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-- Forbidden Kingdom Sequel --

Having raked in US$70m in all worldwide, Huayi Brothers announces that they will be collaborating with Hollywood studios to produce Forbidden Kingdom sequel, with Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), Silent Monk (Jet Li), Jade Warlord (Ngai Sing), White Hair Demoness (Li Bing Bing) making a return.

Just before production began, Jet Li, as one of the film's investors, had an agreement with the Hollywood producers and bank that if the film makes less than US$40m worldwide, it's considered at failure; if it hits US$50m, they would talk about making a sequel; if it makes US$70m within 2 weeks of its opening, it's a confirmation.

While the script for Forbidden Kingdom sequel is far from completion, it's possible that the scenes giving background to White Hair Demoness, her past relationship, her hatred towards men that were cut from the original will be put back. Jet Li, who hopes to introduce Monkey King to the West, says casually that they could even have Monkey King battling DC comics superheroes like Superman, Batman in the sequel.

Apart from Forbidden Kingdom sequel, producer Casey Silver also intends to make another pic Legend of Lin Chong, with possibly either Jet Li or Chow Yun Fatt cast as the eponymous hero Leopard Head Lin Chong, one of the 108 heroic outlaws from Water Margins.  Beijing Times

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

In this interview, maestro martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo Ping gives a blow by blow account of the choreography behind Forbidden Kingdom.

It has always been my practice to choreograph the action based on the script as well as the personality of the character, this is very important. Jackie Chan plays Drunken Immortal in the movie, he's more outgoing and lively, as well as suave, he loves drinking, it's like he's roaming the mundane world casually.

Continue reading "Yuen Wo Ping's Annotations on Forbidden Kingdom's Martial Arts Choreography"

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

As actor Collin Chou (aka Ngai Sing) correctly pointed out, the Jade Warlord in Forbidden Kingdom is not necessary an evil character. He merely tries to keep the kingdom in order. So when characters that he considers unruly or who opposes him appear, he will not hesitate to remove them or teach them a lesson, just like how he taught the Monkey King a lesson by imprisoning him in stone for five centuries.

Background on Forbidden Kingdom

Jackie Chan and Jet Li, the two most revered martial arts superstar actors in the world today, have come together for the very first time in filmmaking history to pit their skills in The Forbidden Kingdom as Lu Yan and the Silent Monk respectively.

In this one-of-a-kind project, producer Casey Silver has not only succeeded in bringing together an exceptional group of people, including some of the best talent in Asian and Western cinema, for the first truly international Asian blockbuster movie. He has also pulled off a great feat in making the entire film in China.

This epic production is written by veteran screenwriter John Fusco, whose past works include the Academy Award®-nominated Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and directed by Rob Minkoff of The Lion King fame, who brings his unique blend of character, comedy, drama and storytelling to the enthralling and innovative time-traveling story structure...

-- Forbidden Kingdom Trailer --

Forbidden Kingdom theatrical trailer is now available at Yahoo Movies or  ForbiddenKingdomMovie.com.

-- Legend of Yip Man --

《叶问传》 Legend of Yip Man, produced by Mandarin Films, will begin production in late February 2008. Wilson Yip is directing, with the main production behind SPL being involved as well. Apart from Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung will also be joining the cast. And for maximum impact, they'll be performing their own stunts in this action oriented feature. Ngai Sing and a few martial artists are also being considered. Raymond Wong says that they are gathering information on the life of Yip Man, and have even been to Hall of Yip Man in Foshan as part of the research. The movie has full support from Yip Man's son, who's agreed to be the consultant. Raymond Wong says that the film will take on a similar look and feel as SPL.  Shanghai News Times

-- Ngai Sing Interview --

In November, I was invited by Richard Cooper, the publisher and editor of Screen Power and Jade Screen Magazines, to get in touch with Collin Chou to find out if he was willing to do an interview over the phone with me. We soon arranged a time and date which would work best for both of us.  Jade Screen >>More<<

-- Meet Ngai Sing at Pacific Media Expo on Nov 10 --
Los Angeles -- Actor Collin Chou (aka Ngai Sing), will appear at Pacific Media Expo, America's first major media trade show dedicated to Asian-Pacific popular culture and entertainment, on Nov. 10, 2007, 1 PM, with an hour-long panel and autograph session at Hilton Los Angeles Airport's Pacific Ballroom B. A martial arts expert for more than 30 years, Chou will field questions about his projects, including the much-anticipated The Forbidden Kingdom. Slated for release in early 2008, Chou appears alongside Jackie Chan and Jet Li in their first costarring film.

"We are honored that Collin Chou, a celebrated action star who has successfully crossed over to Hollywood, is coming to PMX," said Paula Angeles, director of marketing and community outreach. "We are also very excited to see the fusion of Asian culture and American pop culture come together in his latest film, The Forbidden Kingdom. It's a dream come true for fans of action films."

Chou, a veteran of Hong Kong action cinema who spent seven years as a member of Sammo Hung's acclaimed stunt team, will look back on his work with famed directors Hung, Yuen Woo Ping, Corey Yuen and Tsui Hark. In addition to the 15 films he appeared in before moving to the U.S., his prior and future American releases in THe Matrix franchise (2003-2005), Fearless (2006), DOA: Dead Or Alive (2006), The Signal (2007) and Batlle of Red Cliff (2008) will also be discussed.

In his latest film, featuring a screenplay by John Fusco, Chou plays the villainous Jade Emperor in The Forbidden Kingdom, a re-telling of the classic Chinese Monkey King's Journey to the West legend. In it, a modern-day American teenager (Michael Angarano) is transported to ancient China and with the aid of a kung fu master (Jackie Chan) and a silent monk (Jet Li), frees the Monkey King while eluding the Jade Emperor (Chou) and his soldiers, led by the White Haired Demoness (Li Bingbing).

Chou, his wife and two sons currently reside in Los Angeles, Calif.  Pacific Media Expo

-- Flash Point DVD --

The DVD for Flash Point, one of the best martial arts movies ever made that combines excellent direction from Wilson Yip as well as a thorough, well thought-out and visceral showdown between Donnie Yen and Ngai Sing that sets new standards for the way martial arts scenes should be shot, is going to be released on 28 September. The limited edition comes with such special features as the gala premiere, behind-the-scenes video, shooting diary, informer's report, martial arts production, deleted scenes, as well as various trailers. Flash Point was recently screened at Toronto International Film Festival.

Preorder at YesAsia

Flash Point DVD (2-Disc Limited Edition)

Flash Point DVD (Regular Edition)

-- The Forbidden Kingdom --

Production of US$70m Forbidden Kingdom, which commenced in May in Dunhuang, and subsequently moved location to Mt Wuyi, Anji, etc and eventually to Hengdian, has just wrappd up. Most of the cast members, including Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Liu Yi Fei have completed their scenes by Aug 26. The last month of the shoot was spent filming the action scenes of the grand finale, which takes place predominating on the Qin Palace set, which was given an overhaul costing US$10m, in Hengdian. The Qin Palace set was used as the headquarters of Jade Warlord. Production for the finale was split into two camera units, one led by Yuen Wo Ping, another by Peter Pau. According to some production crew, there are three major duels in the finale: Jet Li and Jackie Chan vs Li Bing Bing; Jet Li vs Ngai Sing; and Jackie Chan vs Li Bing Bing. Yuen Wo Ping personally directed the martial arts scenes in the finale. And to ensure quality, Yuen Wo Ping often made last minute changes, such that even the actors sometimes had to wait for the whole day. Forbidden Kingdom is expected to open in China on May Day 2008.  The Beijing News 

-- Operation Condor 3: Chinese Zodiac --
"Next year, April the 1st, I start a new movie," Chan revealed. "I direct, I write my own script. It's called Operation Condor 3: Chinese Zodiac. Big action." The Armor of God/Operation Condor series features Chan as an Indiana Jones-style adventurer pursuing mythical artifacts, with Chan's trademark style of action scenes. Perhaps the biggest find in part three will be Chan's return to directing. "I haven't been directing for more than 10 years, even though I'm helping all my directors on the set. But now this time I'm totally in control. I write my own script. You'll see what happens. This may be the most personal Jackie Chan movie in a decade. "Directing you can do a lot of things. I can put all my messages inside, I can put all my ideas inside. It's the feeling I create something."

Meanwhile, Chan is currently filming The Forbidden Kingdom, a Western take on the classic Chinese "Journey to the West" tale, with Jet Li and Collin Chou. He can also be seen soon in Brett Ratner's Rush Hour 3, out this August 10.  Rotten Tomatoes