Yang Mi, Ning Hao donate PPE to Spain, Japan

Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, many in the entertainment industry have donated to hospitals and relief efforts (list here) in China, but as the virus goes global, some are also donating abroad. Actress-producer Yang Mi’s Jaywalk Studio and actor-director-producer Ning Hao’s Dirty Monkeys Studio have just donated 10 PAPR kits, 500 protective suits, and 500 protective glasses to Spain. This is on top of a previous donation by the two in collaboration with Wu Jing, Xu Zheng, Chen Guofu, and Yang Tianzhen, who donated 2790 protective suits and 10 PAPR kits to Japan.

Yang Mi and Jaywalk Studios have also donated 1.3 million RMB to the Han Hong Charity, the One Charity, and a Wuhan hospital to fight the coronavirus, ~2000 protective suits to two different hospitals, 28 PAPR kits to a Wuhan hospital, and about 2 million RMB worth of material to four other hospitals in the Hubei province.

28th Golden Rooster Awards red carpet round-up

Liu Shishi x Ni Ni

Some of the photos the actors’ studios have released are comparable to magazine shoots.

Yang Mi
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Upcoming comedy Lost in Russia releases teaser

Lost in Russia 囧妈 is the third of Xu Zheng’s “Lost in…” film series, and will focus on the relationship between mothers and their children on a train trip to Russia. Yuan Quan (The Captain), Shen Teng (Crazy Alien) costar. The film will premiere on Chinese New Year’s Day 2020.

I feel like watching just for the two actresses playing Shen Teng’s mum and grandmother.

National Day Film Round-Up

Abominable is the first animated film available with Chinese dubs across all theaters in the U.S.

The themes of this National Day week-long break are unsurprisingly patriotism and surprisingly Mount Everest. Here’s the slate of films trying to beat Ne Zha and The Wandering Earth‘s record-breaking numbers this year. All four are available in limited theaters in the U.S. and Canada (and probably New Zealand and Australia).

Abominable, the love letter to Chinese scenery that’s the first film from Pearl Studio, a venture between DreamWorks Animation, China Media Capital, and the Shanghai Media Group. I’ve seen it in English and definitely recommend it. The main characters are very shippable in an Asian drama way, and the imagery is super imaginative.

Note that if you’re in the U.S., you can watch the film with Chinese dubs in theaters by using the Theater Ears app.
Voice actors: Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor in English; Zhang Zifeng, Arthur Chen Feiyu, Wan Qian, Cai Qin in Chinese

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Xu Zheng-produced pet film stars Zhang Zifeng, Wu Lei, Wallace Chung, William Chan, Yang Zishan

With a track record of supporting talented new directors by producing films like Dying to Survive, A or B, and How Long Will I Love U, Xu Zheng will hopefully continue this trend with his latest production, pet-themed ensemble film Adoring 宠爱 by new director Yang Zi.

Adoring finished filming early in the summer and is set for a Dec. 31, 2019 release date. The film feature six segments – Yu Hewei X Li Landi, Wu Lei X Zhang Zifeng, Yang Zishan X Wallace Chung, William Chan X Zhong Chuxi, Tan Jianci X Kan Qingzi, and poor Guo Qilin all by himself (but with a puppy!) . Can you name all the cast members from the Xu Zheng-judged Season Two of I Am An Actor?

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Chen Kaige, Ning Hao, Xu Zheng, Wen Muyu, Xue Xiaolu, Zhang Yibai, Wen Yan team up for National Day film project

I don’t usually post these type of patriotic films since they’re usually just bad films, but the trailer for  this actually looks really good.  Me and My Motherland 我的我的祖国, a film celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in October, consists of eight parts separately shot by eight directors, ranging from veterans like Chen Kaige to rising talents like Wen Yan. Here’s what  we know of the cast so far for each part:

  1.  Guan Hu (Mr. Six)– Ou Hao, Huang Bo, Wang Qianyuan
  2. Zhang Yibai (Fleet of Time) – Zhang Jiayi, Zhang Ze
  3.  Xu Zheng (Lost in Thailand)  –   Liu Tao, Xu Zheng
  4. Xue Xiaolu (Finding Mr. Right).- Du Jiang, Zhu Yilong, Gao Yalin
  5. Ning Hao (Let the Bullets Fly) – Ge You
  6. Wen Muye (Dying to Survive) – Tong Liya, Song Jia, Lei Jiayin
  7. Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine)  – Liu Haoran, Chen Feiyu, Tian Zhuangzhuang
  8. Wen Yan (Angels Wear White) – Andy Lau, Zhuang Yinan

Trailer:

Zhang Ziyi, Wu Xiubo, Xu Zheng sign on as judges for season two of acting variety show

The controversial acting variety show I Am An Actor 我就是演员 (previously Birth of a Performer) is back for a second season. Zhang Ziyi is the only remaining judge from the first season, and is joined by dependable uncle actors Wu Xiubo (The Advisors Alliance) and Xu Zheng (Dying to Survive). The variety show airs every Saturday night on Zhejiang TV beginning tomorrow.

This gorgeous promo features Zhang Ziyi looking back on her characters (Wu Xiubo, Xu Zheng):

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First teaser for Tong Liya, Lei Jiayin’s time-bending rom-com

How Long Will I Love U 超时空同居 tells of the bickering relationship between neighbours who live in parallel timelines, who end up pretending to be a couple. A woman from 2018 (Tong Liya) wakes up to find her wall has disappeared, and discovers her new housemate is a man from 1999 (Lei Jiayin). Cue hilarious cohabitation hijinks and friendly bickering.

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Xu Zheng, Wang Likun’s suspense thriller A or B gears up for release

Xu Zheng (Lost in Hong Kong) plays high-profile corrupt billionaire Zhong Xiaonian, who is kidnapped and held captive in a secret building after attempting to lock in another dirty deal. Zhong Xiaonian finds himself in living hell as the kidnapper begins to publish one dark secret about him a day.

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