Wu-Jing.org

-- The Goddess of HK Cinema: Athena Chu --

Since the seventies, and the rise of Chang Cheh and Bruce Lee, male actors have dominated the Hong Kong movie industry. In those conditions, the career of a Hong Kong actress is tougher compared to their male counterpart. Things are even made harder by the extreme emphasis put on their beauty which makes many of them give up the business in less than 10 years. Only a few, the best one, make their way in the long run. A good illustration of the later sort is given by Hong Kong actress Athena Chu who confirms her great value for HK cinema with each passing year.  HK Cinemagic >>More<<

-- Hands of the Dragon --

Philip Ng has been invited by an independent film studio in USA to play the leading role in an action film tentatively called Hands of the Dragon. To accommodate Philip Ng's schedule, they push shooting, which takes place in USA, from November 2007 to January 2008. The studio sets its sights on Philip Ng on the account that he's one of the new generation Asian actors who possesses true martial arts ability. The studio is employing mainly newcomers, including the director and the lead actress, for the film. Filming will take for over two months and reportedly, Philip Ng receives a seven digit pay for this project.  Sina

-- Flash Point DVD --

The DVD for Flash Point, one of the best martial arts movies ever made that combines excellent direction from Wilson Yip as well as a thorough, well thought-out and visceral showdown between Donnie Yen and Ngai Sing that sets new standards for the way martial arts scenes should be shot, is going to be released on 28 September. The limited edition comes with such special features as the gala premiere, behind-the-scenes video, shooting diary, informer's report, martial arts production, deleted scenes, as well as various trailers. Flash Point was recently screened at Toronto International Film Festival.

Preorder at YesAsia

Flash Point DVD (2-Disc Limited Edition)

Flash Point DVD (Regular Edition)

-- Lifeline Express, Fatal Move --

On September 16, Wu Jing, together with his manager, attended Lifeline Express' Kungfu for Brightness charity performance in Hong Kong to help raise funds. Lifeline Express is a four-compartment train with advanced medical facility for eye treatment that travels to remote rural regions of China giving free medical aid to the poor. Wu Jing was invited to give a performance but due to an injury in his right leg caused by a fall when filming, this was passed. Instead, he just implored the audience for donations with his gift of the gab.

Wu Jing has just completed his scenes in Fatal Move on September 15 and can finally bid adieu to the tattoos that had been giving his sensitive skin irritations. Wu Jing is currently in negotiations regarding his next projects, with possibilities of English language features. He'd probably be doing a commercial or two in the meantime.  ON.CC

-- Hua Mulan --

The Weinstein Co and Meridian Films are co-producing Hua Mulan, originally developed by Michelle Yeoh and Thomas Chung, at an estimated budget of US$20m. Zhang Ziyi, who has been handed the script, written by Wang Hui Ling, expresses her interest to act as Hua Mu Lan. Michelle Yeoh will play a princess married off to the Huns. The director will be confirmed by the end of the month, and could possibly be either Tsui Hark or Johnnie To. Production begins in autumn 2008.  Dongfang Daily

-- The Five Venoms --

Remake of The Five Venoms, directed by Kirk Wong, will begin production at the end of October in Shanghai. Maggie Q, Edison Chen, Wang Lee Hom, Huang Xiao Ming, Wu Jing, RZA, Gordon Liu are being invited to join the production. . In this remake that is set in 21sth century, Edison Chen will play the junior most disciple commissioned by his Master Gordon Liu before his death to deal with five other treacherous disciples. Martial arts director Dion Lam has already entered the production and begun discussing the action scenes with director Kirk Wong, who has been a vegetarian for over 20 years despite being a director of or actor in violent action movies.  The Beijing News

-- The Forbidden Kingdom --

Production of US$70m Forbidden Kingdom, which commenced in May in Dunhuang, and subsequently moved location to Mt Wuyi, Anji, etc and eventually to Hengdian, has just wrappd up. Most of the cast members, including Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Liu Yi Fei have completed their scenes by Aug 26. The last month of the shoot was spent filming the action scenes of the grand finale, which takes place predominating on the Qin Palace set, which was given an overhaul costing US$10m, in Hengdian. The Qin Palace set was used as the headquarters of Jade Warlord. Production for the finale was split into two camera units, one led by Yuen Wo Ping, another by Peter Pau. According to some production crew, there are three major duels in the finale: Jet Li and Jackie Chan vs Li Bing Bing; Jet Li vs Ngai Sing; and Jackie Chan vs Li Bing Bing. Yuen Wo Ping personally directed the martial arts scenes in the finale. And to ensure quality, Yuen Wo Ping often made last minute changes, such that even the actors sometimes had to wait for the whole day. Forbidden Kingdom is expected to open in China on May Day 2008.  The Beijing News