Images

Producer Jackie Chan says: 

It's an honour to work with action actors. The sense of honour, the selfless contributions, the camaraderie between martial artists mean much to me. 
 
At the same time, nurturing wushu elites of the new generation, creating new wave kungfu are very important to me as well. And so, Wushu, which explores the story of Chinese wushu and Sanda, enlists new blood.

-- Beggar Su --

While no further development was heard of Iron Mask since May, Yuen Wo Ping has actually been furtively working on another project, 《苏乞儿》 Beggar Su (tentative), a remake of Hero Among Heroes in spirit. Beggar Su has already begun production without any fanfare in Beijing suburbs Mi Yun on August 28.

-- Coweb --

Back in May 2008, 《战·无双》 (Skirmish, Peerless) Coweb, an action film by Xiong Xin Xin began production quietly. Filming has already wrapped up and Xiong Xin Xin proceeded to play a cameo role in Butterfly Lovers starring Wu Chun, Charlene Choi and Hu Ge. Coweb stars Jiang Lu Xia, Sam Lee, Kane Kosugi, Cheung Siu Fai and Mike Moller. Joe Ma, Chan Shu Chi are producing the film which is written by Chan Wing Sun.

-- Painted Skin --

Spoilers...

-- Duo Biao --

《夺标》 Duo Biao, co-produced by Sundream and Huayi Brothers, directed by Tsui Siu Ming, has wrapped up after over two months of filming. The martial arts film is slated for release this autumn.

Duo Biao is set in 1936 when China sent 69 athletes to take part in Berlin Olympics. At the same time 9 wushu team members also performed there. While China didn't do very well back then, her wushu performance greatly impressed the Westerners. And it was then that Chinese wushu was spread throughout the world.  Tsu Siu Ming hopes to show the spirit and culture of wushu through this film, with emphasis on realistic and detailed portrayal of traditional martial arts.

-- Missing --

The underwater ruins off Yonaguni coast are exquisite, invaluable, and captivating beyond imagination. The ruins show the advancement of the civilisation over 10 thousand years ago, before the city was flooded, remaining submerged under the sea to the present day. It makes Tsui Hark wonder why no one has given a serious thought about how the priceless treasure could serve as a warning to us on avoiding a repeat of history.

"Actually, it isn't in my element to do a suspense/mystery. However, as I took a keen interest on the ancient citadel, and also thought that weaving a romantic tale with it would be meaningful, I came up with the story." In Missing, Tsui Hark wishes to show the ancient civilisation, the relationships between (Wo)Man and environment, the thoughts and concerns of people dwelling in city.

Looking at the gradually evanescing remnants of the historical civilisation inevitably reminds Tsui Hark of the crisis the Earth is facing in the 21st century - global warming: melting of Arctic ice at an alarming rate that results in release of methane from the seabed and rising sea level... The Earth is facing such serious global threats. What are the causes. What would happen to our world 50 years later? How could we change our lifestyles to salvage the situation?

-- Missing --

Filming of Missing took place in four major locations - Hong Kong, Shanghai, Japan and Taiwan. Apart from Yonaguni Island, underwater photography was also carried out off a few Taiwanese coasts.

Training in scuba diving began in March 2007. In April, the production arrived in Okinawa, spending a week acclimatising themselves with the water conditions and climate. A Taiwan scuba diving coach Xie and his four assistants were employed to assist in filming, for they are familiar with the underwater conditions in Japan and Taiwan.

-- Missing --
Four Missing posters have been uncovered at a press conference marking the launch of Sina Missing site on May 15. Missing will be released on June 12 and proceeds from its premiere on June 8 in Beijing will be contributed towards Sichuan earthquake relief. In addition, Tsui Hark and Guo Xiao Dong have each donated 100 thousand yuan.

Both tried to contact their friends in Sichuan but telephone lines were cut off. Tsui Hark says that it's imperative to monitor psychological problems of the victims who have gone through such traumatic experience. He would give some help when there's a chance.

More donation links may be found at Jet Li's Blog and AliveNotDead.

Related Links:

Missing Official Site

Missing @ Sina

-- 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.

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --

Day Dai Tian 戴天 and Sengge Renrou 僧格仁钦 who played enemies of Shaolin Temple in the first Legend of Shaolin Kungfu, now join the Shaolin monks in fighting against a corrupt and oppressive regime under Wang Shi Chong (Leung Kar Yan).

Sengge Renrou  comes from Mongolia and is a champion Mongolian wrestler. Here, he plays Nine Catties, a stable boy to Cheng Yao Jin. A crude, straightforward and trusting person, he doesn't seek to rise up in ranks, but just wishes for a stable life and to serve Cheng Yao Jin loyally. Being one of immense strength, he uses an unusual weapon - a big piece of log.
 

-- Duo Biao --

A ceremony marking the production of Sundream Pictures' major project of the year, 《夺标》 Duo Biao (Capturing the Cup), a movie on Chinese wushu, sports and Olympics, was held on April 27 in Hengdian. The inauguration kicked off with a lion dance and martial arts performances. Produced by Tsui Siu Ming and Amy Lee Fung Ming, directed by Kong Tao Hoi and Lee Kong Lok, the cast includes Dicky Cheung, Wong Tsui Yu, Debbie Goh, Michael Wai, Eric Li.

Tsui Siu Ming has also specially sought out martial artists Xu Xiang Dong and Yu Rong Guang, both of whom he worked with in Holy Robe of Shaolin Temple, to join the cast. Currently, Tsiu Siu Ming is in negotiations with Jackie Chan to play a cameo role as the arena contest organiser. 2 million yuan were spent building the arena which is expected to be filled up with 4000 extras.