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Yesterday night, the final round of The Disciple, attended by various luminaries in the industry like Tsui Hark, John Woo, Ng See Yuen, Cheng Pei, Pei, Yu Rong Guang, was aired over Beijing TV. The Disciple contest was put on hold in mid-May following the Sichuan earthquake with the candidates going to do relief work and only resumed recently.

The champion goes to 涂圣成 Jack Tu Sheng Cheng, who grew up under strict training regime of his martial artist father since the age of six. The runners-up are 杨政 Yang Zheng and 易扬 Jerry Liau. Jackie Chan presents his calligraphy to the champion Yu Sheng Cheng and takes him in as his disciple. Yang Sheng Cheng will get to follow Jackie Chan, and be imparted with his skills on movie-making.

In conjunction with China Film Group, Emperor Motion Pictures, Beijing TV Station, Beijing Forbidden City Films, and his own studio, Jackie Chan will be producing three modern action movies 《速递206》 (Speedpost 206), 《不告诉你》 (Won't Tell You), 《热带气旋》 (Tropical Tornado) and one action TV series with them playing the lead roles. Production is expected to start in September.

The rest of the top 16 candidates will also have a chance to take part in the above projects. Stanley Tong and Peter Pau will be the executive producers, while Xie Dong, Jiang Tao and Cai Rong Hui will each direct a movie. Jackie Chan Stunt Team will choreograph the action.  EastDay | Videos at Sina

-- 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.

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...

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.

-- 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 

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

Jackie Chan will be using his signature move Drunken Fist for his character Lu Yan. Yuen Wo Ping hopes to present Drunken Fist as something gentle on the inside, forceful on the outside. Silent Monk (Jet Li), who was transformed from a strand of hair on Monkey God that escaped when the latter was imprisoned, uses Monkey Fist; Yuen Wo Ping designs for Jet Li the ancient form that dazzles the opponent with fast and ever-changing moves before delivering the fatal blow. White Hair Demoness (Li Bing Bing) uses Phoenix Dancing in Ninth Heaven, and specialises in whip and twin swords. Golden Swallow, (Liu Yi Fei), whose forte is lightness kungfu, employs Pipa Skill; when strumming the pipa, secret weapons will shoot forth.

Liu Yifei's mother has agreed to play Queen Mother who appears briefly in the movie. Unfortunately, Li Xue, Li Bing Bing's sister agent, turned down the cameo role of moon fairy Chang-er, who dances at the Peaches Meet. White Hair Demoness was originally a male character Whitebrows. But on Peter Pau's suggestion, they changed it to a female character whose hair turned white overnight when she was betrayed by her lover. Forbidden Kingdom will wrap up in August and be released in around April 2008.  Nanfang Daily, Sina

-- Hua Mu Lan --
Hua Mu Lan 《花木兰》 expects to begin filming by the end of the year. Michelle Yeoh is stepping down as the eponymous role, playing another character who is closer to her age, while Zhang Ziyi has been named to take over her as Hua Mu Lan, depending on her availability. Chow Yun Fatt and Lucy Liu are also expected to join the movie. Peter Pau may not be the director anymore. 

The movie will make use of the four seasons, their changes, colours and beautiful sceneries to represent a distinct theme. The story begins with Summer which represents peace in the movie; Autumn, shown by the yellow earth, signifies war; Winter, portrayed by the northern snow, tells of the loneliness amidst the war, of love; The movie concludes with Spring, where everything returning to normal, with affluence everywhere.  Chinese Business View, Bigstar