Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Ip Man 2?
THE commercial success of "Ip Man" - about the kung fu mentor of Bruce Lee - has prompted its producers to shoot a sequel, "Ip Man 2," but Lee won't appear until "Ip Man 3."
Shooting will begin in August in suburban Songjiang District.
The biopic-action film "Ip Man" about Yip Man, a master of Wing Chun kung fu, took 120 million yuan (US$17.7 million) in Chinese mainland box offices and 25 million yuan in Hong Kong.
Kung fu Lee, who later went on to develop his own style of martial arts, became an apprentice of Yip in the 1960s. His character hasn't yet appeared in his master's story.
"Bruce Lee might not be appearing in the immediate sequel, or at least not until the third movie," director Wong says. "The script hasn't yet reached Lee's part as Lee became Yip's apprentice in the 1960s."
The film by Wilson Yip has received 12 nominations for the upcoming 28th annual Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Director and Best Actor. The awards ceremony will be held on April 19.
"It's quite a good showing for a kung fu category film," says producer Raymond Wong. "There are many stories about the martial arts master so we don't want the film to end."
The sequel budgeted at 100 million yuan will start shooting in suburban Songjiang District, where much of "Ip Man" was filmed.
Preparations for "Ip Man 2" are going well. Director Yip and Wong's son, Edmond Wong, the scriptwriter, have been to Foshan, Guangdong Province, to gather more information about Yip.
"Ip Man" centers on Yip's efforts to unite Chinese people when Foshan fell to the Japanese invaders during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).
The sequel focuses on Yip's life in Hong Kong after 1949; how he opened his first Wing Chun martial arts school, becoming a respected kung fu master.
"Ip Man" may be a turning point in actor Donnie Yen's career. Yen's vivid portrayal of the character demonstrated that he is more than an action star.
"I really didn't expect to get my first Hong Kong Film Awards nomination," says Yen. "Now I can proudly say the movie is my representative work. The role lets me explore my acting potential."
In "Ip Man 2," Yen will be pitted in battle against veteran actor Sammo Hung, the film's deputy director and action choreographer.
However, "Ip Man" isn't the only film about the martial arts master.
Award-winning Hong Kong film maker Wong Kar-wai ("In the Mood for Love," "2046") is making his version of Yip, "The Great Master," starring Tony Leung, Gong Li and Chang Chen. And a 40-episode TV series about Yip will begin shooting in September.
Both directors Wong and Yip are pleased their film has raised public awareness of the master.
"'Ip Man' has now become a film brand," director Yip says. "It's wonderful for Wong and other film makers with different styles to shoot it. We are eager to see more pictures about the great man."
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Hong Kong to open design competition.
Hong Kong will hold an open design competition to set the blueprint for restoring the late Kongfu star Bruce Lee's former residence in the city, a spokesman of the Hong Kong government confirmed on Friday.
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau on Friday said, Rita Lau, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong met with the residence's owner Yu Pang-lin again on Friday to exchange views on the arrangements for restoring the former residence of Bruce Lee and reached consensus on some issues.
The two sides agreed that an open design competition will be held and the best design will be used as the blueprint for restoring the property. The competition would allow the incorporation of suitable design elements to maximize the use of space when restoring the property to its original appearance. It would also provide an opportunity for the public to take part in the project.
Yu will appoint a surveyor's firm to take charge of the design competition, including setting up an adjudication committee and drawing up the selection criteria.
Yu will take up the chairmanship of the adjudication committee. He will also invite representatives from the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and Hong Kong Institute of Planners to participate and provide assistance.
C0pyright China News
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Bruce Lee movies on line
Good site for Bruce Lee lookalikes and some different films after Bruce Lee death.
Join the Bruce Lee club
Join the Bruce Lee UK club today. Life time membership for only £25.
What you get.
Free DVD, poster, membership card, certificate, Bruce Lee book, postcard set.....
email us for details.
BLUK
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Kareem and Bruce Lee
The footage, from Game of Death, gives a great illustration both of the kind of athlete Kareem was, and also the size of his world view. A couple years back, when Andy sat down with Kareem, the Cap talked about his relationship with the late martial arts icon:
AK: Did your friendship and training with Bruce Lee help you with your approach to basketball, either mentally or physically?
KAJ: Oh, definitely. Bruce, more or less, backed up what I had learned from John Wooden. The whole thing about being prepared and understanding your own skills. What you have to offer and what you don't have to offer. Channeling to your approach to everything specific. It was just an echo of John Wooden, from Hong Kong as opposed to Indiana. You have to be committed. You have to be prepared. You have to be willing to sacrifice to be totally prepared. To be in shape and understand the nature of competition. And he wanted to do that.
AK: How did you guys meet?
KAJ: I studied a little martial arts between my sophomore and junior years in New York. And when I came back out to L.A., I wanted to continue my studies. So I went to a gentleman that was publishing a martial arts magazine and I said, "Where can I go to study? I'm out there at UCLA." And he said, "Bruce Lee lives out there." And I was a little put off, because I had started the aikido, which is the Japanese style. And Bruce did Chinese style, so I was gonna have to start over. But he said, "No, no. Bruce is really unique, because it's an eclectic style. You should go have a talk with him." I called him and he invited me over to his house. We talked and immediately got be friends. And he liked the fact that I was a trained athlete coming through the door. It wasn't like I had to get in shape. And I was easily won over by the logic and approach to his style. We were friends from that day on.
