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 Among those martial arts stars/directors in the entertainment industry that are from Guangxi, perhaps the most famous is Xiong Xin Xin. Yet, few know of 谭俏 Tan Qiao, who also hails from Guangxi - or more specifically, Guilin. While the name Tan Qiao may not ring a bell to most people, he ranks alongside the foremost kickers and martial arts choreographers ever to grace the silverscreen. Continue reading "Tan Qiao: Fighting from Guangxi to Hollywood"

 -- Kong Fu Man --
 Kungfu Hero/Kong Fu Man, directed by Ning Ying and Yuen Cheung Yan, starring Tiger Chen, Jiang Meng Jie, Vanessa Branch, Andre McCoy, Tan Qiao, Lin Shen, etc. has wrapped up filming in late January. On his blog, Tiger Chen expresses his gratitude to all those involved for their hard work. He also reiterates that Kungfu Hero and Tai Chi Tiger are two separate and distinct works, though the latter is often mistaken as the previous incarnation of Kungfu Hero. Continue reading "Having A Rollicking Good Time on Kong Fu Man"

Press conference for Kungfu Hero was held on October 20 in Beijing, attended by the producers Li Shao Hong, Li Xiao Wan and Zhang Da Xing, directors Ning Ying and Yuen Cheung Yan, and cast members Tiger Chen, Jiang Meng Jie and Lin Shen.

Continue reading "Ning Ying and Yuen Chueng Yan to Direct Kung Fu Hero"

-- Kungfu Hero --

According to producer Li Xao Wan, the contemporary fashionable martial arts comedy 《功夫侠》Kungfu Hero (tentative), formerly known as Taichi Tiger, is beginning production sometime this month. She says that the film will showcase Chinese kungfu with utmost realism and excitement, and it will add some clashes between modern Chinese and Western cultures, bearing modern comedic elements.

However, in May this year, Tiger Chen expressed frustrations on his blog as this film wasn't making much headway. Perhaps all issues have been resolved by now?

Kungfu Hero is produced by Keanu Reeves, Han San Ping and He Gang, and this is the first Chinese film that Keanu Reeves, who recently starred in global warming reminder film The Day The Earth Stood Still, is serving as an investor on the account of his friendship with Tiger Chen. Tiger Chen will star in and possibly direct Kungfu Hero, or co-direct with his mentor Yuen Wo Ping and/or Yuen Cheung Yan.

Kungfu Hero is a film set against an international backdrop that revolves around the theme of chivalry and exemplifies Chinese cultures. The film tells of a regular guy who happens to be trained in kungfu. In the process of rescuing a Westerner, he keeps challenging himself to the limits, improving his skills, and unleashing his potential.  Chengdu Commerce Daily

-- Tai Chi Tiger --

While in Seoul promoting his latest movie Street Kings, Keanu Reeves, during an interview, becomes especially excited on the mention of Yuen Wo Ping. He says he met Yuen Wo Ping, whom he addresses as master or Eighth Master in Cantonese, in Beijing around half a year ago to discuss a kungfu movie, tentatively called Tai Chi Tiger. He'd play a villain character. Tiger Chen Hu will play the lead as a Tai Chi master.

Keanu Reeves says that it's still in scripting stage and that the film will be shot on location in China. He'd show the script to Yuen Wo Ping upon completion and hopes that Yuen Wo Ping would direct it. A few months back, Keanu Reeves was in Sichuan scouting locations with Tiger Chen.

 

On being enquired, Yuen Wo Ping says that he's very happy and look forward to collaborating with Keanu Reeves, but clarifies that he'd only be the martial arts director. The film will be directed by Tiger Chen himself, in other word, its going to be directorial debut of this young member of Yuen Clan. Yuen Wo Ping adds that he has also invited Keanu Reeves for another project to be shot next year.  Sina

-- China Film Group to Co-produce Hollywood Action Films --

China Film Group announces that it's currently in talks to collaborate with Hollywood studios on three movies. The first plans on getting Will Smith and either Stephen Chow or Jackie Chan on board, with either of the latter playing a Chinese stuntman who changes the life of a withdrawn American kid. The kid would be played by Will Smith's son while he may take on a villainous role.

The second is Taichi Tiger, a project planned by Keanu Reeves to fulfill the wish of Tiger Chen. He'll play a supporting role while Tiger Chen the protagonist. Keanu Reeves, accompanied by Tiger Chen, visited Sichuan recently for location scouting.

The third is Disney's remake of Snow White, whose cast is so far unconfirmed, though some names have been mentioned. Yangcheng Evening News

-- Li Feng's Directorial Debut --

Li Feng's commercial kungfu movie was originally planned to start production in July. However, this has been delayed as the script is still being worked on. Li Feng, who is currently revising the script, hopes to begin filming by end of the year. He confirms that Yuan Quan, Tong Yao and Tiger Chen will star in the film. Tiger Chen, Yuen Wo Ping's protege, who will also be choreographing the movie, is giving Tong Yao demanding training in preparation for the movie. Li Feng would neither reveal the script nor the title of film until filming begins, "You could think of it as a Korean romance meets Hong Kong martial arts film. We intend to name the film after a martial arts style or move."  Nanguo Morning Post

-- Dancing Fist --

Photo: Tong Yao Blog

Tong Yao, who graduated from Central Drama Academy in 2002 and has background in dancing, is training for over eight hours daily to prepare for her role in 《舞拳》 Dancing Fist/Fistplay (tentative), an upcoming contemporary action comedy directed by Li Feng, who also wrote the script. She says that this is her first work with Li Feng. She was drawn to the project by the script and is obsessed with the characters, as well as the martial arts choreography. She's very excited to be working with Tiger Chen Hu, Yuen Wo Ping's protege. Hoping to become an action star, she goes through rigorous training under Yuen Wo Ping Stunt Team members (video) and intends to perform all action herself. She says that the movie will be a showcase of authentic martial arts. Tong Yao plays opposite Tiger Chen as a girl who gets bullied. After learning the arts of defence from a coach she meets, she goes back for revenge. Eventually, she realises that the greatest enemy is herself. Production begins in August.  Sina

-- Li Feng's Directorial Debut --

Photo: Sina

Script writer Li Feng is currently preparing for his directorial debut, a modern day actioner that bears some comics book elements. A US studio has injected US$5m into the movie and will help distribute the film in US. The cast includes Tiger Chen, who will also work as the action director, Tong Yao and Yuan Quan.

 

Tiger Chen Hu, who was discovered by Yuen Wo Ping and worked under him in The Matrix series and Kill Bill, describes his role as a young man who is not only skilled in martial arts but highly intelligent. He is someone who has great tolerance, is cheerful, able to take hardships, and is really cool too. Tiger Chen will exchange fists against the two actresses Tong Yong and Yuan Quan. Tong Yong is undergoing three months of training in martial arts. Tiger Chen believes that she will be able to handle the demanding action in the movie since she has some foundations in dancing. Tiger Chen says they will try to portray grace and authenticity of martial arts, and there will be numerous demanding stunts and large-scale scenes. Tiger Chen believes that only actual martial artists are able to bring out the original flavour of kung fu films as as films today tend to rely to much on special effects, wires and doubles. The film will be shot on location in with Xinjiang, Zhuhai, and Hong Kong. Shooting is expected to begin in July and will take around 3 months.  Sina