Korean actor So Ji-seob, left, and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi star in “Sophie’s Revenge,” which was co-produced by companies from Korea and China and released last August.

The activity in the nation’s film industry in the first half of the year might best be summed up by the word “collaboration.” And with so many filmmakers, producers, actors and actresses from diverse countries teaming up to make films these days, the divisions between them are being blurred on screen and off.

Take for example a new film that will tentatively be titled “Late Autum.” Its leading actors are South Korean heartthrob Hyun Bin and Chinese actress Tang Wei.

The actors are Korean and Chinese, the director is Kim Tae-yong, a Korean, the film is being co-produced by Korean and American production companies and it is being shot in the United States. It is the most recent example of the kinds of cross-cultural collaborations in the film industry today.

“Teaming up could be advantageous when the film is distributed in other countries,” said Kim Jin-ah of the film marketing company Bidan, which is promoting the film. “Since you can’t expect to earn much by selling DVDs or other products here [because so many people download films for free] the local film industry is looking overseas for other opportunities.”

“Sayonara Itsuka” is a collaboration between production companies in Korea and Japan. Although the film is based on a Japanese novel written by Hitonari Tsuji and all of the actors are Japanese, the film was directed by Lee Jae-han, who made the Korean film “A Moment to Remember” in 2004.

Another blockbuster project is being done by companies from Korea and New Zealand. The film, “The Warrior’s Way,” is being directed by Korean filmmaker Lee Seung-moo. It features Korean actor Jang Dong-gun and American actors Danny Huston and Kate Bosworth. It is slated to open later this year.

Last year, Korean actor So Ji-seob and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi co-starred in the romantic comedy “Sophie’s Revenge,” which was produced by companies from Korea and China. Another Korea-China project was the drama “A Good Rain Knows,” which stars Korean actor Jung Woo-sung and Chinese actress Gao Yuan Yuan. Meanwhile, artists from Korea and France created a film titled “A Brand New Life” last year, and the movie received a New Voice/New Visions award from the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

To spur this trend, the Korean Film Council is building up its infrastructure to allow filmmakers from diverse countries including Korea to work with industry experts.

“For example, we arrange business meetings between producers from different countries or sign treaties with European countries so that Korean filmmakers can work together with European film industry experts,” said Hwang Dong-mi, a researcher at the council. “By collaborating, they can share markets and move into new markets.”

When asked how Korean film will be defined when more than two countries come together to co-produce a film project, Hwang said that it’s a matter of money and leadership.

“If a Korean production invests more than 20 percent of the capital, or a film is directed by a Korean, or there are some Korean lines, it can be defined as a Korean film,” Hwang said.

Source: Joong Ang Daily

Zhang Zi-yi has been dubbed as an actress with a foul mouth after she was caught swearing on a live television show, reported Sin Chew Daily

Zhang, who recently was on the show to promote her latest film, had blurted the offensive word when asked by the audience whether she preferred to win an award for best show or best actress.

Seeing the shock from the audience, the host said the producers would beep out the swear word.

This resulted in netizens taking potshots at Zhang. Some claimed the reason for Zhang’s behaviour was she wanted to show off that she was now an international celebrity and was free to swear.

Source: Asia One via Asianbite

Yoshiki of rock band X Japan is said to have been out on an “all-night date” with Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi. According to newspapers, the two shared a meal together on Wednesday night.

Yoshiki attended an event for the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne on Friday, where he was given the title of Chevalier. During the event, he was asked by reporters about his date with Zhang. He acknowledged that they had eaten together and ended up drinking until the morning. However, he clarified that they are just friends, and that they weren’t alone as they watched a concert DVD.

Source: tokyograph

Actress Zhang Ziyi made a brief visit on Friday to dozens of orphaned children and teenagers in Deyang, Sichuan Province.

Zhang, who is an ambassador for the charity organization Care for Children, was warmly received by the kids there who called her “Ziyi sister”.

After presenting gifts to the youngsters, Zhang Ziyi spent some time chatting with them.

“These children need to know that they are loved and are not alone,” said the actress. “Only then will they not feel afraid of society or difficulties in life.”

Soon after the trip, Zhang Ziyi will fly to Cannes, France, where she will be a judge in the short film section of the ongoing Cannes International Film Festival.

Source: Crienglish

Emporio Armani ambassador Zhang Ziyi appeared in Hong Kong on Wednesday to promote the fashion brand.

Zhang, has been paired with Taiwan/Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro (Jin Chengwu in Chinese), the first Asian male face, in Emporio Armani’s advertising campaign this year.

The actress spoke frankly about her relationship with her would-be husband Vivi Nevo. However, she denied their wedding plans for 2009 that was reportedly spelled out by Nevo last year while confirming she would only come up with her baby plans after two years.

Actress Zhang Ziyi leads the female list and is set to take second spot when Forbes China unveils its 2009 list of Chinese celebrity rankings in the middle of March.

When asked about her thoughts on being the best-selling mainland actress, Zhang played it down, saying nothing had been confirmed yet.

The actress, who actively campaigns for public charities, will take part in a series of events marking the one year anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake.

Source: China Daily

Eastday.com March 27th News: A series of on-set photographs were exposed the other day from China and Korea’s collaboration blockbuster movie, “Sophie’s Revenge”. The female lead, Zhang Ziyi’s costume in the comedy is also revealed for the first time.

With the brightly-colored fashionable red coat, exquisitely fascinating maroon curled hair, and saucy cute fur gloves, Zhang Ziyi, as the female lead, Sophie, plans to head towards the hospital confidently after putting on makeup with utmost care. She plans to “snatch back” her doctor ex-boyfriend. In this picture, Zhang Ziyi’s expression is filled with longing for the future and hope – filled with happiness. Though attempting a comedy act for the first time, Zhang Ziyi’s fresh and clean appearance and different acting style from the past will allow everyone to open their eyes to something new.

Investment in “Sophie’s Revenge” has surpassed 50,000,000 RMBs. The leads, Zhang ziyi, Fan Bing Bing, So Ji Sub, Peter Ho, Ruby Lin, Yao Chen, etc have all had breakthrough performances. The entire production team is filled with experienced cream of the crop staff coming from the United States, Korea, and Hong Kong. These specialists have all fought many battles in producing internationally acclaimed films.

The film is estimated to be released in August of this year to theaters nationwide.

Source: Epoch Times
translation by MoonlightD @ http://www.asianfanatics.net

Zhang Ziyi’s new romantic comedy film ‘Sofie’s revenge is shooting in Beijing. For this movie, ruby lin complete turnover from her good-girl image into uninhibited woman.

(group pic: Yanchen, Zhang Ziyi and Ruby Lin)

Ruby Lin plays Sofie’s (played by Zhang Ziyi) best friend – Lu Xiaoxi. Lu Xiaoxi is mature, sexy, and uninhibited career woman. In order to play, she need to have sharp and short hair style, big earrings, black colored nail, and sexy clothes. Moreover, in the entire movie, Lu Xiaoxi keep dating with many different men. She has complete different views on love from Sofie.

Before, ruby lin never has such a short hair in any of her work. She said ,”When production team created the new image for me, I was really startled. But I am really fun with this hairstyle now. It’s interesting experience to me”

FYI : This movie casts are – Zhang ziyi, Ruby Lin, Fan bingbing, So Ji Sup (Korea), and Peter Ho. This is Zhangziyi’s first romantic comedy movie for her 10 years career.

Source : Sina Entertainment (12th News)
translation by eising @ http://asianfanatics.net

The stalled production of the Hollywood romantic comedy “Lost for Words” might get a jumpstart with the possible addition of Tom Cruise to the cast.

Universal Pictures, which is producing the film, reportedly invited the Hollywood star to step in as the lead to fill the vacancy left by British actor Hugh Grant, according to leading U.S. showbiz magazine ‘Variety’.

Grant quit the project last October after a disagreement about the screenplay with Richard Curtis, his longtime partner in previous films and the producer of “Lost for Words.” After Grant’s departure, Zhang Ziyi, the lead actress in the film, returned to China to shoot another film.

According to media reports, Universal is currently contacting Tom Cruise on the contract.

“Lost for Words” is about a love triangle in which a Hollywood actor falls for his Chinese director after romancing her translator during their making of a film. Susanne Bier, the Danish filmmaker and former Oscar nominee, will direct the movie.

Source: Crienglish

Facing a fierce forthcoming box office competition, Chen Kaige’s biopic of Peking opera legend Mei Lanfang will open one week earlier than originally scheduled.

“Forever Enthralled,” previously entitled “Mei Lanfang,” will hit theaters across the Chinese mainland on December 5, a spokesperson for the China Film Group, the film’s investor, announced on Monday.

“It’s a decision we have just made,” Weng Li said, citing box office competition as a reason.

“Forever Enthralled,” starring Leon Lai as Mei Lanfang and Zhang Ziyi as his fellow singer Meng Xiaodong, has been promoted as a possible front runner at this year’s New Year box office season.

But it faces strong rivals, including John Woo’s historical epic “Red Cliff II,” a sequel to a film that has become the most bankable Chinese film ever, and romantic comedy “If You Are the One,” the latest offering from Feng Xiaogang, who introduced the concept of making a movie to be released to coincide with the new year.

“Red Cliff II” will open on January 15, while Feng’s comedy will be released on December 22, the same month as “Forever Enthralled.”

Weng Li said that director Chen Kaige had led his crew to work overtime and finished editing on “Forever Enthralled,” and Chen was also happy to hear about the earlier release.

The film is highly anticipated not only for its star-studded cast, but also because movie-goers are eager to see if its style is a rehash of Chen’s milestone 1993 film “Farewell My Concubine,” which also centers around Peking opera performers. “Farewell My Concubine” won the highest honor at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, Best Foreign Language Film award at the following year’s Golden Globes, and received two Oscar nominations.

Source: CRIENGLISH.com

Zhang Ziyi (Chinese: 章子怡, pinyin: Zhāng Zǐyí, born February 9, 1979, in Beijing) is one of the best-known Chinese film actresses working today, with a string of Chinese and international hits to her name. She has also be called as one of the four most promising young film actresses (四小花旦) in China, along with Zhao Wei, Xu Jinglei, and Zhou Xun. She has worked with renowned directors such as Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, Wong Kar-Wai, Chen Kaige, Seijun Suzuki and Rob Marshall.