Jet Li quits movie making for Buddhism, the 4th Annual Chinese Film Media Awards announces nominees, the U.S. film industry makes way for Tokyo's “Yo-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters,” Im Sang Soo's “A Good Lawyer's Wife” receives top honors in Deauville, France, and more in this issue's of News From Abroad.
Jet Li Quits Film for Buddhism
Sources have revealed that Hollywood martial arts actor Jet Li plans to quit the film industry next month to pursue Buddhist studies in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Southwest China. Li is set to formally announce his resignation on his 41st birthday on April 26. Li was the highest-earning Chinese mainland entertainer last year, with an income of approximately 140 million yuan (US$17 million), according to Forbes, even surpassing that of NBA star Yao Ming. Li had previously hinted that he would devote himself to Buddhism after spending thirteen days studying it in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. He has recently participated in Buddhist activities in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Li reportedly has the support of his wife Nina Li, the 1996 Miss Asia. However, Zhang Weiping, producer of Li's box-office smash hit, Hero, and a close friend of Li, found the news as a surprise.
“Li called me from the United States several days ago. He said he was very satisfied with our cooperation in Hero and was looking forward to another project,” said Zhang. But Zhang did confirm that Li was a pious Buddhist, describing how the action star practiced za-zen and prayed for hours during a flight to the U.S. they were on together. Yet Zhang still insisted Li would not retire at the height of his career, stating that “he is only studying Buddhism and will not become a monk.” Buddhist disciples are not rare among film stars. Twenty years ago, Hong Kong superstar Huang Yuanshen of the famous TV series Legend of a Fighter (Huo Yuan-jia), became a monk at the prime of his career as well. Jackie Chan and Eric Tsang are also pious Buddhists as were the late Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung.
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The 4th Chinese Film Media Awards Nominees Announced
The only film awards ceremony recognizing all Chinese language films from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan films will be held on April 20 in Shenzhen. And the nominees are:
Best Picture
PTU
Infernal Affairs 2 (Mo Gan Doh 2)
Running on Karma (Dai Jet Lo)
Public Toilet (Yun Mun Gung Chi)
Lost in Time (Mong But Liu)
Best Director
Alan Mak
Andrew Lau
Derek Yee
Fruit Chan Gor
Johnnie To
Wai Ka Fai
Best Actor
Andy Lau (Running on Karma)
Simon Yam (PTU)
Francis Ng Chun Yu (Internal Affairs 2)
Tony Leung (Sound of Colors)
Lau Ching Wan (Lost in Time)
Best Actress
Sandra Ng Kwan Yu (Golden Chicken 2)
Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi (Running on Karma and Lost in Time)
Carina Lau Ka Ling (Infernal Affairs 2)
Teresa Mo Shun Kwun (Men Suddenly in Black)
Best Supporting Actor
Anthony Wong
Chapman To
Roy Cheung
Liu Kai Chi
Tony Leung
Best Supporting Actress
Maggie Siu
Candy Lo
Josie Ho
Wai Ying Hung
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Original Directors of Infernal Affairs Involved in U.S. Remake
Hong Kong media have reported that the producers of the original trilogy, Lau Wai-Keung and Mak Siu-Fai, have been sought after for advice regarding the U.S. remake. Brad Pitt has been confirmed to take on the role as the gang member played by Andy Lau and Leonardo Di Caprio will play the undercover cop that was Leung Chiu-Wai's original character. Writer William Monahan has completed the first draft of the script, which is being sent to Mak Siu-Fai who is currently in Hong Kong. The new story will be set in Boston and will revolve around a conflict between the police force and the Irish gang. Warner Bros. beat out the other studios in the bidding war with an offer of $1.75 million. Martin Scorsese was brought into the project as the producer and director just last month.
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Yu-Gi-Oh Coming to the U.S.
A movie version of popular TV anime in Tokyo “Yo-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters” will be released in the U.S. on August 13. The film will be a joint effort amongst Warner Bros., Shueisha and TV Tokyo. The anime TV show began in 2000 and the English version has been selling well in the U.S. since 2002. The American network version of “Yo-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters” reached No.1 in the rankings for children's shows after its debut in September 2001.
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Spring Cultural Events in Seoul
Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do has opened its flower festival which will be held March 6-21. Visitors will have a chance to view the birth of spring taking place in the gardens, which will be blooming with flowers, cherry blossoms, magnolias, forsythias, azaleas and other rare plants. The Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation will also hold a variety of events in conjunction with the spring festivities at certain subway stations. In conjunction to these spring events, the renovated Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will also present the musical Jesus Christ Superstar on March 19 and Parson's Dance Company (from the U.S.) will be holding its first performances in the renovated auditorium on March 25-27.
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Member of Pop Group Golden Half and Indian Sitar Maestro Die of Cancer
Luna Takamura, member of the Showa-era pop group Golden Half, died in Hawaii on March 9 from cancer at the age of 54. The quintet made up of five half-Japanese girls was popular in the early 1970s through their appearances on the hit Drifters comedy show Hachiji Dayo! Takamura was half German and half Japanese and was born and raised in Japan.
Indian sitar virtuoso Vilayat Khan also passed away in a Bombay hospital after a long battle with lung cancer. Khan, 76, died in Jaslok Hospital on Saturdaynight, March 13. His body was flown to his home in Kolkata (Calcutta) to be buried next to his father's (Inayat Khan) grave, family members told the Press Trust of India news agency this week. Khan was deemed as one of India's greatest musicians for his mastery of the sitar and was recognized internationally. He revolutionized sitar performance through his introduction of the gayaki ang, or vocal style. His distinctive vocal approach is widely imitated in the world. Kahn further revolutionized contemporary sitar performance by advancing sitar techniques pioneered by his grandfather. In addition to performing internationally and recording extensively, Kahn wrote film music for Satyajit Ray and Merchant as well as Ivory productions.
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Contribution by Colleen Beck
Save the…Folk Art?
The First Shanghai Folk Art Exhibition opened this week in a move by officials to save various forms of folk art that have been on the verge of extinction. Artists from all over the country have come together in this metropolitan setting to display their creative crafts, which include pottery, miniature carving, paper-cutting, and folk painting, just to name a few.
Folk art represents an aspect of ordinary life and ordinary people that over decades has continued to dim. Over time, globalization and the increasing influence of modern industry has forced many little family workshops and individual craftsmen to close shop and find another trade. Factories and technology can produce and replicate many items once in the realm of folk art. The rising disinterest among younger populations can also account for the lack of producing folk art.
The exhibit hopes to regain interest among the youth, and to share with them a sense of appreciation for folk art. The exhibit will display works not only from China, but also France, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
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Future hints at some changes in film censorship in Beijing
For decades, the Chinese government has held a strict ruling hand over the heads of film directors who have long endeavored to create meaningful works of art. General moviegoers watch large budget films for entertainment purposes. The public is not typically exposed to the harsher realities of China or any other movie that may be deemed philosophical.
Directors like Zhao Liang and Wang Xiaoshuai believe that the Chinese government should change this perspective. Directors should be allowed to express in their own words what they feel, and not “follow the money.” But the Chinese government should not be held solely accountable for film censorship. Business also plays a large role, therefore, directors are pressured to focus on the larger picture, that is, the market.
In the coming years, the film industry and those who control it are hoping for a change as outside influences such as foreign technology and the market continue to push for greater artistic freedom. But for the time being, film makers will just have to follow the rules.