|
Official Sites: n/a
|
|
|
|
Release date: Dec. 2005 |
|
|
|
Teaser posters:
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Trailer: n/a |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The geisha, in translation
(Los Angeles Times)
By Bruce Wallace
Every move Komomo makes is rooted in Japanese ritual. The way her
body sinks to kneel, or how she uses just the fingertips of her right
hand to slide open the wood-framed Japanese doors. The way she moves
like smoke across the room on her dancer's toes...
Pan-Asian doesn't mean prejudiced
- Response to the
Bruce Wallace article
from Memoirs of A Geisha producers:
Re Bruce
Wallace's "The Geisha, in Translation" (March 6):
Oscar-winning English
actress Vivien Leigh so convincingly consumed the role of Southern belle
Scarlett O'Hara that "Gone With the Wind" remains an enduring classic to
this day. Linda Hunt won an Oscar for portraying an Indonesian man in
"The Year of Living Dangerously," as did American Gwyneth Paltrow for
playing an Englishwoman in "Shakespeare in Love." Liam Neeson earned an
Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of German businessman Oskar
Schindler, and Russell Crowe grabbed an Oscar for playing a Roman
general. The list of nontraditional casting choices is endless.
Oscar-winning English
actress Vivien Leigh so convincingly consumed the role of Southern belle
Scarlett O'Hara that "Gone With the Wind" remains an enduring classic to
this day. Linda Hunt won an Oscar for portraying an Indonesian man in
"The Year of Living Dangerously," as did American Gwyneth Paltrow for
playing an Englishwoman in "Shakespeare in Love." Liam Neeson earned an
Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of German businessman Oskar
Schindler, and Russell Crowe grabbed an Oscar for playing a Roman
general. The list of nontraditional casting choices is endless.
(Click
here to continue)
|
|
|
|
Japan looks uneasily to its laurels as old rival steals several long marches
(Times Online)
By Richard Lloyd Parry
When Sony Pictures said that it was making
Memoirs of a Geisha, it must have seemed like the opportunity of a
lifetime for Japan’s actresses...
|
|
|
|
Pan-Asian casting for 'Geisha' sparked some debate
(Los Angeles Times)
The decision to cast Chinese actresses in the main roles of "Memoirs
of a Geisha" was widely debated at Sony Pictures -- a Japanese company
-- and by the movie's producers, including Steven Spielberg...
|
|
|
|
Actress Yeoh hits out at critics of Geisha movie cast
(AFP via Yahoo! News)
Malaysian-born, Hong Kong-based actress
Michelle Yeoh has hit out at criticism that she and two other leading
Chinese actresses were cast as Japanese in her upcoming movie, a media
report said...
|
|
|
|
Memoirs of a Geisha
Memoirs of a Chinese-American Geisha
(The New York Times)
By Anne Thompson
If the coming story in film is
globalization, "Memoirs of a Geisha," set for a Christmas release by
Sony Pictures, may one day be seen as a movie at the tipping point...
(Thanks to Liling Chen.)
|
|
|
|
Chinese geisha give slanted view of
Japan's oldest professionals
(Mainichi Daily News)
By Ryann Connell
IGeisha given a sneak preview of parts of
the film adaptation of "Memoirs of a Geisha" have savaged the show,
according to Shukan Shincho (2/10)...
(Thanks to "No Front")
|
|
|
|
'Geisha's walk in the park
(San Francisco Chronicle)
By
G. Allen Johnson
Cars are lined up along the street outside the Japanese Tea Garden in
Golden Gate Park, which is not in itself an unusual sight...
(Thanks to
John Becker.)
|
|
|
|
Japanese on edge over Spielberg's geisha film
(The Guardian)
By McCurry
Critics fear
teahouse culture will be tweaked for western audience.
(Thanks to "CJ")
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ang Lee's
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Receives Eight Oscar Nominations
(Oscar.com) |
|
|
|
January
31, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
(Focus
Features, Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Films) |
Ang Lee directed
"great American love story"
Brokeback Mountain
has become the front runner for
the Oscar with eight nominations, including best picture, best
director, best actor, best supporting actor, best supporting
actress,
best cinematography, best music (score) and best adapted
screenplay.
Memoirs of A Geisha
clears up
almost all
the art categories with
six nominations and fails to reach
any
the acting categories.
The complete nomination list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
British Academy of Film and
Television Arts (BAFTA) Nomination List
(BAFTA.co.uk) |
|
|
|
January 19, 2006 |
|
|
|
Ang Lee's cowboy love story
Brokeback Mountain
received nominations in nine categories, including film,
direction, actor in a leading role, actor in a supporting role,
music, cinematography and editing.
Memoirs of A Geisha, a
tale about the east told in the west, is nominated to compete for
six awards, including actress in a leading role (Zhang Ziyi),
music, cinematography, production design, costume design and make
up & hair. Stephen Chow's comedy actioner
Kung Fu Hustle
is listed in the category of film not in the English language.
Brokeback Mountain
Film
- Diana Ossana / James Schamus
The David Lean Award
for achievement in Direction - Ang Lee
Adapted Screenplay
- Larry McMurtry / Diana Ossana
Actor in a Leading Role
- Heath Ledger
Actor in a Supporting Role
- Jake Gyllenhaal
Actress in a Supporting Role
- Michelle Williams
The Anthony Asquith Award
for Achievement in Film Music - Gustavo Santaolalla
Cinematography - Rodrigo
Prieto
Editing - Geraldine Peroni /
Dylan Tichenor
Memoirs of a Geisha
Actress in a Leading Role
- Ziyi Zhang
The Anthony Asquith Award
for Achievement in Film Music - John Williams
Cinematography - Dion
Beebe
Production Design - John
Myhre
Costume Design - Colleen
Atwood
Make up & Hair - Noriko
Watanabe / Kate Biscoe / Lyndell Quiyou / Kelvin R Trahan
Kung
Fu Hustle
Film Not in the English Language
- Stephen Chow / Chui Po Chu / Jeff Lau
The complete nomination list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Premiered in LA
(...) |
|
|
|
December 4, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
Zhang Ziyi |
Michelle Yeoh |
|
(Reuters / AP) |
More première photos:
A
and
B
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
Clips
(HelloZiyi.us / Movies.com) |
|
|
|
November 25, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The Taiwanese poster |
|
(?) |
Click
here,
here
and
here.
More about Memoirs of A Geisha: go
here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
Images
(HelloZiyi.us) |
|
|
|
November 14, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films) |
HelloZiyi.us just had more collection of
Memoirs of A Geisha
photos.
Click here
(Thanks to "Chris" from
HelloZiyi.us.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
North American Trailer in QuickTime
(Apple.com) |
|
|
|
October 22,
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films) |
Click here
(Thanks to "Chris" from
HelloZiyi.us.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA North
American Trailer
(Yahoo!) |
|
|
|
September 19, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films) |
Actually, this one is virtually identical to
the
Japanese trailer
released last month.
Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
Japanese Trailer Online Now
(Movies.co.jp) |
|
|
|
August 25, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films) |
Click here
(Thanks to "Marla" of www.admiringgongli.com.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Promotional
Stills
(HelloZiyi.us) |
|
|
|
August 22, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
(Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films) |
Some unknown number of promotional stills have been distributed to the
media of east Asia. Some of them are available
here.
Left: Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yoeh and Gong Li wearing traditional kimonos
and none traditional hairstyles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
Shots
(...) |
|
|
|
July 30, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Ken Watanabe and Zhang Ziyi posing for The
Elle Magazine (The Elle Magazine) |
Zhang Ziyi (2nd L) and Michelle Yeoh (3rd
L). |
(L to R): Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe, ?,
?, Koji Yakusho, ? Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi. |
|
(Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films) |
More shots are available at
HelloZiyi.us.
(Thanks to "Chris" and an anonymous friend.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
Teaser Poster
(Blackfilm.com) |
|
|
|
July 20, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films) |
The blue eyes!
(Thanks to Wilson Morales.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
Interviews: Rob Marshall / Michelle Yeoh
(Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre) |
|
January 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
(Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Films) |
Click here
|
|
|
|
Filming of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
Wrapped Up in Tokyo
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
|
January 31, 2005 |
|
A press conference was held in Tokyo today,
marking the end of the four month long production. Director Rob
Marshall and majority of the cast shows up at the conference,
except the female lead Zhang Ziyi who, according to Sina.com,
was doing an advertising shoot away in Romania. The highly
anticipated movie will have a world-wide release in December
2005.
In Japan, Memoirs of a Geisha will be distributed under
the title of Sayuri, same as the title of the Japanese edition
of the original book. The production in Japan was collaborated
by local studio Shochiku.
.
Title photo: (L to R) an unidentified producer,
director
Rob Marshall, Gong
Li (Hatsumomo),
Kaori Momoi (Okiya Mother),
Michelle Yeoh (Mameha),
Ken Watanabe (The Chairman), Koji Yakusho (Nobu),
Youki Kudoh
(Pumpkin), Suzuka Ohgo (Young
Sayuri), producer
Douglas Wick.
Related Story:
'Memoirs of a Geisha' wraps up
filming in Japan, by Chris Betros, Japan Today
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Photo
(Entertainment Weekly / HelloZiyi.us) |
|
January 19, 2005 |
|
Why geishas are respected as artists in
Japan? Click
here
and
here.
(Thanks to "Chris" from
HelloZiyi.us.)
|
|
|
|
An Interesting Shot From The
Set Of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
(Première / Oriental Daily) |
|
January 11, 2005 |
|
 |
|
(?) |
This photo originally posted in the February
issue of the US edition of Première magazine. The issue on the
left is a scan from Chinese language newspaper Oriental Daily.
It shows director Rob
Marshall, Zhang Ziyi and
Ken Watanabe
on the set of Memoirs of a Geisha. (Thanks to "Chris" from
HelloZiyi.us and
the anonymous for the clarifications.)
Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre has
more updates on the filming.
|
|
|
|
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA On-Set
Photos
(***) |
|
January 9, 2005 |
|
 |
|
Zhang Ziyi as Sayuri before she became a
geisha (***) |
Someone took these series of photos while on the set of
Memoirs Of A Geisha.
(Thanks to "Chris" from
HelloZiyi.us and the anonymous photographer.)
Click here for more photos.
|
|
|
|
MEMORIES OF A GEISHA
Set Report
(Dark Horizons) |
|
December 17, 2004 |
|
Click here.
|
|
|
|
First Pictures From
The Set Of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
(Blackfilm.com)
|
|
December 3, 2004 |
|
(Thanks to "Wilson".)
|
|
|
|
Another
Spy Report From
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Set
(Darkhorizons.com) |
|
November 13, 2004 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Zhang Ziyi
(Beijing New Picture) |
Gong Li
(Block
2 Pictures) |
Michelle Yeoh
(Han
Entertainment) |
|
Bluenose Kitty, just
filed his/her second spy report from the set of Memoirs Of Geisha:
click here.
Also,
Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre. got some
trivial bits:
Click here.
(Thanks to "Chris" from
HelloZiyi.us.)
|
|
|
|
First Spy Report From
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Set
(Michelle Yeoh
Web Theatre) |
|
November 4, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
Zhang Ziyi
(Beijing New Picture) |
Gong Li
(Block
2 Pictures) |
Michelle Yeoh
(Han
Entertainment) |
|
Someone calling him/herself Bluenose Kitty, who just
worked on the Thousand Oaks set of Memoirs Of Geisha for two
days, sent a spy report to
Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre. The spy
gives us a fairly detail description of the set of "Kyoto from the
1920s-1930's period" and a few scenes with Zhang Ziyi, Michelle
Yeoh and Gong Li.
Click here.
(Thanks to "Chris" from
HelloZiyi.us.)
|
|
|
|
Rumor Of Toei
Boycotting MEMOIRS OF A
GEISHA Unverified
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
|
October 26, 2004 |
|
|
|
Zhang Ziyi
(Beijing New Picture Films
) |
The rumor of Japan's Toei Studios might
refuse to lend its set to the production of Memoirs Of A Geisha was from
an article by The Hong Kong Sun last week. I have been unable to
independently verify the authenticity of the report. The credibility of the
newspaper is the only thing we can count on. Shooting has been carried
out in California, including Sony Studios in Hollywood, Thousand
Oaks and The Huntington in San Marino. Studio press release indicates
shooting will also take place in Japan but Toei Studios is not
mentioned. (Click
here for the newest press release.)
Related Story:
Japan's Toei Studios Might
Boycott MEMOIRS OF A
GEISHA Production?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 18, 2004
|
|
|
|
What Do You Know - A Fake
Tree For MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
(Michelle Yeoh
Web Theatre) |
|
October 25, 2004 |
|
 |
 |
|
("Derrick") |
An artificial Japanese cherry tree has been
"planted" at the Japanese Garden of The Huntington near Los Angeles. It
is the off season for the tree to blossom, so using a fake tree makes
sense. The filming will be held at the garden today.
According to
Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre, "the production company has built an
actual Japanese Village in Thousand Oaks, a city 39 miles west of Los
Angeles and the bulk of the film will be shot there. A large Sumo
wrestling scene which involves 300-400 extras will be shot at the Sony
Studios during November 2 - 4."
For more shots:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
(Thanks to "CJ".)
|
|
|
|
Japan's Toei Studios Might
Boycott MEMOIRS OF A
GEISHA Production?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
|
October 18, 2004 |
|
|
|
Zhang Ziyi
(Beijing New Picture Films
) |
Hong Kong newspaper The Sun reported that Japanese
studio Toei, set to collaborate the production of Memoirs Of A Geisha
in Japan, might refuse to lease its set to the Americans. According to
the paper, Toei was not happy about the fat that the cast of Memoirs
Of A Geisha, a story supposed occurred in Japan, consists with too
many Chinese and not enough Japanese. It was just like "changing a
Kyoto's temple into a grand Chinese restaurant."
Both the movie and the book it is based on are in fact
western interpretation of Japan's geisha culture. The Japanese are
especially upset that geishas are portrayed as prostitutes. In fact,
they are entertainers and could even be seen as artists.
|
|
|
|
Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li
and Michelle Yeoh To Star In MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, It Is Official!
(Columbia Pictures) |
|
August 19, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
Zhang Ziyi in Hero. (Beijing New
Picture Films /
Elite Group (2003) Enterprises, Inc.) |
Gong Li in 2046. (Block
2 Pictures) |
Michelle Yeoh in The Touch.
(Han
Entertainment, Ltd, Mythical Films) |
A few hours ago Columbia Pictures announced that
Chinese Zhang Ziyi and Japanese actor Ken Watanabe would take the
leading roles in Memoirs Of A Geisha. Chinese actress Gong
Li, Chinese Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh and Japanese actor
Koji Yakusho and actress Youki Kudoh are in final negotiations for
supporting roles.
(Thanks to **, Mark Singh and Lynne
Brakeman.)
Zhang Ziyi started her career in a
small TV movie called Touching Starlight while still
registered at Central Drama Academy in Beijing. She was then
picked by director Zhang Yimou to lead The Road Home. Her
performance in Ang Lee's Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon made
her an instant star worldwide. Since then, she has taken
supporting roles in a series of movies, Musa and My Wife
Is A Gangster, which were both Korean productions, The
Legend Of Zu, from Hong Kong, and Rush
Hour 2, a Hollywood project. She then returned to martial-art
genre by playing in Hero and House Of Flying Daggers,
both were directed by Zhang Yimou. In between these two projects,
she did Purple Butterfly, Jasmine and 2046. Her most
recent film is Operetta Tanuki Goten, in which she played
an ancient Japanese girls. Even more interest - the profession of
the character she played in House Of Flying Daggers, later
became Geisha in Japan.
Gong Li was also graduated from
Central Drama Academy and also started her silver screen career
with director Zhang Yimou. From 1980's to 1990's, they have worked
together in Red Sorghum, Codename Cougar, A Terre
Cotta Warrior, Ju Dou, Raise The Red Lanterns,
Story Of Qiu Ju, Shanghai Triad and To Live.
During these years, she also participated in several Hong Kong
productions, which did little to help her career. After ended the
working relationship with Zhang Yimou, she starred in director
Chen Kaige's Farewell My Concubine, Temptress Moon
and The Emperor And The Assassin. Her newest released film project is
Zhou Yu's Train. She will be seen in Wong Kar-Wai's 2046
and Eros.
Born in Malaysia, Michelle Yeoh
started her career in Hong Kong after graduated from a UK college.
After playing in dozens of Hong Kong action features, she was
discovered by international audiences when Rumble In Bronx
was released worldwide. She was then cast a bond girl in
Tomorrow Never Die and her appearance in Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon brought her more international recognition.
Recently she then produced and played in two projects, The
Touch and Silver Hawk, both were not very successful.
Though Memoirs Of A Geisha is
about a story takes place entirely in Japan, only half of the cast
are Japanese. The other half are Chinese. Zhang, Gong and Yeoh are
the most well-known Asian actress outside the Hollywood circle.
Asian actress in the Hollywood, like Lucy Liu and Kelly Hu, are
probably too familiar and too expensive to be considered for the
project.
Directed by Rob Marshall and produced
by Steven Spielberg, Memoirs Of A Geisha will go into
production next month in the States and Japan. By then, everyone
will have to speak English rather Japanese - it is a Hollywood
production after all.
Click here for the original press release by
PR Newswire.
|
|
|
|
Michelle Yeoh Joins
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Too?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
|
|
July 27, 2004 |
|
Michelle Yoeh also landed a role in Memoirs
Of A Geisha? According to Hong Kong newspaper Oriental Daily, the answer
is yes.
Related story:
Zhang Ziyi Lands The Title
Role In MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
July 20, 2004
|
|
|
|
Zhang Ziyi Lands The Title
Role In MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
|
July 20, 2004 |
|
|
|
(Beijing
New Pictures Films) |
Zhang Ziyi won the
title role in
Steven Spielberg produced and
Rob Marshall directed Memoirs Of A Geisha – this
news is quickly spreading around the globe. Before say anything, I
would like to recall the story of the story. It all started with an
interview posted by a Chinese newspaper last week. During the
interview, Zhang Ziyi said she only got a few days of
rest until a Hollywood production
caught up to her and she would have to speak
English in it. “It will be the most important film in my life. I
think the pressure will cause me to lose a few kilograms, but I
am so excited.” – quoted from the article.
Then some reporter got a little bit
creative and linked her to Memoirs of A Geisha, which will
start filming in September. The story was
quickly reposted by many other Chinese media, and appeared on
several Hong Kong newspapers yesterday. On the same day,
international news agency AFP brought it to the English
speaking world by running a story based on a
report by Hong Kong paper Apple Daily and since then it has been
reposted by many other English media.
We know Zhang Ziyi is set to star in a Hollywood
production later this year and we also know the filming of
long-awaited big screen adaptation of Memoirs Of A Geisha
will finally happen the coming September. But, did she really land
the title role of the project? Maybe it is just a rumor, maybe she
is still pushing for it against many other Asian actresses, maybe
she is negotiating with Spielberg and Marshall, or maybe she has
already got it and everyone is waiting for the right moment to
announce it.
Just add another twist to the mystery – Zhang
Ziyi’s manager has politely turned down my request for commenting on
the rumor.
Related Story:
HK heroines lose lead
role in Spielberg film to Chinese star
(AFP)
Jul 19,
2004
Geisha'
audition draws nearly 200
(Pasadena Star) by Gema
Duarte,
July
10, 2004
Greg’s Previews: Memoirs Of A Geisha
(Yahoo! Movies) by Greg Dean
Schmitz
|
|
|
|
|
|
