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 Why did you opted for the era of warlords?
 Benny Chan: The story concerning thirteen cudgel monks rescuing Tang prince has been adapted too many times. So, I checked with the abbot, the notable legends of Shaolin Temple in the past 1500 years, there was this legend, concerning a warlord ransacking Shaolin Temple to look for another warlord, before setting it ablaze. Being partial to this legend, I settled for the warlords era. That period was very turbulent, China was already facing foreign invasion, yet the Chinese were still fighting among themselves. Continue reading "Benny Chan Interview on Shaolin: Advocating The Spirit of Martial Arts"

Over 10 million yuan and around 4 months were spent on building the 1:1 life-size replica of Shaolin Temple in Yanshi, Yongkang. Some structures or props of the new Shaolin Temple were actually built larger for ease of filming or to impart a more numinous feel, such as the towering giant Buddha statue.

Continue reading "Shaolin: Andy Lau Teams up with Wu Jing, Xing Yu and Yu Shao Qun Against Nicholas Tse and Xiong Xin Xin"

From Wu Jing's February 26, 2010 blog entry:

To experience life in Shaolin
To be better immersed in character
With the intention of paying respect to Shaolin
Staying for seven days in Shaolin Temple to practise Zen

Whether it is practising martial arts, meditating, filming, calligraphy
Tea appreciation, discussing Tao, doing business, or falling in love
They are but a voyage of self-discovery, the process of illuminating, perfecting oneself
To boost one's own confidence, calmly facing trials and tribulations in life

Buddha - an enlightened being

 

-- Shaolin --
Having completed his week-long stint at Shaolin Temple training for the film Shaolin, Wu Jing has left on January 26 and returned to the set of Tempest of Westerly Winds, which has two more action scenes to go, to resume filming.

 

The executive working for Shaolin Temple says Wu Jing left him a very deep impression, is very professional and dedicated, has excellent driving skills, and is really multi-talented: diving, horse-riding, car racing, driving boat. He is very warm person and was very obliging to the kids at Shaolin requesting for a photo session, as well as fans at the hotel he was staying.

 

It's certainly worth noting that Yu Hai and Xiong Xin Xin are involved in Shaolin as well. Jackie Chan is joining the production after Lunar New Year. Xiong Xin Xin mentions having a great time fighting Andy Lau several days ago, who lives up to his name as the role model in the industry. Despite not having formal wushu training, Andy Lau compares favourably to the stunt professionals, due to his hard work and effort.

-- Shaolin --

Shaolin is currently being filmed in Hengdian and on a 1:1 replica of actual Shaolin Temple built in Yanshi, Yongkang, Zhejiang. The Shaolin Temple set comprises of three main buildings, built at closer distance to expedite filming. They even created two remarkably lifelike cryptomerias in the premises. Benny Chan picked Yanshi due to its beautiful sceneries and surroundings, like stone pillars, multiple peaks, valleys, making it convenient to do location shooting around the set. A big portion of production will be filmed in the region.

However, the ever-changing weather in Yongkang is giving a big headache to Benny Chan as it could be sunny one day, cloudy another, or snow or rain the next day. In order to ensure consistency of the environment, a scene could take many days to complete. Benny Chan also says that the production will take an environmental conscious approach in order to preserve the land.

An executive working for Shaolin Temple mentions that Wu Jing, who arrived in Shaolin Temple on January 20, is staying there for a week to train in Shaolin martial arts. He says that Wu Jing has great martial arts skills, is very professional, has great character, is manly.  Yongkang Daily

 

Video: Touring Yanshi Shaolin set

At the pre-production press conference (video) at the famed Shaolin Temple on Mt Song on October 22, it was announced that apart from Emperor Motion Pictures and Shaolin Cultural Communication, China Film Group, Huayi Brothers and Henan TV are also co-producing the kungfu epic, Shaolin, budgeted at close to 200 million yuan. Continue reading "Benny Chan Narrates A New Story of Shaolin"

-- New Shaolin Temple --  
Rumours have been floating around for some time regarding who is set to star in Hong Kong veteran director Benny Chan’s upcoming - all star cast laden - martial arts epic Shaolin. Well now it seems most of the talent has signed on the dotted line and it’s quite the who's who of A-list Action stars. Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse and Wu Jing!! are confirmed, with that added plus of a cameo appearance by none other than Jackie Chan. Soooold!
 
 This movie is not be a remake or sequel to Jet Li’s 80s classic Shaolin Temple. Rather, it is an entirely new story, written by Alan Yuen, that is set in early 1900s Republican period. Shot in a real Shaolin Temple it will also feature real life Shaolin monks in the supporting cast using exotic Shaolin kung-fu. Filming is due to start this December, and is expected to be completed by April 2010.
 
 Synopsis: China is plunged into strife as feuding warlords try to expand their power by warring over neighboring lands. Fuelled by his success on the battlefield, young and arrogant Hao Jie sneers at Shaolin's masters when he beats one of them in a duel. But the pride comes before a fall. When his own family is wiped out by a rival warlord, Hao Jie is forced to take refuge with the monks. As the civil unrest spreads and the people suffer, Hao Jie and the Shaolin masters are forced to take a fiery stand against the evil warlords. They launch a daring plan or rescue and escape. 24FramesPerSecond, via Maz

-- New Shaolin Temple --

Representing Shaolin Temple's investment in the film New Shaolin Temple that Benny Chan is directing, producer Fu Yang Hua, head of Shaolin Cultural Communications, says that their negotiations with Andy Lau for a year have been fruitful, and he'd be playing a feudal lord's son who's a crack shot [While it could also be referring to spear in Chinese, gun is more likely given that the persona belongs to the military ruling class] if all goes well.

While Jet Li denies involvement, Fu Yang Hua says they're still trying their best to persuade Jet Li, hoping to bring about a pleasant surprise, "Even if we succeeded in bringing Jet Li on board, he won't have too many scenes, it's basically a cameo."
 
There's a good chance of Wu Jing, who was at One Foundation C1 Charity Race, organised by Jet Li, in Chengdu last weekend, joining too.
 
New Shaolin Temple, which showcases exotic Shaolin martial arts and involves the participation of real-life Shaolin martial monks, begins production in December 2009 and would wrap up by April 2010.  Shanghai Morning Post

-- New Shaolin Temple --

While the deal hasn't been sealed formerly on paper, Andy Lau, who has just finished filming Detective Dee, confirms that he'd be doing New Shaolin Temple. They have been in talks for a year and Andy Lau would play a feudal lord's son, whose gun is his most powerful weapon, and he also has to be trained in Shaolin kung fu. Three months before production begins, he'd start learning kungfu. Andy Lau says he is uncertain of Jet Li's involvement.

 

Director Benny Chan responds that he's currently filming City Under Siege, and EMP is taking care of New Shaolin Temple's pre-production, so he doesn't have the casting details, "From the commercial standpoint, the more celebrities the better, but it's impossible to have too many big names in one movie."

Benny Chan also adds that as a tribute to Shaolin kungfu, he will not be relying too much on special effects, and the martial arts scenes will be on the realistic side.  Sohu

-- New Shaolin Temple --

Upon being asked, Jet Li says he's not aware of New Shaolin Temple but reveals his next project (the charity movie?) as one in which he doesn't have any action. Coinciding with a report in early June surrounding Andy Lau, Benny Chan is directing the New Shaolin Temple movie.

 

As director Benny Chan gets interviewed by Sina specifically regarding New Shaolin Temple, he says he is in touch with several actors and some big names would be involved but the cast hasn't been confirmed.

Continue reading "Benny Chan to Direct New Shaolin Temple"

-- New Shaolin Temple --
New Shaolin Temple that Shaolin, Henan Movie & TV and EMP are producing is being written by Yuen Kam Lun. The movie is set in the Republican period in early 1900s, when the land was divided and ruled by rivalling feudal warlords, and the people were living in hard times [possibly just after the Manchurian government was toppled or death of General Yuan Shikai]. The story revolves around the monks from Shaolin Temple extending their help to the populace and even sacrificing their lives.

The production is currently in talks with Jet Li and Andy Lau to star in the film, with the former invited to play a senior monk. Production begins no earlier than end of the year.  Chinese Business View

-- New Shaolin Temple --
On being queried, Sichuan director Fu Hua Yang, disciple of Shaolin abbot Shi Yong Xing and head of Shaolin Cultural Communications, a venture by Shaolin Temple, says that they are teaming up with Emperor Motion Pictures to produce a martial arts film New(est) Shaolin Temple this December.

The film will employ real-life Shaolin warrior monks and showcase various Shaolin martial arts, including those never seen before in films. And Shaolin Temple will be opening its doors to the production to shoot within its premises.

 

New Shaolin Temple, which has been planned since 2005 and could possibly be developed into a franchise if successful, is budgeted at 200m yuan. The director would be someone from Hong Kong and the cast shall be announced at a press conference in mid-August. Hopefully, this Shaolin production won't turn out to be like the idol TV series Shaolin Warriors, with choppily edited action scenes, that they produced.  Chengdu Evening News