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What are your five favorite martial arts films of all time, and why?
Donnie Yen: (I like) Enter The Dragon and Fist Of Fury, because they star my all-time idol, Bruce Lee. Prodigal Son,, starring Yuen Biao, directed by Sammo Hung. In terms of Wing Chun kung fu on camera: Sammo set the bar with that one. And we're trying to raise it (the bar) again with our new film, 'Yip Man'.

(I like) Drunken Master, with Jackie Chan, directed by my Sifu, Yuen Woo-ping. That created a whole new style of kung fu comedy. Heroes Of The East, by Lau Kar-leung. This is a classic Shaw Brothers film about a kung fu master who marries a Japanese woman, and finds he has to fight her relatives, all of whom know different Japanese arts. (It's a) Great concept, and someone should remake it. (It's not technically a kung fu movie, but I loved the last Rocky film, Rocky Balboa! Very touching, and the last fight was amazing.)

You must get along with Wilson Yip. Flash Point is one of many collaboration with him and you have more collaborations ('Yip Man') in the works.
Donnie Yen: I have a great time working with Wilson. We did SPL (Killzone), Dragon Tiger Gate, Flashpoint and now we're shooting Yip Man. (As I mentioned above, Painted Skin was directed by Gordon Chan). Wilson's very quiet, very focused. When we work together, he really helps me keep on track in terms of the story and character development. We make a great team, and I hope to work with him again!

Tell us more about your latest project, 'Yip Man'!
Donnie Yen: We're shooting 'Yip Man' now, in Shanghai. Sammo Hung is the action director. I've wanted to do this film for years. I've been training in Wing Chun kung fu, and especially working on the wooden dummy, so I can do justice to this story and this character. We have the full support of Yip Man's family, which is great. Having just done Flash Point, it's great to do a completely different style of action for this film.

Bey Logan's Blog has been updated recently with a number of articles on recent martial arts movies as well as martial arts legends. Firstly, there are interviews with filmmaker, martial arts director, Hung-gar master Liu Chia Liang, a Hung Gar legend Lam Cho, and a trip down the memory lane with Golden Harvest's Raymond Chow.

Next up is an audio commentary session with Jaycee Chan, Shawn Yue and Andy On for Dragon Dynasty's Invisible Target DVD, a brief moment with Sammo Hung at Fatal Move Premiere, and, in conjunction with the production of Mandarin Film's "Yip Man", directed by Wilson Yip, action directed by Sammo Hung and starring Donnie Yen, takes a look at Wing Chun lineage and related films.

As a side note, Coming Soon interviews Donnie Yen as Flash Point gets limited release in US this week.

-- Yip Man Press Conference --
Press conference marking the inauguration of 40m yuan kungfu biopic "Yip Man" was held in Foshan at the Hall of Yip Man on Feb 26 afternoon. "Yip Man" is directed by Wilson Yip, produced by Mandarin Films. Sammo Hung will be the the martial arts director. The cast includes Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung, Simon Yam, Lam Ka Tung. Yip Man's two sons and several Wing Chun practitioners also turned up to show their support.

The event kicked off with a lion dance performance as well as Donnie Yen performing a Wing Chun training routine on the wooden dummy. "Yip Man" begins production in March, and is expected to wrap up in June. 90% of the film will focus on events surrounding Yip Man that took place in Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s. Unfortunately, the buildings in today's Foshan are architecturally different from the past, so they'd shoot in Shanghai instead.

-- Philip Ng on Wing Chun TV Series --

There has always been the misconception that Wing Chun kung fu was developed by a girl for a girl, but in reality, Wing Chun is a method of combat that has been developed for human beings, regardless of gender, race, or even choice of eating habits. Wing Chun's success as one of the premier combat arts is due primarily to it simplicity, efficiency, and directness in both its techniques and concepts.  Philip Ng Blog >>More<<

-- Legend of Twin Dragons and Wing Chun DVDs --

Based on the trailer as well as plot, cast, costumes, etc, Legend of Twin Dragons appears to be same work as the 40-part TV series Wing Chun that's scheduled for airing on Mainland TV later this month. It seems that the two are different versions in terms of length, with Legend of Twin Dragons, being called a "movie" and reportedly containing more violent scenes such that it was barred from theatrical screening (though this could possibly be publicity stunt since the "movie", possibly being carved out of the same mould as the TV version, would not likely get wide release anyway even if it made it to the theatres), having a shorter running time of around 1 and 1/2 hrs. Legend of Twin Dragon has just been released on DVD in China and is available from such Chinese online video store as Cnave.

Wing Chun, starring Yuen Biao, Nicholas Tse, Sammo Hung, Rain Li, Ji Chun Hua, Xu Xiang Dong, Sammy Hung, Hu Ke, Elanne Kwong, is due for DVD release on July 24. 

Pre-ordered DVD from YesAsia.

-- Wing Chun --

Wing Chun TV series has begun production recently in Hengdian. Nicholas Tse, who plays the spoilt brat Leung Bik, says that he does martial arts productions mainly because of his love for kung fu. Apparently, his training has paid off, for the actors are all quite impressed of his skills, even Sammy Hung who plays his enemy says, "I think that Nicholas Tse fights better than me. He is talented, and has been training for quite a long time. I didn't train much with my father when young, and have only learned a little martial arts after I have grown up, but it's already too late."

Sammo Hung says that he accepted the project mainly to support his son Sammy Hung, who plays the lead villain. Besides, he's taking the opportunity to reunite with his fellow classmate Yuen Biao to create another classic. Yuen Biao, who is also glad to be working with his "Big Brother" Sammo Hung again, says that basically, he is playing the same character Leung Tsan as his 81's classic The Prodigal Son. However, he was someone else's son in that movie while this time round, he plays Nicholas Tse's father.  Netease, Tom

-- Wing Chun --

Wing Chun TV Series, produced by Hong Kong's Universe Entertainment Ltd, will begin production soon. The martial arts comedy, which emphasises authentic martial arts sequences, stars Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Nicholas Tse, Rain Li, Hu Ke, Zhao Xue Fei, Philip Ng, Xu Xiang Dong, Ji Chun Hua, Gordon Liu. Wing Chun is based on 1981's kungfu film The Prodigal Son, which starred Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Lam Ching Ying, and Billy Chan.

Sammo Hung hopes that the audience will be able to re-experience the thrills of authentic martial arts, since the films and TV series these days employ too much special effects, and martial arts scenes are but empty poses. And he also looks forward to working with Yuen Biao again.

Billy Chan, producer for the TV series, hopes to blend elements of martial arts comedies of yore with the rebelliousness of the younger generation into the drama serial. Stephen Tung Wei will be the martial arts director. To prepare for his role in the TV series, Nicholas Tse has been training in Wing Chun under the tutelage of Lai Ying Chau, Yip Man's disciple, since last November.

At the turn of 20th century, Leung Jan (Yuen Viao), will his kindness and superb medical skills, is well-loved by the the people of Foshan. His eldest son Leung Bik (Nicholas Tse), is a gifted but arrogant brat who loafs around. Owing to the founder's rules that the successor of Wing Chun must possess wisdom, compassion and valour, Leung Jaan has forbidden Leung Bik to learn the martial arts.

Leung Bik runs away from home in a fit of anger. He arrives in Hong Kong and meets the mischievous Uncle Wah (Sammo Hung), a martial descendant of Wing Chun, by chance, and inadvertently picks up Wing Chun. Ko Ming (Sammy Hung), whose love for Little Bun is spurned by the latter who in turn carries a torch for Leung Bik, seeks to fight a death match against him. Ko Ming is skilled in Iron Thread Fist, taught by Master Hung Fu.  Chang Jiang Daily

-- Dragon Tiger Gate --

After almost 3 months of filming in China, Dragon Tiger Gate has finished majority of the scenes and left Hengdian on December 17. The few remaining scenes will be shot in HK, after which Donnie Yen would be working with director Wilson Yip on post-production, in particular, editing of action scenes. Wilson Yip says that many fight scenes in the film are lavish and lush, in line with the tone set by the comics.

Donnie Yen would get to spend his Christmas with his wife and child in HK in the meantime. Nicholas Tse says that he'd be doing a Wing Chun based TV series with Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao after doing a TV adaptation of Gu Long's The Bigwig.  Sina  | Behind-the-scenes video: Sina

-- Mr Leung Tsan of Foshan --

TVB's Wing Chun TV series Mr Leung Tsan of Foshan 《佛山赞先生》has kicked off production in the second week of January 2005. The cast includes Yuen Biao, Maggie Siu, Timmy Hung, Leung Kar Yan and Yuen Wah.  Takung Daily | More Photos: Sina, Tom

-- Mr Leung Tsan of Foshan --

TVB will begin production of a kungfu TV series 《佛山赞先生》 Mr Leung Tsan of Foshan (tentative) in January 2005. Yuen Biao will star in the series as Leung Tsan, the master of medicine and Wing Chun, with Maggie Siu playing his love interest. Leung Kar Yan, who recently did a cameo role in Seven Swords of Mt Tian series as Liu Jing Yi, Liu You Fang's father, will play Yuen Biao's master, while Yuen Wah, who plays a leading role in the upcoming Kungfu Hustle, will play Yuen Biao's martial uncle. Yuen Biao will also be involved in martial arts choreography of Mr Leung Tsan of Foshan. Some notable movies superbly showcasing genuine Wing Chun in action that coincidentally related to Leung Tsan include Warriors Two and The Prodigal Son, both of which were directed by Sammo Hung.  Nanfang Daily