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Final Cut Producer conducted an audio interview with Eric Jacobus, a US independent martial arts filmmaker: Part 1, 2

-- Fist of Legend --

I think the most eagerly awaited upcoming Dragon Dynasty release is probably the long-awaited re-issue of Jet Li’s kung fu classic ‘Fist Of Legend’. An earlier DVD edition of the film featured only the English dubbed American edit. Now we get the chance to give the DD treatment to the last truly great kung fu film of the 90s wu shu wave. It was a great pleasure to sit down with an old friend, director Gordon Chan, to shoot an exclusive video interview in which he discusses the genesis, development and filming of Fist Of Legend.

For those new to the genre, Fist Of Legend is a palimpset of Bruce Lee’s Fist Of Fury, a rich embellishment of an established text. It brought together a unique synthesis of Gordon Chan’s story-telling, Yuen Woo-ping’s choreography and the charisma of action icon Jet Li.  Bey Logan Blog >>More<<

-- 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."

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

Jackie Chan is a truly global phenomenon — a Hong Kong stunt man turned action movie star, he's an on-screen master of martial arts who also provides his own comic relief. His new movie, The Forbidden Kingdom, marks a momentous first-time collaboration between Chan and Jet Li. The movie can pretty much be summed up as The Wizard of Oz with lots of martial arts — set in a mythic, ancient China.  NPR >>More<<

Many people might not know the name Antony Szeto. However, the buzz is very positive around the Australian-born director’s upcoming film "Wushu", which stars Sammo Hung and a cast of real-life wushu champions. Szeto’s experience with the Chinese martial art is well known as he doubles as both director and fight choreographer of the upcoming film.  Kungfu Cinema >>More<<

-- 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.

Bey Logan's Blog has been updated recently with a number of articles on recent martial arts movies as well as martial arts legends. Firstly, there are interviews with filmmaker, martial arts director, Hung-gar master Liu Chia Liang, a Hung Gar legend Lam Cho, and a trip down the memory lane with Golden Harvest's Raymond Chow.

Next up is an audio commentary session with Jaycee Chan, Shawn Yue and Andy On for Dragon Dynasty's Invisible Target DVD, a brief moment with Sammo Hung at Fatal Move Premiere, and, in conjunction with the production of Mandarin Film's "Yip Man", directed by Wilson Yip, action directed by Sammo Hung and starring Donnie Yen, takes a look at Wing Chun lineage and related films.

 

As a side note, Coming Soon interviews Donnie Yen as Flash Point gets limited release in US this week.

-- Interview: Dennis Law on Fatal Move --

Patience is a virtue for the steady moving director of Fatal Move.
Like many others with a passion for the movies, Dennis Law chose to study filmmaking at university. On his return to Hong Kong he decided to bide his time, rather than try to immediately put into practice what he had learnt at film school in Los Angeles. In an interview with bc, the one time chairman and executive director of Milkyway Image talked about having realized that, unlike those – especially actresses in Chinese cinema – who work before the lens, “There is no age limit for a director or anybody who works behind the camera.”

Consequently, Law, who frankly describes himself as “a very cautious person”, felt no rush to make films and was, instead, content to wait for the right chance and right person to come along. “Then,” he continued, “because life had a different [plan] for me, I started working in real estate.” All the while, however, “I never gave up my chance to meet film people, to get to know them and try to seek some opportunity to learn or invest,” even though he spent the next decade making his mark in the property industry. BC Magazine >>More<<

Film critic-slash-actor Paul Fonoroff is mainly famous for his gweilo work in OUATIC 2 as the consul and his review anthology (PAUL FONOROFF AT THE HONG KONG MOVIES - 600 reviews From 1988 Till The Handover). Below, Fonoroff kindly discusses his background as well as his experience in the industry and his opinion on HK/Chinese cinema. HK Cinemagic >>More<<