Zhang Ziyi CSC    > News       > Archives          > November '03 News

ComicsOne To Release Hero Manga November 19, 2003 Hero Manga Hong Kong comic company ComicsOne has just announced the highly anticipated release of their graphic novel based on Zhang Yimou's Oscar-nominated Chinese epic Hero. Release of the manga is set for a February 2004 release, followed a few short months later by the North American release of the film, co-starring Zhang Ziyi, by Miramax Films. ComicsOne's plans for their newest manga were first announced at a press conference attended by director Zhang Yimou and well-known Hong Kong comic artist and author Ma Wing-Shing (also authored Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Manga) in August 2002 and reported here. The first of the following images is of Zhang Yimou and Ma Wing-Shing at that press conference. Zhang is seen holding a comic drawing of Jet Li from the film given to him by Ma, while Ma is holding a sword given to him by Zhang. The second image is that of Jet Li in the Hero comic as Wu Ming: Related links: Hero North American Release Date Hero Comic To Be Released Crouching Tiger Comic To Be Released Related discussions: ComicsOne To Release Hero Manga Big News Found In CTHD Manga!!     Hero North American Release Date November 18, 2003 Very preliminary news has it that Variety has published an April 24, 2004 North American release date for Zhang Yimou's Hero. Related discussion: Hero North American Release Date   Thanks to CookieSmuggler for the news update.     So, When Will We See Wong Kar Wai's 2046? November 18, 2003 The related discussion link below is a detailed report about the on-going production of Wong Kar-wai's 2046 and his unusual filmmaking style. Related discussion: So, When Will We See Wong Kar Wai's 2046?     Photos From Shi Mian Mai Fu Set November 14, 2003 Entrance to the Peony Pavilian A number of pictures from the Beijing Film Studio set of Zhang Yimou's newest wuxia film, Shi Mian Mai Fu ("Ambush From All Directions" - aka House of Flying Daggers), have recently been released. Along with the one at left, the following photos are from the set of what's planned to be a very beautiful brothel (the "Peony Pavilian") in the film: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Following his highly acclaimed and award winning historical epic film Hero, Shi Mian Mai Fu is director Zhang Yimou's second effort at filming the wuxia genre. Set in Ming Dynasty China (1368-1644 AD), the film stars Zhang Ziyi as a blind singer, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro as law enforcement officers and Anita Mui as a wandering warrior. Crew members include producer Bill Kong, martial arts choreographer Tony Ching Siu-Tung, costume designer Emi Wada and music composer Umebayashi Shigeru. Filming has concluded in Lviv, the Ukraine and is expected to resume soon in Beijing Film Studio's facilities in Beijing. Once shooting wraps-up there, production will then move to a set built on location in Yongchuan, near Chongqing, China. Images are courtesy of SINA Related discussion: Zhang Yimou's New Martial Arts Film   Thanks to RGR103 for the news update.     New Ziyi Soutec Phone Commercial November 07, 2003 As many Zhang Ziyi fans already know, Ziyi is Soutec's one and only representative in China -- Soutec being China's largest growing communications company last year, based in Guangzhou. As their sole spokesperson, Ziyi has done a series of ads for their line of cellular phones, the first commercial being "Soutec: Coming through with colors," directed by Zhang Yimou last November in Guangzhou. Soutec's latest commercial (flash) -- featuring none other than Zhang Ziyi and reminiscent of the technologically ground-breaking film The Matrix, due to its "bullet time" use of cinematography -- can be viewed via either the previous link or their English language website. Related links: Capture of Soutec Ad with Ziyi Zhang Ziyi Soutec Phone Madness!!! Ziyi in Zhang Yimou Commercial? Related discussions: Soutec Zhang Ziyi Represents Soutec (cell phone)   Thanks to zimoonstar for the news update.     Hero Wins at the Golden Rooster Awards November 06, 2003 The 12nd Annual Golden Rooster & Hundred Flowers Film Festival Awards were held Wednesday evening, November 5th, in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China. Zhang Yimou's Oscar-nominated Chinese epic Hero, co-starring Zhang Ziyi, won 4 of the 22 Golden Roosters awarded, including Best Director, Best Art Directory, Best Sound, and Best Co-Production. The Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers were originally two different awards, combined for the first time in 1992. The Golden Rooster, established in 1981, is regarded as a high-level assessment of Chinese films by film experts. The Hundred Flowers Awards was first started in 1962 by Popular Cinema magazine and is similar to the "People Choice Awards," representing the opinion of the general film-going public. Zhang Ziyi received a Best Actress Award in 2000 for her onscreen portrayal of Zhao Di in Zhang Yimou's The Road Home. Related links: Hero Wins Big at Hong Kong Film Awards Ziyi Nominated at Hong Kong Film Awards Hero Wins Alfred Bauer Prize In Berlin Related discussion: Hero Wins at the Golden Rooster Awards     Purple Butterfly Coming To North America November 03, 2003 Variety reports that specialty distributor Palm Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to Purple Butterfly, Chinese director Lou Ye's story of cross-cultural love and fate set during the 1930's Japanese occupation of China, starring Zhang Ziyi as a Chinese woman whose love for a Japanese man is put to the test. Palm Pictures will be distributing Purple Buterfly in a limited release in 2004 before going to DVD and video. Related links: Purple Butterfly Invited To Cannes Purple Butterfly Plot Purple Butterfly Is Sold! New Purple Butterfly Pictures Ziyi Talks About Purple Butterfly Related discussion: Purple Butterfly

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