OLD NEWS
TSUI HARK ANNOUNCES SEVEN SWORDS
Internationally acclaimed director, Tsui Hark, announced his new martial arts wuxia epic project, SEVEN SWORDS, today in Beijing. Featuring a star-studded cast, SEVEN SWORDS will be shot in various locations in Xinjiang, China.
Produced, directed, and written by Tsui Hark, SEVEN SWORDS is an action-packed wuxia epic about love, betrayal, and heroism. Starring Asia hottest stars, including award winning Hong Kong actor and singer Leon Lai (Three, Infernal Affairs 3), versatile actress Charlie Young (New Police Story, Fallen Angels), international action star Donnie Yen (Blade 3, Hero), award winning China actors Sun Hong-Lei (Zhou Yu's Train) and Lu Yi, and actress Kim So Yeon from Korea. With state of the art costume and set designs by Eddie Wong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and action direction by acclaimed martial arts choreographer, Lau Kar-Leung (Drunken Master 2).
Adapted from renowned writer Liang Yu-Shen timeless classic, SEVEN SWORDS tells the story of seven unlikely heroes gathered together to save a village from the massacre of a general that is seeking a fortune through killing. In the early 1600, the long ruling Ming Dynasty has been overthrown, and the Manchurian invaders from the north have taken over the sovereignty, beginning what is known as the Ching Dynasty, and a highly oppressive reign thus begins. In order to prevent rebels developing revolutionary plots, the newly set-up government immediately imposes a ruthless emergency martial law, ordering all martial art practitioners to turn in their weapons to district officials. Those who fail to do so will be considered committing a serious crime and would result to immediate execution. But soon enough, people would discover that even if they were to obey the law and turn in their weapon, their fate is equally in dire. Wind Fire, a surrendered military official from the previous dynasty, sees this as an opportunity to make a fortune for himself by helping to execute the new law. After endless massacres, Wind Fire next goal is to attack the final frontier, the village of Bowei Fortress.
Fu Qingzhu, a retired executioner from the previous dynasty feels the need to put a stop to this brutality and sets out to save Bowei Fortress. He brings Wu Yuanyin and Han Zhiban from the village with him to Mount Heaven to seek help from Master Shadow-Glow, a hermit who is a master of swords and leads a group of disciples of great swordsmanship. Master Shadow-Glow agrees to help, and orders four of his best disciples to go. Together with Chu Zhaonan, Yang Yunchong, Mulong, and Xin Longzi, SEVEN SWORDS is formed. Fu Qingzhu takes the lead and they set out to save the people of Bowei Fortress. As they take the entire village leading them to the road of a safer place, they begin to encounter mysterious confusion. Food and water is poisoned, and trails of escape are marked with signs leading the enemy to them. They soon realize that there is an undercover spy amongst them, and SEVEN SWORDS must identify him/her before Wind Fire army gets to them
Principle photography for SEVEN SWORDS begins September 1, 2004, and the entire film will be shot in Urumuqi, Tien Shan, Shanshan, and various locations in Xinjiang, China. The film is set for release in the summer of 2005.
SEVEN SWORDS is produced and directed by Tsui Hark, from the script co-written by Tsui Hark, Cheung Chi-Sing, and Chun Tien-Nan. Executive Producers are Ma Zhong-Jun, Raymond Wong, and Lee Joo-Ick.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAST & CREW
LEON LAI (Yang Yunchong)
Leon Lai won the 2002 Taiwan Golden Horse Award for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in the highly acclaimed horror film, Three, where he portrayed an obsessive husband trying to revive his dead wife with Chinese medicine. In 2003, he appeared in the final installment of the high profile franchise that created a box office sensation all over Asia and international markets, Infernal Affairs 3. He recently starred alongside Asian pop diva, Faye Wong, in Leaving Me, Loving You, a story and script he created and wrote.
Leon Lai was born in Beijing and brought up in Hong Kong. After returning to Hong Kong from his studies in England in 1985, Leon Lai entered himself in the 5th annual singing contest and won 3rd place. His potential was immediately recognized and thus began his performing career. He made his breakthrough in 1990 with his first album, becoming an immediate hit, and ultimately winning him Best Newcomer in the Hong Kong annual music awards. He went on to release many albums which all achieved record breaking sales, earning him the nickname King of Pop . While making record breaking albums, Leon Lai also starred in numerous popular TV dramas and over 35 films. His acting was finally recognized in Comrades: Almost a Love Story starring opposite of the fabulous Maggie Cheung, in which he earned nominations for Best Actor in both the Hong Kong Film Award and the Taiwan Golden Horse Award.
A versatile performer, Leon Lai has achieved sensational success in both singing and acting. He has also shown his talents behind the camera, directing several of his own music videos throughout the years, mixing contemporary settings with special effects. Other notable film works include: Heroic Duo, City of Glass, and Fallen Angels.
CHARLIE YOUNG (Wu Yuanyin)
Charlie Young was first cast to star in a jewelry commercial with pop idol Aaron Kwok in 1993, and thus began her versatile career. Within a year, she appeared in various movies including acclaimed director Wong Kar-Wai's Ashes of Time, and released her first album which won her The Most Promising Newcomer award.
In the following four years, while continuing to release albums both in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Charlie further developed her acting career by working with various directors, including Butterfly Lovers by Tsui Hark, Intimates by Jacob Cheung, and once again worked with Wong Kar-Wai on the film Fallen Angels.
Charlie Young's achievement in fame and success in just a span of 4 years created a phenomenal following. However, just when she reached the peak of her career, Charlie decided to take a break to pursue her real interests---Image Consulting. While busy developing her business, she had never forgotten about acting, she provided her voice for both Tsui Hark s animation Xiao Qian and Disney's Tarzan.
Charlie Young is now ready to return to the big screen. She will soon be seen starring opposite Jackie Chan in the upcoming film New Police Story scheduled to release in September 2004.
DONNIE YEN (Chu Zaonan)
Donnie Yen recently appeared in the worldwide hit Blade 2, where he also acted as the action choreographer for the film.
Born to martial arts masters, Donnie Yen began to practice martial arts at a very young age. His mother began teaching him the art of tai chi at the age of four, and as he grew up, he went on to experiment with various martial arts, from tae kwon do to wushu. Donnie Yen was invited to train in Beijing, and there he met his next mentor, the now internationally acclaimed action choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping, who was to change his life eternally.
Donnie got his first film role in Drunken Tai-Ji in 1984 when he was only 19. He made his breakthrough with the role of General Lan in Tsui Hark's Once Upon a Time in China II. His finale scene with Jet Li now still remains to be one of the best watched fights today. Donnie went on to make his directorial debut in Legend of Wolf, which not only made outstanding box-office performance, but also created a new diversity in his film career.
In 2000, Donnie Yen made his American film debut as the immortal Jin Ke in Highlander: Endgame. He's also starred opposite Jackie Chan in the box-office hit Shanghai Knights. He will next be seen in internationally acclaimed director Zhang Yimou's Hero with Jet Li, which is being released in the USA this month.
SUN HONG-LEI ( Fire-Wind)
Deemed as one of the best actors in China, Sun Hong-Lei first started out as a band lead singer, performing in pubs back in his hometown, Harbin. After graduating from The Central Academy of Drama, Sun first acted in stage dramas. His outstanding performances landed him his breakthrough role in his first TV drama, Yongbu Mingmu, where he successfully portrayed an assassin. He then went on to star in internationally acclaimed director Zhang Yimou's The Road Home. His versatility and ability of disappearing into his roles has earned him various best actor awards.
Sun Hong-Lei, recently appeared in the critically acclaimed Zhou Yu's Train (released by Sony Pictures Classics), starring opposite famed Chinese actress, Gong Li.
LU YI ( Han Zhibang)
Lu Yi started acting when he was only 5, where he was accidentally cast as one of the child actors in his first film Chuanshuei Dingdong. After graduating from The Shanghai Academy of Drama, Lu found his breakthrough role in TV drama, Yongbu MingMu, as a lost boy struggling with drug addiction. His successful portrayal not only turned him into a star, it ultimately won him Best Actor and Most Popular Actor award in the annual TV Golden Eagle Awards.
Lu Yi has further showed his talents in singing with his debut album released in 2003. A versatile performer, Lu Yi is considered to be one of the most bankable stars in China.
KIM SO YEON (Green Pearl)
Kim So Yeon gained phenomenal fame with her famous role in Korean TV drama, Anchorwoman, playing a vicious calculating woman who's willing to go to the extremes in order to make it to the top. Though young and beautiful, Kim So Yeon has starred in various Korean TV dramas taking very diverse roles proving her acting abilities.
TSUI HARK ( Producer/Director/Writer)
Tsui Hark recently became the first Chinese film director to ever join the board of judges for the 57th Cannes Film Festival this year.
An internationally acclaimed visionary director, Tsui Hark started making experimental films with 8mm film when he was only 13. After graduating from University of Texas in Austin, majoring in film, Tsui Hark returned to Hong Kong in 1977 and landed a job working in television. A year later, Tsui directed his film debut, The Butterfly Murders. The film raised a lot of attention, and was hailed by many as the start of a new wave in Hong Kong cinema. After making numerous critically and box office successful films, Tsui Hark co-founded his own production house Film Workshop with his wife, Nansun Shi in 1984. Although the company was intended to be contemporary, it went on to become one of the most successful production companies in Hong Kong, having produced now deemed timeless classics such as A Chinese Ghost Story and A Better Tomorrow, directed by John Woo and starring the amazing Chow Yun Fat.
Considered the master of kung-fu action films, Tsui Hark's Swordsman, Swordsman 2, New Dragon Inn, and Once Upon a Time in China, created a new era and standard for the wuxia genre that has now become a trend in filmmaking.
LAU KAR-LEUNG (Action Director)
Lau Kar-Leung has been in the film business for over 50 years, having been in over 400 movies. Respected as a master of his time, Lau Kar-Leung began practicing martial arts with his father since he was eight. He first started out as a stunts man, and was the first stunt choreographer to crossover to director. Having mastered different styles of martial arts, Lau Kar-Leung is famous for being able to deliver a dramatic scene through kung-fu fighting. Having created different styles for the wuxia genre, Lau kar-Leung plays a very important role in the development and the history of Chinese filmmaking. Recent work include: Drunken Monkey and Drunken Master 2.
credits to
http://www.hkentreview.com/2004/features/s...sevenpress.html
simply bcuz i don't like him -.-
and they have such a good name's
