6.19.2010 - News

Charlie Young presents award to Jiang Wenli

Jury member Charlie Young

CF: 'Lan' Wins Big at Asian New Talent Awards

"Lan" is a heart-felt drama about a young girl named Lan, who lives with her grandfather and dreams of becoming a gymnast. Jiang has said the film is a tribute to her childhood and her late grandfather.

CF: Here Comes Will Smith!

Will Smith and his son Jaden promote "The Karate Kid" at the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival.

Hong Kong Film Archive presents "Look Back at Memories" tracing Hong Kong cinema in 1980s and 1990s

No 'fight for fight's sake'

John Woo on Reign of Assassins, Tigers and supporting young directors

In the Yao Po attack case, actress Li Xiaoran implies in her blog that the 10 arrestees are not the true culprits.

"I only want the murderers arrested as soon as possible! Evil with evil, if not reported, I will hold you in hell had used a knife waiting for you! Remember, my gravestone will be covered with flowers, and your tombstone will be stained with people revile your saliva! Remember!" A friend of Li Xiaoran said the actress is living in fear and hiding the whereabouts of her location. The friend posted photos of her dining out but the next afternoon another friend of  Li phoned on her behalf and asked her to delete the name of the restaurant for fear of being tracked. So she deleted the photos and the complete post entry. (Xinhua)

Cantopop singer George Lam caught dating another woman

Sammi Cheng and Shawn Yue rumoured to be dating

Edison Chen and family

Edison's family and friends helped open a new Causeway Bay shop to mark the 6th anniversary of his CLOT brand. Earlier in the week, (Edison's parents are divorced) his father brought a male friend resembling Frankie Lam to a family lunch feeding longstanding speculation about his sexuality. Edison described him as an old family friend while the press characterized him as a 'boyfriend'. I'm just saying...

 

Longtime girlfriend Vincy Yeung was absent, Edison explained that she was overseas but lending spiritual support.

(Xinhua), (Sina)

Vivian Chow

 

Vivian Chow attended an event to promote a TV program about cats.

(Xinhua)

(Yakov Smirnoff voice): "In America, they make movies called Star Wars. In China, they make lightsabers."

 

Working 'lightsaber' can set fire to your skin from Wicked Lasers.

6.14.2010 - News

Ten arrested after Chinese film director Yan Po attacked, stabbed with knife

Li Xiaoran - Beijing airport

Li Xiaoran returned to Beijing yesterday afternoon and wrote that director Yan Po had regained consciousness after surgery for his wounds. Posting on her blog, she thanked Lu Chuan, Yao Chen, Zhang Yang, Liu Ye, Chen Kun, Gao Yuanyuan and others for their support. (Xinhua), (Sina)

Variety: Dream Home
Cutthroat real-estate prices ask for bloody countermeasures in "Dream Home," Pang Ho-cheung's deliciously dark take on the dog-eat-dog Hong Kong housing market. High-concept splatter pic is another slickly produced, femme-driven item from local multihyphenate Pang (aka Edmond Pang), with its intricate editing and dash of capitalist critique adding some gloss and a hint of topicality to the blood-soaked proceedings.
http://hkmdb.com/news/?p=5595

CRI: The 'Shanghai' Glamor
Gong Li and John Cusack promotes the WWII thriller "Shanghai" during the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival.
CRI: John Cusack Amiable and Talented, Says Gong Li

"CJ7" Releases Its 2nd Trailer
"Love In A Puff" To Be Shown on Chinese Mainland

Actress-director Charlie Young, jury member of the Asian New Talent Awards

CRI: Asian New Talent Awards Jury Debuts
THR: China's young directors in spotlight at SIFF
Panel reveals difference of opinion on working with newbies

“Young Chinese directors are very lucky now,” said hit-making producer Bill Kong (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), mentor to many a young director and backer of a few of the biggest Chinese films ever to sell overseas. “You can rest assured that there will always be a market at home that is highly diversified.”

Wen Zhang, Jet Li, Xue Xiaolu, Guei Lun-Mei (Ocean Heaven)

Huang Xiaoming, Zhang Jingchu

Law Kar-Ying

CRI: Shanghai Film Fest Opening Red Carpet (photo gallery), Kick off

Huang Xiaoming

Zhang Jingchu

Huang Xiaoming and Zhang Jingchu met with college student and promoted Flirting Scholar 2 at a nearby university in Shanghai (Xinhua)

Wang Qianyuan

Wang Qianyuan, Qin Hailu promote Steel Piano (Steel Guitar)[The Piano in a Factory] in Shanghai

Qin Hailu, director Zhang Meng, Wang Qianyuan

(Sina), 2

Behind the Shanghai scenes: Donnie Yen vs Jet Li? It's being reported that Donnie Yen's earlier press conference for Fist of Legend was cancelled to accommodate Jet Li and the Ocean Heaven press conference. Both sides' reps denied it, saying it was the work of the organizing committee. Jet's peeps defended him saying how could he be jealous of Donnie Yen and also reminded the press of his charitable works. Perhaps it was a case of resentment. In 2007, the two refused to appear together in a 'Kung Fu Stars' program. Later, Donnie Yen had criticized Jet Li's Fearless at Beijing University and one implied that the other was a 'clown' [unclear which was which]. (Xinhua)

In January, we reported on Hong Kong's subway pole dancer. Now, Nanjing's Subway Steel Pole Sister has surfaced, and has subsequently been arrested after three performances. (ESWN)

6.13.2010 - News

First domestic poster for Alan Mak and Felix Chong's The Lost Bladesman (General Guan Yu)

(Sina), 2

THR: Ocean Heaven review

Bottom Line: Drama on dying dad and autistic son is less tear-jerking than it sounds.

http://hkmdb.com/news/?p=5588

THR: 'Ocean Heaven' opens Shanghai Fest

THR: Weinstein Co. picks up 'Reign of Assassins'

Reign" is expected to be released in China later this year, and TWC is considering coinciding releases in North American and South Africa, the company said.
THR: Chinese director calls Weinstein 'a cheater'
Harvey Weinstein drew tough criticism at the Shanghai International Film Festival forum on Sunday from popular Chinese director Feng Xiaogang, who accused him of promising financial backing then backing away.
Feng didn't restrict his criticism to Weinstein. He dismissed both "Hero" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," by Chinese American director Ang Lee as "Hollywood movies." "They're not Chinese movies," he said, again drawing scattered laughter and applause.

BBC: Gong Li on Hollywood and hunger

Wired: 9 Things Parents Should Know About Karate Kid
NYTimes: In This Remake of an ’80s Martial Arts Fable, It’s Jacket On, Jacket Off

HKMagazine: Ex
Heiward Mak is on a roll—ever since her debut feature “High Noon” two years ago, this young director has become the hope of the industry and the most sought-after filmmaker in Hong Kong today, first co-writing “Love in a Puff” then editing “Amphetamine” this year. So the biggest question with “Ex” is, can the 26-year-old maverick work her magic again, and revive the doomed career of a certain fallen celeb named Gillian Chung? Er, no, not with this piece of crap.

HKMagazine: Cheng Dan-Shui, co-producer of Break Up Club

THR: Indie filmmaker gambles with 'Close Encounter of Mahjong'
On the sidelines of the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival, a darkly comic story of a foreigner caught up in a Chinese love-triangle and a vicious game of mahjong highlights the grit it takes to get an independent film made these days, even in cash-rich China.

ESWN: Everybody Wants To Be In On The Action Of This Assault
Global Times: One director, two knife wounds, three actresses and four gangsters
Who's behind director Yan Po's attack?

6.11.2010 - News

New poster for Videocassete of 31 Degrees North Latitude

The film takes place in a mysterious jungle where a legendary Wild Man is said to exist. The videocassette documents the exploration team members effort to find the creature with a local resident acting as their guide.

(HunanTV)

Taiwan pulls movies from Shanghai festival
The eight films are "Monga," "Au Revoir Taipei," "Hear Me," "More Than Close," "Orz Boys," "Yang Yang," "Three Times" and "Tonight Nobody Goes Home."

Jet Li, Wen Zhang (HunanTV)

Li hopes autism film alternative to blockbusters

Jet Li says he hopes that his new movie about autism offers a refreshing alternative to the historical and kung fu epics that dominate the Chinese industry.
A noticeably thinner Li said he lost 18 pounds (8 kilograms) from a thyroid condition.

Film director heavily injured in knife attack, Director is badly cut by gang hired by a jilted lover, [6.10.2010]

Three suspects have been arrested (Sina)

(June 10) Love in Cosmo (Swing de Marriage) press conference. Annie Wu and Zhu Yuchen were shocked at the news of director Yan Po's attack.

Annie Wu

 

Zhu Yuchen

(Sina)

Wilson Yip searching for Tree Demon

In a recent interview, Wilson Yip revealed that he is struggling to find the right actor to cast as the Tree Demon. The role has no dialogue but must express the anguish and inner sense of loneliness. (HunanTV)

Michelle Yeoh, Jung Woo-Sung

Reign of Assassins has been invited to open the Venice Film Festival in September. (HunanTV)

Lin Huiyin to be played by Zhang Ziyi

Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng will be played by Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen

Xu Zhimo to be played by Ethan Ruan

(Xinhua)

Chang Chen

Chang Chen, appearing at a watch brand event in Beijing, said he did not know anything about appearing in Lin Huiying. He confirmed he will be costarring with rumored girlfriend Shu Qi in Hou Hsiao-Hsien's martial arts film Assassin in 8 or 9 months. (Xinhua)

Chen Kun, Zhao Wei

Gordon Chan is trying to reteam Chen Kun and Zhao Wei together (Mulan) for his Painted Skin 2 due to their excellent screen chemistry, depending on her recovery from having a baby. Chan hopes Zhou Xun will also return to complete the cast. Chen Kun turned down an invitation to join the cast of Tsui Hark's 3D remake of New Dragon Inn. (HunanTV)

Wang Luodan - Most Popular TV Actress Award

Wang Luodan was awarded at the 16th Shanghai TV Festival. She's appeared in the TV version of Go Lala Go! (Du Lala's Promotion) and will be seen in the upcoming film Driverless/Unmanned. (Xinhua)

(June 11) Slide show of Zhao Wei arriving at Shanghai Pudong Airport for the upcoming film festival. (Xinhua), (Sina)

Love in Cosmo - Premiere, Director Attacked by Triads in Garage

Attack illustration 

Director Yan Po, Mei Ting 

Director Lu Chuan revealed in his micro-blog yesterday that Love in Cosmo (lit. Swing de Marriage) co-director Yan Po was seriously injured when he was attacked in a shopping center garage in Beijing the night before by four men with choppers. The assault is believed to be related to actress Li Xiaoran (Driverless, East Wind, Rain). By coincidence, Love in Cosmo was holding its premiere event yesterday which carried on without the director. Producers emphasized that the attack was not a promotion hype. Lu Chuan wrote that he did not know Yan Po personally but that to help himself one day, to help yourselves. [Remember, Lu Chuan also spoke up for Tang Wei while she was 'banished'.]

A source told reporters that the attack was precipitated by a former Hong Kong boyfriend who would not agree to leave Li Xiaoran. The boyfriend was said to be angry that Yan Po and Li Xiaoran had become close and the attack was a form of retaliation. A reporter called Li and she did not deny this. Li Xiaoran said Yan was not yet out of danger. She told reporters that in Hong Kong she had the wrong friends and that she could not get away. The boyfriend was involved in gambling hall debt collection and had threatened her and told her that he could ruin her and also brandished a knife to her face. Because of this, for the past two years has been working away to avoid coming home.

Yan Po was hospitalized with 10 fractures. When he was found in the garage, according to witnesses, Yan Po was laying in a pool of blood, the bone of his left arm was exposed, his tendon in his right leg was cut and a two-foot weapon was left behind. The four perpetrators escaped and police are investigating. Another source says that the mastermind behind the attack is Li Xiaoran's current boyfriend, actor Yin Tao [update: ex-boyfriend's girlfriend's current boyfriend]. The mystery boyfriend is said to have a powerful circle of producers.

 Yan Po and ex-wife Mei Ting were secretly married for four years and made the acclaimed film Aspirin together in 2006. (Xinhua), 2, 3, 4

More from Lu Chuan:
"As a member of the industry, I do not want to evaluate this. Yan revealed quite the tip of the iceberg, if not properly resolved, things like will occur one after another. "
Lu Chuan said, in fact, is not quite familiar with Yan: "I did not quite met with Yan. 8 rows in the afternoon and I met with friends when they told me this matter, we should discuss how to help him, and later think the best way is to tell these things. "
In Lu Chuan view, in broad daylight knives to injure is an intolerable thing: "Beijing is not hitting it? Yan quite cut in the city center, the matter of Beijing's crackdown is an irony." (Xinhua)

Love in Cosmo premiere in Beijing

Guo Xiaodong, Yao Chen, Zhu Yuchen

Yao Chen

Zhu Yuchen

Guo Xiaodong

(Sina)