Having finished promotions for his new movie Stool Pigeon, actor Lu Yi and wife Bao Lei left for a romantic getaway in Shangri-La. Well, as much of a romantic getaway as you can get with a magazine crew accompanying you. Well-known travel magazine Voyage made the trip with them too, giving us pictures of not only the couple’s love for each other but also the simple customs of Shangri-La.
Singer Jane Zhang will host her second overseas concert in Sydney, Australia, as a part of her concert series in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjing and Chengdu. Her Sydney stop will be on October 9th at the Acer Arena. You can buy tickets at Golden Moon Restaurant, New World Communication and Grand Hair in Chinatown, Endless Comis in Eastwood or New World Communication in Hurstville.
Her universalism doesn’t stop there. She recently dueted with JJ Lin for Disney/Shanghai Media Group/ Huayi Brothers co-production of Chinese High School Musical, which will air in early August.
Jane and JJ’s 我飛故我在, I fly because I’m here MV, listen to song only on youtube here:
source: Jane Zhang tieba; wonderful magazine shoot that Amanda@cfensi forums uploaded
Not that she’s actually sleeping in these photos, but seeing this photoshoot of Fan Bingbing makes me want to sleep in a nice pretty bed and get the suggested nine hours of sleep. I doubt she’s getting much sleep these days, though; her movie schedule for this year seems pretty hectic, with one movie already in theaters (Future X-Cops, in which she guest-starred) and three more movies lined up for release (Chongqing Blues sometime in September, and both New Shaolin Temple and Zhao Shi Gu Er in December). Still, she makes time to look gorgeous in these photoshoots, like always.
Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFxf4kG69H4
1) This is the first IMAX film made outside the United States, a joint product between China’s Hua Yi Brothers, and IMAX
2) Richard Gelfond, IMAX CEO on why they chose this particular film: “In the U.S., one of the key criteria we have is the director, and that’s why whether it’s Chris Nolan or Jim Cameron or Tim Burton, they work in IMAX. We knew Feng Xiaogang had an extremely high reputation in China and we also knew he was good at marketing films. All these factors pointed to Huayi as a logical choice.”
3) The film is set to receive the widest theatrical release in modern Chinese history, at up to 4,000 screens in China, an amount comparable to the widest release ever in America of 4,146 screens (Eclipse).
4) In a few short days at Cannes when previewed, Tangshan Earthquake was signed to seven countries and, along with Detective Dee, became the first Huayi Brothers Chinese film to be released across Asia and in multiple regions.
5)The movie is based around the Tangshan Earthquake, the second deadliest earthquake of all time, and the largest earthquake of the twentieth century by death toll.
6) This film was partly funded by the Tangshan city government, and shot there. The director recruited actual survivors as extras, including them in an aerial shot showing the city dotted with small fires — survivors burning paper offerings for their loved ones. “They were really crying. They were burning paper as they were expressing their love for their relatives,” Feng said.
7) This is the first time actress Xu Fan has appeared in a Feng Xiaogang film in six years, since the well-received A World Without Thieves. She plays a mother whose heart has been broken for 32 years after he earthquake takes away her husband and forces her to make life’s most difficult and most painful choice.
8) Movie producer Chen Kuo-fu: “The essence of this movie is still the power of emotions, the power of family love, the power of family. There isn’t a place in the world like China, that sees family love and family as an important foothold and support as one’s own life.”
Sources: Jo’s wonderful translations from Sina at Cfensi forums, filmbiz asia, THR
Jo had translated some beautiful articles about the family aspect of this film that are, although lengthy, definitely worth a read if you are interested.
Yu Haoming for the movie short Fireworks
Drama Meteor Shower no doubt raised more than a shower last summer, and the tsunami returns this summer. As its sequel approaches airing on August the 3rd and its current reairing gets top daytime viewerships, Meteor Shower already has its stars working on new projects.
Lead actor Zhang Han will star next to Korean actor Dennis Oh in the Mango Film remake of Autumn in my heart. According to sina, the remake will be more lighthearted and cosmopolitan, but will maintain the serene sadness of the story. Although the female leads are yet to be chosen, Mango Films CEO Li Xiang said that she hopes to give newcomers chances in other important roles in the drama. His puppy movie Hearty Paws 2 will air in Korea on July 22nd.
Zhang Han (R) with Song Joongki in Hearty Paws 2
I want to kill/ShaRen Show – a competition for killers
In his latest short “ShaRen Show” for directing competition “I want to film/Shine Show,” Beijing Film Academy graduate Zhou Nan mocks the competition itself. The clip’s dark humor, ingenious allusions, and surprise ending made the clip a breakout favorite. The Hunan TV directing competition will give its winner a contract for a 50 million yuan film scripted by author Guo Jingming.
Through the competition, Zhou Nan has already won a Nokia ad deal with his short “Reflection” in the 7to6 round of the competition. He also worked with Meteor Shower actor and Super Boy Yu Haoming for the 6to5 round “Fireworks.” In the next round (3to2), Zhou Nan and two other directors will also film the Super Boys top 12 commercials. I’m so excited for that and his debut film!
This coming summer will see many high profile films arrive in Chinese theaters, with big names attached. Many of these have theme songs sung by the actors themselves, backed by famous composers. One of these films of Zhang Yang’s (known for films like Shower) Driverless, an ensemble romance that includes Wang Luodan. She sings the theme Love Without a Driver, composed by one of China’s top music producers Zhang Yadong. The other is Kwai Lunmei, who sings for Xue Xiaoli, who despite being a first time director, has managed to snag not only Kwai, but talent like Jet Li and Wen Zhang (Narrow Dwellings) for his debut film. Kwai sings the theme song, composed by Joe Hisaishi.
Wang Luodan – Love without a Driver
Kwai Lunmei – Ocean’s Heaven
These two NBA stars might be in a movie together
The slogan of the National Basketball Association — “where amazing happens” — might be going international, as the Shanghai Film Group Corporation is planning to film a basketball movie starring Yao Ming and other NBA stars. Backed by NBA commissioner David Stern, the movie is reportedly named Amazing, a name suggested by Stern and inspired by the NBA slogan. The Chinese name is Shen Qi (神奇).
The movie, to be directed by mainland director Hu Xuehua, will be about American basketball stars training in China, but apart from the name and general plot, not much else has been revealed. When telephoned by reporters yesterday, the chairman of the Shanghai Film Group Corporation, Ren Zhonglun, stated, “At the present time, it can only be said that the name of the movie has been determined. The actors, investors, and other details and problems will have to wait until after we sign the contract to be revealed.”
Nevertheless, thanks to the support of the NBA, the possibility that NBA stars will participate is enormous. Apart from Yao Ming, there are hopes that Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant and the retired Magic Johnson will join the film. According to reports, Yao Ming and Johnson have already agreed to act, and the company is currently in contact with Kobe. In reply to this, Ren Zhonglun only admitted that they really were in contact with Yao Ming, Johnson, and other NBA stars, but that before signing the contract, it was not convenient to say more.
Filming will begin in August, exactly during the NBA off-season, and must finish before October to match with the start of the new season. Insiders revealed that the most important film roles will be the master and apprentice, played respectively by Yao Ming and mainland star Huang Xiaoming. Hong Kong actor-singer Shawn Yue may also be appearing.
Shawn Yue, who had once been on the Hong Kong youth basketball team, said to the Hong Kong media yesterday that it was true that both sides had been in contact, and that he hoped to participate if his schedule fit. Huang Xiaoming’s manager, Zhou Siwei, confirmed that they were in the middle of discussion with the company.
translation by Jo
Source
Insert art for Ice Fantasy
What happens when mermaids and Ice Princes marry, when fantasy meets wuxia, when reality and illusions collide, and when to save the person you love, you must destroy everything that he holds dear?
Such is the world of Guo Jingming’s Ice Fantasy, actor Huang Xiaoming’s first film investment. Huang Xiaoming said that given his experience, “Ice Fantasy” is a movie with a lot of potential. Ice Fantasy will be one of several Chinese fantasy movies to look forward to in the future. Others include 3D film Mermaid Kingdom and Meteor Shower lead Zhang Han’s Change of Fated Stars.
Huang Xiaoming, who shot to fame in series like the Return of the Condor Heroes, has just begun his jump from TV series to movie. Now, after multiplying his worth through his stocks of his management company Huayi Brothers, Huang Xiaoming is no longer content with just acting. Huang Xiaoming said that once, his dream was simple – “to buy a big house for my parents. Now that’s fulfilled, and they even drive Porsches when leaving the house.” Now, “I really want to do more things myself so that I can create more,” Huang Xiaoming said.
This is the second Guo Jingming film in production. His new cosmopolitan novel Tiny Times, a cross between Gossip Girls and Devil Wears Prada, has also been picked by a film company. Plans have also been made for a TV series adaption of the novel. Read Ice Fantasy legally on sina book here.
P.S. At least half of the characters in the book wears hanfu, and one of the girls creates butterfly illusions by playing the guzheng!
source: sina
Fan Bingbing at Cannes Festival. Four of her many outfits during the festival are below the cut.
Since the 7th Century, only the emperors of China could wear a longpao, a yellow robe stitched with dragons, symbolic of power and prosperity. So it was that conspires of coups forged their own dragon robes at home, only to be found and sentenced to death. So when Fan Bingbing appeared at the Cannes Festival in a dress fashioned after the dragon robes of the emperors, critics compared her with the emperor-wannabes, calling her move a sign of ambition. In an interview with Sina Entertainment (SE) translated by ixiedin@cfensi, Fan Bingbing says it is only her way of showing the world her culture. She also speaks of her ambitions, and attributes to her overfilled work schedule to her just trying to do her best.
SE: You wore something similar when you signed into Bona Yinglong, do you tend to favor this style of clothing?
FBB: I felt that since this is an international stage, I need to show that I’m from China, not Korea or Japan. Some French had once thought I was from other Asian countries, but with this dress I can express my origin without having to personally explain this to them, so this feeling of nationalism is very important to me.
SE: But in the Chinese mindset, dragons are for males and phoenixes are for females.
FBB: Foreigners think of Chinese girls as gentle and soft beauties, I want to give them a new perspective. Chinese girls can also be powerful, not just sweet or cute. I want to give them something different.
SE: What do you say to Qin Hailu’s microblog on Sina, “[FBB's] so blunt as to wear her ambition in public.” ?
FBB: If she really thinks that’s ambition, then it’s hers, not mine. Fan Bingbing is only a simple person who hopes to show her culture through her dress. (more…)
