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-- Shaolin --
8 making-of Shaolin featurettes, each around 2 minutes long, are now on Youtube, courtesy of Golden Village. Shaolin, directed by Benny Chan, choreographed by Corey Yuen, Yuen Tak, plus Nicky Li who handled the detonation scenes, starring Andy Lau, Nicolas Tse, Fan Bing Bing, Yu Hai, Wu Jing, Xiong Xin Xin, Xing Yu, Yu Shao Qun, Sang Wei Lin, etc. plus a cameo by Jackie Chan, opens on January 19, 2011.

Don't forget to check out our Shaolin album, which has been uploaded with many new stills, from various sources, including Sohu and Sina.

-- Shaolin --

EMP has just posted an official trailer for Shaolin, directed by Benny Chan, choreographed by Corey Yuen and Yuen Tak, starring Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Wu Jing, Fan Bing Bing, Yu Hai, Xing Yu, Xiong Xin Xin, Yu Shao Qun, Liang Jing Ke, Sang Wei Lin, with cameo by Jackie Chan, on Youtube. Shaolin opens in theatres in late January 2011.

In the film, the proud and arrogant warlord Andy Lau is forced to seek refuge at Shaolin when his buddy Nicholas Tse turns against him. There, he is enlightened by an inconspicuous cook Jackie Chan. He is to make peace with the monks Wu Jing, Xing Yu, Yu Shao Qun that he previously sneered at, and lead them in rescuing the commoners from hardships, sufferings and oppression as Nicholas Tse wages wars on other warlords to expand his territories.

Trailer: View / Download EMP

-- Shaolin --

While the film by director Benny Chan is currently undergoing production for close to three months, they already have had a full length 2 minutes teaser trailer, released, in time for Hong Kong Filmart.

It offers a look around of the set of Shaolin Temple, glimpses of the cast Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Wu Jing, Yu Hai, Xing Yu, Fan Bing Bing, etc. in action, as well as a healthy dosage of predominantly Seven-star Boxing training scenes, one of which is led by Wu Jing, and fight sequences. Talk about speed and efficiency. 

Sadly, even till today, it seems Chinese/Hong Kong filmmakers still show little concerns for the animals, in particularly, the horses, when making films, the most common of which is the tripping and felling of horses galloping at high speed. Even in this production funded by Shaolin Temple, that advocates non-violence, the horses weren't spared the agonies.

In this case, as the trailer shows, an awning came crashing down upon the horses, that weren't anticipating, unlike human stuntmen, the dangers they would be in. Surely, wouldn't it be highly risky, pernicious and painful to have such a huge structure falling on our own heads, as well as the risk of debris getting into our eyes? Were there any safety measures taken? Were there any forms of protection gear or guards? Just as we don't want any harm to come our ways, we must treat animals, who are here to help us, bless us, and beautify our world, with kindness, care and respect.

Teaser Trailer: Sina / Youtube | Download

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.

-- 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 --

As opposed the bustling press conference (that was rather rowdy and disorganised due to huge turnout) held last October, Shaolin has begun production very quietly in Hengdian in the beginning of this month. Benny Chan is keeping a low profile as usual, and Shaolin's sets are off-limits to anyone, with tight security being implemented, as some reporters snooping around, fishing for information found out. Majority of  scenes revolving around Shaolin Temple will be filmed on the custom-built set; only a handful of scenes will be shot on actual Shaolin Temple.

Apart from previously announced cast Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Wu Jing, Fan Bing Bing, Xing Yu, Yu Shao Qun, Liang Jing Ke, et al., Yu Hai and Xiong Xin Xin are also joining the production. Shooting takes around 4 to 5 months, and the film is tentatively scheduled for year-end/next Chinese New year release.

-- 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

In 1991, the seven-year old Xie Miao was brought by his parents to Beijing Haiding Centre for Children, in the hope that he'd be a dancer. However, the little Xie Miao, roving his eyes about, peered around.

Then, he spotted through an ajar door, a room with kids wielding spears and broadswords, it was a sight to behold, holding the hyperactive kid spellbound. Against his parents' objection and protests, he signed up for the wushu class next door.

-- Master of Taichi DVD --

Wu Jing's tour-de-force, Master of Tai Chi, has been re-released recently by Tai Seng on shortened edition DVD that comes complete with English subtitles and dub. Master of Taichi is loosely based on the life of Yang Lu Chan, the founder of Yang Style Tai Chi, on the trials he goes through in order to study Chen Style Tai Chi, his encounter with the Manchurian royalty as well as his matches against the legendary Dong Hai Chuan. Yuen Wo Ping and Chueng Sing Yim direct this TV series of incredible martial arts sequences that comprises of multitudes of wushu stars like Yu Hai, Wang Qun, Billy Chow, Kara Hui, Xu Xiang Dong, Tan Qiao, Kou Zhan Wen...

The DVD is now available at YesAsia.

Retro: Darren Shahlavi On Tai Chi 2

 
Transcribed by Adam Cemal
 

First of all Darren went to Hong Kong as a stepping stone to America, he wanted to learn from the guys in Hong Kong, hoping to bring some of their action skills to English language films. He is a very good martial artist himself and recently appeared in I Spy with Eddy Murphy and Owen Wilson.

Darren says the film Tai Chi 2 was shot under the title "Tai Chi Fist" but they released it in Asia and North America as "Tai Chi 2" (which doesn’t really make sense as it’s not the sequel to Jets Li’s Tai Chi Master.)

Taichi 2 was shot on location in Hangzhou, China and the crew and everybody flew there from HK.