MR. AND MRS. CHOW YUN-FAT AT RESTAURANT WITH JOHNNIE TO

Picture as shown on Chow-Yun-Fat.de Forum

DRAGONBALL POSTER

This seems to be an authentic teaser poster for Dragonball in America. There has been another showing around the Internet, but it is believed to be a fan's rendition for the movie.

Source ComingSoon.net

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04.23 Chow’s Dedication
Movieland found a cool write up from Gregory Charles who worked in Durango as Chow Yun-Fat’s dialect coach. Here are some of the highlights:

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My work involved working with Chow Yun-Fat to help him get his pronunciation as clear and intelligible as possible. We did most of the ground work in Hong Kong and in Durango before filming began which was fortunate, because during filming, there was little time or energy left to do any extra work revision. During filming, my work required me to listen very carefully with my headphones to everything he said, making sure he did not drop any words and helping him to improve his pronunciation when necessary.
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Mr. Chow is no slacker. By the time we began filming, his pronunciation was excellent dialog, not perfect but excellent none-the-less. Even so, work on my location was not easy. It required intense concentration to listen to every syllable of his dialog, note the areas that needed improvement, analyse areas which were within his immediate grasp or absolutely needed improvement and use the most efficient method possible to communicate the needed changes to him, all within seconds of completion of each shot. It was challenging and tiring but we did a pretty good job.

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Mr. Chow’s work ethics are admirable. His dedication to his work is truly remarkable. Within hours of confirmation of his role in the movie, he began examining and developing his character, and he spent considerable time working on his dialog. From confirmation of his role until weeks into filming, he barely slept as he considered all of the options for his character, an experience I shared last year when preparing for “They’re Playing Our Song.” He worked so hard and slept so little that he became ill just a couple of weeks into filming. But even sickness barely slowed him down. He rested for two days and went straight back to work, getting daily antibiotic injections until he was fully recovered, and regular vitamin supplement injections until filming was complete.

Source Dragonball Movie Blog

UPDATE: DRAGON BALL

Pictures from Dragon Ball Movie of Chow Yun-Fat peering down, assorted monsters, Emmy Rossum and other members of the cast. (Looks like they have CYF as a Li Mu Bai with glasses.)

PROBLEM WITH THE TITILE OF "THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI"

(04/24/08) The Children of Huang Shi will open on May 23 in selected theatres in New York and Los Angeles, including some Laemmle Theatre locations. Running time 114 minutes. Limited release.

(04/24/08) We have reported use of the name of "Huang Shi" in the film title is the result of a spelling error (an "S" is missing from the name "Shuang Shi"). While officials of Huangshi City, Hubei Province are very pleased that their name got to be known because of the film, people in Shuangshipu Town, Feng County, Shaanxi Province are extremely disappointed. One of the surviving "George Hogg's children" who was invited to the film premiere in Huangshi was so upset that he refused to go. Yesterday the local officials of Feng County sent a formal letter to China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television requesting the name of the film to be changed from "The Children of Huang Shi" to "The Children of Shuang Shi", or adding a subtitle "The story happened in Shuangshipu, Shaanxi Province" at the beginning of the film. Today's Shuangshipu Town is still undeveloped and the town does not even have a cinema nearby. Meanwhile Huangshi local officials insisted that the real George Hogg had been in Huangshi and they even faked some "evidence" to "prove" it.

As shown on Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre

UPDATE: JOHNNIE TO'S "THE RED CIRCLE" MOVIE

Picture from Google Images

Orlando Bloom eyed for 'Circle' role posted by Jas, 04/15/08

Although Hong Kong papers said that Orlando is attached to the project, Hollywood Reporter reports that Orlando has been offered to star in The Red Circle but negotiations have not yet begun. The producers are also in talks with Chow Yun Fatt and Liam Neeson to co-star in the project.
Director Johnnie To is eyeing Orlando Bloom to star in "Red Circle" for France's Studio Canal, a spokesperson from To's production shingle Milkyway Image said Tuesday. While an offer has gone out to the actor, negotiations have not yet begun. Film is a remake of the 1970 Alain Delon crime thriller "Le Rouge Cercle." Longtime To collaborator Wai Ka-Fai ("Mad Detective") is developing the script under the helmer's supervision. Chow Yun-Fat and Liam Neeson are in negotiations to co-star in the Media Asia co-produced project, which has a reported $40 million budget and is tentatively scheduled to start production in June in Hong Kong and Macau.
The Red Circle update posted by Jas, 04/15/08 Mithriel reports that Hong Kong's Apple Daily has posted an update on The Red Circle saying that Chow Yun Fatt and Liam Neeson might star with Orlando in the film. Director Johnny To told reporters that filming will start in June and will take place in Macau and Hong Kong.

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At first, Chow was undecided, and Orlando had to personally phone him to persuade him. During the rewrite of the script, To not only employed American script writers, but also invited Wei Jia Hui (Chinese screenwriter?) to help. Orlando loved the script when he read it, and very quickly signed on. Chow, because of a scheduling clash, was a bit unsure about this, but while he was in Mexico filming Dragonball Z, Orlando phoned Mrs. Chow to ask her to help him persuade Chow to take part in The Red Circle, and To also helped to persuade him. Due to their sincerity, Chow finally agreed.
Yesterday, To told reporters that “filming will commence in June. Most outdoor scenes will take place in Macau. Only one-third will take place in Hong Kong. Concerning the actors, only Orlando’s participation has been confirmed. The others have not yet signed contracts. After the film passes through producers next week, the cast will be confirmed.

Articles as shown on Orlando Bloom Multimedia

JOHNNIE TO TO REMAKE LE CERCLE ROUGE

Apple Daily: Johnnie To’s English-language film debut, the remake of the French film Le Cercle Rouge, is a go to start shooting in June. It will be starring Liam Neeson, Orlando Bloom, and Chow Yun-Fat. However, To confirmed that he has only signed Orlando with the other two’s deals in the works. The film will be shot in Macau and Hong Kong with a budget of USD$40 million dollars.

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Extract from a News Report of an interview with Johnny To today - "Apart from foreign financial backing, Asian Companies are also investing. The new film will cost approximately 3 million HK dollars. With such a high cost, Director Johnny To is naturally under a lot of pressure. "There is pressure, but because it is going to be filmed in Hong Kong and Omun [Macau], that's better for me. If it was being filmed in America, it would be a lot more difficult. The work in preparation for filming has been going very well, however, so I feel relatively confident. I'm now just waiting for Chow Yun Fat's schedule of work." Johnny To's film will have differences from the original, but he emphasizes that this will be a film about men, because he will not use a very prominent actress in it.

As shown on Chow-Yun-Fat.de forum

UPDATE: CHOW YUN-FAT TAKES PICTURES IN CHINA

Chow Yun Fat traveled with a party of 6, continuing the secret visit he made in 2007 to a village in Jiangxi Province - here pictured with some villagers. He rested at the house of the village party branch secretary, ate an evening meal and used a nearby guest room to spend the night. The natural scenery of Hung[?] village holds a deep attraction for this film star, and over two days he came into the village 4 times. In this life Chow Yun Fat still hasn't taken on the character of a major star, chatting showing an extremely amiable manner with people nearby. While visiting the village, he saw a very ancient stone tablet, and was told that the oldest inhabitant of the village has reached 119 years old. Chow Yun Fat said "If I lived here, I would certainly reach the age of 159 years". While he was eating his meal, he was full of praise for the skills of the people of the village, saying that the food was delicious, especially the red roast leg of pork [or trotter] Chow Yun Fat said he had never eaten such good pork trotter/leg in Hong Kong. He stayed some time, and still aroused emotions and memories in the branch secretary and other villagers.

As shown on Chow-Yun-Fat.de forum

UPDATE: "THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI"

New pictures in "The Children of Huang Shi" blog

RUMORS ABOUT A NEW FILM FOR CHOW YUN-FAT

Johnny To has named Chow Yun Fat as starring in his first Hollywood feature film, 江圈, [English title not given, but it looks like a gangster movie from the Chinese title]. After much wrestling with the Chinese rendition of his name, it appears Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson will also star.

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A new report gives the name of the film as "Red Circle". It also confirms my efforts re Chinese renditions of Western names ie Liam Neeson and Orlando Bloom. Filming will take place in Hong Kong and Macau...... According to some reports, Johnny To says he hopes Fat Go will agree to take part, as he is the epitome of a hero. Filming will start in about 6 months.

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Yet another report says that at first Fat Go/So said he couldn't do this film because of time considerations, but Orlando Bloom telephoned Fat So personally while they were in Mexico, with Johnny To adding his voice, and Fat Go changed his mind, saying he would do his utmost to take part.

More information on Chow-Yun-Fat.de forum

UPDATE: OPENING EVENTS FOR "THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI"

(4/2/2008) Chow Yun Fat two nights ago continued to promote CHILDREN OF HUANGSHI in Huangshi, Wuhan and attended the film's charity event with stars like Michael Kong Leung, Li Bingbing and Bibi Zhou Bichang. The event had several hundred uniform police and security guards as well as police dogs to protect Fat Gor. While everyone screamed for Fat Gor, the event arranged child actor asked him, "Uncle Fat!" Fat Gor first pretended to be embarrassed and then laughed, "You are just 8, I am 20 years older than you, I am really old." Then another child called him "Elder Uncle Chow". Fat Gor smartly pretended not to heard then asked himsef, "Who is Elder Uncle Chow?" The event originally arranged a private meal for director Roger Spottiswoode and Fat Gor, but Li Bingbing came uninvited. She finally was able to get a picture with Fat Gor and Fat Soh. Fat Soh meanwhile had arranged for a masseur so Fat Gor could properly rest after work. However that masseur immediately cried out of excitement as soon as he saw the superstar and Fat Gor was stunned on the spot.

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(4/1/2008) CHILDREN OF HUANGSHI earlier held a press conference at Huangshi, Hubei, one of the leads Chow Yun Fat attended with his wife Jasmine. However, Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King), Jonathan Rhys-Myer and Radha Mitchell did not attend due to other work. Only Fat Gor and director Roger Spottiswoode appeared. However, Fat Gor's charisma was amazing as over hundred media outlets covered the event. To honor Fat Gor's charity contribution and his work in Huangshi, after the press conference he was invited to a stadium to accept a good citizenship award from the Huangshi city government. The always humorous Fat Gor showed his true color at the press conference. Fat Gor put his eight year old co-star on his lap during the interview and asked whether he wanted to be an actor, a successful actor, an actor who is more successful than him? The boy expressed that he would like to be more successful than Chow Yun Fat and the entire venue laughed. Fat Gor and Radha Mitchell's kiss scene was cut, which the media asked about. The director saw how awkward the situation was and immediately explained that Fat Gor's expression was too sexy in it. He did not want the audience to focus on that kiss scene and could only cut it.

NOTE: The reason for really cutting the kiss was probably because some Chinese were commenting that they didn't know if they wanted to see him kissing a westener. Maybe a little payback from seeing CYF in American movies where he didn't kiss anyone.

As shown on Hong Kong Film Top 10

UPDATE: "DRAGONBALL"

First Look: Dragonball Costumes and Characters
April 6, 2008

Source: JoBlo by Alex Billington
After originally posting (and quickly removing) an awesome photo of a set piece for Dragonball a few weeks ago, JoBlo has posted a plethora of new photos - including characters in costume and more. As I mentioned in that post a few weeks back, this Dragonball movie is starting to look better and better with every new photo that gets out. Unfortunately these will probably be removed by Fox rather quickly, but I'm excited to at least share them with you for the time being. If you're a Dragonball fan at all, then make sure you check these out before they go down and let us know what you think!
First Showing.net

NOTE: There was no chance to see the photos as they were removed too.

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Durango as location for filming movies

"DragonBall," based on the Japanese comics/cartoon/videogame series, was shot in an abandoned Jeans Trousers factory with the cooperation of the Durango governor's office and its commission; 20th Century Fox adapted the 1,000-foot-long, 250-foot-wide turn-key facility, built sets and created a backlot to shoot exteriors. Durango's scenic locations provided the backdrop for the pic's Far East futuristic world.
Westerns, once a film staple of the locale, are no longer prevalent. Features such as Fox's 1954 pic "White Feather," starring a young Robert Wagner; "The Tall Men," starring Clark Gable; John Wayne starrer "The Sons of Katie Elder," and numerous other films involving Hollywood notables such as Sam Peckinpah, Burt Lancaster and Jack Nicholson made Durango a thriving film destination. Durango was also home to the directorial debut of Sidney Poitier who assumed the reins for Columbia's "Buck and the Preacher."
Seeking to reinvent itself, the local government has plans in motion to create other production facilities.

As shown on Variety and edited for this blog

CHOW YUN-FAT TAKES PICTURES IN CHINA

Chow Yun-Fat in Mainland China in the town of Jiangxi with one of his favorite cameras photographing the local places of interest. Wearing a mask and covering part of the camera he and the camera must have needed protection.

As shown on CE.cn

UPDATE: THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat plays the part of a Chinese commander during the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s in the movie "The Children of Huang Shi".

"The Children of Huang Shi," has already proven to be a box office hit since its debut in Chinese theaters on April 3. However, the role of the Chinese commander played by Veteran Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat has aroused controversies, the Beijing-based newspaper, "The First" reported.
The audience said the commander, one of the main characters, is different from a typical soldier during the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s for he has stylish hair, a romance with a nurse and speaks fluent English in this movie, although Chow's performance is great.
Roger Spottiswoode, director of this epic war film based on a true story, explained that he tried to create a soldier in that period in his own eyes.
This movie is not a traditional Hollywood production, not a movie with cruel war settings and a happy ending. The director's ambition is to explore humanity in the war and to promote humanitarianism, according to the company that is in charge of the movie's distribution.
The movie tells a story of a young British journalist who saves a group of orphaned Chinese children with the help of an Australian nurse in late 1930s.

As shown on Cringlish

UPDATE: DRAGON BALL

As shown on Dragonball The Movie

Pictures on the set of Dragon Ball of one of the characters

and what will be a crater with lava exploding

UPDATE: "SHANGHAI" MOVIE

According to the Admiring Gong Li forum there is still no further news about the filming of "Shanghai" with Li, John Cusack, Ken Watanabe, and Chow Yun-Fat. Last word was that instead of filming in China they would go to the UK and Thailand. Also that it will probably begin filming in May.

The Chow Yun-Fat.de forum recently reported:

"Today several news reports on Baidu say that Chow Yun Fat has either rented or bought a residence in a building at least one hundred perhaps several hundred years old in the Chinese district of Mei Nam Hoi in Thailand. The district is a conservation area, and Fat Go has previously shown great interest in taking photographs there. Perhaps this is related to filming "Shanghai", but no connection is made in the reports......"

CHOW YUN-FAT WITH FANS

Pictures from Netease

UPDATE: OPENING EVENTS FOR "THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI"

Pictures from Netease

UPDATE: CHARITY GALA AT HUANG SHI

Pictures from Netease

OPENING EVENTS FOR "THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI"

(04/01/08) - Titled as "Escape from Huang Shi", the film was premiered in Taipei, Taiwan on March 31. Some local celebrities attended the event. Taiwan's Rouge Entertainment Group is one of the co-production companies-

A press conference and the Mainland China premiere ceremony of The Children of Huang Shi were held in Huangshi City, Hubei Province on March 31. More than 100 reporters - mostly from Mainland China - attended the activities. The attendees included actor Chow Yun-Fat, director Roger Spottiswoode, producer Arthur Cohn, cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding and several child actors. Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Radha Mitchell did not attend the premeire although the Chinese organizer kept claiming they would come even the day before. Being the only main actor at the premiere activities, Chow Yun-Fat was the absolute center focus. A press screening was held on the morning of the 31st in Huangshi. The official "premiere screening" in Mainland China was held at the Xinshiji Cinema in Beijing on April 1st. Director Roger Spottiswoode and several child actors attended the Beijing premiere.
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Before the press conference in Huangshi, every reporter received a printed "press release" from the Chinese organizer, which included the shocking title "Director Angry On Two Leads' Absence". The piece said Jonathan Rhys Meyers was busy with a new film project and Radha Mitchell felt the trip was too much trouble and refused to come. It said the director complained the two leads "have no discipline" and said it's silly if someone thinks the Chinese market is not important. However, reporters who attended the press conference reported that the director did not show any anger, but instead, showed understanding and explained Meyers and Mitchell were both in the U.S., shooting a new film and testing for a new role respectively, and it was not possible for them to make the trip which basically would cost them a week. Both of them sent in video greetings. Reporters already knew in advance that Michelle would be absent due to a schedule conflict. She was in New York yesterday attending the United Nations General Assembly as an ambassador for the Make Roads Safe campaign.

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According to Huangshi local media, more than 15,000 people attended the evening premiere ceremony. About 1,100 police were used for security. Reportedly large-scale activities such as this will be restricted soon in many places in Mainland China, since the government fears any large gathering may turn into an anti-government demonstration before the Olympics.

As shown on Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre

ARRIVAL AND PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE PREMIERE OF "THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI"

Picture from Baidu

30th March 2008 - Huang Shi Premiere

Arrival and Press Conference

Arrival in Huang Shi

Yesterday morning Chow Yun Fat greeted reporters warmly shaking hands, having flown in that morning and been driven to Huang Shi. He exchanged greetings in Mandarin with a Beijing accent.... The film company refused to say which hotel Fat Go and his party would be staying at in Huang Shi, for fear of crowds causing a disturbance. Reporters trawled around many places, finally catching up with a travel-weary Fat Go and Fat So at 11 am yesterday morning. Fat Go showed he was quite willing for Fat So to come in first, and she immediately was delighted to see some old friends and called out to them....Looking at him, over the past few years Fat Go has looked more and more youthful, and has also been influenced by his wife. Fat Go is trendily dressed in sports clothes, wearing a baseball cap, and carrying a rucksack on his back - if he wasn't so famous you would think he was an ordinary backpacker. The reporters stood at the front of the crowds of people who were meeting the plane, and called out a welcome. Fat Go came over and shook hands with them. (Complete report article on Chow-Yun-Fat.de Forum)

UPDATE: "DRAGONBALL"

Dragonball Release Date Changed Yet Again!
According to The Hollywood Reporter Dragonball has been pushed back yet again. This time to September 18th, 2009.
20th Century Fox continues to play ping pong with the release date of the manga adaptation "Dragonball". The film, which was originally slated for an August 15th 2008 release was recently moved to April of 2009. "We realize that April just didn't work out for us." says a Fox Spokesperson. "September looks like a better month and that's what we're going with." Justin Chatwin plays Goku in the film. James Marsters plays he villainous Piccolo. Chow Yun-Fat, Joon Park, and Ernie Hudson also star. Emmy Rossum plays Bulma while newcomer Luis Arrieta plays Weaver, her love interest.

As shown on the Dragonball Movie Blog

DIRECTOR ROGER SPOTTISWOODE COMMENTS ON CHOW YUN-FAT

Roger Spottiswoode's comments about "The Children of Huang Shi":
"Chow Yun Fat really liked this role. From the moment I told him the story to the moment we began filming he waited patiently for three years." Roger Spottiswoode said he was very much satisfied with Chow Yun Fat's performance, "The moment he appeared in a scene then he captures the eyes of the audience. In the film, Jack Chen is a "modern-day knight-errant" who comes and goes like a shadow. He not only saves George Hogg's life, he also tries to get him safely out of Nanjing, so that he can reveal to the world the suffering of the Chinese people in Nanjing...." (More of article on Chow-Yun-Fat.de forum)