The Happenings

-- Wing Chun --
Emperor Motion Pictures is planning to produce a Wing Chun film, with Benny Chan directing. Nicholas Tse and Gillian Chung are set to play the leading roles. The female lead was originally intended for Isabella Leong but owing to her dispute with the company, Gillian Chung was chosen to fill the role instead.

Charlene Choi says, "Gillian Chung is feeling better now, and as it has always been her dreams to do kung fu films, she has bought some Wing Chun manuals. I often tease her for studying martial arts manuals. She's also training under some martial arts coaches."  Zhejiang Entertainment, 67

Follow-up: However, further enquiries made with Emperor Pictures reveals that nothing is set in the stone, including the script, the director and the cast.  Sina

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu --
Finally, the wonderful kungfu TV series by Du Xiao, which has been topping viewership ratings across various provinces in China, is available for sales officially on DVD.

This martial arts production features highly authentic martial arts sequences with intricate exchanges, courtesy of Ching Siu Tung who discards his usual highly stylised/beautified choreography for wide shot and long cuts that give ample room to showcase the skills of the martial arts champions Li Yuan, Xie Miao, Ye Jian Wei, Ji Chun Hua, Yu Cheng Hui, Chen Jia Jia, Guo Hui, Li Qi Long, Dai Tian etc, a number of whom are fresh talent. Also starring Bao Guo An, Sun Hui Ning, Yaqi Fatima, Wu Ma, Anthony Wong, Tsui Siu Ming, etc.

Order Legend of Shaolin Kungfu DVD (in Chinese only) from YesAsia.

As a side note, Shaolin Warriors DVD with Sammo Hung in a major supporting role as well as actual Shaolin monks as extras but starring non-martial artists is shipping on August 19, 2008. Shaolin Warriors is an unrelated TV series surrounding Shaolin Temple and its monks helping general Qi Ji Guang fend off marauding pirates.

After five years of studies at Professional Children's School, Shi Xiao Long (Aston Chen), 20, has graduated from the New York college in June and returned to China. He has made many close friends during the past few years, has grown up quite a bit and undergone various changes.

Shi Xiao Long plans to enroll at a local university, as this will allow him to do some filming in between.

Soon Shi Xiao Long will be doing an action thriller 《火线追踪》 (Huo Xian Zhui Zong) for CCTV movie channel. The project is set in 1930s Shanghai, and Shi Xiao Long will play a trainee cop. Ultimately, Shi Xiao Long aspires to break into Hollywood, and hopes to work with Jackie Chan and Jet Li, and learn from them.  Aston Chen Blog