TV News

In 1991, the seven-year old Xie Miao was brought by his parents to Beijing Haiding Centre for Children, in the hope that he'd be a dancer. However, the little Xie Miao, roving his eyes about, peered around.

Then, he spotted through an ajar door, a room with kids wielding spears and broadswords, it was a sight to behold, holding the hyperactive kid spellbound. Against his parents' objection and protests, he signed up for the wushu class next door.

-- Shaolin Temple --

On Wednesday night when he received honorary professorship from Savannah College of Art and Design, Jackie Chan revealed that he is producing a 30-part New Shaolin Temple series featuring a number of finalists from The Disciple.

Jackie Chan, who just signed up 16 candidates from The Disciple, is all set to groom them.

On being enquired, Jackie Chan's firm in Beijing confirms that Jackie Chan is collaborating with Beijing TV to produce a modern-day version of Shaolin Temple.

-- 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. However, with its choppily edited action scenes, perhaps done purposely to mask the inefficiencies of the non-martial artists, genre fans are well advised to steer clear of Shaolin Warriors.

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: 13 Cudgel Monks --

On 9 July, Legend of Shaolin Kungfu director Du Xiao, joined by cast members Bao Guo An, Ji Chun Hua, Xie Miao, Sun Hui Ning, attended a chat organised by Sina, whereby they shared their experiences on the set of the 40-part TV series.

A 12-minute trailer to the upcoming Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2, starring Yuen Biao, Li Yuan, Xie Miao, Leung Kar Yan, Ji Chun Hua, Xu Xiang Dong, Sun Hui Ning, Wu Ma, etc. was also shown then and may now be viewed on Sina.

Based on the trailer, which is interspersed with excerpts from the original from 8th minute onwards, Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 looks to be of bigger scale and even more epic. However, being an unfinished product, it's too early to tell if the martial arts scenes would live up to expectations of the original.
 

Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 is currently in post-production with a targeted release by early 2009.

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --

After almost six months of intensive filming, 40-part series Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks has finally wrapped up on June 2. Very few productions today would spend more than 3 months on filming, let alone 6 months. This is a testimony to how meticulous, committed and dedicated the production is, and the amount of time spent on filming the martial arts sequences to ensure quality delivery, just as the first Legend of Shaolin Kungfu.

As Li Yuan says on his blog, June 2 is a memorable day for the production, for they completed the final scene on that day, bidding farewell to the days of sweat and blood brushing against the shoulder. It's not easy to produce a great work, and everyone has made lots of sacrifices, physically and emotionally, for Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2. They have worked even harder in Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 in order to give the audience an even more thrilling show.

On looking back, before doing any action scenes, Li Yuan would say, "Brothers, let's do our best, go for it, and strive to get through with one take." For, in a realistically constructed fight scene with full physical contact, each additional take would mean more risk and injuries. In order to reduce the risk, they would put in all their might, from fist to fist contact, to bodily clashes, to bruises and blood, to eventually a mental contest. As the director says, the last man standing would have become a dehydrated skeleton. And the beastly addresses from the martial arts director have become their catchphrase...

Finally, Li Yuan extends his appreciation and thanks to the director Du Xiao, the martial arts director Yuen Bun and Li Cai, and the brothers and sisters who fight alongside with him as well as all the crew. It's because of them they he has matured a lot. Li Yuan is currently resting in his home in Beijing, enjoying a moment of quietness.

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --
Cheung Sing Yim, the director of the original Shaolin Temple which launched Jet Li's career and followed up with a remake New Shaolin Temple TV series in 1998 starring Wu Jing, recently paid a visit to the set of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks TV series and met an old acquaintance Ji Chun Hua, who continues to play a villainous role here, this time as Wang Ren Zhe. Both Shaolin Temple and Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 feature a similar setting based loosely on true historical accounts of thirteen Shaolin monks rescuing Tang prince Li Shimin.

While using different forms of expression, both are considered classics, portraying the essence of martial arts. Cheung Sing Yim is especially impressed by the filming technique and approach to the first Legend of Shaolin Kungfu and is equally hopeful for the sequel Thirteen Cudgel Monks. Both directors express disapprovals for too much flyings and special effects in today's wuxia films.

Hence, director Du Xiao sets certain goals when making Legend of Shaolin Kungfu, to show something new, to show some cultural aspects, and to show some entertainment, and above all else, to show the most authentic of martial arts and Shaolin culture, to let the audience witness the true values and meaning of Shaolin Kungfu.  People Daily

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --

Filming of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks is nearing completion. Pan Yuan Jia has posted videos of his two fighting scenes on his blog. Also, there's a news report at Youtube. Finally, various photos, a few of which are high resolution, have been released by cast members Li Yuan, Sun Hui Ning, Leung Kar Yan, Li Chong.