Wu-Jing.org

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.

Global Chinese Kungfu Jubilee 2007

Sohu, 13 October 2007

Global Chinese Kungfu Jubilee, organised by Shenzhen Satellite TV, Shaolin Culture, TVB, China Wushu Association, was held at Shenzhen Bao-an Stadium on the October 12 evening and was graced by various luminaries in the film industry who's involved in martial arts productions. The evening kicked off with red carpet walk by Jackie Chan, wuxia novelist Jin Yong, Liu Chia Liang, Ching Siu Ting. Cheung Sing Yim, Peter Pau, Yuen Biao, Cheng Pei Pei, Anthena Chu, Jay Leung, Josie Ho, David Chiang, Gordon Liu, Wu Jing, Tony Jaa, Yasuaki Kurata etc.

-- Wu Jing on Impact --

December's Impact Magazine contains the first part of an exclusive interview with Wu Jing, whose latest work Fatal Contact, also featured on the magazine, was released in Hong Kong last month. The upcoming issue will conclude the interview as they discuss SPL, working with Sammo Hung, Fatal Contact and Wu Jing's plans for the future.

"Mainland Chinese Wushu maestro Wu Jing first jump kicked his way onto the Jade Screen as the youthful star of Yuen Woo ping’s kung fu comedy Tai Chi 2/Tai Chi Boxer, before carving a name for himself in the world of Chinese martial arts dramas on the small screen. Wu worked for director Tsui Hark on Legend of Zu, and Lau Kar leung for Drunken Monkey, but it his cameo role in Wilson Yip’s dark classic SPL/Killzone that re-introduced him to cinema audiences across Asia. This month Wu Jing headlines a dark martial arts thriller Fatal Contact, which sees him drawn into the world of illegal martial arts fights. Impact’s Eastern Editor Mike Leeder caught up with the man for the following interview."   Courtesy of Big Mike

-- Luk Ah Choi Biopic --

Lau Kar Leung is working on a new project - a biopic on Luk Ah Choi, the master of Wong Hei Hung's father. This is one ambitious project that is apparently culmination of his lifetime effort. Lau Kar Leung, who has already mapped out the plot, is currently looking for investors for the movie. Further information and contact details may be found at HK Cinemagic.

Donnie Yen Talks about SPL
 

Watching Movies, November 2005
Xiao Fei

 
The exchanges between Sammo Hung, Wu Jing and you are billed as "freestyle", according to the handout. How were those filmed?
Donnie Yen: Actually, I only have two main fights with them, and these are the most essential fights in the film.

So, how close to real fights are the freestyle sparring?
Donnie Yen: Actually, it wasn't completely freestyle sparring, it's not quite possible to actually implement it. What I meant was that, since the outset, I hoped to put the most realistic elements of fighting in the action scenes. I felt that the movies we, the Chinese, produced, used to influence the whole world - but it was all a thing of the past. Except for a few major period productions which have gained worldwide recognitions, there are no contemporary movies in the past 10 years that we can be proud of compared to many action movies from Japan, Korea, US, and most recently Thailand's Ong Bak, that are worthy enough to stand up against them. So, I hope that through SPL, we could show the world that we are still capable of being the forerunners in kungfu movies, in the art of combat.

-- Seven Swords Trailer --

The official 2:30 min trailer is now up at the official site. (Click on 下載, 影音 and pick one of the three sizes - 2.1, 4.6, 13.9 MB.)

Xiong Xin Xin on the Vicissitudes of Stunt Profession
 

China Movies Weekly, 13 April 2005

 
Xiong Xin Xin (aka Hung Yan Yan), most commonly known for his role as Clubfoot Seven in Once Upon A Time in China series, was born in 1962 in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China. He began martial arts training at the age of 12, and 2 years later, became a member of Guangxi Wushu Team and won numerous trophies at Guangxi and National Wushu Competitions. In 1984, under a fortuitous occasion, he stepped into the movie industry. "At that time, I was no longer competing and had taken up the post of a wushu coach. My two seniors who were in Shaolin Temple looked me up to shoot Martial Arts of Shaolin. Because of my impressions on Shaolin Temple, I agreed."

-- Xiong Xin Xin Talks about Seven Swords --

Xiong Xin Xin, best known for his role as Clubfoot Seven in Once Upon a Time in China 3 and onwards, is making a return to the East, after having spent several years in Hollywood as action director, "I am returning, for I believe that Mainland market would make a major leap forward." And so, he joined Tsui Hark in The Seven Swords, working alongside Liu Chia Liang as the martial arts choreographer. He found that it was most difficult to choreograph the swordplay, for Tsui Hark wanted the swordplay to reflect the nature each of the characters, but in reality, everyone is using sword no matter what their personality is.

-- Liu Chia Liang Receives Outstanding Achievement Award --

Recently, Liu Chia Liang was presented Outstanding Achievement Award (otherwise known formerly as Lifetime Achievement Award but was changed for both auspicious and propitious reasons!) at 10th Golden Bauhinia Awards.

Tsui Hark, who was too tied-up with post-production of The Seven Swords, was unable to congratulate him personally. However, he is very happy for Liu Chia Liang. Tsui Hark is very grateful to Liu Chia Liang for his diligence and unfaltering endeavour. He says filming in Xinjiang was a very arduous assignment. Aside for long hours, working till late into the night, they had to deal with harsh climatic conditions. From sweltering temperature of over 40°C in September to freezing temperature in December, Liu Chia Liang had remained very professional and always did his very best.

When the production moved location to Mt Tian, Liu Chia Liang was already ill with flu. The production was very concerned about Liu Chia Liang, fearing that the high altitude might further aggravate his condition. However, Liu Chia Liang still insisted on going up the mountain and was subsequently infected with pneumonia and could not even speak. Even then, he still persisted in finishing all his scenes at Mt Tian. Liu Chia Liang, the martial arts choreographer for The Seven Swords, also plays the role of Never Enquiring Sword Fu Qing Zhu, who is not a typical swordsman. He has a complex history and emotional world, and is a true hero who goes beyond the call of duty. The background of his sword Never Enquiring encourages one to change one's life and improve oneself, and not to be affected and bound by the past.  Beijing Evening News

Seven Swords: Tsui Hark Strikes Back After Lying Low for Three Years

Sanxia Online, 7 March 2005
 

"When creating a wuxia world, it's of paramount importance to bring out the personality of each of the characters. Like other weapons, sword is a device that shows human philosophies. The Seven Swords actually represent seven states of being: wisdom, unity, sacrifice, animal instinct, assault, protection and camaraderie." says Tsui Hark. In order to achieve these goals, Tsui Hark studied reference materials on ancient weapons before coming up with a blueprint for The Seven Swords. Then, he consulted Liu Chia Liang on aspects of practicality prior to finalisation.

On March 4, Tsui Hark held a mini-press conference for The Seven Swords, during which he showed the most important tools for the movie - a negative print of The Seven Swords per se. Throughout the interview, Tsui Hark remained philosophical, though his voice was somewhat pensive, yet there is no denying that through his talk, one could feel a feverish passion for wuxia in his heart of hearts.