Asia signs up 'Bodyguards'http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=1061&articleid=VR1118003828 (http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=1061&articleid=VR1118003828)
Cinema Popular inks raft of pacts
We Distribution has inked multiple territory deals around Asia for the Donnie Yen actioner "Bodyguards and Assassins" at Cannes, an early success for the Cinema Popular shingle. The $23 million "Bodyguards," formerly known as "Dark October," is currently lensing in Shanghai with Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse, Eric Tsang and Hu Jun. Pic is produced by Peter Ho-Sun Chan and Huang Jianxin and is the first of five pics on their Cinema Popular slate.
Mediacorp Raintree Pictures and Festive Films co-acquired for the territory of Singapore. Malaysia and Brunei rights go to RAM Entertainment while PT Teguh Bakti Mandiri picked up for Indonesia. Parkit Films took Vietnam and Applause Entertainment will handle Taiwan. Pic features three-time world kickboxing champion Cung Le and also marks the debut of Li Yuchun, past winner of China's "American Idol"-styled singing contest "Super Girl."
Cinema Popular unveils $23m historical epic Bodyguards & Assassinshttp://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=43743 (http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=43743)
Start-up production and financing outfit Cinema Popular is unveiling its debut production today at Filmart – $23m historical epic Bodyguards And Assassins – to be directed by Teddy Chen. The film, which starts shooting in early April, features a host of Hong Kong and Chinese stars including Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse and Chinese actor Wang Xueqi (Forever Enthralled).
The long-gestating project, which Chen has been developing for ten years, revolves around an assassination attempt on the founder of modern China, Sun Yat-sen. The production team has constructed elaborate sets at studios outside Shanghai, including a recreation of 1905 Hong Kong. In addition to Cinema Popular, the film is backed by China Film Group and Shanghai Media Group, amongst other investors. The high-profile ensemble cast also includes Hu Jun, Tong Leung Ka-fai, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, Fan Bing-bing, Wang Po-chieh and Zhou Yun.
Launched in February, Cinema Popular is a joint venture between Peter Ho-sun Chan and Chinese filmmaker Huang Jianxin’s We Pictures and Beijing-based Polybona. Chan has created Cinema Popular in response to the rapid box office growth in mainland China. The company, which is investing around $73m in 15 films over three years, is overhauling the financing model for Hong Kong-China co-productions.
"A few years ago, China would contribute 25% of the budget and recoup around 30-40%," explains Chan. "But in the present climate, China is accounting for around 60-70% of the recoupment. Therefore we should be raising a bigger proportion of the budget from mainland China."
Leon Lai's costume stills from film "Bodyguards and Assassins" [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]
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Leon Lai's costume stills in upcoming film "Bodyguards and Assassins" are released on the internet. :thumbup
The veteran actor plays one of the bodyguards who were united in a mission to protect Sun Yat-Sen against a series of assassinations when he was in Hong Kong in 1905.
The 150-million-yuan project, produced by Peter Chan, gathered a lineup of A-list stars, including Donnie Yen, Fan Bingbing, Nicholas Tse, Wang Xueqi, and mainland talent show sensation Li Yuchun.
The film will hit screens in December 2009.