How to manage talent

Communication University of China has worked with Hong Kong Emperor Entertainment Group to find more talent in artist management. CUC and EEG will set up a workshop on Jan 15 for those who want to be entertainment managers. The 30 participants will spend four days in Beijing and five days in Hong Kong interacting with senior managers such as Mani Fok, who manages Nicholas Tse and Joey Yung; Stephen C.W. Chan, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Hong Kong; and Tian Ming, who initiated The Voice of China, currently the most popular talent show in China.

Jay Chou filming again

Taiwan pop singer Jay Chou's second directorial work has begun filming recently in Beijing. Titled Rooftop, it will be a musical starring Chou and mainland veteran actor Wang Xueqi, the only Chinese actor in Iron Man 3. The lead actress is a newcomer, talent scouted by Chou's staff on the street. Chou directed his first film Secret in 2007. The campus love story was well received at the box office and by critics.

Enter the Joker Hero

Taiwan singer/songwriter Chase Chang has released his new album Joker Hero in Beijing. It is Chang's second album, following the release of The Next Chapter two years ago. Produced by Chang himself, Joker Hero has 9 tracks. All songs were written by Chang except Peony River, which was from the repertoire of the group Nan Quan Mama, of which Chang is an ex-member. Following the official release, Chang will embark on a 14-concert tour of China.

Re-creating an emperor

Veteran actor Chen Daoming has been known for portraying ancient emperors. His latest such role is Liu Bang, a farmer-turned-emperor and founder of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). In Legend of Chu and Han, an 80-episode TV drama, Chen shapes the character after studying him for seven years. It is impossible to know what the real Liu Bang was like after more than 2,000 years, Chen says, but he tries his best to read between the lines and stay faithful to historical records. The show will premiere on Beijing TV on Dec 28.

Serving it up simpler, safer

Chinese food and beverage companies recently met in Beijing to discuss how Chinese restaurants can serve safer and more healthy food. More than 600 participants from 300 companies attended the Jinding or Golden Tripod Forum, dubbed the "Davos" of the Chinese restaurant business. General managers of more than 100 catering companies jointly released a "plain cooking" mission statement, vowing the exclusion of harmful additives to their food. The Chinese catering business is worth about 2,000 billion yuan, and employs 90 million, according to the forum.

China Daily

(China Daily 12/19/2012 page20)