Events

At the pre-production press conference (video) at the famed Shaolin Temple on Mt Song on October 22, it was announced that apart from Emperor Motion Pictures and Shaolin Cultural Communication, China Film Group, Huayi Brothers and Henan TV are also co-producing the kungfu epic, Shaolin, budgeted at close to 200 million yuan. Continue reading "Benny Chan Narrates A New Story of Shaolin"

 Press conference for True Legend was held on October 19 afternoon with the trailer being screened and the director Yuen Wo Ping and cast Zhao Wen Zhuo, Andy On and Guo Xiao Dong showing up. Zhou Xun was unable to attend but recorded her speech in advance. Also in the film are Jiang Lu Xia, Michelle Yeoh, Cung Le, Gordon Liu, etc. Continue reading "True Legend Trailer Unveiled at Beijing Press Conference"

-- Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg --

Gala premiere for Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg was held in Beijing on August 12, attended by producer Zhuo Guo Shun, producer/director Jeff Lau cast members Hu Jun, Sun Li, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Wu Jing, Gan Wei, Eric Tsang, etc. This romantic comedy that takes place in 2046 explores the relationships and conflicts between AI robots and humans.

Continue reading "Kungfu Cyborg Gala Premiere"

 On 11 June afternoon, press conference for Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame was held in Hengdian. Tsui Hark worked through the night to rush out a teaser trailer, which does anything but teases. It shows nothing more than a brooding atmosphere, with barely anyone in sight. To quote Tsui Hark, "Kept under wraps." Continue reading "Detective Dee Press Conference in Hengdian"

On June 11 afternoon, Beijing Enlight Pictures held a press conference to announce its 8 upcoming/ongoing/future projects/co-productions between 2009 to 2010. Liu Yi Wei and Liu Yan hosted the event that was attended by Enlight's chairman Wang Zhang Tian and president Zhang Zhao, and their collaborators producer Raymond Wong, directors Gordon Chan, Andrew Lau, etc, as well as comics creator Tony Wong Yuk Long.

Continue reading "Beijing Enlight Pictures Announces Eight Upcoming Projects"

Despite the global economic meltdown, which affected the film market adversely, with over 10% drop in number of registered buyers to under 2000 at 62 Cannes Film Festival, running from May 13 to May 24, 2009, Chinese films have been selling very well. Each film is sold from upwards of several US$100 thousands to a few millions.

Generally, action films and special effects laden films are the most popular. Hua Mu Lan (Jingle Ma), Little Big Soldier (Ding Sheng), Bodyguards and Assassins (Teddy Chan) are the top three best sellers, while Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction (Jeffrey Lau) was the first to be sold to US - in the first week. Ip Man and its sequel Ip Man 2 (Wilson Yip), Storm Warriors (Oxide Pang), and Tracing Shadow (Francis Ng, Marco Mak) are doing admirably too.  Fazhi Evening News, Sina

 

 Press conference marking the camera rolling inauguration of 100m 《机器侠》 yuan Robot/Kungfu Cyborg Attraction (working title), a co-production by Leshi Zhenwei Productions, Mei Ah and HTV Film was held on December 15 morning in Ningbo. Director Jeffrey Lau, cast members Hu Jun, Sun Li, Ronald Cheng, Wu Jing, Alex Fong, Gan Wei turned up to unveil the mysteries behind this romantic sci-fi kungfu comedy.

Continue reading "Jeff Lau's Kungfu Cyborg Attraction Rolls Camera: Wu Jing's Action Scenes Are The Most Extravagant"

-- Ip Man --

Ip Man gala premiere was held in Beijing on December 10, attended by producer Raymond Wong, director Wilson Yip, martial arts choreographer Sammo Hung, the cast members Donnie Yen (and his wife), Lynn Hung, Fan Siu Wong, who wowed the audience with a highly impressive martial arts display, as well as Yip Chun, Daniel Chan, Hu Yan Bin and others.

Donnie Yen says that it took him 9 months before he truly comprehended Wing Chun, and also incorporated some of his ideas. In the movie, the quick, successive punches are no special effects, but a result of his training, and he was actually having much difficulty delivering such a chain of supersonic moves, having to endure the pains from his ailing right shoulder.

In Ip Man, what they wish to convey is not the ostentation of kungfu, but its inner cultivation, it's a film promulgating Chinese martial arts philosophy. It's not about fighting, but understanding of martial arts essence through sparring, swapping pointers with each other.
 

Sammo Hung hopes to eulogise grandmaster Ip Man with pure kungfu, "Nowadays, you only see special effects in action films, but no real kungfu. Kungfu has gone above the sentient world, becoming impracticable. I hope to let the people see that fistplay can be humanly attainable, returning to the original forms. Wing Chun is a simple kungfu that anyone can pick up, I have no reason not to use real kungfu."

Wilson Yip says they intend to make a series out of Ip Man franchise, and hope to shoot the sequel next April. Ip Man opens on December 12 in China, and across other Asian territories next week.  Sina, Beijing Youth Daily

On December 9, gala premiere of the romantic comedy All About Women was held in Beijing, attended by the director Tsui Hark and cast members Zhou Xun, Gui Lun Mei, Zhang Yu Qi, Stephen Fung, Eddie Peng etc.

In the film, Zhou Xun is an antiquated doctor who petrifies upon contact with any man. Kwai Lun Mei plays a rock band singer who has violent inclinations, and often hallucinates about having a perfect boyfriend. Zhang Yu Qi is a self-centred entrepreneur who doesn't believe in having a boyfriend.

Continue reading "All About Women Premieres; Tsui Hark is More Womanly Than Women; Missing Extended 4hrs Seven Swords DVD Explained"

-- Legendary Assassin --

Following Legendary Assassin's Beijing premiere, Nicky Li, Wu Jing, Celina Jade and Paco Wong proceeded to its premiere screenings in other Chinese cities including Nanchang, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc. In Hong Kong, they were joined in by Ken Lo, various Gold Label artistes Ronald Cheng, Alex Fong, Stephy Tang, etc. while Celina Jade sang the theme song on the stage.

Continue reading "Legendary Assassin Premieres in Other Areas; Wu Jing Has Few Works on Hand"

-- Legendary Assassin --

Legendary Assassin premiered in Beijing on November 28. The main team, including  Paco Wong, Nicky Li, Wu Jing, Celina Jade, went to several cinemas to meet the audience and gave a brief talk. So far, feedbacks on the film have been pretty encouraging, not just on action, but also on drama, with Wu Jing and Celina Jade being commended on their acting, and the soundtrack and sound effects.

 On October 18, producer Jackie Chan, director Antony Szeto, and the cast Sammo Hung, Liu Feng Chao, Wang Wen Jie, Wang Fe, Zhang Jin, Mao Jun Jie were at the Beijing premiere and press conference of Wushu, which opens on October 24 this month. The film, which shows the hardships of young people training in martial arts, reminds Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung of their Peking Opera training days. Continue reading "Attending Wushu Premiere, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan Reminisce Their Past and Reveal Future Projects"