In the Pipeline

 -- Tai Chi and Hollywood Project --

Zhao Wen Zhuo says that it's by chance that he got to work with TVB on "Tai Chi", "Once, in Beijing, I met producer Tommy Leung. We talked about Tai Chi, and he had the intention to shoot a drama serial concerning it. Later, he showed me the synopsis. Perhaps it's because I have been training in Taichi since young, I was very keen."

He says that after having read the entire script, he was happy with it, saying that the story was well written and within logic. And it would also introduce Tai Chi to the audience. Perhaps, it's the dreams of countless actors to enter Hollywood, and now, Zhao Wen Zhuo gets such a chance. He says that the movie would begin production in Beijing in September. It's a martial arts movie and he'd be playing the lead role. And he has spent over a year in US studying English to prepare himself.

Zhao Wen Zhuo has already settled down, having married Mainland actress/Peking Opera performer Zhang Dan Lu, who now take cares of the family fulltime, in the previous year. He says that having a family gives him a motivation, that he can only succeed, and cannot afford failures. Currently, Zhao Wen Zhuo has two kids, one son and one daughter.  67.com

-- "Chen Zhen" --

Beijing Enlight Pictures held a press conference yesterday, announcing its plan to produce/co-produce/distribute 30 films in the next three years. Gordon Chan, Kirk Wong, Joe Ma, Dante Lam, Lee Chi Ngai have all signed collaboration deals with it.

Gordon Chan's first deal with Beijing Enlight Pictures is "Chen Zhen" which is still in scripting stage. He'll be working on it in full force after completing another film in Japan. Donnie Yen has already verbally agreed to play the eponymous character. Gordon Chan says that this is a very difficult subject since stories concerning Chen Zhen have been adapted countless times, including Fist of Legend that Gordon Chan directed in 1995. However, as one with keen interests on Chen Zhen, he has confidence of creating something different. He says that "Chen Zhen" is tailor made for Donnie Yen and hopes to begin production at the end of this year.

Kirk Wong would be working with Beijing Enlight Pictures on Five Venoms remake, possibly with Jay Chou and Wong Lee Hom in the leads. Other films in the works include Flowers of Apocynum, Codex of Weapons, Chinese Warriors, Special Task Force, etc (all tentative titles).

Since Confession of Pain, Beijing Enlight has been involved in producing/distributing Wonder Woman, Flash Point and Triangle. The movies they are distributing this year include Tsui Hark's Missing aka The Eye 3 (May), Jeffrey Lau's Fantastic Water Babes with Gillian Chung, Eva Huang Shengyi, Charlene Choi, Alex Fong, Stephen Fung, Tian Liang (July).  Beijing Morning Post, Beijing Times | Video: Sohu

-- Iron Mask --

Recently, Yuen Wo Ping, accompanied by his long-time collaborator producer/scriptwriter Anthony Wong Wing-Fai, is in Yunan's Weishan county to scout locations for his upcoming martial arts movie tentatively called 《铁面侠》 Knight-errant in Iron Mask. The ancient citadel of Weishan has hundreds of years of history. It resembles a chess board with 24 streets and 18 alleys, fully retaining Ming and Manchu dynasties' ancient buildings.

Having witnessed the beautiful archaic structures of Weishan and the scenic beauty of Mt Weibao, Yuen Wo Ping has basically decided to shoot Iron Mask on location in these two locales of Yunnan. Production is expected to begin in May or so.  Dali Daily | Photos: Tuniu, Sina

Some archived photos of Weishan, Mt Weibao, and Yuen Wo Ping

-- Untitled Yuen Wo Ping Film --

Edko Films Productions has put out an open casting call for an as yet “untitled” Hong Kong/China martial arts project to be choreographed and directed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping. Edko reps are looking for a variety of fighters of all shapes, sizes and styles, traditional martial arts, MMA, UFC/cage fighters/WWE and everything in between. Details at Kung Fu Cinema.