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(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-26 13:49

John Woo ditches gun for sword

Sword is the new gun in John Woo's latest action thriller The Reign of Assassins, which will hit theaters on Sept 28.

The costume drama tells the story of the legendary assassin of the character played by Michelle Yeoh, who wants to lead a normal life with her lover but fails.

Co-directed by Taiwan director Su Chao-pin, the film gathers 12 A-listers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

Unlike most of Woo's films which feature brotherly bonding, this time female characters share half of the main cast.

In addition to Yeoh, the female cast includes Taiwan actress Barbie Hsu, Pace Wu and their mainland counterpart Jiang Yiyan. The six actors include mainland veteran Wang Xueqi, who gave an impressive performance in Chen Kaige's Forever Enthralled, Taiwan director/actor Leon Dai and the mainland's rising star Li Zonghan.

Exclusive behind-the-scenes stories can be found on its website.

 

Intangible culture expo in Jinan

The first China Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo will run from Oct 15-18 in Jinan, capital of Shandong province.

Co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Shandong provincial government, the event will display some selected 800 heritage items and 200 folk artists from across the country.

Featuring live performances, exhibitions, forums and trade fairs, the event will be held every two years at the Intangible Cultural Heritages Expo Garden in Jinan's Huaiyin district, said Kang Qingquan, a key organizer and head of Shandong Provincial Cultural Division.

A permanent site covering a floor space of 40,000 square meters, the expo garden will provide facilities for performances, exhibitions, trading, training and research, in addition to accommodation for at least 5,000 artisans.

 

Words of wisdom from other Buffett

Peter Buffett, the second son of investment guru Warren Buffett, says he is looking forward to the Chinese version of his new book, adding he will bring his solo concert to China in late November.

He was speaking at a video press conference recently.

Life is What You Make It, Peter Buffett's autobiographical work, deals with his personal endeavor to pursue music, how the Buffetts educate their children, and above all, how to find one's own path in life.

"My father did what he loves to do, which is to earn money," he says. "He just told me to do what I love to do and I decided to pursue music."

 

Reflecting on the talent pool

A retrospective exhibition commemorating the Olympic Fine Arts 2008 exhibition is being staged in the Bird's Nest.

The 51 displayed works are by Olympic Fine Arts 2008 award-winners Mo Ke, Huang Yongyu, Fan Zeng, Cui Zimo and 34 others.

Most exhibits are paintings, including traditional Chinese ink paintings and Western oil paintings. Cheng Yuyang's photograph Fan (pictured), which literally means, "Go Back", is the only exception. The exhibition will last until Oct 10.

 

Recognition steeped in tradition

Canned Chinese herbal tea brand Wang Lao Ji, produced by JDB Group, won recognition from more than 1,700 scientists attending the 15th Summit of International Food Science and Technology in South Africa on Aug 23.

The product, which features traditional Chinese herbal tea, earned the Product Innovation and Technology Innovation Award at the annual event, which is recognized as the "Olympics of the food product industry".

Sponsored by the International Union of Food Science and Technology, the Summit of International Food Science and Technology has been an annual event since 1995.

China Daily