by Mainland author Mai Tian, it was a fantastic read and I adapted it for this TV series. Major changes were made in the later half of the script; the tensions and rivalries between the characters, the dramatic parts were accentuated.

How could Nicky Wu take up such a role?
Cheung Chi Leung: Nicky Wu actually has lots of potential, though he has a baby face, he is not bad in acting, and looks cool. We did not purposely tan his face, for the series is quite long and we don't wish to let the lead impart a wizened look.

Hong Kong actress Theresa Lee and newcomer Ma Ya-Shu are employed as the female leads, do you think that a such youth group are up to the task of this heavy-weight production?
Cheung Chi Leung: Actually, teamwork, direction, photography and other elements are very important no matter which actor or actress works on a project. Shooting is an all-around process. Nicky Wu and Theresa Lee have a common trait, they both sport a modern look. While Hero on the Silk Road is a period drama, I don't want the people to look too ancient. I hope to make use of makeup to close the gap between the ancient and modern periods.
 

Real vs Fake Kung Fu

Heard that this series focuses on authentic fights, with little use of special effects. This type of style is similar the old school movies, aren't you worried that the audience may not watch a show that is too archaic?
Cheung Chi Leung: I'm not worried. Nowadays, there are too much flying in the wuxia works and the fights are not genuine, like in Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, we only see hovering shadows and don't even know what's going on. In the past, the actions Shaolin Temple were intense and realistic, weren't those great? Moreover, this series has right dosage of romantic scenes, so we are not worried that audience would be apathetic.
 

Action and Dramatic Scenes: "Hope that it will be great even sans fighting"

Are the action scenes highlights of this series?
Cheng Chi Leung: Not necessarily. I hope that when Silkroad Hero is stripped off its action sequences, its dramatic moments are equally enticing. Moreover, this series relates to a special historic event in Han Dynasty's Western Regions. Few wuxia movies have ever capitalised on this aspect.

I heard that this series is made with production budget of 10 million renminbis; since it doesn't need to spend much money on special effects, how is the budget allocated?
Cheng Chi Leung: I pocketed most of it, ha-ha. Next are the costumes, sets and art direction. The weapons are made of metals, and there are tens of horses and camels, acquired from Jiaxi and Xinjiang. The soundstage you're seeing now, have been heavily modified by us, to present such a view. More than a million renminbis are spent on artistic design alone.
 

Wuxia needs Romance too

In Midnight Fly, you presented the present conditions of Morocco, are now doing Hero on the Silkroad , and will next be shooting Seven Swords of Mt Tian. It appears that you're particularly interested in the western parts of every country.
I enjoy travelling, I believe that Chinese movies should also explore other countries, take a look at their cultures, rather than keeping only to ourselves.

You have shot many art-house movies like Cageman, Intimates. Did you encounter any difficulties switching to wuxia production?
From arthouse to wuxia projects, on the surface, romance seems to be left behind. However, wuxia movies also need romance. Wuxia's perspectives on life, attitudes towards human life are very different from reality, and can thus afford to be romantic, and interesting. I have wanted to shoot wuxia movies before. After Seven Swords of Mt Tian, I will be shooting Mozi's Assault (《墨攻》), it's about how Mencius attack and defend a city. It's an adaptation from a Japanese comics and I have been working on its preparation for 5 years.

Info: Nangfang City Daily, Xi-an Film Corp | Photos: Sina, Xi-an Film Corp

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