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NEWS ITEMS NOVEMBER 2008
Nov 24: A commercial for Louis Vuitton was uploaded to YouTube.com. The content is unused footage from the Soundwalk promotional commercial. Director of Photography: Nathan Mauger:
More info about "30 Years of Chinese Brands" was published today on News.BrandCN.com: "The selection is not limited to candidates based on this year’s performances, but is a comprehensive assessment of reform and development in the past 30 years of Chinese brands." Chinese people around the world can be candidates, "regardless of their current nationality", as long as they have made a significant contribution. There are several categories, and the celebrity category includes four women, three of whom are actresses: Gong Li, Xu Jinglei, and Zhang Ziyi. Public voting (via internet and text messaging) will commence on December 1 and last for 15 days. The final results will be announced December 18. Nov 22: An acquaintance of Gong Li's posted a lovely tribute to her on the imagethief.com site this week in response to discussion about media coverage of her change of citizenship. Excerpts from Alan Kahn's post: "There is so much I could say about Gong Li, but suffice it to say that I just wish each and every one of you reading this could meet her and get to know her. You'd be bowled over by how amazing she really is. Somehow, just talking with her over the simplest of things, even for a few moments, makes you feel alive and extra aware of how precious life is. She is truly one of the most incredible humans I have ever met, and I don't say that lightly... that spark of humanity in her that just goes beyond her massive charisma to something more. Something simply otherworldly. Ask anyone who has met her in person or gotten to know her... [she] somehow, just somehow keeps one step ahead of it all, sucking the marrow out of life and leaving everyone else in her wake, Chinese bloggers and dreamers included... she simply ALWAYS goes her own way, plays her own tune, and that is Gong Li, full stop... Gong Li has done so many incredible things for so many people, most of which go unpublished and unheralded... I wish you all get to know her or at least somehow learn something in her life example." Nov 21: The 2008 "50 Most Beautiful People in China" contest was launched yesterday and is sponsored by the Beijing News. According to the info published on news sites, "Gong Li, Tony Leung, Zhou Xun, Fan Bingbing, and so on" are among the candidates on the short list. This year's theme is the "beauty of achievement", and the 50 winners will be chosen by a consultancy team and the recommendations of readers. A special issue featuring the winners will be released in December. Gong Li was at the top of the list in 2006 and ranked third in 2007. It will be interesting to see how her recent adoption of Singapore citizenship influences this year's voting. Nov 19: From ABNNewsWire.net: The first list of candidates has been announced for "30 Years of Chinese Brands". The list includes people who have made outstanding contributions to spreading Chinese brands around the world, and Gong Li’s name is included on the list. Nov 17: A press conference will be held in Beijing in early December to announce Gong Li’s continued collaboration with the home appliance company Midea. She has previously participated in promotional campaigns for the company, the most recent in early 2007. The new campaign is for a small home appliance product. Her manager had informed me in August that they would be traveling to Shanghai at the beginning of September to film a TV commercial, so I would guess that trip was for the Midea product. Nov 14: An interview with a sina.com reporter was published today. The reporter wrote that the interview was done "not long ago” in Beijing. The most noteworthy portion of the interview is her response to the reporter's question about her next film project. She didn't name the project or filming date, but said that she has met with the director, who is making some changes to the script. She also said that the story includes bits of dark humor.
Nov 12: A woman from Malaysia wrote on her blog about meeting Gong Li some time ago: "I was privileged to have sat down for dinner next to Gong Li. Don't let anyone tell you she is 'normal' looking [movie star]. She is not. She's had NO plastic or dental surgery. She is 100% natural. With Lovely T***. Glossy long lush hair. With great Grace & Beauty. But still down-to-earth. Humble. Funny. Unassuming. Kept pushing food at me - the poor starstruck mortal." Nov 10: It was reported in Variety today that clips from “Shanghai” were shown at The Weinstein Co.’s American Film Market party that was held Friday at Tengu restaurant in Westwood. Nov 9: Yesterday afternoon, Gong Li attended a swearing-in ceremony for new citizens of Singapore. It had been disclosed in August that she had applied earlier this year for citizenship, and it should be noted that her civil marriage ceremony to a Singaporean was held in Singapore February 1996. It should also be noted that Gong Li isn’t the first Chinese celebrity to apply for another passport. Others include Jet Li (U.S.), director Chen Kaige and his actress wife Chen Hong (U.S.), actresses Joan Chen and Liu Yifei (U.S.), Zhang Ziyi (Hong Kong).
Nov 4: Gong Li made a brief appearance at the Aimer lingerie trends release at China Fashion Week in Beijing tonight:
November 3: While there is no news about the status of post-production for "Shanghai", or a tentative release date, Variety Asia includes mentions of the film in the article, "AFM 2008 Territory Guide: Thailand": "Thai technicians can custom-make anything... Indeed, the Weinstein Co.'s 'Shanghai' had the entire Port of Shanghai circa 1940 built at a Bangkok backlot only months after the pic's permit got revoked in China... The family-run Moonstar Studio in downtown Bangkok has slowly built its name since 2003. Usually it's popular among local productions but has lately found new clients in foreign commercials shoots. This year it got a big break with 'Shanghai,' starring John Cusack and Gong Li."
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