Wu-Jing.org

-- Ip Man --

Plot Outline:

The film opens with Ip Man (Donnie Yen) being challenged by Master Liao (Chen Zhi Hui), who just set up a wushu school, in a closed match. Martial Zealot Lin (Xing Yu) who witnessed the entire fight tells everyone about Master Liu losing. Seeing it as a public humiliation, Master Liao gets into disputes with Ip Man.

Henchmen of Jin Shan Zhao (Fan Siu Wong) are going around challenging various wushu schools in Foshan. In one fight, Martial Zealot Lin is mortally wounded. Ip Man comes to his rescue, only to be stopped by Jin Shan Zhao. Everyone gathers around to watch the match whereby Ip Man dispenses the latter with ease using four Wing Chun Forms: fist, footwork, blade and cudgel.

Ip Man becomes an instant hero and there develops a craze for Wing Chun in Foshan.

Following Japanese invasion in 1937, everyone's life is adversely affected. Ip Man's property is confiscated and his family is forced to live in a decrepit house. Being one with strong pride, Ip Man refuses charity from his wealthy friend Zhou Qing Quan (Simon Yam), opting instead to work as a coolie at his cotton mill to sustain his family.

One day, General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi), together with his troops, arrives at the mill. As a fanatical practitioner in martial arts himself, he sets up an arena, offering rice as a reward. Ip Man keeps a low profile but Martial Zealot Lin enthusiastically takes up the challenge...  Love Asia Film

-- Ip Man --
Owing to controversy over the film title, Mandarin Film's martial arts biopic on Yip Man will still be called Ip Man rather than 《一代宗师·叶问》 Grandmaster Yip Man, thanks to unpleasantries from Wong Kar Wai who claimed conflicts with his very version that still remains in development limbo despite being announced several years ago.

Raymond Wong explains, "Actually, all along, we have called our film 《叶问》 Ip Man, but our mainland investors said that Yip Man was a great master of his times, so we changed our title to Grandmaster Yip Man out of respect for him. Yet, this brought about a series of debates over the title. To settle this matter amicably, after discussions with our various investors, movie consultant Yip Chun, director Wilson Yip, we changed back to our original title."

He also believes that it's not worth arguing over a name, "The title is of secondary importance, our main aim in shooting the film is to propagate Wing Chun. All studios should cooperate with and support each other, especially in a time when the film industry is not doing well."

Tony Leung says, "Our film will still be produced. I think Donnie Yen's version will be more focused on martial arts, of younger age, but the Yip Man I'm playing will be more drama-oriented, and it deals mainly with the latter half of his life. The two are definitely completely different works."

Production of Ip Man has wrapped up in Shanghai, after around three to four months of filming. Ip Man, directed by Wilson Yip, featuring action by Sammo Hung and starring Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Lynn Hung, Fan Siu Wong, Xing Yu, Li Qi Long, To Yu Hang, is targeted for a Christmas 2008 release.  Shanghai Daily | Posters: Eastday

-- Grandmaster Yip Man --

 Press conference for 《一代宗师·叶问》 Grandmaster Yip Man (tentative), budgeted at around 80m yuan, was held on May 7 afternoon in Shanghai, attended by producer Raymond Wong, director Wilson Yip, the cast Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Gordon Lam, Lynn Hung, Xing Yu, etc. Grandmaster Yip is the fourth collaboration between the "golden team" Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen.

 Both Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen indicate that they're taking a more down-to-earth approach in portraying on the screen the life of this legendary grandmaster of martial arts as well as his rich spiritual world, as well as presenting a scintillating, fresh martial arts choreography, courtesy of martial arts choreographer Sammo Hung.

-- Yip Man --

After busy shooting on the set of 'Yip Man' for the entire May Day holiday, Xing Yu has finally completed his role as Martial Zealot Lin by the following day. He wishes everyone a happy May Day and says that he has benefited tremendously from working with Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen and Wilson Yip again, his acting and screen fighting ability being taken to the next levels. Xing Yu would be resting for a few days before joining another film. He says he'd continue to work hard and strive to present more quality works.  Xing Yu Blog

Numerous pics from "Yip Man" may be found at the blogs of cast members Zhou Zhong and Xing Yu.

-- Yip Man --

Zhang Yan Bin, casting director for Yip Man, which began production on March 4, says that casting for the production, which took three months, is settled; his job with the production is done and he's proceeding to other projects. He also mentioned earlier regarding looking for someone to fill up the role of adolescent Bruce Lee and teaching lead child actor(s) acting. Below is the cast list.

-- 'Yip Man' --

Before he could finish work at his charity school that provides free education and lodging for talented teens with financial difficulties, Li Qi Long received call sheet from the production of 'Yip Man', directed by Wilson Yip. So, he arrived on the set of 'Yip Man' in Shanghai on Feb 17 morning. After having finished his makeup in the afternoon, Li Qi Long met Donnie Yen on the set. They previously collaborated on Painted Skin over a month ago.

After briefly greeting Donnie Yen, he proceeded for training with Sammo Hung. The Martial arts choreographer Sammo Hung asked the Shaolin disciple Li Qilong to display his skills, so that he could choreograph the martial arts sequences accordingly. Li Qi Long hopes that he would have outstanding performances in the film.  Li Qilong's Blog

 Cast update: Zhang Yan Bin, who's the casting agent for 'Yip Man', lists Fan Siu Wong and Xing Yu as part of the production too, playing Jin Shan Zhao and Martial Fanatic Lin respectively, while Li Qi Long takes on the role of Green Dragon and HK Changquan champion 杜宇航 To Yu Hang, 27, plays Hu Wei.

Donnie Yen Defines the Art of Practical Combat Onscreen

Watching Movie, 13/7/2007
Zhu Qin
 

 
I heard that the concept of mixed martial arts is implemented in the upcoming summer movie Flash Point.
Donnie Yen: Mixed martial arts, a combat sport that has become popular in the West in the recent years, is an effective fighting system that employs a vast array of different martial arts techniques. Each contestant possesses a variety of martial arts techniques such as Jujitsu, boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, etc. I believe this is the most authentic type of combat. I have been researching, studying and learning it. I introduced some of it in SPL - Brazilian Ju-jitsu.

-- Flashpoint Trailer --

Flashpoint trailer, which offers glimpses of several amazing martial arts scenes, has been posted at DonnieYen.Net.

Flash Point is directed by Wilson Yip, with Donnie Yen working as martial arts director and starring in it. Other cast members include Louis Koo, Fan Bing Bing, Ngai Xing, Xing Yu, Ray Lui.

-- City with No Mercy / Flashpoint --

Shooting of Wilson Yip's City with No Mercy, which promises even more explosive actions and more exciting storyline, has wrapped up in early March. The Chinese title gets a name change to《导火线》(Fuse/Flash Point).  To ensure that the action scenes stand out, Donnie Yen not only hired martial artists from around the globe but also invited Ngai Sing to join the cast. Reportedly, his duel with Ngai Sing will surpass the clash of baton and dagger between him and Wu Jing in SPL.

Director Wilson Yip states that City with No Mercy is the best collaboration between him and Donnie Yen, "I dare guarantee that everyone who has seen this film will be shocked." City with No Mercy is being planned for July release and promotional video will be shown at upcoming Cannes Film Festival and Hong Kong Film Awards. The cast includes Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, Ray Lui, Shi Xing Yu, Fang Bing Bing, Xu Qing, Ngai Sing.  Sohu | Photos: Sohu

Behind-the-scenes video is up at Youtube.