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NEWS ITEMS JANUARY 2008
Jan 27 - update, 1:00pm: There is a new article about "Shanghai" that was posted on the United Daily News site about one hour ago. Thanks to NewPath for the alert. Gong Li's manager reportedly confirmed today that Chow Yun-Fat has joined the cast, and added that Ken Watanabe will play the Japanese officer. Article recap: In addition to the previously released casting of Gong Li and John Cusack, other superstars have joined them. Gong Li's manager said: "John Cusack plays an American journalist, Chow Yun-Fat plays Gong Li's gang leader husband, Ken Watanabe plays a Japanese military officer, they revolve around Gong Li." He was asked if Gong Li plays an anti-Japanese female spy? He answered that they have "signed a confidentiality clause, we cannot say that." Most of the dialog in the film is English, and shooting is scheduled for four months. Are Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat, who co-starred in "Curse of the Golden Flower", re-teaming on "Shanghai"? Thanks to NewPath for the tip on an article on the United Daily News (Taiwan) site today. It is reported that Chow Yun-fat has been added to the cast recently as the gang boss. It is also reported that Gong Li will join the crew in Shanghai right after the Chinese New Year holidays. The film is being financed by the Weinstein Co. and is in its final stages of preparation. Jan 18: "Raise The Red Lantern", one of the great Zhang Yimou/Gong Li collaborations, is included in the China Now Wow Film Tour that will take place beginning February 7 in the U.K. The event chairman said, "Between the Chinese New Year celebrations and the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the U.K. will be bringing together a festival of celebrations showcasing the very best of modern China." "Raise The Red Lantern" was nominated for an Oscar for Foreign Language Film in 1992. Chinese fashion awards, recognizing fashion brands and individuals, were announced on January 10 and reported in the Chinese media today. One special category was the 10 Fashion Empresses, and the winners included Gong Li, Zhao Wei, Maggie Cheung, Faye Wong, Zhou Xun, Liu Yifei, Cecilia Cheung. Jan 15: Another L'Oreal commercial from 2007:
Jan 14: Watch a recent L'Oreal commercial advertisement. ->Save File (.flv)
Jan 9: The Belgian Film Critics' Union named their best films of 2007. "Curse of the Golden Flower", the most recent Zhang Yimou/Gong Li collaboration, placed second. (Source: Variety) Benoît Delhomme has been added to the "Shanghai" page on imdb.com as Director of Photography. Costume Designer Julie Weiss had recently been added to the production list. Jan 6: A video interview with Chinese actor Li Xuejian was posted on sohu.com. He starred opposite Gong Li in "Shanghai Triad" and "The Emperor and the Assassin", and spoke about her during the interview. He said that he was in awe of her when they first started working on "Shanghai Triad" as she is very intelligent, her acting is very vivid and real. He feels that she is the best actress in terms of spontaneity and improvisation on the set as she reacts with genuine emotion to what is going on at that moment. He also said that he believes Chinese actors are as good as foreign actors, and that no one else in the world could have played Gong Li's character in "The Story of Qiu Ju" as well as she did. (Thanks, NewPath) Jan 4: Cheers to Gong Li for responding to her fans' birthday and New Year greetings! The signs read: "Wishing friends in the Gong Li forums Happy New Year! Thanks for the blessings you gave me!"
A Beijing News reporter spoke with Gong Li today, and she said that she was very satisfied doing the dubbing on "My Blueberry Nights." She hopes to work again with director Wong Kar-Wai (they previously worked together on "Eros" and "2046"). She also revealed that she enjoys watching the U.S. TV shows "Prison Break" and "24". While watching such programs, she studies the composition, editing, and other aspects of the production as part of her preparation for her next Hollywood movie, "Shanghai". Jan 3: Sohu.com has up a nice video report about Gong Li dubbing the Rachel Weisz role in "My Blueberry Nights". The video includes clips from the film. ->Watch (IE required) Jan 2: The Chinese program, "Entertainment Live", includes a segment about the early stages of Gong Li's career, and sina.com has an 8 minute clip from the program. >Watch Jan 1: A report in United Daily News (Taiwan) today includes the info that Gong Li spent her birthday with her mother and family in Jinan, she continues to prepare for "Shanghai", and the "shooting period was extended from the original February to April." Her birthday wish is for the good health of her mother and everyone.
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