Yang Mi

[mango_cake]

Dunno how long it is but I would think (hope) it's longer than 7 minutes!! Actually YM is only in one of the stories--the entire thing consists of 4 separate stories following 4 separate girls. I didn't even know the Lux mini-movie is out tomorrow--this is exciting news! ^_^ Anyways, I think they could easily have taken off YM/Zhang Han from the collage (they haven't even collaborated in anything before have they?) and put in YM/YH instead.


Hua Pi II news: official (I think) poster and synopsis. It supposedly has a budget/investment of 150 million RMB. Source here.

在北冥以北的幽山之颠，有一座寒冰地狱，据说这是囚禁妖魔的地方，山顶的冰雪万年不化。这里，除了鸟雀，没 有生灵来过。

百余年前，一只狐妖被打入寒冰地狱，在酷寒之中受尽折磨，因为她用千年妖灵救了人的性命，坏了妖界的规矩。 她说，她见过人间最美的东西。

传言，“每逢日食之刻，昼夜混淆，阴阳颠倒，一片混沌，是为起死回生、人妖互变的唯一时刻。若妖想变身成人 ，必须有人自愿把心献给妖，妖灵融入此心，与人合为一体，共享此生”……

这是一场东方新魔幻理念下打造的人性发现之旅！

(Let me tell you, it was exhausting understanding + translating this paragraph! >_< Too deep and poetic. My chinese is not that advanced!! Sorry guys, I tried my best, hopefully I can get the "feel" of it across...Can I just say, I really love the chinese language, the poetic feel of the words really can't be translated well into English. And just look at how short the Chinese synopsis is compared to the English version, yet the Chinese version is so much more expressive and beautiful...)

North of the "Northern Underworld", in a secluded mountain peak, there is a hell of bitterly cold ice. They say that this is where demons and spirits are kept locked; the snow and ice on the mountain top do not melt for ten thousand years. Here, apart from bird species, no living thing has ever passed by.

A hundred and some years ago, a fox demon was thrown into this hell of bitter ice. In the freezing cold she suffered countless torture, all because she used her thousand years of demon magic to save a human's life, breaking the laws of the demon world. She said that she had encountered the most beautiful thing in the human world.

Legend has it, "Every time at the solar eclipse, day and night blur, yin and yang reverse, chaos reigns everywhere...this is the sole moment when the dead may return to the living, when humans and demons may interchange with one another. If a demon wishes to become human, there must be a human who willingly gives up their heart to the demon; the demon spirit melds into this heart, becoming one with the human, and together they spend their lives..."

...This, is a film describing the journey of human discovery, created in a new world of Oriental supernatural fantasy and dark magic.

I'm excited! Recently FSF gave very high praise for HP2 and seemed super excited about it too. (Yeah I know he's one of the mains, but he doesn't seem like the type to just shamelessly promote his own series/movies so I believe him when he says it'll be really good!)

I assume the fox demon mentioned was Zhou Xun's character in HP (didn't she use her powers to revive Zhao Wei and Chen Kun's lives?) who encountered the beauty of "love" in the human world. No idea how everyone else fits in.

Btw I read somewhere recently an interview with one of HP2's directors. He said he did not choose YM/FSF to act in HP2 because of their huge popularity after Gong (he said he doesn't really pay attention to idol series anyways), but because when the two of them auditioned/screen-tested together, he was extremely impressed by their unique chemistry and said their "aura" together was something he had never seen before. Definitely looking forward to their storyline here!

[patricia n]

Thanks mango cake! Did you translate the synopsis yourself or someone else did? The english translation is superb. I usually encounter good translations and sometimes bad ones, but this translation sounds professional. So ym and fsf auditioned together? Really? They weren't assigned to try out with one another? That is mighty suspicious. So looking forward to this if the director also sensed strong chemisrty between them

[mango_cake]

Aww, thanks patricia--yes I translated it myself (took me much longer than usual though, and I had lots of help from the dictionary! ^_^).

Yeah I don't know exactly what the process was...I'm guessing that they were probably invited to audition together because of their huge popularity after Gong, but ultimately they were chosen because of their amazing chemistry together. I just went back to read that article--sorry, what I posted above isn't very accurate (it was awhile ago so I forgot the specifics). It was actually HP2's producer Chen Guofu that said it, not the director. Sounds like he had a big say in the casting--he probably was not the one who invited FengMi to audition (he seems to be one of those film "snobs" who doesn't think highly of idol dramas, lol! He doesn't seem to be that aware of or excited about FengMi's enormous popularity, either--making it all the more impressive that he chose them!).

In regards to Yang Mi, he said: "It's not that her fanbase is not good, it's just that for me, this is not the key for choosing actors. In deciding on YM and FSF, it was only because the two of them screen-testing together gave me a completely different feeling, the "charisma/aura/feel" of the two of them together is something that no other actors can compete with/compare to." Considering he's directed/produced a lot of big-budget popular films, involving many famous actors, this is very high praise! He also goes on to say, "How long can an actor's popularity last? Right now maybe she is extremely popular, but one of my projects may take 2 years, so really what good is it to grab a currently "hot" actress?" (In talking about the fact that he did not choose YM because she is one of the most popular, "hot" actresses at the moment.)

I keep being surprised by how many of YM/FSF's directors/producers seem to be so pro-FengMi! (Mind you these are all middle-aged/older men who have been in the industry for a long time...so definitely not your typical "celeb couple shipper". ) I mentioned this before but YM's DMGD producer has got to be the most obvious about it on his weibo. In fact, he's been so blatantly and unabashedly shipping the two of them (even pretty much declaring himself a "FengMi") that it seems like many people have been accusing him of just faking this for publicity's sake. He recently reposted a FengMi shipper's weibo picture and added rather indignantly: "Stop telling me constantly: 'The movie has already finished its box office run, you don't need to promote anymore.' Well can I not just genuinely/wholehearted love FengMi?"

Actually to be honest I myself previously also wondered if he was just exaggerating it because he wanted more people to go watch DMGD. But indeed, it seems pointless for him to continue now that the movie hasn't been in theatres for awhile... Personally, I think he must've been involved in FSF's secret surprise for YM at her DMGD promo event, so I bet the producer was just really touched by it--thus making him a diehard FengMi shipper.

[patricia n]

I love hearing how real bigshots in the chinese entertainment industry have witnesses fengmi's chemistry themselves instead of relying on rumors. Am looking forward to seeing what other projects ym will be involved in. I do not want too many fengmi projects because i want both to be able to collaborate with other stars as well, but i still want to read about fengmi's interaction outside of filming.

[mango_cake]

I agree. ^_^ Although, I still feel a bit sad that, now that HP2's pretty much done filming they won't have any upcoming projects together anytime soon (apart from the one day cameo they *might* do together on Gong). Then again...I only started paying attention to FengMi after HP2 was announced. I imagine that FengMi fans felt the same way before that--MingYun had finished and no new FengMi projects had been announced...until HP2 came up out of nowhere! So, I have my fingers crossed we might get another collab sometime? (After all, FengMi can't stay away from each other for too long, right? ) Anyways I don't want them to collaborate in EVERY project together obviously, but I think their current proportion is pretty reasonable. Of course we've only seen them in "Gong" so far (which, as a series as a whole, was not satisfying) so I haven't gotten enough of them yet. Maybe after MingYun, HFCQ, and HP2 all come out I will start getting sick of them...(or chances are, I'll just fall in love with them even more! ^_^)

Kinda off-topic but I still find it hilarious that YM seems to have a lot of "fate" when it comes to her two most popular pairings thus far: HG and FSF. She had collabs with both of them way back in high school when she just started filming and was not popular at all--then years later shot to fame with their second collabs. In fact Liao Zhai and DHTHK seemed to be filmed around the same time (Liao Zhai a bit afterwards). Funnily enough, HG was YM's first onscreen (and real-life) kiss ever...however, if FSF got his way all those years back, he would've been her first onscreen/real-life kiss! ^_^ (Poor guy, he just missed out. Probably for the best though, it would've been a bit creepy back then since YM was so young, and she probably would never have forgiven him! XD) I wonder why YM was so against kissing FSF but went along with two kisses with HG in LiaoZhai...ok, it was probably because the LiaoZhai ones were actually scripted and ordered by the director, while the DHTHK one was just FSF's suggestion, lol.


Ok ok BACK ON TOPIC. (Someone needs to slap me when I get all rambly.)

Minor Turandot news

So first of all, I do not know how reliable this info is. However, from what people are saying in the forums, the accuracy of this news seems to be pretty high. So, don't get excited yet, but according to this, the producer of her Turandot movie will be John Woo! (He is apparently the big-name producer of many big-budget films, including Zhao Wei's "Red Cliff" and a couple of Hollywood films including "Mission Impossible 2".) I admit I do not pay that much attention to producers/directors so perhaps you guys know more about him.



Just as an aside...whoever typed this up is HILARIOUS. It lists a number of upcoming films in pre-production/filming, along with the company, category, director/producer, main leads, and a "comment" section. Check out this person's comments (the "editor" of this piece has a funny sense of humour...it's actually even funnier the way it's worded in Chinese):

<<Princess Turandot>> Leads: Yang Mi. (Comment: "Yang Mi.")
<<Butterfly Cemetery>> Leads: Yang Mi. (Comment: "Yang Mi again.")
<<Wind Seeker>> Leads: Tony Leung, Yang Mi. (Comment: "Alright, Yang Mi is so popular/hot right now.")
<<Great Wudang>> Leads: Yang Mi, Vincent Zhao. (Comment: "The miraculous/amazing movie industry, a miraculous/amazing actress.")
<<Xin Tian Sheng Yi Dui>> Leads: Yang Mi, Vic Zhou. (Comment: "YANG MI!!! You have to take care of yourself!!!! Little editor me is going to the corner to have a breakdown!")

And they didn't even include Hua Pi 2 + the new movie she's currently filming...

Speaking of Turandot, I just went back to rewatch Shen Xue/Zhao Hongbo's beautiful free skate to the music of Turandot (also incorporated some music from Butterfly Lovers) circa 2004. It's such a beautiful performance, it still makes me tear up all these years later. The music is just gorgeous--I hope they incorporate it into the movie! Watching the skate makes me look forward to this movie even more...even though they aren't related at all! Funnily enough, even though Turandot is such a famous opera I can't recall it being made into a big-budget movie before? (Whether in the West or in China.) I do hope they change some aspects of the story--I actually haven't watched the opera but I have a hard time understanding how anyone would sympathize with the two main characters, they seem so unlikeable, especially the princess (since they seem so cruel and shallow, respectively).

Sadly we probably won't get to see this movie until 2013, since it's supposed to be filmed in the latter half of next year! >_<

[xiaolong]

While I'm really glad she's finally gaining major stardom with these big budget movies helmed by international directors like Chen Kaige, John Woo etc, I still hope she does some TV series. Zhou Xun, Li Bing Bing and Gao Yuan Yuan never came back to TV

[mango_cake]

...Chen Kaige? Which one did you hear involves Chen Kaige?!

And I know, despite the fact that YM says she doesn't want to give it up, I am also afraid she won't do any more TV series after Ru Yi. Especially because I don't feel like she has been in many really good ones. (Then again, I am pretty disappointed in most Chinese TV series in the past few years anyways, so perhaps it's not too big of a loss...) I just really, really want her to do another wuxia series sometime (ROCH does not count since she pretty much did no actual fighting in there and Guo Xiang was a bit character). But her schedule is so jam-packed with movies right now that I don't know if she has room for a TV series even if she wants to do one...perhaps early to mid next year is a possibility? (Since she will work on Great Wudang/Windseeker end of this year/early next year, but Butterfly Cemetery/Princess Turandot are scheduled for the second half of next year. Seems like there might be a gap in the middle. This is, of course, provided she doesn't have more projects lined up that are as of yet unannounced.) Based on this timing...is it too much to speculate that it's a possibility she can participate in XAJH?! (Even if it is made by Yu Zheng... >_< But unfortunately no one else seems to be planning any wuxia series in the near future, so I will take what I can get. He should be done Gong 2 by then right? So if XAJH is indeed his next project, the timing may actually work out! Then again, YZ seems to like switching up his leads so he may want to use someone different to helm XAJH...)

[xiaolong]

...Chen Kaige? Which one did you hear involves Chen Kaige?!

Oops, my mistake. I just saw his name on the list below, but the movie he's directing stars Ge You and Yao Chen. YM not involved in it.

[mango_cake]

Omg!!! Guys, guys, the Lux mini-film is out!!! *runs around excitedly*

Except WHY IS IT LOADING SO SLOW. !!! >_< And why is it ONLY 4.5 MINUTES?! Is that seriously the whole thing or is it only part 1? That's barely a long commercial! I'm depending on this to tide me over until MingYun airs in October (which in turn I'm depending on to tide me over till HFCQ finally airs, or when HP2 comes out), and this is all I get? Boooo. :'(

(Btw the other 3 girls involved are: Liu Yun, Bianca Bai Xinhui (from Fated to Love You), and...some other girl I've never heard of...)

Oops, my mistake. I just saw his name on the list below, but the movie he's directing stars Ge You and Yao Chen. YM not involved in it.

Ah, I see it now...too bad. Oh well...

[patricia n]

Oh...that editor! i wish it was true that ym is starring in so projects, but isn't she only the lead in two or three of the projects that he mentioned. It would be great if that editor followed ym's career closely so we can get more news. I would love for ym to star as ryy, but i also want to make sure it is not another crappy series for her. The girl has already long paid her dues.

So the short film is even shorter than 7 minutes?!!! That sucks.

[mango_cake]

I am downloading the Lux vid right now (sooo slow) and I'll let you know how it goes. ^_^

Oh...that editor! i wish it was true that ym is starring in so projects, but isn't she only the lead in two or three of the projects that he mentioned.

Lol. Yes, she only has a small role in XTSYD but somehow they credit her as a lead. Well you know, after DMGD was such a success these people are just trying to capitalize on her popularity...easy way to get people in the theatres to watch and all. Oldest marketing trick in the book.

But I would say she is one of the three main leads (ithough not THE main lead) in both Great Wudang and Wind Seeker, so it's fair to put her name up there along with Tony and Vincent, I guess. (Also this may have been written before Zhou Xun was confirmed as the other main lead in Windseeker.) And of course she is the main lead in Butterfly Cemetery and Princess Turandot. So, not too too much of an exaggeration there--XTSYD is the only one that went a bit far since really Ella should be listed as the lead along with Vic.

[xiaolong]

I am downloading the Lux vid right now (sooo slow) and I'll let you know how it goes. ^_^

I just saw the Lux vid. It should be only part 1. They haven't resolved the memory loss issue. And YH's character looks like he's about to get married to someone else

In the ending credits, they say to catch the Lux story every Tuesday and Friday. So there's definitely more to go.

[mango_cake]

I just saw the Lux vid. It should be only part 1. They haven't resolved the memory loss issue. And YH's character looks like he's about to get married to someone else

In the ending credits, they say to catch the Lux story every Tuesday and Friday. So there's definitely more to go.

Phewww! Yay! (But it sucks that they're releasing this slowly. I am very impatient when it comes to watching things. Damn. I thought it'd be released all in one go!)

And wait...why is the video loading so fast for you? My internet connection is usually pretty fast, but the Lux site is SUPER slow for some reason.

[xiaolong]

And wait...why is the video loading so fast for you? My internet connection is usually pretty fast, but the Lux site is SUPER slow for some reason.

I'm in Asia. Maybe Sina is slow in the US?

Basically YM is surrounding herself with friends to forget about her ex (YH) who has lost his memory, but she can't. She even has a suitor sort of proposing to her! Then she meets YH and another girl who's trying out wedding dresses, he sees her and says she looks familiar, then extends his hand to greet her. She looks heartbroken and excuses herself to run off. We don't know yet what happened in the past.

Then it's ending credits and Kevin Tsai appears to tell us to catch the Lux story every Tuesdays and Fridays.

[mango_cake]

I'm in Asia. Maybe Sina is slow in the US?

Oh. Right. That explains it. (Actually I'm in Canada...but yeah pretty much the same general area in relation to China, so.)

Well I'm at 92% finished downloading so shouldn't take much longer. ^_^ Someone should upload these vids to Youtube, it runs so much smoother for me!

Edit: Damnit! I give up. My thing was downloading wonderfully and then right before it hit 100% it ends up saying "FAILED". *bawls* I'm going to bed...YH/YM better not disappoint me tomorrow...

[kinchowong]

So first of all, I do not know how reliable this info is. However, from what people are saying in the forums, the accuracy of this news seems to be pretty high. So, don't get excited yet, but according to this, the producer of her Turandot movie will be John Woo! (He is apparently the big-name producer of many big-budget films, including Zhao Wei's "Red Cliff" and a couple of Hollywood films including "Mission Impossible 2".) I admit I do not pay that much attention to producers/directors so perhaps you guys know more about him.

omg i can't believe this. i have to read twice on the post to make sure its real that YM got a chance to work in John Woo's movie. ^^ abit off topic here.. anyway he is a veteran director and the director i give the most respect. his recently movies maybe not as good as his old one.but he did make many epic movies such as broken arrow, faceoff and MI2 from the usa. and many other action movies in HK back in the 80s/90s (ie The killers, bullet in the head and hard boiled.) man all of these movies are epic. me and my bro rewatch it so many times together. ^^

thanks for the info. .. coming to this thread reading YM news and activities has become parts of my daily work hahahaa

[xiaolong]

Well I'm at 92% finished downloading so shouldn't take much longer. ^_^ Someone should upload these vids to Youtube, it runs so much smoother for me!

LUX vid on YouTube:


Mini-trailer for a mini-movie, LOL.

[patricia n]

haha...i watched it even though i do not understand chinese. i wonder why they chose 2 different actors for ym's flashback? to give other artists more exposure?

[xiaolong]

haha...i watched it even though i do not understand chinese. i wonder why they chose 2 different actors for ym's flashback? to give other artists more exposure?

LOL. YM is Lisa, YH is Ian. So weird to attach English names to them.

[ChineseChik525]

haha...i watched it even though i do not understand chinese. i wonder why they chose 2 different actors for ym's flashback? to give other artists more exposure?

seriously. they dont even look in the least like the 2 main leads! like, if the actors were younger i would maybe understand, but these are like high school aged people. you'd think that by high school they would already kinda look like they do now! lol.