Preview of costumes for Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li in "Armor"

Zhang Yimou is a master of colors and the color he has chosen for the film is gold. In fact, virtually everything in the movie is in gold color - costumes, palaces, vehicles, weapons, armors and even armors for horses. It is a golden empire about to collapse. (Monkey Peaches)

Foscus Features sells "Armor"

Focus Features sells the untitled (The City of Golden Armor, working title). Zhang Yimou epic was pre-sold to 13 European territories, including Tobis for Germany, RAI for Italy, Nordisk for Scandinavia, RCV for Benelux, Odeon for Greece and Eco for Portugal, plus Shani for Israel. (Kung Fu Cult Cinema)

More on opening ceremony for "Armor"

From CCTV.com

Zhang Yimou raises "Armor"
02-27-2006 13:56
Acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou has begun shooting on his latest film endeavor. It's a historical drama entitled "The City of Golden Armor".
The film's low-key launch ceremony was in line with Zhang's desires to keep the project shrouded in mystery.
"The City of Golden Armor" is being shot at the Number Two studio -- the largest on the Beijing Film Studio lot. Zhang used the same studio for "House of Flying Daggers".
With the exception of Taiwan R&B King Jay Chow, all the film's principal actors attended the launch ceremony. Mainland actor Liu Ye, who plays a prince in the film, arrived first. He was followed by Titans Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li, who star as emperor and empress. However, none of the stars granted any interviews.
Most of the talking was done by the film's crew. Screenwriter Wang Bin gave an explanation of the title. He said: "A rebel leader during the late Tang dynasty once wrote a poem before he rebelled. He compared the blossoming chrysanthemums around his city to golden armor. Zhang liked the metaphor. By the way, the film has to do with golden armor. So we thought it would make for a great movie title."
"The City of Golden Armor" has a budget of 360 million yuan, or around 45 million US dollars, which makes it Zhang's most expensive film to date. It's scheduled for release at the end of 2007. NOTE: I think they probably meant at the end of 2006

John Woo's Stranglehold

February 25, 2006 - Max Payne goes to China in Stranglehold, an Unreal Engine 3-powered Winter '06 title featuring the direction of John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat:
Acclaimed action director John Woo presents Stranglehold, a stunning 3rd-person action adventure videogame for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. A "spiritual sequel" to Woo's action masterpiece, "Hard Boiled," Stranglehold redefines the action gaming experience with its acrobatic gunplay, thrilling cinematography, frenetic combat and incredible Massive Destructibility (Massive D). Chow Yun-Fat reprises his signature role as Inspector Tequila, pitting gamers as a take no-prisoners cop waging a personal war with Hong Kong crime lords. Tequila's loyalties to the force are tested when his ex-wife is kidnapped by the Russian mob in Chicago. Tequila struggles to balance his duty to uphold the law with doing what it takes to save his family.
SIGNATURE CINEMATIC ACTION Stranglehold allows gamers to play a John Woodirected action blockbuster movie. Dual-wielding, stunt-laden gunplay combined with massive destructible environments ensures that Stranglehold will be a true tour-de-force. The environmental interactivity and two-fisted gunplay all come online, bringing the experience to a whole new level.
AMAZING GUNPLAY & STUNTS Gamers will experience smooth flowing gameplay, such as running up railings, swinging on chandeliers and leaping onto moving objects, all without interrupting intense gun battles.
BLOCKBUSTER HOLLYWOOD TALENT Featuring the cinematic flare of acclaimed action director John Woo, Stranglehold will also benefit from Woo's direction on storyline, camera placement and cutscenes. Starring international action-star Chow Yun-Fat as Inspector Tequila, the game's cast is also comprised of other A-list Hollywood talent.
GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY: MASSIVE D The innovative physics engine will provide gamers with an unprecedented level of interactivity. With two huge areas to explore (Chicago and Hong Kong), the interactions will be infinite with each level offering massive amounts of destructibility.
INNOVATIVE TEQUILA TIME MECHANIC Stranglehold's unique Tequila Time slow-motion system goes well beyond the slow-motion gameplay that typifies so many current action games and allows players to simultaneously aim and shoot at targets with a greater degree of focus. In a case of art imitating art, John Woo is the master and originator of this style of gunplay action and it's taken to a new level in Stranglehold.
UNREAL 3.0 AND HAVOK Using a highly modified version of the Unreal 3.0 engine integrated with the Havok physics system, Stranglehold will breath new life into game envinronments and characters with stunning graphics. Incredible "Rock'n Roll" physics make it possible for everything in the world to be destructible and interactive, allowing for an ever changing battle ground depending on how players approach different situations.
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PC Ship Date: Winter Genre: 3rd Person Action/Adventure Publisher: Midway Developer: Midway Studios, Chicago
-- Andrew Burnes (IGN) New video

Jay Chow and CYF learning to speak standard Mandarin

Zhang Yimou's new film, ''The City of Golden Armor'' has began shooting. In order to prevent a repeat of what happened in the film ''Hero'', where the leads, Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, spoke in a standard of Mandarin that has left many puzzled, the movie company arranged for Chow Yun-Fat and Jay Chou to learn the normal standard of speaking Mandarin. (Source: Multistars)
Zhang Weiping indicated Thursday, 'I've heard Chow Yun-Fat spoke in mandarin before, it's great!' As to the progress Jay Chou is making in the lessons, he said, 'His part is overlooked by Jiang Zhi Qiang, I don't know!'
In his previous film, ''Hero'', due to many actors being unable to speak Mandarin properly, the dialogs of Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung have to be dubbed in Chinese, resulting in a lower quality production. Therefore, when Zhang Yimou wanted to film "The City of Golden Armor" he requested that all the dialogs be dubbed by the original actors, and wanted Chow Yun-Fat and Jay Chou to begin taking lessons on speaking standard Mandarin.
Chow Yun-Fat had to spend three months learning standard Mandarin when he starred in ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" five years ago, and previously in another movie, he also had training on speaking Mandarin. He arrived in Beijing two days ago to start preparing for the shoot. Zhang Wei Ping went to access his progress, not only was he impressed with the training results, he also went on to thank Chow Yun-Fat on Zhang Yimou's behalf, "Zhang Yimou is very grateful that an International star like Chow Yun-Fat is still willing to take lessons on speaking Mandarin!"
Jay Chou will only be traveling to Beijing for the filming process in March, before that, Jiang Zhi Qiang will be responsible for training Jay Chou in speaking Mandarin. Jiang Zhi Qiang has been involved in production for ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and ''House of Flying Daggers". On the difficulties on the dubbing process of Hong Kong and Taiwan actors, Zhang Wei Ping expressed, 'Although I don't know how Jay Chou is progressing, I believe he is talented enough. He should be able to do it within a month. Actually, there isn't much of a problem with his lines; we're more worried on the action and fighting scenes.’
Zhang Yimou denies that Jay doesn't speak fluently, 'He speaks very fluently, there isn't even the Taiwan accent, you can hear his words very clearly too. His pronunciation is absolutely fine!' Jay Chou's record company, Alfa Music indicated yesterday that at present, there are no plans as yet to send him to Hong Kong to correct his pronunciation, and they're unsure as to whether Jay is confident with his own pronunciation.
''Beijing Daily" reported that in Zhang Yimou's new film, ''The City of Golden Armor", Gong Li plays the role of the empress, Liu Ye plays the role of the Elder Prince, Yuan Xiang, Jay Chou plays as the younger Prince Yang Chao. There has already been a lot of coverage by the media even before the filming has started. Jay Chou expressed two nights ago that he has already read the script and liked it a lot, but declined to disclose any details of the script. He only said that he is rather confident with ancient films and is able to fight Kung Fu in it, which happens to fulfill Jay Chou's dream from young. When the reported told him that Zhang Yimou is quite strict when directing, Jay can't help but asked very curiously, 'Oh, really?' with the facial expression that he is rather concerned with his performance this time around.
It's been reported that in the movie, Jay Chou plays the character of a Kung Fu Master that doesn't like to speak much. As to having to wear a headgear for the ancient costume appearance most of the time, which is a hassle and rather damaging to the hair, Jay Chou replied coolly, 'I've always liked the appearance of the ancient costumes; therefore, I'm not very worried.' (crienglish.com)

Opening ceremony for The City of Golden Armor

Director Zhang Yimou, Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Chen Jin, Liu Ye, Qin Junjie, Li Man and Ni Dahong

A small ceremony was held on the set of The City of Golden Armor, marking the beginning of the principal production. All major cast members, excluding Jay Chou, attended the ceremony.

(Monkey Peaches) Video

Spy pictures taken of sets for "Armor"

Well, it was just a matter of time until some smart guy was going to get past the guard at the Beijing film studio where CYF is filming The City of Golden Armor and take some pictures of something or somebody. I wish it had been somebody like Chow Yun-Fat, but instead it was some pictures of the sets. The pictures from Sina.

Schedule of filming for Chow Yun-Fat

Article: February 21, 2006 Source: http://hk.news.yahoo.com/060221/10/1lf75.html

Chow Yun Fat arrived in Beijing two days ago to prepare for the shooting of Zhang YiMou's new movie Armor of Gold today. With a backpack on his back, he walked out in the secret passage accompanied by his wife. Because he is an international star, staff and security were tight and even though Chow was friendly towards the reporters greeting him, the workers shouted at the press and ordered them not to take photos. Even though the movie was to start shooting two days ago, the incomplete set has delayed the start of shooting till today. Accordingly, Chow would be accorded Hollywood standards when shooting. Everyday he would have a fixed 11 to 12 hours work schedule. The hotel would send a car to pick him up. The time for make up is included in these hours and if there are extra scenes, it would extend the shooting and raise the cost of the production. Gong Li and Jay Chou are at the moment very busy and are still waiting for scheduling confirmation. The reporter talked to the Hong Kong assistant for Jay and she said that they had indeed talked to the film company and it had been a smooth process. The probablility of Jay accepting the role is high but as for the role and whether is a definite, it is to be confirmed.In other news, it was said that Gong Li would would arrive in 2 days. Zhang would have two new female stars who also graduated from the same academy as Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi for this movie.

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Gong Li important to the filming of "Armor"

BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese actress Gong Li has returned to Beijing to star in a new film by Zhang Yimou, the first time she has worked with the director again after ten years.
The title of the film, also starring Chow Yun-fat, translates as "Wearing Golden Armor Across The City". It is set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and is based on the renowned Chinese modern playwright Cao Yu's classic drama "Thunderstorm". The real English title will be revealed after conferring with the film's American distributor, Zhang Weiping, the film's producer and BNPEF's president, told Xinhua, without elaborating on the plot details.
The Beijing New Picture Edko Films (BNPEF), the film's investor,said the film's first scene, which takes place in the palace, would be shot in Beijing on Wednesday. "The story of 'Thunderstorm' and the setting of the Tang Dynasty epitomize the classic elements of ancient and modern Chinese culture, which easily attracts a Chinese and non-Chinese audience," he added.
Besides Gong and Chow, mainland actor Liu Ye and Taiwanese pop singer Jay Chou will also appear in the film.
Gong Li parted Zhang Yimou after appearing in 1995's "Shanghai Triad," which ended their eight-film cooperation since 1987's "Red Sorghum." As Zhang gradually became a world-famous director, Gong carved a niche in Hollywood after appearing in "Miami Vice", "Young Hannibal: Behind the Mask" and "Memoirs of a Geisha".
Zhang Yimou considers Gong, in terms of acting among Chinese actresses, the "sole candidate for the role", which is crucial to the original drama and therefore to the film, Zhang told Xinhua.
The 45-million-U.S.-dollar film will become the most expensive film in China, surpassing the 42.5-U.S.-million-dollar "The Promise", directed by Chen Kaige.
The film will be shot in Beijing, Southwest China's Sichuan Province and East China's Zhengjiang Province and will be released at the end of this year, Zhang said, adding that his goal is to beat the American box office takings of "Hero" in 2004.
"China must make blockbusters to compete with Hollywood on the international film market," he said. Enditem (by Xinhua Writer Bai Ying )
Note: The date for the release of the movie has been published to be in 2006 and also 2007

New actress to be in The City of Golden Armor

Beijing New Picture Film Co. has revealed the identity of the last major cast member of Zhang Yimou's The City of Golden Armor, 17 year old Li Man, and her photo has appeared on Sina.com. She will play character who falls in love with the older prince. Li is currently a student at Beijing Drama Academy, the same school both Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi attended. Zhang Yimou is known for casting young women with little acting experience and making them household names instantly. (Monkey Peaches)

Film will begin shooting tomorrow

In a letter sent to the Chinese media today, Beijing New Picture Film Co. has revealed that shooting of this film will begin tomorrow at Beijing Film Studios. The first scene will be made at a palace interior built inside a soundstage. Both Chow Yun-Fat, playing the emperor, and Gong Li, playing the empress, will be in the scene. Chow Yun-Fat arrived in Beijing yesterday with a very nicely trimmed beard. According to IMDB, this film's English title is The City of Golden Armor and its Chinese title remains as Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia (To Fill the City with Golden Armors). (Monkey Peaches) Video (may be temporary) on Sina

Chow Yun-Fat arrives in Beijing to begin filming

Coming into the Beijing airport CYF was photographed as he came to film The City of Golden Armor that will commence this week at a Beijing studio before going to Hengdian Studios. His wife Jasmine and the usual entourage was along with him as he came off of the plane. CYF waved and gave a big smile wearing his white cap, very orange (or is it red) jacket and carried a double strapped backpack. Since photographing an advertisement for an apparel company (STAVA I think), he has grown back his face hair getting ready to make the Zhang Yimou epic movie. (Picture and information from Sina)

Hengdian World Studios show preparation for filming of City of Golden Armor

The courtyard in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, A Tang Dynasty post built for the movie. Hengdian World Studios. (HengdianWorld.com) (Chongqing Morning Post)

According to several Chinese newspapers, there are about 3000 workers are now working on the preparation of the movie at Hengdian World Studios. Some big scenes will be shot at the sector which contains full-scale replicas of all major buildings of Beijing's Forbidden City. Certain level of modifications on these building are needed because the Forbidden City, which was the imperial palace compound during the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, was built in the 14th Century and the story of the movie occurred during the Tang Dynasty (7th - 9th Century). The architectural styles of these two periods are different. Three walls decorated with large numbers of frescoes are in construction and at the center of the courtyard in front of the replicated Hall of Supreme Harmony, a large size and round shape stage is being built. About 3 million gold color chrysanthemum flowers and about 1.1fake chrysanthemum flowers have been ordered to fill the replicated Forbidden City. The production team has promised to properly dispose these flowers after the shooting is done. They will be put for other uses, which will cause no harm to the environment. About 20,000 suits of armors have been manufactured for the imperial soldiers and horses. The art department built four combat vehicles, each of which is 6 meters long and 2 meters wide. Number of such vehicles will be increased to 40 through CG effect. In this historical epic, Chow Yun-Fat will play the Emperor, Gong Li will play the Empress, Liu Ye will play the older prince Yuanxiang, Jay Chow will play the younger prince Yuanchao and an unidentified young actress will play Jiang E. Shooting will begin next Monday or Tuesday inside a soundstage at Beijing Film Studios. (Monkey Peaches)

Chow Yun-Fat character looking better in action video game Stranglehold

John Woo's new action video game Stranglehold will be out this Fall and it was good to see the latest pictures from the Midway produced game. The first pictures some months ago of Chow Yun-Fat playing the character Tequila from the Woo movie Hard Boiled was a gruesome looking CYF. These latest ones are a welcome change as they look more like him instead of like some monster. (More pics) Thanks to La Creme D' Asie Forum for link

CYF wants to speak Mandarin more perfect

Article: February 13, 2006 Source: http://news.tom.com/2006-02-13/000N/08962111.html

Chow Yun Fat was dressing up like Mark in A Better Tomorrow for a commercial that he has signed up for a year ago with a Hong Kong company. When he walked in the streets, the passersby were all delighted to see him and admired him. For the new movie in Beijing with Zhang Yimou, Chow has to relearn his Mandarin because his Mandarin has Cantonese accent at the moment. He is not satisfied with it and so he had to start with basic pinyin. He said that these years he had never learnt the basics and so had to start from the basics. "In the past, I had mislearnt and now starting anew, it's really painful. "Being a perfectionist, he said, "As a actor I have to be professional. Like Jang Dong Gun in The Promise, he spoke Mandarin well." If he is too lax about it, it would not be right for the audience and himself.

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Jay Chou to play the son of Chow Yun-Fat

Monkey Peaches has added this new information:

According to Shanghai Youth Daily, Taiwan-born singer Jay Chou has been cast to play a supporting role in Zhang Yimou's upcoming period epic Golden Armors (Fill the City with Golden Armors). Reportedly, he will play the son of the emperor (Chow Yun-Fat) and the empress (Gong Li). Jay Chou just had his acting debut last year in the silver screen version of Japanese comic series Initial D.

Jay Chou to be part of cast in "The City of Golden Armor"

Article on Crionline:
Taiwan pop singer and actor Jay Chou will join in Chinese big shots Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li in director Zhang Yimou's new martial arts project "The City of Golden Armor."
Director Zhang Yimou arrived in Hong Kong secretly on Saturday night with the film's producer Zhang Weiping to discuss the shooting matters with Jay Chou. The director showed highly praises to Jay's talent. Producer Zhang Weiping said that the talk with Jay was satisfactory and Jay's pop music as well as his shy character and appearance in ancient costume fit the role in the film. He said Jay would play a silent and cool person. A new actress will be found from school, said director Zhang Yimou, but some problems about the contract have not been solved so he refused to reveal more about the newcomer. Chinese film star Liu Ye has also been confirmed to play the prince in the epic. The US$ 44.6 million film will begin shooting in February and is scheduled to be wrapped up at the end of this year. The new movie is inspired by the modern Chinese play "Thunderstorm," a classic from famous playwright Cao Yu (曹禺), is set in the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907). The theme involves a power struggle between the emperor, the empress and a general. There will be several large war scenes which will be shot with tens of thousands of extras – real people rather than computer graphics.

Focus Features to distribute Zhang Yimou Epic

Kung Fu Cult Cinima reported:

Focus Features has boarded the Untitled Zhang Yimou Epic, the Chinese master's $45 million upcoming period romance starring Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat. President of international sales and distribution Alison Thompson will commence sales in Berlin this week on the project, which is set to begin shooting in China at the end of the month in time for January 2007 delivery. Focus is handling worldwide rights excluding Asia, English-speaking territories and Latin America. As he usually does, producer Bill Kong will retain those territories to sell himself. Previous collaborations between Focus Features and Kong include House of The Flying Daggers, Hero, and the Jet Li action picture Fearless, which enjoyed a mighty Asian launch over Chinese New Year recently. Epic is absolutely appropriate in this instance, Thompson told Screen. It reads like this extraordinarily rich Greek tragedy about incest and lust and power struggles within the Imperial Palace. Li, who last starred for Yimou in 1995's Shanghai Triad, plays a royal bodyguard during the Tang Dynasty who falls in love with Yun-fat's prince. The pair's destiny is strewn with hardship as enemies try to keep them apart. The project is being put together by Beijing New Picture Film Co. and Kong's Edko Films. Thanks to Shoto on La Creme D' Asie Forum