Zhang Ziyi produces and stars in new film

My Lucky Star, Zhang Ziyi's latest production, and in which she acts as lead, will premiere on Sept 17. Zhang also sings the theme song and stars in the music video with Yin Xishui, her disciple in the Chinese version of X-Factor, a TV reality show to find singing talents. Some people have doubted Zhang's ability as a mentor in a singing contest. But she has been very devoted in terms of supporting the contestants. In the music video, Zhang sings and dances with Yin, who used to be a noodle shop owner. Zhang describes Yin as China's Psy, famous for the global hit song Gangnam Style. Dennie Gordon, who directed 30 Rock and What a Girl Wants, directs the film.

Vivo's new release is music to the ears

The smart phone label Vivo has released its latest product, the Vivo X3, with a hi-fi show presented by MTV recently. The light and slim Vivo X3 is a good choice for people who love music as it has a super system called X studio that can search, record and share music. The X studio works like a small recording studio that can produce simple music and the ES9018Hi-Fi system can broadcast high-quality sound. Pop singer Ding Dang and the band Fred performed at the show. Fred is composed of five foreigners in China playing rock and pop music and now popular online.

Teachers' stories told in TV gala

Ten teachers and a teachers' group from rural China are credited as "the most beautiful teachers" for their contribution and sacrifice to education in their own district, event organizer CCTV.com announced on Monday on the eve of Teachers' Day. Each of the recipients - most of whom are from poverty-stricken areas - will get a subsidy of 100,000 yuan ($16,330), the organization committee said. The selection process took more than two months, involving volunteer photographers all over China. The stories of these teachers have been made into a two-hour TV gala, which will be screened on CCTV1 at 8:06 pm and CCTV10 at 8 pm on Tuesday.

Time travel rom-com thrilling adventure

Mainland actress Li Xiaolu worked with Singaporean heartthrob Leon Jay Williams in Timeless Love, a romantic comedy released on Sept 6. The film, directed by Shen Dong, follows Li as she time travels to the chaotic 1930s, where she falls in love with a spy and starts a thrilling adventure with him. Li won best actress at the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards for her performance in Xiu Xiu: the Sent-Down Girl, a film directed by Joan Chen on the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). The film was made in 1998 when she was only 17. Li has mainly starred in TV dramas since then and been well received among young audiences.

Photo exhibition tours Beijing

MoArt gallery and Modern Weekly are jointly launching a photography exhibition tour in Beijing. Kicking off in The Orange hall in Taikoo Li Sanlitun South earlier this month, the exhibition will later be installed in the 798 Art Zone, the Gulou area and Jinbaojie Street over the course of the next month. More than 100 photos taken by photographers from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the US are exhibited. MoArt will also organize two salons for photographers and audiences. The exhibition also features 234 photos selected from 2,580 pictures shared by people on plus.weico.com. All photos have been taken on smart phones.

China Daily

(China Daily USA 09/13/2013 page6)