3.7.2011 - News

THR: Bona Posts 2010 Revenue Gain But Net Loss

The completion of one of those projects, Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmasters, starring actress Zhang Ziyi (Memoirs of a Geisha), has been delayed until the fourth quarter.

Addressing queries about another delayed picture, Mulan, Bona’s planned English-language international co-production of the story of China’s most famous woman warrior, Bona CFOMason Xu told The Hollywood Reporter: “Yu Dong our CEO is now talking with potential investors both from China and overseas.”...the project’s finance fell apart just before Mulan was due to go into production outside Shanghai last fall, members of the production team told The Hollywood Reporter on condition of anonymity. One described how they had been asked to gather at Hengdian Studios then all been sent home.

Life is a Miracle posters - Zhang Ziyi

Aaron Kwok

People'sDaily: Chinese director Zhang Yimou appeals for sterner action against film piracy

Zhang Yimou, submitted a proposal to the ongoing annual session of the National Committee of CPPCC, together with other five members, including Zhang Huijun, president of Beijing Film Academy, and other famed directors Feng Xiaogang, Yin Li, Feng Xiaoning and Chen Guoxing.

FBA: SARFT considers new product placement rules

FBA: My Own Swordsman review (8/10)

Even more notably, the movie has some of the liveliest and best-staged action-comedy seen so far in a Mainland movie without any offshore help: the finale in the booby-trapped inn is the equal of anything in a similar Hong Kong movie.

Donnie Yen: Bruce Lee is still my idol

HKTopTen: Connie Chan's Digitally Restored Youth

Alas, the 1966 film is incomplete.
S.F. International Asian-American Film Fest caps
Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words
Almost Perfect with Kelly Hu and Edison Chen
Edison Chen, a fine young talent, has been effectively banned from Hong Kong films because of a nude photo scandal; their loss is our gain, at least for this feel-good indie film.

HK Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" to feature Cantonese and Mandarin films in April

In April the Hong Kong Film Archive's (HKFA) "Morning Matinee" will screen four Cantonese and one Mandarin film starring renowned Cantonese opera stars Yam Kim-fai, Fong Yim-fun, Sun Ma Si-tsang, Lam Kar-sing and film idols Connie Chan Po-chu, Josephine Siao Fong-fong, Patsy Kar Ling and Helen Ma.

Kiwi-Asian marriage in film-making
Despite it being an important milestone for New Zealand cinema, director Roseanne Liang is modest about the film's achievement.My Wedding and Other Secrets is a romantic comedy telling a classic tale of forbidden love between a Chinese girl and a Kiwi boy.

The film is based on Liang's own romance, which was also the subject of a 2005 documentary called Banana in a Nutshell. The storyline attracted acclaimed Chinese actors, Cheng Pei Pei and Kenneth Tsang to take key roles in the production

According to this report of Faye Wong's first Hong Kong concert, Faye sang mainly in Cantonese, but also in Mandarin and English. As is typical, Faye spoke very little to the audience, not until 35 minutes into the first night's concert, she uttered only a brief 'Hello' and 'Thank you'. Later, when singing a cover of an Eason Chan song, Faye said a few more 'Thank yous' in both Cantonese and Mandarin. (Xinhua-gallery)

Director Yan Ran held a joint press conference as he has two film releases to promote, Together and Sweet Journey. Both films are scheduled to be released on the 8th of this month.

Ni Dahong, Daniel Chan (Chen Xiaodong), Yan Ran

Li Feier - Together

Zhang Hanyu - Sweet Journey (lit. Under the Clouds) opens March 8.

Zhang Hanyu plays a tragic thief

(Sina), 2, 3

Xu Jiao attending junior high school

Xu Jiao is being sent to school in Taipei to prepare for her unconfirmed upcoming role in Tom Lin Shuyu's Star. Among the goals are to not delay her studies, to experience life in Taiwan, and to change her Mainland accent. Shooting for Star is set to begin in early April. (Sina)

Huang Yi - Sky Fighters

Huang Yi

Li Guangjie

Sky Fighters held a grand premiere ceremony at the Tianjin Air Force Base on the 5th. Coproduced by the August 1st Film Company (the PLA-backed film studio) the event included a flight demonstration by Air Force fighter jets. (Sina), 2, (Sina-gallery)

FBA: Polyface launched in Taipei

Shu Qi and Carina Lau were among the celebrities in Taiwan to help launch a new entertainment company. The article notes that Shu Qi dressed in a  sexy dresss] while Carina looked like an ordinary white-collar office worker. Lee Hsing, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Andrew Lau, Doze Niu also attended. (Xinhua-gallery) (Sina-slide show)

Shu Qi

Shu Qi and Andrew Lau

Karen Mok promoting Canon cameras

In her favorite color, gold

(Xinhua-gallery)

Gao Yuanyuan visits Los Angeles and the Avenue of Stars

(Sina-slide show)

Yao Chen attending Jean-Paul Gaultier show in Paris

(Xinhua-gallery)

MSN: Andy Hui and Sammi Cheng rumoured to wed in August

CNA: Sammi Cheng reunites with Andy Hui

CNA: Charmaine Sheh says money's not the issue in TVB departure

CNA: HK's Sonija Kwok moves wedding date to prove a point

Trailer for The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman, opening day and date around the world, Mar.18

1.31.2011 - News

ScreenDaily: What Women Want
This Chinese production features palpable chemistry between stars Andy Lau and Gong Li, but director Chen Daming’s film, like the original, is a great commercial hook in search of an equally clever story. (hkmdbnews)

"Ip Man 2": China's anti-Western kung fu phenomenon (Salon)
Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster" is now playing in New York and Los Angeles, with wider North American release to follow.

FBA: Fantôme, où es-tu? (2/10)
Lame ghost-cum-gender mish-mash that squanders its potential.

Check out Valerie's My Ever-Changing Moods: Francis Ng 2010 In Review on beyondasiaphilia

2010 was a busy year for Francis Ng...

Time: As Its Box Office Booms, Chinese Cinema Makes a 3-D Push

GlobalTimes: My own movie
Much influenced by American sitcom-classic Friends, which had a huge fan base in China, My Own Swordsman centers on six characters whose relationships intertwine through friendship, family and romance, and is set in a hostel being managed in ancient China. With the same cast, director and screenwriter, the film version continues the initial's stories, while injecting today's social including house purchase and relocation, family finances and the "marriage crisis."

GlobalTimes: First trailer of Buddha Mountain lives up to advance hype

GlobalTimes: Animating audiences

With winter vacation meaning there's a nation of children who need entertaining, three Chinese animation films are filling in this traditionally peak-time for box-office family fun: Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf (January 21), Old Master Q and Little Ocean Tiger (January 27) and Little Big Panda (February 3) are all scheduled for cinemas over the next four weeks.

(Sina), 2

Poster for Mr. and Mrs. Incredible

Opening Feb. 3

Louis Koo, Sandra Ng

(Sina)

I Love Hong Kong poster

Opening Jan. 31

Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Sandra Ng

Eric Tsang, Aarif Lee

(Sina), 2 3 4

Eva Jin Yimeng (Sophie's Revenge) is preparing for multiple Hollywood projects.

(Sina)

Charlene Choi at the Harbour City chocolate exhibition

(Sina-slideshow)

Chrissie Chau taped a song for ATV's Spring Festival broadcast. Other guests include George Lam, Kay Tse and Hins Cheung. (Sina)

GlobalTimes: Publishing tycoon books divorce in New Year season
Yao Chen's divorce a case of Julia Roberts-Benjamin Bratt?

Yao Chen, Ling Xiaosu (Sina)

CNA: Cecilia Cheung saves woman from committing suicide
All's well ends well, indeed
CNA: Charlene Choi on her divorce: "This is not something to celebrate."
"I may not make enough to eat delicacies ever day, but I can earn enough for three square meals every day".

MSN: Sammi Cheng received stitches for head injury

MSN: Jay Chou suspected of shirking military duties

MSN: Mark Chao dropped from 'Black and White' promotional trail in Japan
Recently, the director's cut of Black & White DVD was released in Hong Kong. Every single copy was snapped up in a mere four minutes.

China red-faced after footage of new fighter 'was from Top Gun'
The footage showcasing the J-10 fighter, which showed an air-to-air missile destroying another jet, was aired last week during the main evening broadcast of the state-sponsored channel China Central Television.

HKStandard: See you in court

Oldham said Ho had been coerced into reconciling with family members on live television on Wednesday, with the wheelchair-bound Ho struggling to read a giant cue card.

12.13.2010 - News

CRI: Keanu Reeves Invests in Chinese Action Film
Previously [10.21.2009], [10.14.2009]

FBA: Seediq Bale sets Sep 2011 campaign

FBA: Beijing launches major new film event
Beijing International Film Festival to debut in April 2011

CRI: 'If You Are the One 2' Gets Poetic Ending
Huayi Brothers, the film's production company, released the movie's closing song "Zui Hao Bu Xiang Jian" ("Best Not to Meet"), saying its lyrics were taken from Tsangyang Gyatso's poem "Shi Jie Shi" ("Ten Nots Poem").

Chen Kaige's sacrifice: artistic quality, ethics and reputation (GlobalTimes)

The work is split into two obvious parts, the styles and plots of which are in complete contrast, as if coming from two different writers. Later as I found out, they actually did.

Shortly after the film's premiere last week, scriptwriter Gao Xuan complained on her weibo (local version of twitter) that despite the fact that she, Chen and another writer had worked on the script for the first half of the film, she was only credited for "early-stage script composition" instead of "scriptwriter."

Sha Yi, Yao Chen, Yan Ni

Cast members Xiao Jian, Ni Hongjie

 

Yao Chen sports new shorter hair at press conference for My Own Swordsman opening January 26.

(Sina), (Xinhua)

Francis Ng attending a charity activity for autistic children organized by the One Foundation.

Francis donated a private collection of calligraphy and paintings.

(Sina)

Maggie Cheung at the closing ceremony of the Marrakech International Film Festival

(Xinhua)

Faye Wong will hold 3 concerts in Hong Kong on March 4 -6. Half of the songs will be in Cantonese. (Sina)

HK director Stanley Tong opens academy for aspiring action stars

The 50-year-old stuntman-turned-director also denied rumours that his school is a scam to take money from those who hope to break into the industry.

HK singer Gigi Leung dating US consulate spokesman?

11.23.2010 - News

CRI: Documentary "I Wish I Knew" Wins Kino Pen Award
Director Jia Zhangke's documentary about Shanghai "I Wish I Knew" ("Hai Shang Chuan Qi"), won the Kino Pen Award at the 13th Montreal International Documentary Festival.

Zhao Tao - I Wish I Knew (Sina)

FBA: Wind Blast (西風烈) (5/10)
Dusty, desert-set action movie is drained by a scrappy script and lack of cumulative drama or tension.

Yan Ni and Jiang Chao in the 2011 martial arts comedy My Own Swordsman

Jiang Chao (Sina)

Cecilia Cheung’s management company burgled into

The comeback Hong Kong actress’s imaging shots and personal photos were stolen along with three computers from her management company.

Cecilia Cheung's management office was recently burgled and had three computers stolen. The computers contain Cecilia's publicity photos, private family photos and file including personal information and confidential contract-related files. Ms Chow, Cecilia's agent was travelling with Cecilia while she has been shuttling between Hong Kong and the mainland filming Alls Well Ends Well 2011 and Lady Generals of the Yang Family. The company office and neighboring offices were broken into when investigating police called Ms Chow to ask if she knew of the break in. When Ms Chow returned to the management office to assess the loss, she found that three computers were missing. Cecilia's lawyers have already warned against publication of any materials found in the computers. (Xinhua), (Sina)
Computer with Cecilia Cheung's confidential files stolen

Ethan Ruan - Golden Horse's best leading man almost quit acting
MSN: Selina Jen asks for compensation for filming accident
Selina Jen's music label releases official account of her injuries
Considering that Jen made almost 30 million yuan (S$5.9 million) annually before the accident left her hospitalised indefinitely, and that any compensation would definitely have to factor in her lost income as a result of the accident, Jen's payout is likely to be huge.
MSN: Selina Jen’s fiancé pens a touching note on her recovery state

CNNGo: Sandy Lam and her penchant for jazz
The queen of Cantopop opens up about her journey to becoming the musician she is today
Lin Chi-Ling - She'll pursue her dream man
RTHK: Trial of TVB boss set for June
TVB's General Manager, Stephen Chan, and two other defendants have denied corruption and fraud charges. They will stand trial next summer, when a number of TVB stars are expected to give evidence.

11.18.2010 - News

Variety: Ge You emerging as China's most bankable thesp

FBA: Bona files for stock market listing
THR: China's Bona Film Group Files IPO

• Bona, which no longer is connected to China's military, counts among its private competitors Huayi Brothers Media, which raised $176 million on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in October 2009 and Enlight Media, a Beijing based TV company turned movie studio.
• Bona, in fact, has government ties of its own, having merged in November 2003 with the China Poly Group, a business wing of the People's Liberation Army, to form PolyBona Film Distribution, the company's former English name
• Bona's U.S. IPO filing follows close on the heels of the filings for U.S. public listings by China's two largest online video sharing web sites, Youku with the New York Stock Exchange and Tudou on the Nasdaq.

CRI: 'My Own Swordsman' Trailer Available

Director Shang Jing has reunited the original cast to continue his parody of social issues through the stories of everyday life in a small inn.

Andy Lau and Gong Li attend the trailer premiere event for What Women Want in Beijing (Nov. 18)

Director Chen Daming

(Sina), 2

(Nov.17) Peter Chan, Sandra Ng and Vincent Kok of Mr. and Mrs Incredible collaborated with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote winter holiday tourism and  shopping. A 3D animated short film featured characters named 'Hong-Hong' and 'Kong-Kong'. Peter Chan, jokingly, announced the release date for Mr. and Mrs. Incredible as January 32, 2011, meaning the day after January 31st.

Peter Chan

Director Vincent Kok

Sandra Ng, Peter Chan, Vincent Kok

Sandra Ng, Peter Chan

(Sina)

Li Qin (Dream of the Red Mansions) plays Blue Phoenix in Mr.and Mrs. Incredible

(Sina)

Let the Bullet posters outlining the characters

(Sina)

Wang Xueqi in Chen Kaige's Sacrifice

(Sina)

Founding of a Party

Wang Leehom

Daniel Wu

Qin Lan, Bai Bing

(Sina)

MSN: Lin Chi-ling's secret plans to be a director

MSN: Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei are married

The Taiwanese actress and her millionaire boyfriend registered their marriage in Beijing on Tuesday, and will hold their wedding in March. [Rumors of her pregnancy _may_ prove to be unfounded. :D]

Barbie Hsu weds boyfriend Wang Xiao Fei

Hsu may have called Wang her "husband" in her statement, however, due to regulations governing cross–strait marriages; they are not legally husband and wife yet. 

Barbie's Big $weep

Netizens are gleefully flaming the 34-year-old, calling her everything from "evil woman" and "gold-digger" to "more disgusting than a rat" and "Big quot; (a play on Hsu's official nickname Big S). The cause of such outrage?

(Xinhua)

Fala Chen denies causing boyfriend's divorce
MSN: Selina Jen is ready for skin grafting