According to Hong Kong media, Wong Kar-Wai is doing EROS, not 2046, right now in Hong Kong. Last night, two leads of this part Gong Li (RAISE THE RED LANTERN) and Chang Chen (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON) spent 20 hours for some passion scene. EROS is a three part erotic drama, separately directed by  Michelangelo Antonioni Wong, Kar-Wai and Steven Soderbergh. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story comprises "three tales of human love and sexuality."

Click here and here for Gong Li and Chang Chen leaving the set.

"I hoped there would be a new way of bringing Hong Kong movies to the American market. This way of production, honestly, is actually a way of taking order from others. It's not as delicate as our Sichuan or Cantonese food. For a manufacturing process, I don't mind to make good McDonald's (food) and sell it to the Americans. But from our standpoint, I believe through our Cantonese way, Hong Kong movie or Chinese mainland movies could be made much better. Someday we can show our movies with the original features to the American market," director Gordon Chan told Nanfang Daily.

Costing US$35 million, THE MEDALLION is the most expensive Hong Kong production. About one week after the first day of shooting in July 2001, Columbia started negotiating with EMG, the movie's producer. Later Columbia acquired the sole world-wide distribution rights, except in Asia and France, with US$50 million approximately. "After we delivered the film to Columbia, some professional said it looked like a US$80 million production," said Gordon Chan, "it's very simple - our enthusiasm exceeds our cost." He recalled the production in Thailand, "Jackie Chan didn't stay at any luxury hotel and there was no trailers for the stars. We saved the money for the production. By this way we can have more room for it. Jackie Chan said if this were an American production, there wouldn't be so many shots. An American production would only last a few days, and we spent dozens days (in Thailand)." Jackie Chan's mother passed away when he was in Thailand. He did not leave for her funeral until the last shot was done. Of cause, the cost for the CG effect cannot be cut. "The specially effect was very difficult to make. Over 500 shots. For a big budget like THE MATRIX, a very complicated CG work can be done in no time. But with our budget, we can only use time to make it up," said Gordon Chan.

There is still something from the American production does not satisfy Jackie Chan. "He thought they learned the performance but not the spirit," said Gordon Chan, "Even for some very good action sequences, like those from (action director) Yuen Wo-Ping. He believe if Yuen Wo-Ping could be given more freedom, not to be restricted by the American rules, Yuen Wo-Ping could do better." Gordon Chan gave Jackie Chan and action director Sammo Hung full freedom on the set. "For actions, I listened to Sammo Hung. He's really incredible. He could really do things in his own way and it was a very pleasant experience. Movies made in this way have more potential to succeed commercially."

The movie was, since the beginning, tailored for the American market. Ever since the stage of script writing, they have been consulting the Americans and successful Chinese filmmakers, like producer Bill King from CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and HERO. Gordon Chan said, "in the early stages, (we) had very long discussions with Columbia. We wanted it to be more Asian, and they wanted it to be more American flavored." The result is concession from both side. Some dialogues and scenes were altered and later the movie was shrunken. Columbia said the result of a test screening was very positive and the release day has been pushed forward from September/October to August.

Starting August 22, THE MEDALLION will be shown in Asia and at over 2000 theaters across North America.

More coverage on THE MEDALLION

According to Hong Kong media, production of Stephen Chow's newest comedy action KUNG FU (English title: KUNG FU HUSTLE) has started yesterday on the backlot of Shanghai Film Studio in the town of Chedun. A set of old and crowded urban living sector from the 1940's Guangdong Province was built. Stephen Chow's friend, director Feng Xiaogang (BIG SHOT'S FUNERAL) will cameo as a gang leader in the film. Production will last about four months with finance from Columbia's Asian branch. Apparently, Stephen Chow has picked the female lead, whose identity is still unknown

Picture: Stephen Chow's new look

Related story:

Columbia Picks Up Stephen Chow's KUNG FU (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 3, 2003

Zhang Ziyi has been interviewed by German magazine Spiegel, during which she has, indirectly, expressed that she was not interested in playing the mail-order bride in GOOD COOK, LIKE MUSIC with Adam Sadler. Here is what she said (translation) when being asked whether a large amount of money would persuade her moving to Hollywood:

Money does not interest me, only good roles do. As a Chinese in Hollywood, usually you are only offered with stereotyped roles, (like) prostitute or mail-order bride. If you can work with directors as well-known as Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou or Wong Kar-Wai, the reward is already good enough.

It is a very smart move for Zhang Ziyi to detach herself away from the project. Not only because the role of "mail-order bride" is, as what she said, very stereotyped, but also Adam Sander is only good in his own way, which offers absolutely nothing memorable to all his female co-stars. I hope director Wayne Wang could walk away well. Unless the creator(s) of the film stop telling jokes to reinforce people's stereotype and prejudice, the project should just end right here, right now.

Interview with Zhang ZIyi: Ich war ein kleines Schaf (Spiegel Online)

Interview with Zhang ZIyi: I Am a Little Sheep (Spiegel Online) (English translation)

According to Nanfang Daily, the long-awaited extended version will be released on DVD by the end of June in the mainland China. This is the version MiramAxe would not let anyone to see and so far few people know what has been deleted. A master video cassette containing the deleted 20 minute long footage has already been  handed over to the official video distributors - Face Audio and Video Production Co. Ltd. and WeiKai Audio and Video Production Co. on March 1. This version was originally scheduled for a release in April, but SARS stopped it. According to the paper, over 500,000 copies of theatrical DVDs (DVD-5 and DVD-9) have been sold and more copies are being produced. 1 million copies of VCDs have almost sold out.

A few promotional stills of the Hong Kong thriller have been released:

A, B

Here are more on-location shots: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I.

Produced by Universe Entertainment Ltd. and Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd., the action piece is about a police officer (Ekin Cheng) and a psychiatrist (Leon Lai), who is serving his time behind bars, are working on a case of diamond heist. But the mastermind (Francis Ng) set them up and send both of them on the run...

An anonymous fan, just sent me a note claiming he/she has watched the theatrical teaser of WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH:

Just wanted to let you guys know that I've just seen the theatrical teaser trailer to Warriors of Heaven and Earth - it will be transferred to film and shown in theaters in China. I think the release date on the end of the trailer was early July (single digits), but I can't remember exactly.

The trailer is very brief and doesn't show much action, only a little bit of fighting. Basically, it shows each of the major characters and some of the cinematography, which looks good. It looks more like a war movie and doesn't seem too likely to have much wire work or a lot of FX, but that's just my impression based on this short teaser. I didn't get to hear the voiceover track or music but was told it's starts with English and transitions to Mandarin.

According to Beijing Morning Post, director He Ping told the paper the scores of the film was composted by A.R. Rahman (LAGAAN: ONCE UPON A TIME IN INDIA) and the music will be performed by London Symphony Orchestra.

WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH is produced by Huayi Taihe Brothers, Xi'an Film Studio and SONY Pictures (Columbia)'s Asian branch.

According to Nanfang Daily, THE MEDALLION will be released on both side of the Pacific (North America, East and Southeast Asia) on August is a shrunken version of the original cut, courtesy of Columbia. Someone from the film's Chinese distributor told the paper, "this is Jackie Chan's best in recent years. The director is from Hong Kong (Gordon Chan) and the editor is from America (???) - combination of what both side is good at. I have seen the 100 minute version and the 87 minute version we have right now. The sequence got quicker and smoother, the action got more highlighted, and the film got more entertaining."

Here is the plot of THE MEDALLION (Chinese title: DRAGON RESURRECTION): Hong Kong cop Eddie Yang (Jackie Chan) and partner Arthur Watson (Lee Evans) are fighting with "Snake Devil", leader of of a human-smuggling organization. To rescue Jai, a kid kidnapped by "Snake Devil", they travel to Ireland and meet Eddie's ex-girlfriend Nicole (Claire Forlani), a British cop. Eddie is killed while trying to save Jai. Then light beams start ejecting from a medallion Jai is wearing, Eddie's dead body gradually disappears and another Eddie appears. Mysterious power makes Eddie's wounds self-healable. But traumatized Jai is unable to speak and cannot offer Eddie any explanation. "Snake Devil"s men take Jai away and smash Arthur's home. Eddie and Nicole come to rescue him and take him to a forest. With the power of the Medallion, "Snake Devil" has transformed himself to a Highbinder, with great evil power...

THE MEDALLION page

According to various reports, Columbia will co-finance Stephen Chow's KUNG FU and take charge of the international distribution. This means MiramAxe's handling of SHAOLIN SOCCER has angered another Asian talent. According to Hong Kong's The Sun, the film's English title is KUNG FU HUSTLE. Shooting will start on June 27, most likely in Shanghai. Barbara Robinson, the CPO of Columbia Asia, said KUNG FU would continue Steven Chow's film tradition - small person getting his dream fulfilled. In additional to the element of comedy, the film will also include martial-art and CG effect. Gareth Wigan, Vice Chairman of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, said he was very excited about being able to work with Stephen Chow. He said, "Stephen Chow's films are not only very original but also generate fans outside of Asia." KUNG FU will be made by Steven Chow's The Star, Beijing based Huayi Taihe and the Fourth Division of China Film Corp.

The plot of KUNG FU is something like this: 1940's, Guangzhou (not Hong Kong?). A Xing (Stephen Chow) is a young man good at gabbing and short on will. Dreaming about becoming somebody, he is eager to join The Axe Gang, notorious for its ruthlessness. The Axe Gang is planning to invade the last remaining spot which is not under their control and is also where A Xing lives. However, A Xing's over-weight overly-demanding landlady and her overly-skinny overcautious husband are all highly skilled martial-artists. And, that's not all - looks like everyone around A Xing has some special talent...

According to Shenyan Today, filming of MO LI HUA KAI (JASMINES BLOOM) has come to the end with a dinning-out in Shanghai yesterday. Zhang Ziyi was the only cast member remained on the set until yesterday. till Director cinematographer Hou Yong told the paper, "I didn't emphasize too much on the visual, and put more effort on the screenplay. The story of the novel by Su Tong is about a small movie star in the 1930's Shanghai, and her daughter and granddaughter. The story itself is very rich in content, and I think there is no need to worry about (it turning out to be) a plain story."

MO LI HUA KAI page

Beijing's Star Daily reports Columbia's Asian branch will join Beijing based Huayi Brothers to finance XUN SHAN (literal title: PATROLLING THE MOUNTAIN), a story about about a group of rangers protecting chirus (Tibetan antelopes) from poachers while trying to survive the wildness of Tibetan Plateau. Someone from Chinese Film Bureau tipped the paper yesterday. The film is written and will be directed by Lu Chuan, who just made his directorial début THE MISSING GUN last year. Each year, thousands of chirus were killed at China's Kekexili National Park in Tibetan Plateau. Their skins were smuggled to South Asia to make shahtoosh for consumers in Europe and North America. Several rangers have lost their life while trying to protect chirus from being poached. In recent years, Columbia has co-financed and distributed several Asian productions, including BIG SHOT'S FUNERAL, DOUBLE VISION, WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH and SO CLOSE.