Events

-- Wushu --

Jackie Chan, who was in Cannes a few days ago to promote the movie 'Wushu', directed by Antony Szeto, never forgot the victims of Sichuan Earthquake. Sharing the same sentiments as Jet Li, he says that relief effort is a long term work, and it would take a long time to rebuild everything and heal the minds of the affected.

In 'Wushu', Sammo Hung plays a wushu coach, but he's just a big supporting role. The leads are the five real life young wushu athletes. The movie is about the growth and development of the two brothers who have been studying at a wushu school since young, and how they overcome hurdles and unfavourable conditions, eventually making some headways, and emerging tops at wushu competitions.

'Wushu' is slated for release in China in September/October, according to Antony Szeto.

Jackie Chan says that after the reality TV programme The Disciple is concluded in June, he would be shooting a martial arts movie starring the winners, again presenting Chinese wushu to the audiences in various parts of world.  Sina

-- Legendary Assassin --

Twitch has just posted a preview of Legendary Assassin's promo reel at this year's Cannes Film Festival:

"Also up on the Hong Kong action tip, I got to check out a promo made up of completely raw footage for Wu Jing’s Legendary Assassin. Beyond the fact that it was still in very rough form and graced with one of the most hilariously over the top bits of English narration ever – apparently done a bit tongue in cheek – it looks decently well shot and there is certainly no shortage of action in this movie. Nope. And it’s all old fashioned Hong Kong ass whuppin – fists and feet meeting faces. Wu must’ve been tired."

Besides Legendary Assassin, Twitch also reports on two Donnie Yen projects - Painted Skin and Legend of Yip Man - being marketed at Cannes:

"Anyway, there were still good things to be had.  Such as?  The promo for Ip Man, the Wilson Yip directed, Donnie Yen starring bio pic of Bruce Lee’s mentor.  The current promo is largely behind the scenes footage but also includes some final work and it all looks very, very impressive.  Donnie looks strong - you’d expect a strong effort from him considering how highly he regards Bruce Lee - as do the production values and the supporting cast. Fans of Fan Siu Wong - who we talked about a little while back thanks to his part in The Moss - will be glad to know it looks as though his role is pretty significant."

-- Grandmaster Yip Man --

 Press conference for 《一代宗师·叶问》 Grandmaster Yip Man (tentative), budgeted at around 80m yuan, was held on May 7 afternoon in Shanghai, attended by producer Raymond Wong, director Wilson Yip, the cast Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Gordon Lam, Lynn Hung, Xing Yu, etc. Grandmaster Yip is the fourth collaboration between the "golden team" Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen.

 Both Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen indicate that they're taking a more down-to-earth approach in portraying on the screen the life of this legendary grandmaster of martial arts as well as his rich spiritual world, as well as presenting a scintillating, fresh martial arts choreography, courtesy of martial arts choreographer Sammo Hung.