THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR AKA AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE
HAS IT'S FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE IN BEIJING
(3/11/2006) Zhang Yimou's latest epic AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MOON SING JUNG DAI WONG GUM GAP) on
the morning of the 11th held a grand production start ceremony at the Beijing Film Academy. Zhang Yimou,
Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li were present.
While brewing AUTUMN REMEMRANCE has already attracted the media's attention not only because it is Zhang
Yimou's latest 360 million yuan production, but also because it united Chinese film industry's most
outstanding actor and actress in the mind of Zhang Yimou, Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li. In addition it is also
Zhang and Gong's reunion after 20 years. It also is a variation of Cao Yu's play THUNDERSTORM (LUI YU);
whether its fierce character conflict and heavy script background can change Zhang Yimou's story weakness in
his past big budget films has becomes another reason to watch. Zhang Yimou expressed that after the
adaptation these characters are both THUNDERSTORM characters and through film professional's second
hand creation walking and breathing characters that can bring viewers endless thought.
Zhang Yimou has taken THUNDERSTORM's complex character conflict to the palace and turned it into the
struggle between desire and fate. Zhang Yimou claimed that this script has gone through no less than ten
edits. "Film cannot have a play's copy. It has to keep to avoid play's tone and reduce a massive amount of
dialogue. The use of film language to interpret is the most important."
Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li, Liu Ye, and Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) play respectively the Emperor, the Empress, the
Prince and the young man. Right now the production has reached its second week. The two leads Chow Yun
Fat and Gong Li could not be more excited about the new spark from their rehearsals.
Also, the big production has used 20,000 people in a major battle scene between two armies. For the big sets
in Beijing, Hengdian and Chongqing, the palace sale is 20 times of the one in HERO. Chow Yun Fat's Emperor
robe alone cost as much as all of HERO's lead costumes. With all the continuous promotion, AUTUMN
REMEMBRANCE will definitely be this year's entertainment event.
Producer Cheung Wai Ping confidently said, "HERO has brought viewers who have been away back to the
cinemas. AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE will make viewers feel after leaving the cinemas it is the most satisfying
national film in years!"
As the film starts production, the new round of Mou girl casting has already attracted many actors' eyes. Zhang
Yimou stated his casting standard was: Mou girl cultural quality is the most important.
In responding to a Beijing Film Academy performance department student's question of why she was not cast in
the film and asked whether Mou Girl has to be young and look like Gong Li, Zhang Yimou expressed, the role
requirement was the most important and had nothing to do with age and looks. However an actor's cultural
quality was very important. "Only those with great cultural quality have the ability to comprehend and understand
and certain level of manner."
As generation after generation of young actresses like Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi, Dong Jie, Li Man became big stars
after working on Zhang Yimou's big films, Mou Girl has become the people's special title for actresses who are
cast in Director Zhang's films.
As the national big film leader, Zhang Yimou honestly admitted, actually film needs variety. As the current market
is less than well rounded, most attention is focused on the so-called big films. As this industry become more
well rounded, various genres will receive attention as well.
Zhang Yimou's set has an "African student". To reporters, actors and onlookers who have tried their best to get
on the set, this friend's treatment is undoubtedly special. Zhang Yimou said that the friend is a doctor who is
studying in China. He waited outside the set for a day and said to Zhang Yimou. "I hope to make our own
movies in Africa." Once
upon a time, Zhang Yimou also led Chinese film toward the world like this. He deeply understood the
importance of film to race.
Already with a few gray beard Chow Yun Fat was just as charismatic as ever. He seriously responded to the
media questions and also skillfully changed the topics. With his humorous wit Chow Yun Fat has made the
serious AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE production start ceremony lighter.
"Today I want to play a game with you." Chow Yun Fat who came from Hong Kong via Hollywood has poor
Mandarin, but in two short weeks he has picked up the Beijing accent and made the crowd laugh.
The "game" he referred to was that reporters must coordinate with him and not to ask questions until he gave
the "start" like a director. "Turn off cell phones, silence, camera, action, flying paparazzi, start!" After a series of
words, everyone understood that "flying paparazzi" represented actors who spoke for the director and "action"
was to prevent
visiting reporters' secretly photo taking.
For their first collaboration, Zhang Yimou had endless praises for Chow Yun Fat. "Each of his scenes exceeds
expectation!" Chow Yun Fat on the other hand did not return the favor, as he complained to the director with
"action" was so poor that he and the Empress' "embrace" photos was caught by the "flying paparazzi". The
problem should be
properly addressed.
When asked about working with Zhang Yimou, Chow Yun Fat did not express like the other actors "Zhang Yimou
is the director I admire the most" but used his wife as a shield instead. "As an actor I have no choice. This is my
wife's decision. When my wife lets me work I work. I don't work only because I like Zhang Yimou or Gong Li."
Then he
beg for mercy. "Sorry, director; sorry, Ms. Gong Li; actually you are people who I love."
Someone asked him how working with Ang Lee, John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) and Zhang Yimou differ, Chow Yun Fat
seriously said, "I wasn't familiar with the first two. Now I am the most familiar with him. Everyday is as familiar
as food shopping. Whatever the director tell me to do I do, I am only one of the director's tools."
A reporter suggested that Chow Yun Fat was not as successful in America as he was in Hong Kong. Chow Yun
Fat disagreed. He felt that everything was fate and opportunity. "Many people who I have acted with act better
than I do. Why only Jackie Chan, Lee Nin Kit (Jet Li) and I went to Hollywood? They just haven't had the chance.
In the 80s Ng Yu
Sum and I have made many films that became hits in America. So I went. It's just that simple. As an actor
sometimes one has to believe in the arrangement of fate!"
When a reporter asked him what was the most painful and the happiest parts of the film were, Chow Yun Fat
changed his tone again. "Every minute on the set has been a joy. Every minute on the set I am with the
Empress, it's truly a pleasure. If actors can't be happy on the set, how can they play the role well with such great
stress?" Then he
gave a fearful look and said, "Is my wife here? Don't tell my wife, don't write about this." The crowd roared in
laughter.
Of course talks about co-stars were inevitable. Chow Yun Fat not only attentively took Gong Li's coat and
retrieved her wrap but also gave her an intimate embrace when he departed. He not only burnt through the
reporters' films but also kept his answers and scenes with Gong Li confidential. He sighed, "Sigh! The feeling
is very hard to say. Sigh!
I am too excited, especially when I see her costumes, my eyes can't move, my hands can't move, sigh! Too
beautiful!" Then he gave Gong Li a loving look and made Gong Li feel a little awkward.
When a reporter saw a big name director and stars he or she would have a hard time controlling emotions.
When the question made no sense, Chow Yun Fat took the chance to have a little fun and defended the young
reporter. "Now you know how I feel when I see the Empress? Right, it's this feeling!"
AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE also caught attention with the casting of Gong Li. Ten years ago Zhang Yimou made
the then Central drama student Gong Li into an international superstar, then they went their separate ways. Ten
years later they reunited and shocked the world again.
When Gong Li told about the reason for accepting the role she had a little "official color". "This is a good script.
Director Zhang is a good director. Being able to work with Chow Yun Fat is one of my dreams."
Zhang Yimou obviously favors Gong Li. He admitted that he once dreamt about tailoring MO JUK TIN for Gong
Li. "Because I feel she has this quality and this caliber." Later due to the script the dream went unfulfilled.
Zhang Yimou this time chose to adapt the classic THUNDERSTOMR and move the backdrop to the Tang
Dynasty palace. "This has also been one of my dreams of many years. The two ideal performers in the Chinese
show
business for me to perform the characters are Gong Li and Chow Yun Fat."
When asked whether the reunion after such a long time apart felt strange, Zhang Yimou decisively said, "Feeling
strange is impossible. She now performs better than before. When I watch the playback on the set, each scene
exceeds expectation. You can plan two best actors' every move in advance. They will provide you with pleasant
surprises."
Gong Li also confirmed that the first scene shot was a very big scene. As the shoot went on she and Chow Yun
Fat had a different kind of feeling. "Not what the director wanted but something completely new." Gong Li
reminisced, "When two actors exchange with their hearts they create a different kind of spark, which is what I
like."
Gong Li said that Zhang Yimou has become more gracious than before and has been very polite with every
actor, which was not easy for someone who has known him in the past to take. "He is too polite. Maybe that is
his style now. When he explains a scene to us actors he is very careful. On the other hand I am impolite in
comparison. Sometimes
halfway through I would say, 'I know I know' then walk away. He has no objection."
Ang Lee's Best Director Oscar Award has touched Zhang Yimou, China's most excellent local director. Zhang
Yimou said, "Ang Lee is an old friend of mine. I am very happy for him."
"Oscar is an American award, it's no big deal but it is very flashy. I have always hoped that our Chinese films can
go out and win more awards, which will be very beneficial to Chinese cultural position and international
influence elevation."
Not being nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, Gong Li said, "I didn't have too much regret from not
winning. I don't feel either way about winning an award." In Gong Li's eyes, Oscar is China's Golden Rooster
and Hundred Flower. At the same time she felt that Chinese and Asian films' growing popularity internationally
is good for investors and actors.
When asked about the difference between production at home and abroad, Gong Li only said, "The languages
are different, the looks are different, the basic elements are different. Abroad from directors to our drivers are all
film university graduates. Of course the director styles are also different. Every director's style is different to
begin with." Who knows whether in her eyes Zhang Yimou's style has changed. (Hong Kong Film Top 10)
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