|
NEWS ITEMS DECEMBER 2008 Dec 31: Today is Gong Li's birthday. I sent to her manager the birthday wishes that fans posted on our forum and sent to me via email. Mr. Tseng responded with a nice thank you message.
Dec 27: Thanks to “至尊巩俐“ for the link to Midea TV adverts! ->Watch
Dec 18: Post-production on “Shanghai” continues this week. On Monday, voice-over artist Junichi Kajioka wrote on his blog about working on the film: “Well, today I returned to Twickenham Film Studios for the new Chinese film ‘Shanghai’. I've been doing an audio-recording for Japanese and Chinese actors in the post-production. This film was shot in Thailand this summer and the actors were cast locally, which means a lot of actors are Thai and can't speak Mandarin or Japanese. I've done quite a lot of voices for Japanese soldiers in agony and dying. I came here for the 3rd time today and surprisingly the director, Mikael Håfström, came to the studio. He greeted and directed me!”
Zhang Yimou, Gong Li's former partner and the director of the Chinese film classics of the 1990's, is one of the runners-up for Time magazine's Person of the Year. Steven Spielberg wrote the tribute article for the magazine, and he includes a mention of Gong Li: "Runners-Up: Zhang Yimou -- On the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008, 2 billion TV viewers and thousands in attendance in the now famous Bird's Nest were treated to an unforgettable spectacle at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. Behind it all was the creative genius of Chinese film director Zhang Yimou. Drawing from the depths of the cultural heritage and ingenuity of the Chinese people, showcasing ancient Chinese inventions - paper, printing, gunpowder, ceramics and the compass - that have shaped civilization and channeling the sensibility and spirit that unite his fellow 1.3 billion citizens, Zhang told China's story to a watching world. He created arguably the grandest spectacle of the new millennium, and it was viewed by nearly one-third of the world's population. With this work, Zhang obtained a stature shared by very few peers... Zhang also brought the actress Gong Li to prominence, casting her in starring roles in six of his films. Together they are credited with introducing sensuality and eroticism to Chinese cinema... Dec 15: Gong Li ranks No. 10 on the Yahoo! Movies list of Top 10 Actresses of 2008. (Thanks to Cocoa for the tip.) “Check out the top stars of 2008 according to page views by YOU, the Yahoo! Movies User… First off, the Top 10 Actresses: 10. Gong Li -- Defining moments this year: Became a Singaporean citizen, ticking off much of the Chinese internet community. Signed on to star opposite John Cusack in Shanghai. Recent Movies: Hannibal Rising; Upcoming Movies: Shanghai.” The Top 10 Actresses of 2008 - based on Yahoo! Movies page views - are: Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate Olsen, Hilary Duff, Aishwarya Rai, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton, Nicole Kidman, Gong Li. IMO, the ranking is significant in terms of showing how much interest there is in a particular celebrity.
Update, Dec 15: Thanks to a Chinese fan for taking pics of the magazine photos. ->View Dec 4: An interview with Gong Li is included in the next issue of "Metropolis BIBA" magazine. From the magazine's blog: "There are certainly many questions to ask about Gong Li... Metropolis BIBA in January 2009... the answers are inside." Hopefully, a fan will post scans of the magazine article and I will be able to post highlights of the interview. Dec 3: Gong Li was interviewed by a reporter for News.163.com after yesterday’s Midea event. The reporter wrote that she is “still beautiful, elegant and dignified” and noted that such an opportunity for an interview is rare. Gong Li answered questions about working with Midea, as well as her philosophy regarding life and beauty. When asked to reveal the secrets of her beauty regimen, Gong Li answered that in addition to using skin care products, she feels that “a positive attitude about life is also particularly important” for one’s beauty. If one is worried all day and frowns a lot, “even the best skin care products cannot bring good results. I think, to a large extent, the emergence of wrinkles and spots begins in the heart.” When asked about her attitude toward life, she answered that it is important to remain calm no matter what life brings. She noted that being in the entertainment business, one has to handle reports that are “exaggerated” and made “out of nothing”. On the topic of her career, she said that she has “never been satisfied with the status quo” and wants to play different roles, “to continue to challenge” herself. She said that being known as an international superstar is an honor, but it is just a name, and can be a source of pressure. The main task of an actor is to not let the audience be disappointed, and that is the attitude actors should have.
->Video One ->Video Two ->Video Three ->Video Four
|
Dec
7: Gong Li is the cover girl
for the January issue of Harper's Bazaar China. Posters advertising the
upcoming issue have been spotted by fans at various public transport
platforms. So far, I have found only a teaser pic of the cover image...
