UPDATE: Children of Huang Shi

05/27/07) In addition to the previously sold film distribution rights in different territories, Hyde Park International sold French rights to Metropolitan and Spanish to DeA Planeta at the Cannes Film Market. The Children of Huang Shi is currently under post-production. Producer Jonathan Shteinman said more than half of the post-production has been finished and the process has been going smoothly. - As shown on Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre - More pictures

John Woo talks about new action game

According to The Hollywood Reporter, John Woo will direct Ninja Gold, based on an idea of his. Woo’s partner producer Terrance Chang said it would “center on a ninja warrior, part of a centuries-old legacy and bloodline, forced to confront the reality of covert warfare in the modern world.” The story is something about “the Yakuza and the Russian mob are involved in tons of gold being stolen in South Africa."
Game creator Warren Spector ("Deus Ex," "Thief: Deadly Shadows", "System Shock.") will executive produce the project. Woo and Chang’s Lion Rock Production will be in charge of the production and Fox Atomic, the nascent genre arm of 20th Century Fox, will handle the release. Chang has hoped to push the film, which “will be more reality-based but still will have fantastic elements from the game,” into production next year, but first they have to wait for the completion of the script.
“Stranglehold”, a new game for PS3 and Xbox 360, and with a story told as a sequel to Woo’s Hard Boiled, will hit the market by August. Chang has said they “would definitely bring 'Stranglehold' to the big screen." Despite the unfortunate incident of Chow Yun-Fat’s sudden departure from Woo’s mega-budget war epic Red Cliff (aka. The Battle of Red Cliff), Woo has said his friendship with Chow was not affected. This would pave the way for Chow reprising his role in both Hard Boiled and the game version of “Stranglehold.”
The original story by The Hollywood Reporter.

As shown on Monkey Peaches

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

"Pirates 3" Breaks Opening Box Office Record Worldwide
2007-05-29 06:25:46 Xinhua
Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" raked in more than 400 million dollars since its release last week, smashing the previous industry record set by Sony's "Spider-Man 3" earlier this month, according to studio figures released Monday.
The third, and probably the last, film of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise has grossed 401 million dollars in last six days since opening in over 100 countries and territories, said Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Marketing and Distribution.
The epic adventure starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley overpassed "Spider-Man 3," which set the previous record of 381.7 million dollars for a Hollywood blockbuster in a six-day period of opening.
"Pirates" opened in North America on Thursday and in some international theaters on Wednesday.
It hauled in 115.1 million dollars in North America over the three-day weekend, short of "Spider-Man 3" and last summer's " Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," which respectively took in 151.1 million and 135.6 million dollars in their opening weekends.
But the film's four-day gross of 142.1 million dollars is the biggest ever Memorial Day weekend gross, surpassing last year's "X-Men: The Last Stand," which brought in 122.9 million dollars over the four-day weekend.
"At World's End" is the third blockbuster in three weeks to break major movie sales records, and industry observers note that the red hot summer season has only started, with several major pictures including "Ocean's 13," "Transformers" and "Harry Porter and the Order of the Phoenix" to be released in coming weeks.
DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek the Third" came in second over the three-day weekend with 53 million dollars, or 69 million over the four-day holiday.
While "Spider-Man 3" brought in 14.2 million dollars to take third over the three-day weekend, or about 18 million dollars over four days. The superhero action film has grossed a whopping 307.6 million dollars in North America since its record-breaking debut three weeks ago.
The thriller "Bug," starring Ashley Judd as a lonely waitress who pairs up with a paranoid Gulf War veteran who sees bugs in a spooky motel room, came in fourth with 3.3 million dollars over three-days, and about 4.2 million dollars over the long weekend.
The comedy "Waitress," about a waitress and master pie maker who finds herself pregnant while trapped in a bad marriage, came in fifth with 3.1 million dollars over the three-day weekend, and 4 million dollars through Monday.
The 12 top-grossing films brought in a combined 250.2 million dollars over the Memorial Day weekend, up 8 percent from the 231.8 million dollars generated during the same period a year earlier.

CRIENGLISH

UPDATE: The Concubine's Children

Ann Hui’s (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt, July Rhapsody, Love in a Fallen City) project, Concubine’s Children, a US$12 million adaptation of the same name novel by Denise Chong will tell a Chinese concubine’s bitter life after moving to America with her husband in the 1920/30s. Chow Yun-Fat, who has starred in several movies by Hui, has basically agreed to play a role in the movie. Maggie Cheung is also talking with Hui about joining the cast. The script is developed by Ann Hui and Li Qiang (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt, Peacock).

As shown on Monkey Peaches

UPDATE: The Concubines's Children

Book takes first step toward becoming a major movie
Yvonne Zacharias, Vancouver Sun Published: Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Vancouver-born author Denise Chong's acclaimed novel, The Concubine's Children, has been optioned for a major film, possibly starring Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat.
Chong said in a telephone interview Tuesday that she was just printing out the agreement with a film company based in Hong Kong and Beijing.
"I'm thrilled," said the writer, who grew up in Prince George, and now lives in Ottawa. "I've always thought that it could suit the large-screen treatment.
Chow Yun-Fat, who starred in Anna and the King and in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, says he'd like to film Denise Chong'snovel. Chong says she's thrilled and a bit panicky.
"I always felt it had the depth to be a feature film."
Chong was amazed to be getting a call from a journalist just as the deal to option the novel was being signed. "I'm just printing it out. I haven't even pressed print yet on my computer."
At almost the same time, Chow was being quoted in an Associated Press article saying he is interested in making a movie inspired by Chong's book, which is set in the 1920s and is about a Vancouver Chinese man's concubine.
Film director Ann Hui says she gave Chow the book and he is waiting to read the script, which still needs to be written.
Chong said she is both excited and little panicky about her book being turned into a movie script.
"Obviously, you think, 'What are they going to do with your family story?' You sort of panic but, of course, you have to think you are handing it over to another artist and artists take creative licence."
Local producer and manager Andrew Ooi, who represents many well-known actors in Hong Kong, said Chow would be a huge draw. "In China alone, there are 1.4 billion people. They all know him. He is one of the very few Asian actors who can green light a project."
Chow, he added, was one of the first Asian actors to cross over to the Hollywood side, a move he made when he starred in the 1998 film The Replacement Killers. He went on to star as the king in Anna and the King (1999) opposite Jodie Foster. Now, he is about to appear in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End as Capt. Sao Feng.
Born in 1955, Chow is a charismatic, athletically built and energetic star who first came to the attention of western audiences via his roles in the high-octane, blazing-guns action films of Hong Kong director John Woo. With his good looks and easygoing style, Chow was originally a heartthrob actor in non-demanding film and TV roles, according to the movie database website, imdb.com. His wide appeal and ability to play a broad spectrum of roles have kept him in strong demand in many film markets.
"It is a story that deserves to be told," Ooi said of The Concubine's Children. "If it is told, I am very happy for it."
However, Ooi said it is a bit early to make any predictions. It is also far from certain whether the film would be shot in Vancouver. The film budget more than anything will determine its location, he added.
"I know initially they had talked about shooting it all in China," said the novel writer. However, part of the novel is set in Nanaimo's old Chinatown.
"The closest thing to Nanaimo's old Chinatown is actually Barkerville and Wells, B.C.," added Chong.

She cautioned, however, that possible film locations are pure speculation at this point.
Local actor Stephen Chang said Chow would be ranked the No. 2 or No. 3 actor in Hong Kong with Jackie Chan being No. 1, and Bruce Lee vying with Chow for second place.
Chang said he knew Chow 30 years ago when they were growing up in the Lamma Island area of Hong Kong.
"We used to play marbles like street kids. Everybody was poor." He said the area is quite rural with lots for farmers who grow vegetables. Chang said he and Chow were among a group of kids who would go fishing, swimming and play soccer together. They also attended the same neighbourhood school.
Before Anna and the King, "he was just like any Hong Kong actor who was famous in Hong Kong but no one knows internationally."
Chang said he doesn't care much for Chow's gangster, shoot-'em-up movies. He liked Anna and the King, however. "I'm an artist. I like to see more art."
"It would be absolutely wonderful to see this novel finally developed for the screen," said Lodi Butler, director of development for B.C. Film, the non-profit society that helps develop the industry here.
"If Mr. Chow's desire to star in the movie helps to get it financed, that would be wonderful. It would be even better if it were shot in B.C."
Butler said the Asian film company might be looking for a B.C. partner and there should be no shortage of interest parties.
yzacharias@png.canwest.com - The Vancouver Sun

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

OPENS IN USA THEATERS

MAY 24TH AT 8:00 PM

TONIGHT!!!

All pictures of press conference and premieres in

Disneyland and Tokyo in Special Events Pictures

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

Chow Yun-Fat Wants to Take the Lead in U.S. Films
2007-05-24 10:03:52 Reuters
Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat giving his autographs to fans during the Asian premiere of his new movie 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' in Tokyo May 23, 2007. [Photo: Toru Hanai/Reuters]
International action star and heartthrob Chow Yun-Fat, who plays the pirate lord Captain Sao Feng in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," says he'd like to snag a leading-man role in a Hollywood drama or romance but is getting lost in translation.
Chow, whose acting range and stature in Asia have been compared with that of Robert De Niro, voiced frustration at racial barriers that persist in America's movie industry. "Honestly, I prefer (to do) more dramas. In American society ... Asian actors are not accepted as leading men," he said in an interview last week for the "Pirates" publicity tour. "Maybe we have to wait for a few more years."
"Pirates" director Gore Verbinski said that as soon as the writers decided the plot would take the film to Singapore, he knew he would try to cast Chow. "Once we knew that, there was nobody else," Verbinski said. "Yun-Fat is a living legend."
The 51-year-old Hong Kong actor is known to Asian audiences as a cross between Cary Grant and James Bond, but in Hollywood he has had trouble moving beyond the period films like "Anna and the King" and martial arts fare like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" that U.S. audiences know best. "He has experienced a glass ceiling in Hollywood," said filmmaker Jeff Adachi, who explored the topic in his PBS documentary "The Slanted Screen."
"The tragedy is that there are roles that should be offered to Asian leading men but people are not used to seeing that ... so it's something that studios are not willing to invest in," Adachi said.
SILENT FILM PHENOMENON
The first Asian actor to achieve stardom rivaling that of Caucasian actors in U.S. films was Japanese actor Sessue Hayakawa, who became a silent film phenomenon after his turn as a merchant who extorts a white woman to have an affair with him, then brands her when she tries to leave him, in Cecil B. DeMille's "The Cheat" in 1915.
The role propelled Hayakawa to silent film superstardom, and saw him playing romantic leads frequently opposite white actresses, said Stephen Gong, executive director of the Center for Asian American Media in San Francisco.
"The amazing thing that happened is that suddenly Hayakawa overnight became a huge star and his fan base was American women," Gong said. "They didn't know what to make of him."
Hawaiian-born actor James Shigeta also broke the racial barrier in the late 1950s and 1960 with leading roles including "Bridge to the Sun," opposite Carroll Baker and the 1961 musical "Flower Drum Song."
But those roles have been less plentiful than "Yellow Peril" villain roles, such as Ming the Merciless from "Flash Gordon," "asexual beings" like the comic character Long Duk Dong from "Sixteen Candles," or martial arts roles made popular by Hong Kong imports Jackie Chan and Jet Li, Adachi said.
Film historian David Thomson said that while Chow has a shot at landing dramatic roles of the type popularized by action star Harrison Ford, he still faces an uphill struggle for romantic leads.
"We break down these barriers very slowly and I don't think we are doing it quickly enough to encourage an actor like Chow to think he will get away with it," Thomson said. "I think there is a great deal of racism in the country too." - CRIENGLISH

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

Cast of POTCAWE at the Tokyo and Disneyland premieres

Pictures from Yahoo - Thanks to Tequila

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

Pictures from Yahoo - Thanks to Tequila

Following up appearing for the USA premiere of POTCAWE at Disneyland the cast flew right away to Japan. Here at the press conference in Tokyo are Chow Yun-Fat, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Jerry Bruckheimer, and others from the cast of the movie.

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

Orlando Bloom seen here with Chow Yun-Fat at the premiere of

Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End at Disneyland

Shown on La Creme D' Asie forum

UPDATED: The Concubine's Children

Chow Yun-fat interested in movie about Canada Chinatown concubine
The Associated Press
Published: May 22, 2007
HONG KONG: Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat has expressed interest in a movie inspired by a book about a concubine who lived in Vancouver's Chinatown, the film's director said Tuesday.
The China-funded movie is based on Denise Chong's book "The Concubine's Children," set in the 1920s, about a Vancouver Chinese man's concubine, director Ann Hui said.
"We gave him (Chow) the book. He expressed interest, but we haven't written the script yet," Hui said by telephone. "He's interested, but he's waiting to read the script." - Edited for this blog

More about the book

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

Chow Yun-Fat Talks About 'Pirates of the Caribbean 3

21/05/2007 In: Celebrity Interviews

Renowned Asian actor and international superstar Chow Yun-Fat joins the cast of Pirates for the third installment to play the smart, duplicitous pirate lord, Captain Sao Feng. "They were all pirates in reality, and betrayal was normal,” notes Chow of his character. "Therefore, Sao Feng treats it as a business transaction. There is no good or evil in the pirate world, and Sao Feng is neither a good person nor a villain. They are all pirates, and that’s how pirates are.” In terms of the films’ international appeal, Chow explains, "I think everyone has a fantasy to do things that cannot be controlled by parents or the authorities. Pirates are rebels, so especially in the minds of young people, the movie has global appeal.” Chow Yun-Fat exploded into international stardom after more than a decade as Hong Kong’s most popular leading man in a memorable series of hard-edged portrayals that included director John Woo’s now classic films "A Better Tomorrow,” "The Killer,” "Once A Thief” and "Hard-Boiled.” Chow has also starred in Ang Lee’s critically lauded kung fu epic "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” the romantic "Anna and the King,” and most recently, Zhang Yimou’s "Curse of the Golden Flower.” The energetic Asian film star split his time shooting Pirates 3 in the Bahamas and on Disney’s Stage 2 in Burbank, while also filming "Curse of the Golden Flower” in China.

Chow, who had already performed several scenes on Grand Bahama Island, was a major attraction on the Singapore set, especially to those members of the company who had followed him for years as he ascended the ranks of superstardom in Asian and U.S. cinema. "He always said that he was honored to be there,” recalls Reggie Lee, who portrays Tai Huang, Captain Sao Feng’s aide-de-camp. "Here’s a megastar who we all idolize, who in fact is so humble and friendly to everyone. Yun-Fat’s work is spectacular, he has a great work ethic, and having a chance to act with him was just spectacular.” Chow is a tall, handsome, and charismatic man with an extraordinary passion for acting. His calm, soft spoken demeanor during our interview seems the antithesis of his dynamic on-screen presence.

Sporting a red athletic jacket and jeans, here’s what the gifted actor had to tell me about his adventures playing a powerful Singaporean pirate in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”:

Q: What was it like joining the cast for this film?

Chow Yun-Fat: It was like an angel. I’m happy every day on set. Even though I’m a newcomer on this movie, everyone treated me like a friend, like a family member.

Q: What was it about the role that made you say I’ve got to do this?

Chow Yun-Fat: Well as an actor, if you have this opportunity, you cannot refuse it, you know, (laughs) and I loved Part I and Part II. As an Asian actor, I really wanted to play one of the characters in this movie to show different cultures – the West and the East.

Q: Were you surprised at the scale of the production and the sets?

Chow Yun-Fat: It was stunning. I was thrilled the first time when I walked onto the set. Everything looked real. Every detail and element plus the lighting, the steam and smoke coming up. Everything is so fantastic. There was a lot of inspiration for my character, from the lighting, the costume, and everything. It was fantastic.

Q: What is the reaction in Hong Kong and China to the Pirates movies? How do they see it?

Chow Yun-Fat: In Hong Kong, I think in all of Asia, people just love it, except for China where they banned Part I and Part II. I don’t know for what reason. I hope Part III can be released in China.

Q: Can you talk a little about how you found your inner pirate and built your character for this role?Chow Yun-Fat: Honestly I don’t have that much influence on my character. I’m lucky that the writers and the director have a very strong vision. They know how Captain Sao Feng should be and how the chemistry and the elements in the story should play. At the very beginning of the movie he begins as a Singapore pirate lord. At the very beginning of the movie two whites guys are begging him to save Jack Sparrow. More or less they gave this character, Captain Sao Feng, a lot of power to control the whole situation so the director knew the vision. He knew which direction was correct for Sao Feng’s character. Gore Verbinski gave me a lot of information and told me ‘Everything is under control by your own hand. If you have any problem with the pronunciation, with the lines, don’t panic. Just let it go. Later on we can do it in the ADR.’ (Laughs) This was very strong encouragement and solid words to my character.

Q: How was Gore to work with as a director?

Chow Yun-Fat: I can say he’s like the movie star called Steve McQueen. He’s very controlled and very much the man on the set. He’s got a very strong vision. He’s very wise about his direction. I’ve worked with a lot of directors. He’s very, very clever. He’s a genius.

Q: How is he different from Zhang Yimou?

Chow Yun-Fat: Zhang Yimou is calmer, more to himself. Gore is more open. Zhang Yimou is open too but he sticks more to his own thoughts about the relationships, the human touch, all the emotional elements because if we’re talking about the family business, Chinese and Italians are the most vulnerable human beings. The human touches are very intimate. Gore is more direct, you know. He’s more the American way. Have you seen the movie "Curse of the Golden Flower”?

Q: Yes.

Chow Yun-Fat: Did you like it?

Q: Yes, I thought it was beautiful.

Chow Yun-Fat: Zhang Yimou is a great director. "Ju Dou,” "Red Lantern.”Q: Did the Singapore film sets bear any resemblance to the actual Singapore of that era?Chow Yun-Fat: I believe in the 17th century and even today in the part of Singapore closest to the Malacca Straits we still see a lot of Indonesian fish farms and fishing villages where they live very close like that. Have you been to Indonesia?

Q: I’ve been to China and Hong Kong.

Chow Yun-Fat: If you go further south, if you go to Indonesia near Malacca and Malaysia, you can see some of the huts exactly like in the movie. Where have you been?

Q: I went to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and a city near the Li River.

Chow Yun-Fat: Oh, Guilin. Beautiful!

Q: Did you have an opportunity to talk to Keith Richards while he was on set?

Chow Yun-Fat: No.

Q: You’ve had a lot of experience with sword fighting and weapons training. Did you undergo any additional training for Pirates 3?

Chow Yun-Fat: Yes, I did. Before we started to shoot the movie, we had two weeks to cooperate with the stunt coordinator and to work out all the movements on the set so they brought in a stunt man to work with me and advise me how to move every single step of the movie. Actually on the movie set we only took about 4 days to finish all of it, but we needed 2 weeks for training.

Q: Did anything unexpected happen?

Chow Yun-Fat: Everything was as usual except one day when I was doing my death scene and we were in character, all of a sudden a cell phone rang and spoiled my appetite. (Laughs)

Q: So what did you do for fun when you weren’t shooting on location?

Chow Yun-Fat: I took some photographs behind the scenes -- black and white photographs which I like the most.

Q: I’ve heard you sometimes donate your photographs to raise funds for charitable organizations…Chow Yun-Fat: Oh yes, because last time we had a bad time when the tsunami hit Thailand and Phuket and so many people were killed. Some of the people in Hong Kong raised funds to donate to people who needed help. So I donated one of my black and white pictures. They put it on the internet for open bidding so finally we got a lot of money to send to the people in Phuket.

Q: What do you look for in a script in terms of the role or the storyline when you’re considering a film project?

Chow Yun-Fat: I look for the passion of performance. Actually as an Asian actor, English is not my mother language and I still struggle a lot with the Indonesian language. I’m always figuring out how to use my Chinese mother language to merge with the English together. If I didn’t have the English problem, then it would be easier when I was on the set and saying English as my mother language. The biggest problem is you have to know about the language construction, all the tongue twisters, which phrases are correct. Sometimes it can kill me. (Laughs) I need a dialect coach to guide me and put me on the right track. But don’t worry, we have the ADR. (Laughs)

Q: Did you have the opportunity to take your costume or any souvenirs from the production with you when you left?

Chow Yun-Fat: No, honestly every day for me is like a Christmas day. All the souvenirs are already in here (points to his heart). I don’t need that.

Q: Can you tell me what you have coming up, what your next project will be?

Chow Yun-Fat: It’s not confirmed yet. Some of the projects I’m still negotiating and talking. They’re still open, not solid.

Q: You just finished The Children of Huang Shi. How is it switching from doing a huge movie like Pirates 3 to doing a smaller, independent film project? Do you have a preference or is it fun to do both?

Chow Yun-Fat: If I have the opportunity to do both, I prefer both. Sometimes the big production value movie will drown you as an actor. You will get used to the luxury, the trailer (laughs), good food and good hotel. Once you put yourself in a small movie, it reminds you that you are from the poor. (Laughs) Just like my character, you can say that he’s a good guy, somebody can say that he’s this good guy, you know, not extremely black or white, always in the middle. I think put this in the Chinese sphere -- the ying and the yang -- harmony is always put in the middle. There’s always the good. It’s a nice balance.

Q: You’ve played such a wide spectrum of roles in your career. Is there anything you haven’t done that you’d like to do?

Chow Yun-Fat: I really want to do some character which is dumb, you know? I don’t have to speak any words. (Laughs and claps his hands) That will be fine. Just only the facial expression.

Q: It’s been a pleasure meeting you. I really appreciate your time.

Chow Yun-Fat: Thank you. It’s been my pleasure too."

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” opens in theaters on May 25th.

Click for pix: http://www.asianpopcorn.com/default.asp?Display=666

Thanks to Kathryn on Creme D' Asie Forum

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

The broadcast on E TV last night showed Chow Yun-Fat, Orlando Bloom, and Johnny Depp being interviewed as they entered the theater in Disneyland. Many others in the cast including Geoffrey Rush and Keith Richards were seen entering, but no Keira Knightely. Next stop Japan!

Video with crowd singing "Happy Birthday" to Chow Yun-Fat. Other videos listed on Orlando Bloom Multimedia

Ann Hui may direct another movie with Chow Yun-Fat

Ann Hui, Tsui Hark, a producer Bangqihua and Stanley Kwan (from left to right)

Ann Hui on the 20th while attending a reception at the Cannes Film Festival disclosed for the first time her new movie "Concubine's Daughter" plot outline. The documentary on the impact of the last century when a concubine with her husband went to the United States after a painful struggle. Ann Hui said in "The Postmodern Life of My Aunt," she worked with Chow Yun-fat and she is expected to work again with him in "Concubine's Daughter."

Ann Hui on the 20th telephone interview with this reporter said : "Brother Fat is very interested in acting in this movie, and the movie will start shooting next year." According to Ann Hui after filming "Postmodern" CYF immediately showed a lot of interest in the new movie.

Beijing Morning News

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

More pictures in Special Events Pictures

On Sunday E TV will show the "red carpet" for the premiere of POTC At World's End at Disneyland. Comcast cable in the USA has listed it showing at 7:00pm Mountain Standard Time. Look on the schedule for your E TV programs tomorrow.

UPDATED: The main cast will next head to Tokyo for the premiere in Japan on Wednesday May 23. There will be a press conference at 12 pm - 1 pm, the red carpet and the premiere will start at 6 pm.

Premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean 3: Birthday Gift for Chow Yun-Fat

Friday is the 52nd birthday of veteran Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat. This year the biggest gift he received may be the premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean 3, in which he plays a notorious Chinese pirate.
The latest installment of the Hollywood blockbuster trilogy premiered on Friday in Los Angeles. The local media in the U.S. says that a birthday party has been prepared for Chow Yun-Fat. And the guests were the movie's star-studded cast including Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom.
Chow Yun-Fat starred in the movie as Captain Sao Feng, the leader of the enemy army. He said in an interview with an American media company that it was a new and enlightening experience.

As shown on CRIENGLISH

Hardboiled to be shown at New York Asian Film Festival

New York Asian Film Festival Lineup
Titles to be shown during the annual fest include:

Patrick Tam's, winner of Taiwanese Golden Horse and Hong Kong Film Awards, After This Our Exile (Hong Kong), about the story of a trashy dada and his infant son;

Feng Xiaogang's Hamlet inspired The Banquet (China), starring Zhang Ziyi as a queen in the ancient China;

Cheang Pou-Soi's insanely intense hitman flick Dog Bite Dog (Hong Kong), with a killer and a cop trying to cancel each other out in the most gruesome way;
Johnnie To's highly praised Exiled (Hong Kong), starts with two hitmen, assigned to kill a former colleague of theirs, finds out their job being interrupted by two other former colleagues;

Zhang Yang's true story-inspired black comedy Getting Home (China), tells a aging migrant worker carries the corpse of his friend thousands of miles home, by buses, trucks, a hand-pulled cart, a rubber tire and even his own back; and

John Woo's Hard-Boiled (Hong Kong), his last action packed classic before he joined the Hollywood gold rush;

Aachi & Ssipk (South Korea); A Big Bang Love, Juvenile (Japan); The Bodyguard 1 & 2 (Thailand); City of Violence (South Korea); Cruel Winter Blues (South Korea); Dasepo Naughty Girls (South Korea); Death Note & Death Note: The Last Name (Japan); Dynamite Warrior (Thailand); Freesia: Bullets over Tears (Japan); Gamera the Brave (Japan); Hell's Ground (Pakistan); Hula Girls (Japan); I?m a Cyborg, But That's OK (South Korea); Memories of Matsuko (Japan); Never Belongs to Me (South Korea); Nightmare Detective (Japan); Retribution (Japan); The Show Must Go on (South Korea); and Traces of Love (South Korea). - As shown on Monkey Peaches

Asian Excellence Awards

Unlike American Idol fans, viewers of the 2007 AZN Asian Excellence Awards do not ascribe to a "vote for the worst" mentality. Unfortunately, that meant Sanjaya Malakar once again walked away a loser. There were plenty of real winners at the Los Angeles awards bash Wednesday, however, which honored Asian and Asian-Americans' contributions to the world of arts and entertainment. Lost's Daniel Dae Kim, a winner last year, and Battlestar Galactica's Grace Park served double duty as the evening's hosts and nominees. Kim went up against his ‘Lost’ costar Naveen Andrews, though both island dwellers were passed over for the Outstanding TV Actor prize in favor of Heroes' Masi Oka.Rinko Kikuchi and Maggie QPark, too, had to take solace in simply being nominated, losing out in her Outstanding Supporting TV Actress bid to The Office's resident airhead, Mindy Kaling. Rounding out the winners on the TV side were ER's Parminder Nagra, who beat out Lostie and reigning champ Yunjin Kim and Grey's Anatomy awards-magnet Sandra Oh, to take home the Outstanding TV Actress prize, and Rex Lee, Entourage's resident Gaysian, who took home the hardware for Outstanding Supporting TV Actor. Malakar was also among the nominees present at the awards bash, though as expected he lost out in his category, the Viewer's Choice Award for Favorite Reality Star. Taking home the prize instead was Survivor: Cook Islands champ Yul Kwon. On the film side, the award for Outstanding Film went to Clint Eastwood's 'Letters from Iwo Jima'. Chow Yun-Fat was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his big-screen body of work. Rounding out the film honorees was Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi, who may have lost her Academy bid for Best Supporting Actress, but who was upgraded and then some at the Asian Excellence Awards, taking home Outstanding Film Actress for 'Babel'. Meanwhile, the What's He Doing Here? Award surely went to Kenny G, who performed "Moon Represents My Heart" during the ceremony. Comedians Margaret Cho and Last Comic Standing champ Dat Phan also performed during the bash. Other than the nominees, and the smooth jazz saxophonist, a who's who of Hollywood, Asian-American or otherwise, turned up for the event. Dancing with the Stars finalist Apolo Anton Ohno, along with partner Julianne Hough, and Dancing judge Carrie Ann Inaba made the scene, as did Quentin Tarantino, Geoffrey Rush, George Takei, Lou Diamond Philips, Antoine Fuqua, Black Eyed Pea Apl.de.Ap and, inexplicably, Rob Schneider.

The awards show airs May 28 on AZN Television, with an hour-long preshow special airing on E! May 24.

Here's a complete list of winners for the 2007 AZN Asian Excellence Awards:

*Outstanding Film: Letters From Iwo Jima* Outstanding Actor, Film: Kal Penn, The Namesake* Outstanding Actress, Film: Rinko Kikuchi, Babel* Outstanding Actor, TV: Masi Oka, Heroes* Outstanding Actress, TV: Parminder Nagra, ER* Outstanding Supporting Actress, Film: Maggie Q, Mission: Impossible III* Outstanding Supporting Actor, Film: Dustin Nguyen, Little Fish* Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV: Mindy Kaling, The Office* Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV: Rex Lee, Entourage* Outstanding Comedy Performance: Margaret Cho* Favorite Reality TV Star: Yul Kwon, Survivor: Cook Islands* Outstanding Independent Film: Journey From the Fall* Lifetime Achievement Award: Chow Yun-Fat* Pioneer Award: Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa, restaurateur* Visionary Award: Vivienne Tam, fashion designer. - As shown on EOnline

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

Interview on Hong Kong cable TV of Chow Yun-Fat (in Chinese) and

Orlando Bloom (in English with Chinese subtitles)

Link as shown on Orlando Bloom Multimedia

Disneyland prepares for pirate invasion with 'Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End' premiere
Disneyland is getting ready for another summer of pirates as it prepares to host the world premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." With another premiere and the debut of pirate additions to Tom Sawyer Island, Disneyland is preparing to outdo last year's pirate-themed summer, when the original attraction revealed new Audio-Animatronic figures of Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa.
The park has announced the early closing hour of 5 p.m. for this Saturday, May 19, in order to host the star-studded event. Disney's California Adventure will remain open until 11 p.m. because of Disneyland's early closure.
Once the park closes, the Hollywood world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean 3 begins. Celebrities including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Chow Yun Fat, and Keith Richards are expected to make their way up the red carpet, set up on Main Street, USA.
This weekend, construction began on a giant movie screen on Tom Sawyer Island, with bleachers to seat thousands of world premiere attendees along the Rivers of America.
Various props and decorations inspired by the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films have been installed for the premiere along the water's edge.
Tom Sawyer Island will soon reopen later this month as Pirate's Lair at Tom Sawyer Island. Disneyland is putting the final touches on the new area, which will feature interactive experiences and adventures inspired by the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films.
Live pirates will bring life to the island, while visitors can check out a pirate-decorated treehouse, spooky caves and caverns with maybe a pirate ghost or two in "Dead Man's Grotto," rope and barrel bridges, and fun play areas in a shipwreck and treasure trove.

As shown on the Disneyland Report

Although it has been reported that Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End was scheduled to be in theaters on May 25, it will now open on May 24 at 8:00pm.

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

A 'Pirates' life suits Chow Yun-Fat

By Angela Dawson

Entertainment News Wire 5/18/2007

In "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) venture far beyond the sun-drenched island tropics of the Western hemisphere to the exotic Asian locale of Singapore. They have journeyed halfway around the world to find a Chinese pirate captain who has the means to help them rescue missing pirate Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from the netherworld of Davy Jones Locker (where he was banished at the end of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest").
The dangerous and powerful Capt. Sao Feng has the charts and, more importantly, the ship to take them to their destination. But, being a pirate, Sao Feng isn't going to cooperate unless there's something in it for him.
Who better to play this sinister new character than Asia's most popular actor, Chow Yun-Fat? That was the thinking of director Gore Verbinski, who asked the international superstar to join his merry band of pirates for the third and perhaps final installment of this remarkably successful series. And what was Chow's response? "Yes, of course," the actor recalls. "I'm a big fan."
Best known to Western audiences for the Academy Award-winning "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and, more recently, "Curse of the Golden Flower," Chow says "Pirates" was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
The "Pirates of the Caribbean" phenomenon has enchanted Asia as it has the rest of the world. With the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, which has a Pirates of the Caribbean ride, the third installment of the series could only bolster Chow's image with younger moviegoers. He recently visited the Hong Kong theme park while promoting the movie in Asia and took his first ride on the Pirates attraction, which he says he thoroughly enjoyed.
"When I was a boy, pirates were considered taboo," says the Hong Kong-born actor. "Thanks to the previous two Pirates,' in Asia there's a new way of thinking. Pirates are fun."
There is even an action figure for his "Pirates" character. How does he feel about the likeness? "Actually, I think it looks a lot like Capt. Sao Feng," he says with a laugh.
Though Chow has been busy for weeks promoting his new movie, he doesn't seem worse for the wear. Dressed comfortably in a red starter jacket and jeans, the tall, handsome star looks a decade younger than his 52 years. He laughs easily and cracks jokes. Though his screen time in "At World's End" is limited, he delivers a memorable performance as the villainous pirate captain, and gives Knightley's Swann a run for her money.
Verbinski says there was no one else he considered for the role of the Singapore pirate captain. He explains that moving the action to Asia helped deliver a fresh design sensibility to the story, which had been settled in sand and surf for two films.
"I thought, we gotta open this thing up, we gotta get to Asia," says the director. "Once you know you're going there, you've gotta get Chow Yun-Fat. He's an icon."
While some actors might feel intimidated joining an established cast, Chow, a famously gracious superstar, blended in quite naturally. "The cast and crew just loved him," says Verbinski. "He brought in a fantastic energy at a time when everybody else was exhausted."
Chow dove into his scar-faced role and had fun with it. "It's the white people coming to my country to beg for my help," he says of his character's significance within the story. "In the movie, the characters have a certain gap, but in reality, the (cast) not only embraced me but treated me like a family member."
The Singapore set, though filmed on a Hollywood soundstage, actually felt like Southeast Asia, he says, with its heavy, dripping humidity. Of course, sitting in a steaming stew with a bunch of sweaty men on a windowless set for a scene set in a Singapore bathhouse wasn't exactly a trip to the spa.
"Every half-hour they had to open all the studio doors and let the wind blow in," he recalls, smiling. "They installed a pipe to pump in fresh air. Otherwise, we would have suffocated from the steam."
Yet Chow retains only fond memories of filming. "Those were long days, but there weren't enough of them," he says, smiling.
Because some of "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End" were filmed simultaneously, Chow's schedule on the movie was bifurcated. He filmed his scenes aboard Sao Feng's ship, the Empress, in the Bahamas in August 2005.
Afterwards, he flew to China to star in "Curse of the Golden Flower," an ornate costume drama about China's royal family. He then returned to film the Singapore sequence in the U.S.
While the production was plagued with weather crises as it moved from the Caribbean to Hollywood and from Utah's Salt Flats to Hawaii, Chow had smooth sailing during the four weeks he was working. "I was lucky," he says.
When it's suggested that he may have been a good luck charm, he smiles and chuckles appreciatively. "It was beautiful in the Bahamas," he recalls. "Sunshine, blue water and the water was calm."
Good thing, because Chow is a landlubber. Though he grew up in a small fishing village on an island off Hong Kong, he never was a sailor. As a child, Chow didn't play pirate games. "In Chinese society, parents want their children to be lawyers or businessmen; pirates weren't popular in my country," he says. Instead, he and his pals acted out characters from the Chinese legends of the Monkey King. "The Monkey King was always a nasty, playful guy," he recalls. "So that was a lot of fun to play."
Having started his career as a TV contract player in the early 1980s, Chow quickly established himself as a sex symbol and popular leading man in Hong Kong. His first big break in film came when new age director Ann Hui approached him to star in "The Story of Woo Viet," which became a hit when Hong Kong was still mass-producing kung fu movies.
From there his career skyrocketed. His first collaboration with noted Hong Kong director John Woo came in 1986 with "A Better Tomorrow." With his signature trenchcoat, sunglasses and blazing guns, he became a megastar in Asia and developed an international following as well.
He subsequently starred in Ringo Lam's "City on Fire," the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs."
After conquering the film industry in Asia, Chow set his sights on Hollywood in 1998 with his first English-speaking role in "The Replacement Killers," directed by Antoine Fuqua. He then starred in the police drama, "The Corrupter," helmed by James Foley. While he has played a range of villains, he is best known for playing tragic heroes.
With the crossover success of "Crouching Tiger," which earned 10 Academy Award nominations and four wins, including best foreign language film in 2001, Chow has become a Hollywood fixture. He subsequently starred in the action buddy comedy "Bulletproof Monk" with Seann William Scott.
Since completing "At World's End," Chow has filmed "The Children of Huang Shi," a fact-based war drama, in China. He co-stars with Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who plays an Australian helping to rescue 60 war orphans. Chow plays a village leader who aids in the rescue. The historic drama is slated for release later this year.
Chow, who is known to his fans as "big brother," spends his spare time photographing landscapes and donating the proceeds to various charities.

As shown on Mickey Mouse News - Edited for this blog

CHOW YUN-FAT

All birthday greetings that were made in the comments of the birthday posts have been sent to Chow Yun-Fat in Hong Kong with a birthday card. Thanks to all of you who participated.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!

From Tequila

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

Some New Faces Aboard
In addition to the stars already established in the two previous films, Bruckheimer and Verbinski brought some special new faces aboard for “At World's End,” most notably international superstar Chow Yun-Fat, cast as the smart if duplicitous Singaporean pirate, Captain Sao Feng. “You want to hire enormously talented actors who are at the top of their game,” says Bruckheimer, “and that's the definition of Chow Yun-Fat. He's a masterful actor, an international star, and a perfect addition to the trilogy.”
“They were all pirates in reality, and betrayal was normal,” notes Chow of his character. “Therefore, Sao Feng treats it as a business transaction. There is no good or evil in the pirate world, and Sao Feng is neither a good person nor a villain. They are all pirates, and that's how pirates are.” In terms of the films' international appeal, Chow explains, “I think everyone has a fantasy to do things that cannot be controlled by parents or the authorities. Pirates are rebels, so especially in the minds of young people, the movie has global appeal.”

Dressed for Success

Rose also designed an astonishing costume for the legendary Chow Yun-Fat, who portrays Captain Sao Feng, which weighed a grand total of 35 pounds in its entirety. “Yun-Fat is the Laurence Olivier of the East, and it took less than 10 minutes of the fitting to know that this fellow really knows his stuff,” says Rose. “Yun-Fat knows how to envelope himself into the character, he knew we were here to give him the visual, and he did everything possible to help us. It very quickly evolved into a joint decision-making process about what's happening in that mirror, how we could progress and make it a bigger and better work. Chow Yun-Fat has a powerful presence in person, but we needed this Chinese pirate captain to be terrifying.”
Singapore Sling

Chow Yun-Fat, who had already performed several scenes on Grand Bahama Island, was a major attraction on the Singapore set, especially to those members of the company who had followed him for years as he ascended the ranks of superstardom in Asian and U.S. cinema. “He always said that he was honored to be there,” recalls Reggie Lee, who portrays Tai Huang, Captain Sao Feng's aide-de-camp. “Here's a megastar who we all idolize, who in fact is so humble and friendly to everyone. Yun-Fat's work is spectacular, he has a great work ethic, and having a chance to act with him was just spectacular.”

More production notes

Promotion for Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End at Cannes

This very fancy post was spotted in Cannes where the Cannes International Film Festival is from May 16 to the 27. The poster of Chow Yun-Fat as Capt. Sao Feng in the movie, although not showing at the festival, is good for promoting the film to people from all over the world who attend the event.

CCTV

UPDATE: Chow Yun-Fat and Jasmine attend opening of hotel

Chow Yun-Fat and Jasmine at Crown Macau Hotel gala opening

Pictures and video download (thanks to Tequila) in Special Events pictures

UPDATE: (5/13/2007) Chow Yun Fat yesterday with his wife, Johnnie To Kei Fung and his wife attended a Macao hotel opening. Reporters asked whether he has seen BATTLE OF RED CLIFF press conference reports when John Woo (Ng YuSum) expressed that his last minute resignation felt like a setback. Fat Gor honestly said that he did not, but expressed that they were fine. "No problem, we will contact each other later." When asked whether Fat Gor planned to apologize to Ng Yu Sum, he felt that would be unnecessary and stated that he and Ng Yu Sum ultimately will always be good friends. Reporters also asked Fat Gor about the ZHOU YU JUEN (ZHOU YU BIOGRAPHY) rumors, he asked who the director was. When he learned that Yuen Wo Ping would direct, Fat Gor expressed that he has never heard of the rumor. - As shown on Hong Kong Films Top 10

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

1. Hoist the Colours 1:31
2. Singapore 3:40
3. At Wit's End 8:05
4. Multiple Jacks 3:51
5. Up is Down 2:42
6. I See Dead People in Boats 7:09
7. The Brethren Court 2:21
8. Parlay 2:10
9. Calypso 3:02
10. What Shall We Die For 2:02

11. I Don't Think Now Is the Best Time 10:45
12. One Day 4:01
13. Drink Up Me Hearties 4:31

A lengthy (and I do mean lengthy) review is given of the soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End on Soundtrack.net

A description of the characters in POTCAWE is given on Moviefone

Capt. Sao Feng:

Pirate lord Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) has a lot of things going for him: He controls the South China Sea, he has the charts Will and Elizabeth need to find Jack, and he convenes the Brethren Court of Pirate Lords when Lord Beckett threatens their way of life. Plus he's got cooler facial hair than Jack. Yeah, we said it. - Articles suggested by Orlando Bloom Multimedia

UPDATE: Battle of Red Cliff

Chow Yun-Fat to Cameo in John Woo's RED CLIFF? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
May 14, 2007 According to today's print of Hong Kong's Oriental Daily, Chow Yun-Fat, dropped out of John Woo's Red Cliff last month, has orally agreed to play a small role in the project. Reportedly, he will play General Huang Gai, who suggested to his superior, Zhou Yu (Chow's previous role now played by Leung Chiu-Wai) that he would pretend to surrender to warlord Cao Cao and create an opportunity for a surprise attack on Cao's fleet. On the night of the "surrender", Huang's ships, loaded with firewood, hays and grease, approached Cao's fleet and set everything on fire. In Roman of the Three Kingdom, the classic historical novel this movie is partially based on, Huang openly called for a surrender and Zhou ordered Huang to be beaten in front of everyone, just to make the phony surrender real. Chow's role will be very small and all his scenes will be done in just three days.

NOTE: Amazing!!

UPDATE: Children of Huang Shi

Outline of the plot of Children of Huang Shi

UPDATE: Chow Yun-Fat and Jasmine attend opening of hotel

Video of the gala at the Crown Macau Hotel

UPDATE: Chow Yun-Fat at Disneyland

(5/8/2007) Chow Yun Fat and his wife yesterday promoted his new film PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END. Wherever Fat Gor went, tourists flocked. Due to security he could only wave from afar to tourists and others. Coincidentally he ran into an former neighbor at Disney. Fat Gor and Fat Soh yesterday rode the ride. He joked that a "pirate" asked him, "Boss, why didn't you come with your pirate clothes?" Fat Gor joked, "Since he could ask such a question, I kicked him into the sea." The first two PIRATES were big hits in the U.S. and Hong Kong, but recently SPIDER-MAN 3 broke PIRATES U.S. and Hong Kong single day box office records. Would he feel this new film release to be a challenge? Fat Gor said, "I am not the lead, don't ask me; go ask Johnny Depp. I only play a pirate. Getting on the pirate ship, I just don't want to sink the ship!" Fat Gor felt no matter what the film could not break Stephen Chow Sing Chi's KUNG FU HUSTLE (GONG FU) and its 60 million box office. He himself has not had any expectation. "50 some million is enough, don't hurt people so much." Yet Fat Gor felt that if the new film could be released on the May Day Golden Week it would have been better. Perhaps more comrades would come to Hong Kong to watch the movie. Because the film was 2 hour and 50 minutes long, cinema owners have asked for HK$15 more. The advanced sales have been very ideal. The late night showing on the 23rd and the opening day on the 24th were almost sold out. Fat Gor joked that the extra $15 was for him. In Fat Gor's final scene in the film he handed his chain to the female lead Keira Knightley to make her the next captain. Yet he accidentally put off his beard. He pointed out that for this film, everyday he spent two to three hours in the make up chair. He had a long scar from his eyes to his lips and had to wear one scarred contact lens and a mouth piece. Because with the false teeth he could not speak clearly, he had to provide his voice for the film in post production. He and Johnny Depp only had one scene together. He felt that he was someone who was very involved in his character. The first time he saw him was at his break room, which was decorated like a ship cabin. He even spoke and dressed like the character in the film. Former TVB producer Wong Ka Leung committed suicide due to depression. Fat Gor has worked with him but was not too familiar. He felt that Hong Kong people have a lot of pressure, but should not take life easily. If they have problems they should see a psychiatrist or Meg Lam Kin Ming. He said, "Many Hong Kong people are afraid of being called mentally ill, actually it's just like the cold or cough. After taking medication it's fine. As far as I know now 100,000 Hong Kong people have mental problems." - As shown on Hong Kong Film Top 10