Actress Zhu XudanSource: Weibo
Monday, 13 January 2025
China's first deep-sea military blockbuster set to be released on Jan 29 #Entertainment #China #Beauty #Pretty
(China Daily) As one of the biggest-budget upcoming films, Operation Leviathan is scheduled to be released on Jan 29, the first day of the Year of the Snake.
It is a follow-up to Hong Kong director Dante Lam's blockbuster Operation Red Sea, the highest-grossing film of 2018, which raked in a staggering 3.65 billion yuan ($500.1 million) at the box office.
For the new film, the elite assault team Jiaolong (dragon) reunites to face a more perilous mission in the fictional Republic of Ihwea, which has emerged from the quagmire of civil war only to be threatened by terrorists backed by a powerful foreign country.
Using a life-size prop submarine 110 meters in length, the film includes an underwater submarine battle, with the actors playing the navy officers and soldiers having undergone intensive training ranging from combat skills to gun usage and diving techniques.
Du Jiang reminisced about the challenges posed by the massive prop, which was too large to be kept outdoors as it attracted many curious tourists during the filming of the movie in Qingdao, Shandong province.
Yu Dong, the founder of Bona Film Group, said that the large tank dug for the ocean scenes was capable of generating waves. Despite filming taking place in winter, with temperatures plummeting to -10 C, the actors performed their stunts without the assistance of doubles.
China's first deep-sea war-themed blockbuster, the movie was filmed in IMAX and when shown on an IMAX screen, contains 26 percent more content than a standard screen.
Source: By Xu Fan | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2024-12-27 18:58
Sunday, 12 January 2025
Macao shoot a shot in arm #Entertainment #China #Beauty #Pretty
(China Daily) Starring in the TV series Begin Again provided singer-actress Chen Haoyu with her first opportunity to visit the Macao Special Administrative Region this summer.Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the city experiences plentiful rainfall during the summer. This aspect left a strong impression on the 32-year-old, who is now a Shanghai resident.
"During filming, we often encountered situations where the weather would be perfect one moment, then suddenly there would be a heavy downpour, drenching the entire city. But just as soon as the rain stopped, the sun would come out again, and the ground would dry rapidly, as if the rain had never happened," she says.
Begin Again tells the story of a group of urban individuals of different ages and professions who have serendipitous encounters in Macao, discovering love and courage. The show makes a feature of Macao as a world-class tourism destination with its diversity of culture, historical sites, boutique hotels, attractive coastal scenery, and a variety of cuisines.
Despite covering just 33.3 square kilometers, the city has more than 170 attractions. Its historical center, which blends Chinese and Western architectural styles, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2005.
In 1999, the year Macao returned to the motherland, it welcomed 6.6 million visitors. Fast-forward 25 years, and this year's tourist numbers are expected to surpass 33 million, according to Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office.
Begin Again was recently aired on CCTV 1 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return. Chen plays Mai Youge, a workaholic account manager from an advertising agency suffering from mental stress who is on a business trip to Macao.
During her stay, she meets a young man. Exploring the city together, they learn about each other, discover new possibilities, gradually let go of stress, and learn to face life more positively.
"This series depicts the lives of modern urban youth in Macao, as they forge emotional connections with others, nurture relationships, and approach life with a positive and contented attitude in a romantic, laid-back city," says Li Mo, director of the drama.
Reflecting on things she gleaned from Macao's unpredictable weather, Chen says: "Sometimes, when we were filming outdoors and it started raining, we would wait for the rain to stop. Previously, I would have felt anxious. But in Macao, knowing how changeable the weather is, I could appreciate the romance of waiting for the rain to stop. It made me feel lighthearted."
This "lightheartedness" is particularly relevant to Chen this year. A singer, who had appeared in musicals and TV dramas for a decade, she had never attracted much attention but in July, she won the hit music reality show Riding Wind 2024, gaining her nearly 4.5 million followers on social media platform Sina Weibo. Though relatively unknown, she grew unexpectedly in popularity and won for her singing and dancing, melodious voice, modest personality, and beauty.
The flood of magazine shoots, commercial endorsements, performance invitations, awards, acting offers that followed, was greater than she was used to receiving.
"I am striving to adapt to this fast pace, to be less flustered," she says.
She remains open to experience, which has led her to become who she is today.
Growing up in Fujian province, Chen studied music engineering at the Xiamen University of Technology. In 2012, she started to study at the Yuan Ze University in Taiwan as an exchange student.
She competed in the Taiwan TV's singing contest Chinese Million Star, which has previously launched the careers of pop stars like Jam Hsiao, Yoga Lin, and Aska Yang, and claimed the title in 2014.
"At the time, I participated to have this new experience," she says.
After winning, Chen signed with a major record company, but it was acquired shortly afterward, leading to her contract being dropped. She returned to the Chinese mainland and ventured into musical theater. Repeated practice and experience gradually helped her find her way in acting, and she began to get invitations for film and TV roles.
"I had many auditions and met lots of directors, and sometimes, not being chosen simply indicates a mismatch of needs, not a denial of my worth. I believe the value of an actor does not solely depend on how well a TV or film production is received, or the opinions of others, but on whether I feel that I have put all my energy into performing that role."
As Mai Youge, Chen is playing a character she finds comfortable and engaging and just as her character slowly learns to let go of stress and face life with a relaxed attitude in Macao, Chen has also experienced her own mental transition in the process.
A scene from the TV series.
A scene from the TV series.
A scene from the TV series.
A scene from the TV series.Source: By Xing Wen | China Daily | Updated: 2024-12-27 06:59
Saturday, 11 January 2025
Films, TV series deepen cultural ties between China and ASEAN countries #Entertainment #China #Beauty #Pretty
(Xinhua) When How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, a heartfelt Thai film about family bonds, grossed over 100 million yuan ($14 million) on the Chinese mainland this summer, it became more than just a box-office success.
The film's cultural resonance extended beyond its storyline, with its warm narrative and inclusion of elements like the Chaozhou dialect and local opera striking a deep chord with Chinese audiences.
In recent years, films from China and ASEAN countries have gained widespread acclaim in each other's markets, fostering a deeper mutual understanding.
The recently concluded 2024 China-ASEAN Film and Culture Week in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, featured 20 outstanding films, highlighting the power of cinema in fostering cultural bonds.
"I watched Abang Adik at the film festival and look forward to seeing more Malaysian films in Chinese cinemas in the future," says Tan Jun Jie, a Malaysian student residing in Guangxi.
Tan notes that he has attended the festival for two consecutive years and hopes that more Chinese audiences will gain insight into Malaysian culture through films.
Meanwhile, Chinese films such as The Wandering Earth and No More Bets have garnered widespread attention in ASEAN countries, as platforms like iQiyi, Tencent, TrueID and iflix have integrated Chinese and Southeast Asian media, expanding access to a diverse range of films and TV series across the region.
"The digital medium has become an omnipotent link connecting everyone in life and work in both the region and the world," says Zheng Xuefang, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Malaysia, in a seminar held in Kuala Lumpur earlier last month.
Beyond film and drama distribution, coproductions between China and ASEAN countries have yielded artistic and commercial success. Chinese films such as Detective Chinatown and Lost in Thailand were shot in both China and Thailand, blending the cultures of both countries, which were widely loved by audiences.
"These works highlight the creativity of cultural integration and the unique role of films as a cultural bridge," says Wan Xingwei, director of Guangxi Film Group Co.
He adds that future China-ASEAN film collaborations should expand beyond imports and exports to include joint production, talent exchange and technological cooperation.
"Chinese teams have advantages in narrative and filmmaking techniques, while Thailand excels in visual aesthetics; Vietnam is renowned for its documentary production; and Indonesia's traditional animation techniques are worth learning from. By leveraging these strengths, we can create win-win cooperations," Wan says.
Source: Xinhua | Updated: 2025-01-02 06:14
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