TV News

 -- New Releases For the Month (YesAsia) --

36th Chamber of Southern Shaolin TV Series DVD Boxset (Alt version: VCD) - Directed by Yuen Cheung Yan; Starring Wu Jing, Anita Yuen, Yuen Cheung Yan, Tan Qiao, Zhang Tie Lin, Li Nan, Chen Kai. Finally, the long-awaited sequel to Wu Jing's Southern Shaolin has been released! View Trailer.

Wu Dang TV Series DVD Boxset - Stars Jiao En Jun, Carman Lee, Zhang Xi; Traces the life of founder of Wu Dang and creator of Taichi, Zhang San Feng.

Abbot Hai Deng TV Series VCD Boxset - Directed by Xie Hong; Stars Xiong Chang Gui. Su Dong Hua, Li Zong Ru, Gao Peng, Li Nong; Abbot Hai Deng was best known for three major skills, Single Finger Stance, Chastity Kid Skill and Plum Blossom Formation.

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian --

According to Beijing Ciwen Oriental Digital Film and TV Production, Seven Swords of Mt Tian 《七剑下天山》 series will begin production in Xinjiang on the seventh day of next month. Cheung Chi Leung will be the series' chief director. The series, which has been in pre-production for over two years, will be divided into two segments.

The first segment, which is about Seven Swordmasters of the first generation, is comprised of 30 episodes and will purportedly be shot first. The cast includes Zhao Wen Zhuo, Li Xiao Ran, Wu Jing, Ji Chun Hua, etc. Presently, producer Wang Yong, the production crew, as well as some of the cast-members, have already arrived or are gradually arriving in Xinjiang for experimentation filming or auditioning, getting ready for the official camera rolling inauguration. Li Xiao Ran will play Hangzhou Commander Nalan Xiu Ku's daughter, Nalan Ming Hui.  Nanfang City Daily

Among the candidates who responded to the recruitment drive in Xinjiang, 24 Xinjiang locals were chosen to act in Seven Swords of Mt Tian series, having met the criteria of the production during the auditions, including playing opposite Sang Wei Lin on actual locales. They were also the readers' top choices based on Xinjiang City Daily's polls.   Xinjiang City Daily

According to Shi Nan Sun, Leon Lai and Song Seung Hun are currently receiving training in sword and horse-riding in preparation for the movie. They will be going to Xinjiang for more intensive training in the middle of August, to acclimatised themselves to the sweltering weather of Xinjiang, which reaches as high as over 40 degrees Celsius in temperature, as well as the conditions of Mt Tian and Fiery Mountain. Martial arts director Liu Chia Liang, along with the Lau Clan, is teaching the main cast members new moves, hoping to produce a new era wuxia movie.  Kunpeng World

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian --

According to her manager, Li Xiao Ran (Wu Jing's sister Dugu Feng in Metamorphosis of Heavenly Silkworm) will not be playing Li Mo Chou in Return of Condor Heroes as she has already signed up for a leading role in Seven Swords of Mt Tian TV series.  Beijing Morning News

Wang Xue Bing will be playing Yang Yun Cong, the second senior among the first generation Seven Swords, in the TV series (Yang Yun Cong's the eldest disciple in the novel, while Chu Zhao Nan the second).  Business Times

Zhao Wen Zhuo, who is currently filming Four Rarities of the Royal Palace, will join Seven Swords of Mt Tian once the former wraps up production. He plays an "ordinary person" in Four Rarities of Royal Palace. Zhao Wen Zhuo quipped about his role, "In the past, I was often the first to fight when someone is in trouble. But now, my skills cannot be put to use in this series. It's kind of awkward to require protection when faced with danger."  Jinwan News | More Photos: Kunpeng World, NetEase

Singer Edell Ai Dai is playing Lu Zhu (a completely "fictitious" character not in the original novel), a beautiful songstress from the west who has a convoluted, touching relationship with Chu Zhao Nan.  Netease

As to Seven Swords movie, Korean actor, Song Seung Hun, was one of those Tsui Hark had set his sights upon for Seven Swords of Mt Tian. However, Song Seung Hun had been hesitant as the production schedule conflicts with a Korean project he's doing. On July 25, Tsui Hark went to Korea to meet him again, bringing along the script translated in Korea. They spent four hours in discussions.

Eventually moved by Tsui Hark's sincerity, he agreed. Song Seung Hun felt it an honour to be invited by the internationally renown director Tsui Hark. Tsui Hark's wife See Nan Sun praised Song Seung Hun for his physical built, saying that he bears the hallmarks of a Joseon warrior from Mt Changbai. Reportedly, he is being paid KRW$600 million (HK$4 million / US$0.5 million) to star in the movie.  Jin Qian Times

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian --

Beijing Ciwen Oriental Digital Film and TV Production's President Ma Zhong Jun made confirmation with the press that Seven Swords of Mt Tian TV series will commence production officially in August. He said Producer Tsui Hark will put all attention on the TV series before shooting the movie, which is being put on hold temporarily. Ma Zhong Jun also said Seven Swords of Mt Tian has a colossal screenplay team and Wu Jiu Xi and Liu Yu Zhu are but part of the team.  The Beijing News

Ray Lui (Lu Liang Wei), famous for his role as Zhan Zhao in Justice Bao series, indicated in an interview that he will join Seven Swords of Mt Tian serial as the duke who is all out to eliminate the Seven Swordmasters. (It appears to be Prince Duo Duo or perhaps Wu San Gui.)  Henan Press

TV version will start production in around 10 August 2004. A press conference will be held on 28 July, with the attendance of major cast members, Zhao Wen Zhuo, Ada Choi, etc, who are arriving in Xinjiang in late July. The Xinjiang recruitment drive, organised in collaboration with Xinjiang City Daily, is also coming to an end. Last Saturday(17 July), Sang Wei Lin, one of the lead actors, had already come to Xinjiang, to role play with the nominees and candidates.

The movie version of Seven Swords of Mt Tian will begin production in September or October, with Leon Lai and Charlie Yeung playing the leads. The other movie cast-members have yet to be finalised.  Xinjiang City Daily

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian --

More are expected to join Seven Swords of Mt Tian TV series 《七剑下天山》 as they are being contacted by the production. Singer Edell Ai Dai is joining this work as one of the leading female roles. Ai Dai will go for costume fitting in the next two days. Tsui Hark spotted her last year at a concert, and was struck by the energy and life she infused into her dances, and wanted her partially due to her partial Spanish descent, but was until now, unable to get in touch with her.

Recently Gallen Lo has been approached to play a general in Tsui Hark's Seven Swords of Mt Tian, he said excitedly, "This is a villainous role, I have to pursue and kill Zhao Wen Zhuo." (It appears to be a cameo as one of Wu San Gui's men). Chen Hao is also in talks with the production. She indicates would rather do Seven Swords of Mt Tian than Zhang Ji Zhong's Return of Condor Heroes, which expects to begin production in September or October, as "Though I do not know Tsui Hark, and neither have I read the novel, I have great faith in Tsui Hark, and also love his movies."  Xiaoxiang Morning News, EastDay, Beijing Times

 -- Seven Swords of Mt Tian -- 6 July 2004. Seven Swords of Mt Tian 《七剑下天山》 is looking for the following actors and actresses to join the production:
 1)Two Female Chinese, martial arts trained, with acting experience
 2)Three Male Chinese, martial arts trained, with acting experience
 Interested party may contact StarRoad.com, Beijing, China.
 Address: 北京市朝阳区小营路17号金盟大厦305室 邮编：100101
 Tel: 86-(10)84895191, 86-(10)84895192, 86-(10)84895193, 86-(10)84895195 Fax: 86-(10)84895192
 Email: jingji@starroad.com
 The closing date, though not specified, is likely to be end of July. Shooting commences in August and takes 6 months. Read original article here.

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian --

Zhao Wen Zhuo, is currently doing Four Rarities of the Royal Palace《御前四宝》in Beijing, filming scenes of Kangxi's incognito travel. He said, "This is a very humorous period drama where I am playing a monarch for the first time. Emperor Kangxi is quite adorable, not only is he jealous of his officials' wealth, but also their friendliness to his concubines."

Since last month, news has been circulating around concerning Zhao Wen Zhuo's participation in Seven Swords of Mt Tian. Zhao Wen Zhuo revealed that he had just signed the contract prior to this reporter's arrival. "It was Tsui Hark who brought me to the new heights in the showbiz. I was only an undergraduate at Beijing University of Sports back then. I got to know him on the set of Fong Sai Yuk, it's a pleasant surprise that this affinity carries on till today."

According to Zhao Wen Zhuo, impartiality and evilness are the paramount traits of his character Chu Zhao Nan. (On the other hand, in the original novel, Chu Zhao Nan is a complete scoundrel.) He will play opposite Ada Choi at some instances. "This series will be shot in Xinjiang, as well as Snow Mountains of Xilin, Valley of Jade Peaks, Ancient City Langzhong in Sichuan. "Tsui Hark has taken a somewhat different approach to the original novels, Sai Wai Qi Xia and Qi Jian Xia Tian Shan, combining the two novels into one single drama serial, making changes to some parts of the storyline and  its rhythm and flow, classifying the swordmasters as First Generation and Second Generation of Seven Swords. I have more scenes in the latter Seven Swords."   Shenyang Today