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It is reported that the set of Battle of Red Cliff has been dismantled for the scenes for the role Zhu Ge Liang and Zhou Yu for the moment because Tony Leung is still studying his Mandarin lines....hahahaha...ROFL... and will be rebuilt when he's ready.  For the moment, all other actors' scenes are being filmed and Takeshi is now filming in scenes with Lin Zhi Ling.  The movie shoot ends in August. Source

Posted on June 6, 2007:

Okay, here is the likely singer for the theme song for the Battle of Red Cliff - Hu Bin. The news have it that Chow Yun Fat's return to the set of Battle of Red Cliff is just rumors created by the production company. Zhang Li is already at the set doing that role that CYF was rumored to take.  Thank goodness.

Posted May 14, 2007:

OMG This is foul, foul, foul!!! Let me guess. The American investors are pressuring the other investors that they will pull out funds if CYF is not in it because that was what they banked on!

Chow Yun-fat has agreed to return to John Woo's new Chinese epic, movie publicist says

This is downright foul!!!

I hate this more than him dropping off together!

I hate the fact that he will play a subordinate to Tony Leung!

FOUL, FOUL, FOUL!!!

I hate China Film Group!!! I hate Terence Chang!!! I hate John Woo.

This is a FIASCO!!!

This is a major loss of face for CYF!

   
    



Posted May 12, 2007:

I will translate the news reports of the conference I gathered over the net all mixed together in no specific order and not necessarily matched to the press conference sequence. In it are the comments of the many reporters who were present and they wrote their impressions of the actors at the conference. I skipped all the actors whom I am not interested in, as usual.








Article: May 11, 2007
Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Video clips: 1, 2

There were 300 reporters at the conference with a lot of security around.

Just presenting the actors quickly to come to the front according to the seating arrangement, it took over 1 minute and it felt like it was a film festival or film award type of atmosphere. The press thought that John Woo should feel quite pleased this time with this dream cast. (The most applause was Tony at this moment).

Tony was asked how he felt to be working together with John Woo again after 10 plus years. Tony said he’s happy to work with him and last time it was a contemporary piece and this time it is a Chinese historical piece, he is quite excited about it. Asked how he would play the role of Zhou Yu, he said, “I’m not even very sure because I haven’t read The Romance of the Three Kingdom before. But I study Chinese history quickly at the moment but in it there are a lot of dialog and I’m a bit anxious that I couldn’t do it well. But the director gave me an insight of what it would involve. This Zhou Yu here would have a bit more humor and he added scenes of him playing music.”

Takeshi said, “My role. I can’t tell, it’s top secret. I have only come across the Romance of the Three Kingdoms only through manga and video games. I have since read up on different versions of the character and haven’t decided how to play this role whether it should be a Zhu Ge Liang that all of you are familiar with or one that is totally different but as an actor, I would be able to do what the director wants. What outsiders think (about his image being too cool) would not affect me.”

Chang Chen said, “I was asked to perform this role and I didn’t know about this story enough and only then I started reading up on it because before I only learn about it through video games. I think the director asked for me because Sun Quan is a character who couldn’t make up his mind and it is very similar to myself in real life.”

Note: The articles said that the reporters seemed to be surprised that Tony, Takeshi and Chang Chen all have not read the original of The Romance of Three Kingdoms but only learnt about it through manga and video games.

John Woo said Chang Chen has an air about him that is perfect for him to play the role of Sun Quan and after hesitation, Sun Quan would make a crucial decision in the movie and it’s very suitable for him.

This is Lin Zhiling’s first movie role. How does she feel about it? “The character does not say a lot but it is a very common girl who lives very simply but she does not live a common life. (There’s only 2 lines of dialog.) Even though I don’t have much dialog, I would be able to express my acting and my love for my onscreen husband through my actions.”



For Vickie this is a role where she dares to love and hate, Vickie Zhao said, “I think this story is very right for me because I too am one who dare to love and hate. My on screen brother is hesitant to marry me off but I would take the first step already ready to aid my brother. We play a complementary pair. I would do my best.”

John Woo, “At the beginning of the filming, an actor left us and whether it is objective or subjective reason, at that moment, I have a sense of failure and felt extremely depressed. But on the other hand, I felt very comforted because the actors and production team all said individually that they have faith that the movie will continue shooting. After that, I received a comforting phone call from a friend and that friend was Tony. He knew that this is my most cherished work and even though after making Lust Caution, his mental and physical state has not been well, he wished to help. So we invited him to join and he agreed to star as Zhou Yu. Even though a lot of things have happened, because of Tony Leung, I have never lost faith. If this movie succeeds, it is not the work of myself but all the people working on this project.”

John Woo personally handed the microphone to Tony and Takeshi and looked on warmly and nodded with smile every time these two spoke. He continuously thanked Tony and even at times Tony felt embarrassed and not knowing what else to do except smile with his signature electrifying eyes. Insert the news summary of ABC about his gratitude for Tony on Tony’s phone call.

With regard to Tony’s earlier departure and then return, he said, “I left earlier because the movie filming would take very long, I was tired after making Lust, Caution and I was not in good shape physically and mentally and most of all, the role demands Mandarin and it’s tough for me to prepare. I was concerned about John Woo after the departure of the main cast because I knew this was a film very dear to his heart and so I called him just to comfort him. But I didn’t expect them to invite me back to the cast. “ The press applauded.

The reporter asked what Takeshi thinks that he’s too cool looking for the role, Takeshi said that as an actor, he would do his best to what he could to flesh out the role. Takeshi said, “When I got the phone call to play the Zhu Ge Liang role, I was very worried because if Tony is backing out of the role, would I be able to do it? But Tony then called me and encouraged me and said I could accomplish this role without difficulty and only then I relaxed and we even chatted on the phone and laughed and even talked more about the script and the times of onscreen appearance. He said he is happy that I would be replacing his role. I became more confident after talking to him.”

The press asked if Lin Zhi Ling felt it was regretful that she could not play wife to CYF and about how few lines she has. “She said she doesn’t mind the amount of dialog or not. The director chooses me and so I would do my best. (As for the height difference) At the beginning, I was asked which actor I would like to be my onscreen husband but as Tony said, we are in passive mode as actors. I don’t mind who I am paired with nor do I mind the height. In my eyes, the air and style of the man is more important than his height.” (The press applauded realizing again the wittiness of Lin Zhiling and Tony smiled at the response. ) (Neat response!!!) Tony said, “Different pairing would have different chemistry. It really is very variable.”

The press asked about whether John Woo’s relationship has broken with CYF. John Woo said, “Just like in the romance of the Three Kingdoms, there is reunion and departure, and departure and reunion. In this movie, we couldn’t work together due to some objective reasons but outside of the work, he is still an actor I appreciate the most and also my very good friend.”

Tony was asked why he would now play Zhou Yu on return, he said, “I don’t have any choice. As an actor, we are in the passive mode.” Reporters laughed.

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My take on this press conference:

The star will be Tony Leung. John Woo is totally apologetic (even in looks) about losing CYF. He still wishes it could have been CYF in truth and because CYF vacated the role, the film could have flopped right there and then because he truly lost all momentum at that moment. That’s why he thanked Tony Leung profusely for saving this film.

I have once highlighted an article here on the lament of Chinese mainland actors being relegated to secondary roles. This appears to be another such case. HK actor in the lead, with 3 Taiwanese originated ones close behind. We have to count ourselves lucky for now that China does not mandate that the main role has to be Chinese mainlander but only 1/3 of the roles have to be mainlander for now.

There's just not enough pizzazz to these Chinese mainlanders still.



Posted April 20, 2007:

It's final. Tony Leung Chiu Wai will play Zhou Yu. That's fine. I'll watch the movie.

Posted April 17, 2007:

So it is official. Chow Yun Fat has resigned from the Battle of Red Cliff. I am urging all readers to read my translation of Chow Yun Fat's official reply if you don't read Chinese.  My translation is word for word. If Chow Yun Fat's words are not translated word for word, don't believe that translation or you would only get the negative buzz that the press is generating. Read what really happened here.

Article: April 16, 2007
Source: http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2007-04-16/19041521611.html

Following Tony Leung's departure from Battle of Red Cliff, sina.com has an exclusive interview this early morning with CYF on the news regarding the rumor that CYF has required over 100 unreasonable conditions including exceeding 3 times the pay of the Curse of the Golden Flower, and also required that the fund be paid all in one lump sum causing the American insurer from the investor to finally take CYF off the cast.

The reporter today contacted CYF for clarification and CYF also responded at once. "On Friday night, through my lawyer, I have officially resigned from the film production. The reason is that the production company really did not give the script to me and also could not give me the schedule for filming. To appear in a huge production and to have to speak Mandarin, I need sufficient time to prepare. But I only got the script a week ago. I really do not have the confidence to perform my part well so I resigned from it."

As to whether the contract was too demanding on CYF's part, CYF said, "The fee has always been offered by the investors side and later on they said they couldn't afford it and requested that I reduce the fee. We already reduced the fee. Then they later wanted the movie to be split into two parts and I haven't requested to increase the fee. And recently, they again requested that the pay be issued by instalments and I have also agreed. So I don't know where did all this come from. As for the American insurance company not accepting my contract, when I made the Children of Huang Shi and The Curse of the Golden Flower, it was also with this Amercian company. If this company thinks they have problem with my contract, why were they able to accept my previous two movies? So I don't believe in this saying. My contract is definitely according to the American standards of making Western films and it involves a huge amount of Chinese captial. They may not be accustomed to Hollywood contracts yet. So from The Curse of the Golden Flower to the Battle of Red Cliff, so much problems arise. Anyway, I hope that this matter would not damage the friendship between Zhang Jia Zhen and John Woo.

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I am at the moment very sad about this. Chow Yun Fat would have been perfect with Tony Leung in this movie and John Woo could have used Mandarin dubbers. All Hong Kong actors have dubbers. Andy Lau used a dubber in House of Flying Dagger , Battle of Wits and A World of Thieves. What is so bad about it? I think the Chinese investors want genuine mainland Chinese actors to tell the truth and they finally managed to kick all HK actors off once they hooked John Woo in. John Woo after all has a Hollywood ring to the name and the Chinese now insist on two parts and making it hard for superstars.

I'm not going to watch this movie if even Chang Chen is taken off. XXXX the Chinese investors.

John Woo should seriously take Chow Yun Fat back to New York and make a movie about gangsters. The Chinese gang against the Vietnamese or Russian gangs.


Posted April 16, 2007:

Chow Yun Fat is going to be replaced ???? Thanks to Charlotte for posting this at the CYF thread just now.