Memoirs of a Geisha Began Shooting Today (Updated)
October 25, 2004
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Memoirs of a Geisha
— a Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films /
Spyglass Entertainment feature film adaptation
based on author Arthur Golden's exotic and enthralling
best-selling novel of the same name, directed by Oscar nominated
director Rob Marshall, produced by
multiple Oscar award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg
and starring British Academy Award nominee Zhang Ziyi,
Michelle Yeoh,
Gong Li,
Ken Watanabe,
Yôki Kudô and
Koji Yakusho, among others
— began filming today at the Huntington Library Museum,
in Pasadena, California, of Japanese garden scenes of a Cherry Blossom Festival
from the film.
Until now, the film has been in pre-production with the leading actresses essentially in "Geisha Boot Camp," where they worked
intensely on learning and displaying much of what would be expected of geisha, including make-up, dress, poise, walking, dancing, playing
instruments, particularly the shamisen, etc. Some, including
Ziyi, have also been working on improving their English, which will be spoken in the film by all the characters with Japanese accents. Production will
now continue in other locations in the Los Angeles, California area, Northern California and Japan, with a scheduled 2005 release.
Memoirs of a Geisha depicts the life of a poor girl from a small Japanese fishing village sold to a geisha
house in Kyoto, Japan during the Great Depression, her ultimate rise to become the most successful geisha in Kyoto's Gion District and her unending
desire to be loved by the man she's always loved.
Update (10/29/04): It's recently come to my attention that widely published news reports of filming of Memoirs
of a Geisha beginning on October 25, 2004, principal sources for this news report, are inaccurate. In fact, "shooting began on September 29, 2004,
in the Sony Studios Lot in Culver City," California.
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Memoirs of a Geisha Japanese Garden Set
October 22, 2004
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Set pictures have very recently been made available from the film Memoirs of a Geisha
— a Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films /
Spyglass Entertainment feature film adaptation
based on author Arthur Golden's exotic and enthralling
best-selling novel of the same name, directed by Oscar nominated
director Rob Marshall, produced by
multiple Oscar award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg
and starring British Academy Award nominee Zhang Ziyi,
Michelle Yeoh,
Gong Li,
Ken Watanabe,
Yôki Kudô and
Koji Yakusho, among others.
The following pictures where just taken at the Huntington Library Museum,
in Pasadena, California, of Japanese garden scenes of a Cherry Blossom Festival
from the film:
Memoirs of a Geisha depicts the life of a poor girl from a small Japanese fishing village sold to a geisha
house in Kyoto, Japan during the Great Depression, her ultimate rise to become the most successful geisha in Kyoto's Gion District and her unending
desire to be loved by the man she's always loved.
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Jasmine Women To Screen At Hawaii Film Festival
October 22, 2004
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Jasmine Women (aka Mo Li
Hua Kai, formerly Jasmine Flower), famous Chinese photographer and director Hou Yong's film about a family of three generations of women, starring Zhang Ziyi,
Joan Chen,
Jiang Wen,
Lu Yi and
Liu Ye,
will receive two scheduled screenings at the 24th Hawaii International Film Festival, which
began last night, Thursday, October 21, 2004, in Honolulu, Hawaii and runs through October 31, 2004.
Based on Su Tong's novelette
The Lives of Women,
set in 1930's, 50's and 80's Shanghai, Jasmine Women will screen at the
Signature Dole Cannery 9 Theater
on Saturday, October 23, 2004, at 7:45 PM and again at the Doris Duke Theater
on Saturday, October 30, 2004, at 3:30 PM.
Venue information:
The Signature Dole Cannery Theater
753B Iwilei Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
(808) 526-3456
The Doris Duke Theatre
The Honolulu Academy of Arts
900 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
(808) 532-8768
Emphasizing new films by emerging Asian and Pacific talents, the Hawaii International Film Festival offers 168
films from 24 countries, includng dozens of titles from Japan, China, South Korea, and even Vietnam. For more information
about this year's festival or other films screening contact festival organizers via email at
info @ hiff.org or phone at (808) 528-3456.
Related links:
Related discussions:
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2046 To Screen At Tokyo Film Festival
October 19, 2004
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Promotional poster
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2046,
director Wong Kar-wai's long-awaited sequel of sorts to his
2000 art-house hit In the Mood for Love,
starring Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi,
Maggie Cheung,
Chang Chen,
Gong Li,
Carina Lau,
Takuya Kimura,
Faye Wong and
Dong Jie, among others,
will screen on the opening day of the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival
on Saturday, October 23, 2004, in Tokyo, Japan.
This year's film festival runs through Sunday, October 31, 2004. Among the film's cast and crew expected to be in attendance
to help promote the 2046's screening will be Japanese film star Takuya Kimura.
Moving forward in one-year increments throughout the 1960's, 2046 continues the tale of journalist Mr. Chow (Tony Leung).
After moving into a hotel vacated by a nightclub performer he once knew, he gradually crafts a science-fiction novel about
the future named after his room number, 2046.
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Jasmine Women To Screen At Tokyo Film Festival
October 19, 2004
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Jasmine Women (aka Mo Li
Hua Kai, formerly Jasmine Flower), famous Chinese photographer and director Hou Yong's film about a family of three generations of women, starring Zhang Ziyi,
Joan Chen,
Jiang Wen,
Lu Yi and
Liu Ye,
will screen on the opening day of the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival
on Saturday, October 23, 2004, in Tokyo, Japan. This year's film festival runs through Sunday, October 31, 2004.
Based on Su Tong's novelette
The Lives of Women,
set in 1930's, 50's and 80's Shanghai, China, Jasmine Women depicts the lives of three generations of
women from the same family.
Related links:
Related discussions:
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Memoirs of a Geisha Casting Call
October 16, 2004
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Memoirs of a Geisha
— a Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films /
Spyglass Entertainment feature film adaptation
based on author Arthur Golden's exotic and enthralling
best-selling novel of the same name, directed by Oscar nominated
director Rob Marshall, produced by
multiple Oscar award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg
and starring British Academy Award nominee Zhang Ziyi,
Michelle Yeoh,
Gong Li,
Ken Watanabe,
Yôki Kudô and
Koji Yakusho, among others —
will be having a casting call open to actors of all ages of Asian background on Saturday, October 23, 2004 from
12 to 2 PM.
Location information:
Central Casting
220 South Flower Street
Burbank, California
(818) 503-3113
This casting call is open to Asian actors of both union and non-union backgrounds. To prove legal ability to work,
bring one of the following: US Passport or valid state issued photo identification and US Social Security Card or
valid Alien Registration Card or unexpired Empoyment Authorization Card. For more information, contact Central Casting.
Memoirs of a Geisha depicts the life of a poor girl from a small Japanese fishing village sold to a geisha
house in Kyoto, Japan during the Great Depression, her ultimate rise to become the most successful geisha in Kyoto's Gion District and her unending
desire to be loved by the man she's always loved.
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Free House of Flying Daggers Screening!
October 14, 2004
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A featured presentation of the Ottawa-Carleton Chinese Movie Fans Club,
House of Flying Daggers
(Shi Mian Mai Fu - "No Way Out", aka Lovers) — director Zhang Yimou's second wuxia
film since 2002's internationally successful, Oscar nominated Hero,
starring Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau and
Takeshi Kaneshiro (Jin Chengwu) and choreographed by Tony Ching Siu-tung —
will have a free screening at Carleton University's
Bell Canada Theatre in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday, October 16, 2004, at 7PM.
Venue information:
Bell Canada Theatre
Minto Building
1125 Colonel By Drive
For more information, contact the Ottawa-Carleton Chinese Movie Fans Club by phone at (613) 736-9656 or via email at
ocmfc @ myprivacy.ca.
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House of Flying Daggers Screening At New York Film Festival
October 10, 2004
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House of Flying Daggers
(Shi Mian Mai Fu - "No Way Out", aka Lovers) — director Zhang Yimou's second wuxia
film since 2002's internationally successful, Oscar nominated Hero,
starring Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau and
Takeshi Kaneshiro (Jin Chengwu) and choreographed by Tony Ching Siu-tung —
screened last night, Saturday, October 9, 2004, at the 42nd New York Film Festival,
which started Friday, October 1 and runs through Sunday, October 17, 2004, at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York, New York.
In attendance were Zhang Ziyi, director Zhang Yimou and, to support the Flying Daggers's festival screening,
Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon
director Ang Lee.
Zhang Yimou and Zhang Ziyi, Zhang Ziyi and Ang Lee, Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou, Zhang Ziyi with her fans:
The 42nd New York Film Festival will screen 25 films and several sidebar programs, including the Hong Kong,
China box office sensation Infernal Affairs, starring Andy Lau (House of Flying Daggers)
and Tony Leung (Hero).
For more information on all films being screened, including tickets, call the Alice Tully Hall box office, Broadway at 65th Street, NY, NY at
212-875-5050.
Images courtesy of SINA
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2046 Opens Pusan Film Festival
October 07, 2004
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Tony Leung (l) and
Wong Kar-wai (r)
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2046,
director Wong Kar-wai's long-awaited sequel of sorts to his
2000 art-house hit In the Mood for Love,
starring Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi,
Maggie Cheung,
Chang Chen,
Gong Li,
Carina Lau,
Takuya Kimura,
Faye Wong and
Dong Jie, among others,
opened the 9th
Pusan International Film Festival last night, Thursday, October 7, 2004,
in Pusan, South Korea. The film's opening screening broke the festival's box office record when it sold out in less than five minutes when the Internet
ticket sales went online last month. In attendance for the screening were Tony Leung and director Wong Kar-wai, pictured at left.
This year's festival, which runs through October 15, 2004, will screen 266 films from 63 countries (39 world premiers), the
greatest number of films from the highest number of countries in the history of the festival.
Moving forward in one-year increments throughout the 1960's, 2046 continues the tale of journalist Mr. Chow (Tony Leung).
After moving into a hotel vacated by a nightclub performer he once knew, he gradually crafts a science-fiction novel about
the future named after his room number, 2046.
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Hero Nominated To Hollywood Film Awards
October 07, 2004
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Hero,
legendary director Zhang Yimou's first
endeavour in filming the wuxia
genre — a Quentin Tarantino presentation,
starring Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-wai,
Maggie Cheung Man-yuk,
Chen Daoming, Donnie Yen Ji-dan
and Zhang Ziyi and choreographed by Tony Ching Siu-tung —
has been nominated to compete in the 8th Annual Hollywood Film Awards
by the Hollywood Film Festival.
The Hollywood Film Festival, running from October 12 through 18, 2004, will have 60 nominees from around the world —
16 world premieres and 24 US premieres — screening and competing in the Hollywood Film Awards in 3 categories: the Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards, the
Hollywood World Awards, and the Hollywood European Awards. Hero, along with 39 other films released within the US,
will compete in the Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards category. The winner will be selected by the public at
large via the Yahoo Movies and ET Online websites.
The awards will be presented as part of the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony on the evening of Monday, October 18, 2004, at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel,
9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.
Related links:
Related discussion:
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2046 Nominated To Hollywood Film Awards
October 07, 2004
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2046,
director Wong Kar-wai's long-awaited sequel of sorts to his
2000 art-house hit In the Mood for Love,
starring Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi,
Maggie Cheung,
Chang Chen,
Gong Li,
Carina Lau,
Takuya Kimura,
Faye Wong and
Dong Jie, among others,
has been nominated to compete in the 8th Annual Hollywood Film Awards
by the Hollywood Film Festival.
The Hollywood Film Festival, running from October 12 through 18, 2004, will have 60 nominees from around the world —
16 world premieres and 24 US premieres — screening and competing in the Hollywood Film Awards in 3 categories: the Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards, the
Hollywood World Awards, and the Hollywood European Awards. 2046, along with 9 other films from Asia, Africa
and Latin America, will compete in the Hollywood World Awards category. The winner will be selected by the public at
large via the Yahoo Movies and ET Online websites.
The awards will be presented as part of the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony on the evening of Monday, October 18, 2004, at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel,
9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.
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House of Flying Daggers Nominated To Hollywood Film Awards
October 07, 2004
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House of Flying Daggers
(Shi Mian Mai Fu - "No Way Out", aka Lovers) — director Zhang Yimou's second wuxia
film since 2002's internationally successful, Oscar nominated Hero,
starring Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau and
Takeshi Kaneshiro (Jin Chengwu) and choreographed by Tony Ching Siu-tung —
has been nominated to compete in the 8th Annual Hollywood Film Awards
by the Hollywood Film Festival.
The Hollywood Film Festival, running from October 12 through 18, 2004, will have 60 nominees from around the world —
16 world premieres and 24 US premieres — screening and competing in the Hollywood Film Awards in 3 categories: the Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards, the
Hollywood World Awards, and the Hollywood European Awards. Flying Daggers, along with 9 other films from Asia, Africa
and Latin America, will compete in the Hollywood World Awards category. The winner will be selected by the public at
large via the Yahoo Movies and ET Online websites.
The awards will be presented as part of the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony on the evening of Monday, October 18, 2004, at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel,
9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.
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Zhang Ziyi One Of Empire Magazine's 100 Sexiest Movie Stars
October 06, 2004
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Zhang Ziyi was recently voted one of "The 100 Sexiest Movie Stars Of All Time" in a special issue of that name published by
Empire, Great Britain's largest movie magazine. The issue
is a free accompaniment to the November 2004
issue on sale now.
It's been six years since Empire last polled its readers to find out who they thought made up the
100 sexiest movie stars of all time, and Zhang Ziyi was ranked #76.
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2046 Premier In Taipei
October 02, 2004
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2046 director and cast
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Thursday evening, September 30, 2004, 2046,
director Wong Kar-wai's long-awaited sequel of sorts to his
2000 art-house hit In the Mood for Love,
starring Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi,
Maggie Cheung,
Chang Chen,
Gong Li,
Carina Lau,
Takuya Kimura,
Faye Wong and
Dong Jie, among others, held a premier
screening in Taipei, Taiwan, China.
At left in attendance at the Taipei premier of 2046 are director Wong Kar-wai and cast members Tony Leung, Carina Lau and Chang Chen.
Unfortunately, several other cast members were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts, including Zhang Ziyi, who is
currently in Los Angeles for the pre-production of Memoirs of a Geisha.
Moving forward in one-year increments throughout the 1960's, 2046 continues the tale of journalist Mr. Chow (Tony Leung).
After moving into a hotel vacated by a nightclub performer he once knew, he gradually crafts a science-fiction novel about
the future named after his room number, 2046.
Images courtesy of SINA
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House of Flying Daggers Sneak Preview In Manila
October 02, 2004
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House of Flying Daggers
(Shi Mian Mai Fu - "No Way Out", aka Lovers) — director Zhang Yimou's second wuxia
film since 2002's internationally successful, Oscar nominated Hero,
starring Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau and
Takeshi Kaneshiro (Jin Chengwu) and choreographed by Tony Ching Siu-tung —
will have special, whole-day sneak previews at selected theaters across Metro Manila on October 4 and 5, 2004.
In the meantime, the public is invited to view a special photo exhibit about House of Flying Daggers now open in two
area theaters: Glorietta 4,
Ayala Center, Makati City, Manila (+6327527880) and SM Megamall,
Julia Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong, Manila (+6326335012).
Interested in seeing either the film or special photo exhibit or both with a fellow fan? Please, contact zimoonstar
(April) via her linked user profile or by text messaging at +639178509150. Because of school, she's only available after 6 PM.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, House of Flying Daggers,
China’s official entry to the Best Foreign Language category at next year’s Academy Awards,
opens nationwide in the Philippines on Wednesday, October 13, 2004.
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