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Filming inauguration (video) for City Under Siege was held on a soundstage in Yuen Long, Hong Kong on June 24.

Director Benny Chan says that he had long wanted to do a Chinese type of superhero movie, one that combines that unique characteristics of Chinese Kungfu with special visual effects.

On June 11 afternoon, Beijing Enlight Pictures held a press conference to announce its 8 upcoming/ongoing/future projects/co-productions between 2009 to 2010. Liu Yi Wei and Liu Yan hosted the event that was attended by Enlight's chairman Wang Zhang Tian and president Zhang Zhao, and their collaborators producer Raymond Wong, directors Gordon Chan, Andrew Lau, etc, as well as comics creator Tony Wong Yuk Long.

-- City on Alert --

City on Alert, a 100m yuan sci-fi actioner by director's Benny Chan Muk Sing, has been secretly in production for several days. The cast includes Aaron Kwok, Ngai Sing, Wu Jing, Shu Q, Zhang Jing Chu.

In this film on courage, a group of circus performers goes on a rampage after undergoing some kind of mutation, that grants them superhuman abilities, in an accident. However, one of them, an ordinary clown originally, would not condone the others' misdeeds and for the sake of the entire city, stands up against them.

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

Having worked with Yuen Wo Ping a number of times, Ngai Sing, who plays Jade Warlord in the recently released Forbidden Kingdom, describes him as one of martial arts directors he most enjoys working with. Whenever Yuen Wo Ping invites him to join a project, he would not turn down him down.

Ngai Sing, who is expected to join Yuen Wo Ping's upcoming directorial project Iron Mask, elaborates, "Yuen Wo Ping's techniques change and improve with the advancement of technology and filmmaking, he is vastly different from some of the older generations who are not receptive to changes or new ideas. Yuen Wo Ping is often willing to listen to suggestions of younger filmmakers, he is willing to employ their creative ideas, and combined with his years of experience in martial arts choreography, re-works on his own ideas. His martial arts direction often tells a story, like a graceful, beautiful ballet.

-- 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