Richard Trombly's Shanghai, China Film Blog

Cinemashup kicks off a new season at Dada bar

2011-01-11T02:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
Cinemash up starts 2011 with a bang- great new short films, animations and documentaries from around the world. Obscure visual delights, hand picked by Tina Sparkles and Laura Ingalls. Come down to Dada this Wednesday 12th January for a fantastic night of film, it's free and good for the soul!
Doors open at 8.30pm, films start at 9pm, finish up around 11.30
Dada Bar 115 xingfu lu near Fahuazen Lu.



Below is the preliminary program, we will have a few more surprises on the night


Cinemash up program Jan 12 (more great surprises on the night!)
Angry Man- Josh Gorden, Will Speck, 5 mins- Going to the cinema is not always a pleasurable experience. Especially when you can’t choose who you sit next to.
Ozzat- Darren Walsh- 5 mins. A night at the pub, illustrating a whole new version of beer goggles.
Abductees- Irene Kotlarz- 11 mins- An alien abductee is hypnotized and recounts her other worldly experience, illustrated through various styles of animation.
A is for autism- Tim Webb- 1992-11 mins -England- A variety of animations and drawings from people with autism explaining their interpretation of the condition. A multi award winning film giving incredible insight and explanation about autism.
Sandman- Paul Berry, 1992, 10mins- Stop motion animation about what happens when Mr Sandman spins nightmares instead of dreams.
Manipulation- Daniel Greaves,6 mins. An animator and his creation have a power struggle.
Little wolf- An Vrombaut 6 mins, an adorable hand drawn animation of a little wolf trying to catch a very stupid sheep.
The light of Darkness- Michael Cargile, 10 mins- It is a dark, deserted highway. A woman is driving down a deserted road, lost and confused. She stops to sleep for the night. A dark stranger appears- the results are not what you may first expect.
Dessert- Jill Roberston- 4mins- A very young Ewan Mcgregor strolls along a beach and finds a perfect chocolate éclair at the waters edge- where could it have come from? Dare he find out?
78- Noah Edleson, 4mins. Its early morning, a child stands on a man hole in a suburban street repeating a number constantly. A man waiting for the bus watches on, confused and somewhat annoyed decides to investigate- a dark twist on talking to strangers.
Light is Calling, Bill Morrison, 7 mins. Hauntingly beautiful reconstructed old silent film. The film is deliberately burnt and dystroyed to produce beauty out of decay.
La Jette- Chris Marker,20 mins. Post apocalyptic world is illustrated by stunning still photos from Chris Marker. An incredibly powerful film.

LaoBans gears up for production

2011-01-07T00:22:00.000-08:00

Shanghai Jan 7, 2011 -- No budget feature film LaoBans announces a second round of casting for this community film production.

A Treatment: LaoBans – The Movie

http://blog.sina.com.cn/laobans

A college graduate yet unable to find a “real job” then dumped by his wealthy girlfriend, Dennis is introduced to Jamie by her grandmother, the ‘box rice lunch” lady that feeds Dennis and his fellow fast food franchise employees. Circumventing Jamie’s parents’ recent arranged-marriage attempts, “love at first” sight fuels a failed pawning to a successful series of thefts to an underestimated loss to “quirk of fate” return of a rare, culturally significant and valuable “China Stone” as given to Dennis at his grandfather’s deathbed.

Two star-crossed young lovers seeking to find a new life within an old world of money and power; the Shanghai Boss flanked by his foreman and mistress; the “Three Dragons” are American, Japanese, and Hong Kong laobans move $100’s millions while gaming to see who can best the other; Texas Dave and Donny Bronx at the “hand-off” in a sex club of Hong Kong; the Japanese Hit Girl in Macau; two Korean Bookends bested by the black-belt “Ingresh” teacher; prurient interests of the American-Playboy-Shanghai-Boss-Mistress-Roommate’s Boyfriend:this collage of characters is the conception of a foreign English teacher and a Chinese film student found during a university intra-campus bus ride.

“Laobans” draws upon an emerging focus of interest in the East/West juxtaposition of a famed dragon motif: Asian (water) auspicious or European (fire) evil are triangulated among the movie’s “Three Dragons” who portray just how personal business is among laobans. A remembrance of Homer’s “Odyssey” and “Iliad” is referenced to old/new orders relative to what may be considered “traditional” in society. Lookdown/Lookup scenes (open/close) reference the metacircularity of life, while “door opening/door closing” scenes reference to “switching tracks of time” which draw out…

The “Half-Guess/Half-Know” human contrasts and commercialism

of the daily life that may be found in any city, anywhere

in our increasingly smaller, globalized world of

push-button-money and fast-food-love-stories.

Update from Shanghai's Lemontree Productions

2011-01-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

LemonTree Production House Shanghai

LemonTree Production House updates 2010

Synopsis of Wisehit:

Wisehit is based on comedian martial arts person named Wiseguy who's just quit his job as a hitman. He wants to open up a matchmaking agency after all, he has a sensitive side, but he has only one problem he's working for a Shanghai bossman named Carlos, who thinks that Wiseguy knows too much about his personal affairs with sheep. There is only one more package to pick up before he leaves Shanghai, China and return back to New York, USA but he has to encounter strange and wacky people that try to prevent him from quitting.

“Mel Brooks meets pulp fiction set in contemporary Shanghai”

Will he succeed? What is the package?

Release of Wisehit development Trailer.

Comedy has never been this dangerous!!!

Wisehit English

Wise Hit trailer in competition for best comedy Kick the link!

http://yobi.tv/yobilaugh/contestant/9753/SantaMonicaboy/wise-hit-trailer.

Wisehit with Chinese subtitles

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/OAmqSjabUUQ/

This is a development movie for purpose of web/television series/feature film and we are seeking investors, more information is also available upon request via e-mail atLemonTreeproduction@gmail.com

Upcoming projects

In development

LemonTree Production House has received a letter of intent from Lyoto Carvalho Machidahttp://lyotomachida.net/ for the upcoming SON RISE Movie as the main character.We have also received a letter of intent from Zack Ward http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911933/ who is a established well-recognized actor and a martial artist, and has appeared in transformer and many other films.

Synopsis of SonRise:

The film explores themes such as family values, loyalty, friendship and responsibility. Thrown in strong female characters, nail biting escape realistic fight sequences, heartbreaking relationship between father and son, mixed martial artist fighters on payroll, quite a few different street characters such as a Chinese detective who is on their trail has a strong exterior, but a kind heart, and the relationship with his own boy

leaves a touching snapshot of urban life not caught on camera before and an unexpected twists that will leave the audience breathless.

More information is also available upon request via e-mail at LemonTreeproduction@gmail.com

Shanghai finest production team members.

Leo Fuellas: director of photography and film editor.
Maya Meng: production assistant.
Jonathan Browning: photographer

Jeremy Johnson: co-producer Wise Hit

Thanks to the rest of the team for making the best video projects possible and lifting up the standard in China (see the team on LemonTree website http://lemontreefilm.com/index_en.html )

Drago

Drago just finished directing a reality TV show similar to Amazing Race and Apprentice where He traveled throughout mainland China. It was called GM 2030 go for Dragon TV and the Chinese market.

Previous Videos

This 2 1/2 minutes director’s cut video was shot in the countryside of the Hunan province in China. 900 million live like this in China. No professional actors were used; the mother and son were from the village. The video was produced by Ogilvy for Unilever, who support the charity for handicapped widows since 15 years...

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTI2NTY2NTMy.html

OMO - Comfort directors cut 15 Second Teaser http://www.shanghaistuff.com/video/omo-comfort-drago-directors

The adventure of being a Western director and actor In China An award-winning documentary short http://vimeo.com/13386722 directed by Ms. Faye Liang

Here is a short film called ‘The Waiting’ directed By Richard Trombly and co-produced by “The Tree” http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/fNBvU-1_M28/ a Chinese language film that takes a look and the modern meaning of family in Shanghai through the eyes of a 9-year-old Chinese girl.

Here is the short film never publicly release short artsy film called Mohammed http://vimeo.com/4594728 shot in 3 day.

For your consideration remember LemonTree independent production House for all film and video works. LemonTree combines Los Angeles creativity and work pride with Shanghai prices. A winning combination.

Please take a look at our site www.lemontreefilm.com

Also our viral videos

Industrial commercial http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTEwMzA2MDg0.html

Television pilot http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTA3MjU4MzM2.html

Promotional http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTA3MjMxOTI0.html

City image for Hangzhou Government http://www.vimeo.com/5211613

Sincerely yours

Drago Lazetich

Director/producer/actor

LemonTree Independent Production Shanghai

E: LemonTreeProduction@gmail.com

M: 86 138 1782 7962

Drago Lazetich 龙

Unit 1315, 388 Lujiabang Road, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China

中国上海市陆家浜路388号1315室，200011

Tel 电话: +86 (0) 21 6313 4392 Mobile 手机: +86 (0) 138 1782 7962

Email 电邮: lemontreeproduction@gmail.com www.lemontreefilm.com

Judy Lee joins with Obscure Productions for "Polluted"

2010-12-31T08:41:00.000-08:00

The short film POLLUTED, directed by Li Pingru (Judy Lee) is a short film about crossing boundaries in modern China, where many things are forbidden -- Including shooting this film.

POLLUTED is a narrative fiction short film that could be ripped from the pages of the news. Except that the news is censored in China. When a disaster happens in China, local reporters are forbidden to report and international reporters are blocked from the region.
POLLUTED follows JIM, an expatriate journalist committed to making a photographic expose about an ecological disaster in Northern China. It has been forbidden from local media and foreign press are restricted from traveling to this area.
Jim enlists Zheng Yi "Jenny", a local college student, as his translator to travel to the site of a chemical spill in a small North China village that has been officially denied by the local government. He is determined to get the story to the international media at all costs. His student translator fears the repercussions for her assistance to this foreigner. She is strengthened by the foreigner's convictions and drive and together they cross the restricted boundary to get his story.
When Jenny succumbs to her attraction for this handsome young reporter, she discovers that they have crossed other restricted boundaries as well.

Judy Lee (Li Pingru) is an international award winning India filmmaker who currently works in Shanghai. She studied "digital filmmaking and directing in The TV & Film School of China Media University. Judy was the China Representative of Sandy Frank Entertainment Inc. in Shanghai, sourcing and distributing TV programs for its US head office based in New York. Now she works as director for Hansheng Media (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd.

Filmography (as produced and director)
1.Chengdu Graffiti (Documentary) Semi-finalist of 39th Houston Int’l Film Festival.
2.The Psychologist and His Client (Short drama, winner of the Platinum Award for Edit-short of the 40th Houston Int’l Film Festival.
3.A View to A Kill (Short drama, winner of the First Place of the 4th Meiwenti Shanghai Int’l Short Film Contest.
4.White Rose Requiem (Short drama, screened in 13rd New York Int’l Independent Film & Video Festival; Semi-finalist of 2008 Hollywood Action/Cut Short Film Competition)

About OBSCURE PRODUCTIONS

Obscure Productions is founded to make international films within the China market. Few foreign filmmakers can successfully take advantage of the cost savings in China or can produce stories that resonate within the Chinese culture. Few Chinese filmmakers can make films that are accessible to an international audience. That is our niche.

We are a Shanghai-based film and video production company with experience in both documentary and narrative film as well as corporate video. We work with and support the community of independent Chinese and Expatriate fIlm makers.

Beijing Short Play Festival is "Causing a Commotion"

2010-12-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

Looking for something to do in Beijing or a reason to fly there? well here you go.

Welcome to come see some unforgettable shows in Beijing made by foreigners!

And - a great opportunity to catch up!

I'm directing Rainbow Carp, and acting in The Trial, The Chameleon, The Diaries of Adam and Eve: The Musical, and RENT a White Guy: The Musical. It's gonna be awesome!

Look forward to see you there!

Please Forward Widely!!

---------------------------
BINSPF
Beijing International New Short Play Festival
2011 edition: Fish out of Water
JAN 6-16 (Thurs-Sun)
7:30pm
PENGHAO THEATRE

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!
13520450019
beijingtheatre@gmail.com
www. bitebeijing.com
Facebook EVENT

BEIJING, Dec. 15, 2010 – With the Year of the Rabbit bouncing into view, BITE’s 3^rd Annual Beijing International New Short Play Festival is in the starting blocks!
The theme of this year's festival is “Fish Out of Water”— funny and touching stories about the disorientation, and the comedy, that is inevitably generated when people try to come to terms with a culture different from their own.
A number of the plays in the festival are about foreigners trying to come to terms with life in China, but there is also a love story inspired by Mark Twain, a bunch of people trapped on a train, a melodramatic South American medium… and some great songs. BINSPF Festival Director Anna Grace says: “Most of these stories are about life as it is really lived in Beijing. I was amazed by the response we had when we sent out our call for plays. We had 24 submissions and have chosen 16 terrific new plays, including one play written in Chinese and another by a 15 year-old Pakistani schoolboy who has been living in China for just five months.”
This year’s festival, which opens January 6, will run over eight nights until January 16 and will see 15 directors, 12 playwrights and dozens of actors compete for attention on the blackbox stage at Peng Hao Theatre, located in the hutong area off trendy Nanluoguxiang shopping district.
With Grace’s impulsion, the BINSPF Festival has grown in leaps and bounds over the past three years. There were just six plays in the first short play festival in May 2009, staged over two days. The following year featured eight original plays plus a musical. This year’s edition has doubled to 16 plays, including three musicals.
BINSPF Marketing Director Daniel Cotterall says: “There will be different plays on different nights… with some real jewels among them. And, what’s more, they’re home-grown jewels!” BINSPF is a theatre festival of Beijingers, by Beijingers, and for Beijingers!”
Awards will be given for “Best of the Fest” with prizes in acting, directing, and writing. Audiences and judges will decide the winners and a ceremony will be held on the last day of the festival.
Faithful to its customer-friendly policy, BITE will be offering a festival pass at a very modest 100 RMB for those who book in advance, or 80 RMB for students. The pass gives theatregoers entrance on three different evenings so that they can sample a wide a range of plays. Those who wish to enjoy only one evening of entertainment, tickets are only 50RMB and 30RMB for students.
For more information about the Festival, visit www.bitebeijing.com, email beijingtheatre@gmail.com, or call 136 2123 8655
For tickets, call Samantha 135 2045 0019
BINSPF in the news: http://beijing.globaltimes.cn/culture/2010-11/596589.html

FESTIVAL LINE UP:
Thurs, Jan 6 at 7:30pm
Causing a Commotion written and directed by Luciana B Veit--Preparing for guests can prove exhausting for a quiet couple…
Rainbow Carp written by Ben Thompson, directed by Olga Gorshkova--Two foreigners meet in Beijing over steamed fish…
Charles Atlas' Miracle System written by David Jacobi, directed by Anna Chonavec--A boy confuses self-improvement with fantasies of revenge…
Ni Fa Feng Le Ma? Written and directed by Hugh Reed--Scottish rock legend Hugh Reed brings his unique one man show to life on the Beijing stage...
The Diaries of Adam & Eve: The Musical original stage adaptation written by Anna Grace, translated by Gloria Su and Tao, directed by Anna Grace and Tao--Mark Twain gives voice to the “first couple” in a new musical version of the original love story…

Fri, Jan 7 at 7:30pm
The Trial written and directed by Gabriel Rodriguez Rico--One head is better than four in this exploration of love and loss…
Camping Day written by Jorge Rios, directed by David Jacobi--A “typical” married couple have a lark in the woods…
The Chameleon written by Ali Ahmed, directed by David Jacobi--Passengers trapped on a train must either condemn or absolve a criminal…
Linda's Graduation written by Luciana B Veit, directed by Kirsten Klistch--Linda has just graduated from charm school and is on the lookout for a match…
The Diaries of Adam & Eve: The Musical original stage adaptation written by Anna Grace, translated by Gloria Su and Tao, directed by Anna Grace and Tao--Mark Twain gives voice to the “first couple” in a new musical version of the original love story…

Sat, Jan 8 at 7:30pm
Causing a Commotion written and directed by Luciana B Veit--Preparing for guests can prove exhausting for a quiet couple…
Rainbow Carp written by Ben Thompson, directed by Olga Gorshkova--Two foreigners meet in Beijing over steamed fish…
Charles Atlas' Miracle System written by David Jacobi, directed by Anna Chonavec--A boy confuses self-improvement with fantasies of revenge…
Ni Fa Feng Le Ma? Written and directed by Hugh Reed--Scottish rock legend Hugh Reed brings his unique one man show to life on the Beijing stage...
The Diaries of Adam & Eve: The Musical original stage adaptation written by Anna Grace, translated by Gloria Su and Tao, directed by Anna Grace and Tao--Mark Twain gives voice to the “first couple” in a new musical version of the original love story…

Sun, Jan 9 at 7:30pm
The Trial written and directed by Gabriel Rodriguez Rico--One head is better than four in this exploration of love and loss…
Camping Day written by Jorge Rios, directed by David Jacobi--A “typical” married couple have a lark in the woods…
The Chameleon written by Ali Ahmed, directed by David Jacobi--Passengers trapped on a train must either condemn or absolve a criminal…
Linda's Graduation written by Luciana B Veit, directed by Kirsten Klistch--Linda has just graduated from charm school and is on the lookout for a match…
The Diaries of Adam & Eve: The Musical original stage adaptation written by Anna Grace, translated by Gloria Su and Tao, directed by Anna Grace and Tao--Mark Twain gives voice to the “first couple” in a new musical version of the original love story…

Thurs, Jan 13 at 7:30pm
Cast Out written and directed by Luciana B. Veit--Unable to decide if his wife is crazy or possessed, her husband calls in a psychotherapist and a medium…
Struggle written and directed by Yu Gui Feng--A tragic accident becomes an opportunity for strength and courage…
Weekly Acid Test written by Gabriel Rodriguez Rico, directed by Dawn Estes--Surveys can reveal more about the surveyor than the surveyed…
RENT a White Guy: The Musical written by Anna Grace, directed by Anna Grace and Andrew Delo--Cult Musical TV show “Glee” meets Beijing in this story of fame, fortune, and failure in the Far East…

Fri, Jan 14 at 7:30pm
The Date written and directed by Elizabeth Ashforth--In the dating game, you just can’t rely on gossip…
More or Less written by Daniel Cotterall, Cyril Cotterall, and Gloria Su, directed by Gloria Su--A man's logic comes up against something more powerful, the mind of woman…
Jenny and Xiao Han written by David Jacobi, directed by Anna Chovanec--Stuck in a Beijing prison (their bedroom), two children learn to hate and trust each other…
RENT a White Guy: The Musical written by Anna Grace, directed by Anna Grace and Andrew Delo--Cult Musical TV show “Glee” meets Beijing in this story of fame, fortune, and failure in the Far East…

Sat, Jan 15 at 7:30pm
Cast Out written and directed by Luciana B. Veit--Unable to decide if his wife is crazy or possessed, her husband calls in a psychotherapist and a medium…
Struggle written and directed by Yu Gui Feng--A tragic accident becomes an opportunity for strength and courage…
Weekly Acid Test written by Gabriel Rodriguez Rico, directed by Dawn Estes--Surveys can reveal more about the surveyor than the surveyed…
RENT a White Guy: The Musical written by Anna Grace, directed by Anna Grace and Andrew Delo--Cult Musical TV show “Glee” meets Beijing in this story of fame, fortune, and failure in the Far East…

Sun, Jan 16 at 7:30pm
The Date written and directed by Elizabeth Ashforth--In the dating game, you just can’t rely on gossip…
More or Less written by Daniel Cotterall, Cyril Cotterall, and Gloria Su, directed by Gloria Su--A man's logic comes up against something more powerful, the mind of woman…
Jenny and Xiao Han written by David Jacobi, directed by Anna Chovanec--Stuck in a Beijing prison (their bedroom), two children learn to hate and trust each other…
RENT a White Guy: The Musical written by Anna Grace, directed by Anna Grace and Andrew Delo--Cult Musical TV show “Glee” meets Beijing in this story of fame, fortune, and failure in the Far East…

--
http://sites.google.com/site/beijingtheatre

Underground Chinese filmmakers make their mark in USA

2010-11-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

More entries >

Underground Chinese films make their mark in USA
Wednesday, Dec 1, 2010 12:17PM
China Underground Film Series at Viz Cinema
Posted November 30, 2010 by Luis in EVENTS
VIZ Cinema and NEW PEOPLE, in association with dGenerate Films, are proud to present a fascinating series focusing on a new vanguard of Chinese independent filmmakers, whose innovative uses of digital filmmaking deliver provocative insights into the world’s largest nation.
All of the documentary films to be shown at the festival were made outside the official Chinese film system – unauthorized, uncensored, and totally independent. These groundbreaking films introduce a new generation of filmmakers who represent the future of Chinese cinema, using new technology to present a vision of China as never seen before. A wide variety of controversial topics and issues like homosexuality, the role of women in society, the forced relocation of citizens which preceded the 2008 Beijing Olympics, drug use, and the inner workings of Chinese law enforcement, are examined in unflinching detail in these seven films.
China Underground opens Friday December 3rd with the premiere of Queer China, “Comrade” China at 7:00pm. The screening will include a Q&A session with several guest speakers and an after-party that will immediately follow. The remaining films will be screened throughout the weekend.
At NEW PEOPLE
1746 Post St,
San Francisco, CA 94115
For directions, see VISIT page
“We are thrilled to showcase seven of our titles at VIZ Cinema in China Underground, the first film series of its kind,” says Karin Chien, president of dGenerate Films. “Independent documentaries are the only free media existing in mainland China today. There is a new generation of filmmakers, artists, and activists wielding digital cameras and laptop edit systems, creating some of the most daring cinema in the world today. These films will have a special relevance and resonance with the diverse communities of the Bay Area.”
Queer China, ‘Comrade’ China | Directed by Cui Zi’en
Friday, 12/3 at 7:00pm
China, 2008, 60min, Mandarin with English subtitles
China’s most prolific queer filmmaker presents a comprehensive historical account of the queer movement in modern China. Unlike any before, this film explores the historical milestones and ongoing advocacy efforts of the Chinese LGBT community. Tickets are $15.00.
Super, Girls! | Directed by Jian Yi, China
Saturday, 12/4 at 1:00pm
2007, Documentary, 73min. Mandarin with English subtitles
SUPER, GIRLS! follows ten teenagers on their quest to become superstars on China’s biggest tv show. Through candid interviews and footage of nail-biting auditions, SUPER, GIRLS! offers a fascinating look inside what the Chinese media have dubbed “the Lost Generation.”
Tickets are $10.00.
Meishi Street | Directed by Ou Ning
Saturday, 12/4 at 2:45pm
China, 2006, Documentary, 85min, Mandarin with English subtitles
MEISHI STREET shows ordinary citizens taking a stand against the planned destruction of their homes for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Acclaimed at over two dozen museums and galleries around the world, Meishi Street, by renowned visual artist Ou Ning, works as both art and activism, calling worldwide attention to lives being demolished in the name of progress. Tickets are $10.00.
Using | Directed by Zhou Hao
Saturday, 12/4 at 4:45pm
China, 2008, Documentary, 105min, Mandarin with English subtitles
A twisted relationship develops between an urban Chinese couple struggling with heroin and a filmmaker chronicling their addiction, in this provocative documentary on drug abuse, filmmaking and friendship. Zhou’s unflinching depiction of his friends’ repeated attempts to quit blurs the line between filmmaker and subject, and raises provocative questions about the ways in which each uses the other. Tickets are $10.00.
Ghost Town | Directed by Zhao Dayong
Saturday, 12/4 at 7:15pm
China, 2008, Documentary, 169min, Mandarin, Nu, & Lisu dialects with English subtitles
Zhiziluo is a town barely clinging to life. Tucked away in a rugged corner of Southwest China, the village is haunted by traces of China’s cultural past while its residents piece together a day-by-day existence. Tickets are $10.00.
1428 | Directed by Du Haibin
Sunday, 12/5 at 1:00pm
China, 2009, Documentary, 117min. Mandarin and Sichuan dialects w/ English subtitles
Du Haibin’s award-winning documentary of the earthquake that devastated China’s Sichuan province in 2008 explores how victims, citizens and government respond to a national tragedy. Du depicts a world in chaos, both material and moral. “Without judgment but with a deep compassion for their subjects, the filmmakers of 1428 bring us a myriad of individual stories of absurdity, confusion and grief.”(Cherise Fong, CNN). Tickets are $10.00.
Crime and Punishment | Directed by Zhao Liang
Sunday, 12/5 at 3:30pm
China, 2007, Documentary, 122min, Mandarin with English subtitles
“Zhao’s artistry is instantly apparent.” (Robert Koehler, Variety)
A prime example of how independent documentaries are on the vanguard of Chinese cinema, Crime and Punishment is an unprecedented look at the everyday workings of law enforcement in the world’s largest authoritarian society. With penetrating camerawork, Zhao Liang (Petition, 2009 Cannes Film Festival) patiently reveals the methods police use to interrogate and coerce suspects to confess crimes – and the consequences when such techniques backfire. Tickets are $10.00.
Before the Flood | Directed by Li Yifan and Yan Yu
Sunday, 12/5 at 5:45pm
China, 2005, Documentary, 147min. Mandarin and Sichuan dialects with English subtitles
A landmark documentary following the residents of the historic city of Fengjie as they clash with officials forcing them to evacuate their homes to make way for the world’s largest dam. Shot over two years, Before the Flood is a breathtaking achievement in verité-style documentary filmmaking. This profound film shows the human effects of one of history’s grandest social engineering projects, reflecting on the loss of both home and heritage. Tickets are $10.00.

Shanghai Portraits Project: Gianpaolo Lupori

2010-11-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

http://www.creativehunt.com/shanghai/articles/gianpaulolupori-shanghaiportraitsproject-rovingdreams-shortfilm
CreativeHunt and SmartShanghai have been working with Lazy Susan Productions on their Shanghai Portraits Project and over the course of four weeks will profile each of the four directors who made short films for the series. The project challenged locally-based independent directors to represent "My Shanghai" in short documentary format, keeping the film length under four minutes and the budget under 3,000rmb (USD$450.)

First up is Italian Gianpaolo Lupori, who took time out from his busy filming schedule to chat with Creative Hunt about his contribution to the Shanghai Portraits Project.

What made you decide to come to China and make films?
I've been here almost 6 years now and moved here with my family, partly because I felt fed up with the way things were in Europe – Italy in particular – where doing media work can be very difficult, and the political and cultural environment doesn’t really appreciate and cultivate creativity. I'd initially planned to come here for just six months, really for a break, but then realized that there's so many interesting stories to be told as things develop here. There's a huge amount of information from an economic and political perspective – companies moving into China, the car industry and so forth … but no cultural information specific to what it is like to be Chinese right now... there isn't that much from a human point of view. China is not all rice paddies and China is not the Cultural Revolution, nor is it all glass buildings, it's a lifestyle – like everywhere. And of course where there’s all this movement there’s an incredible amount of drama and wanted to be able to tell these stories. It’s that that made me stay.

Is that what we should expect from your film? Some of this movement and drama?
Not so much in this one – it only touches on it in only a very marginal way. It's an aesthetic piece, it looks good but could be punchier. It's Shanghai nightlife told from the point of view of a taxi driver. It's not so much about the driver himself, more him as a connection, a point of reference between so many different lifestyles and strands of society that come together in Shanghai. A taxi driver is an important figure in so many situations. Shanghai does accentuate things in a particular way, for better or worse, and there’s moments when you're super excited in a taxi and this particular driver has met so many of those people in both positive and negative situations: after a night out, on their way to an important meeting, being lost... what are the traces left in his life? The idea was to get a feel for him moving around the city and talking about not so much himself but more his relationship with people.

Watching the film, there were moments when I was unsure whether I was watching a fiction or a documentary. Which was it, and was the ambiguity a conscious decision?
I don't come from a documentary background; I come from a fiction background. I do like the documentary aesthetic, but I also like having control over what's being said. I have done other pieces which are more documentary in look, but with this one I wanted to flip things around and make a documentary which has a cinematic feel, which looks more like a movie whilst still being a documentary. We stayed with the one driver and everything that is spoken about is recreated in various sequences or fragments. It's quite staged – there was lots of lighting and rigs involved, not that kind of shaky camera, guerilla feel which I do like but for this I wanted [to create something different]. The only element which is unusual is a kind of questioning of what makes a documentary: there’s this notion that they're like the bible, that they have a strong element of truth and therefore a certain authenticity which is very, very relative. I mean just the fact that you are following a particular story, that you gather a lot of material and you put it together in a certain way makes for a strong editorial point of view, but if you push this idea further, where does it tip over into fiction? Just the act of putting a microphone in front of someone and asking a question [means that people end up saying] things that they wouldn't necessarily say on other occasions, and just because there's a microphone and you’re not giving them a script doesn't necessarily mean that it's any more authentic than had it been scripted. I think often movies are better able to capture reality, the essence of something than, say, the news. Everyone was aware of the camera – people were told to either act like themselves or do certain things. The overall structure is documentary in that there’s no narrative and that it’s based on an interview with this one guy

How was it working with the taxi driver? How's your Shanghainese?
My Shanghainese is awful! I have a collaborator who helped me so much: she was translator, production assistant, assistant director and producer. She helped us find the guy and yes, [language] was an issue, I realized that that is a wall that you end up banging up against as a foreigner. We did a first interview and I was very, very unhappy with it. When we first met the guy he told us some crazy stories – women offering themselves to him in exchange for payment because they had no money, people making out in the back of the car and asking him to wait outside, all sorts of crazy stuff, and I thought this is going to be fun. But then when we started interviewing him he became like cardboard, very materialistic and optimistic. When we asked him about why he felt people came to Shanghai he replied for the Expo – you know, things that you can’t put in a piece which is about a mood and not so much about details. We had to redo the interview. Initially, I just wanted to let him talk and we gather some things and then the visuals would follow, but in the end we had to tell him that we wanted him to talk about people and prompt him a lot more – we don’t want to talk about Expo!

Sounds like quite a challenge!
Yeah, also the guy was a bit deaf which added an extra layer of difficulty when it came to communicating! But the thing is this guy had been an extra in a few movies so he knew how to work with the camera. He's rather dramatic in his movements and he followed instructions, he was easy to work with in terms of being fine with all the lights and rigs we put all over his car and he enjoyed the limelight.

You decided that your 'My Shanghai' should be from the perspective of a taxi driver – did you learn anything unexpected or surprising about them while filming it?
Yes, that Shanghai drivers are not as philosophical as I’d hoped! I've had some conversations with a few that have been very interesting and you imagine these stereotypical figures, the figures that we see in popular culture who have so much contact with society on various levels that it's easy to assume that they all have this street knowledge and wisdom that will just come out spontaneously and that’s not necessarily the case.

What attracted you to the Shanghai Portrait Project in the first place?
As a freelancer, you can be very free, you cling to the fact that you're free to do what you want, but often you're not free to do anything at all, you can end up a little complacent. Sometimes you need a deadline for that spark. At first I didn’t want to do a documentary piece, it’s not really my thing. I’d thought that unless you spend a year with someone you’re not going to get enough information, the depth of their real emotion, really get behind their front. But then I knew if I said yes then I'd have to do it. I also liked the attitude of Lazy Susan Productions: the stylistic element was important to them, that it's not 'just' a documentary, it's 50% subject, and 50% author, which made it a lot more personal and gave me room to play around with it a little bit. There’s the idea of a patchwork too, I'm interested in seeing how it fits in with the other films.

What's next for you?
This was a very aesthetic piece, all about the look. There's this camera called a 5 D Mark II and there's something happening now that I’m not especially happy about – to myself and a lot of other people. There was a time when video cameras became very accessible, everyone was making their own little movies, but the cameras wouldn’t allow them to look good so instead you had this very cool, in-your-face, guerilla feel that everyone moved towards and there was no real question of personal style because that was all you could do. The camera became dominant … but then all of the sudden there’s this new camera which is just the opposite. Suddenly it’s very easy to make something that looks good and a lot of people fall into this trap where the aesthetic aspect overshadows the content. I think I've gotten this 'beautiful' thing out of my system now and I’m back to why I’m in the media business in the first place: meaning. I’m not saying the two can’t work together, but you can get sidetracked.

I'm currently working on a feature version of a short film I made a few years back which is all about Chinese popular youth culture, the effect of the internet on society, personal engineering online... I'm very upset that this Facebook movie just came out, which I guess is very much along the lines of what I’m doing. Three years ago I made this film about people desperately trying to get famous online...

Gianpaolo, they copied you!
Ha ha! It's kind of like Trainspotting from an internet point of view – you have people bury themselves in this alternate reality, and to some extent, they're liberated, but it can also throw them into a worse situation and you end up unsure of which reality is safer. It's about the positive and negative elements of the internet, especially in China where it’s very unique.

It seems you manage to strike a nice balance between commercial and creative projects.
Yes, now I do, but for the first few years it wasn't like this. I've learnt a lot along the way, I've improved and of course projects like this one can help get your name out there. There's no way I can just focus on creative stuff – this is the first time I've received any sort of sponsorship or outside help for a creative project – and I was very , very grateful for it.

Australia and China form film alliance

2010-11-30T02:01:00.000-08:00

AUSTRALIAN movie makers are being encouraged to tap into China's booming film market through co-productions with Chinese screen producers.
By Susanna Dunkerley From: AAP November 30, 2010 2:44PM
Western film-makers often struggle to obtain Chinese government approval to make co-productions with Chinese companies.
But a new alliance between Australian and Chinese screen producers will help facilitate more co-production opportunities between the two countries.
The Screen Producers Association of Australia and China Screen alliance aims to help producers navigate through the Chinese bureaucratic processes.
And provide services, like translators, to help put producers directly in contact with each other.
South Australian film producer Mario Andreacchio was the first Western movie producer to gain approval for a co-production with a Chinese film company.
Mr Andreacchio, who recently finished his children's feature The Last Dragon, says Chinese film makers are keen to work with Australian counterparts.
"In Xi'an alone they have over 300 film production companies," he said.
"This is typical of the potential in the film-making industry that exists in provinces and regions around China."
The Screen Producers Association of Australia says film production, like the economy in China, is booming with 2010 box office takings expected to exceed US$1.5 billion.
"That is expected to get to $4.5 billion in the next 5 years," SPAA executive director Geoff Brown notes.
"And we are one of the first countries to be making such a serious effort on co-productions with China, which means we have a head start."
The new alliance could also help to boost the value of Australia film industry, valued at $731 million for 2009/10.
The figure represents just a two per cent growth since 2008/09, despite foreign features including The Chronicles of Narnia being shot locally.
And the big name foreign films did nothing to boost foreign investments in Australia in 2009/10, which took a nose dive on the previous years figures.
Foreign investors provided $68 million, or 23 per cent, of overall Australian film finance in 2009/10.
That compared to $211 million, or 52 per cent, of overall spending in 2008/09.
The Federal Government is undertaking a review of the viability of Australia's film and television industry, which is expected to be ready by the end of 2010.
This article first appeared in Australia's Herald Sun 
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/australia-and-china-form-film-alliance/story-e6frf7ko-1225963329881

ChongQing Film Festival goes "Back to Daxian"

2010-11-14T20:35:00.000-08:00

14 Novermber 2010 ChongQing --The 4th Edition of the ChongQing Independent Film and Video Festival kicked off here today. Co-director Chen Fu pointed out the festival's commitment to supporting truly independent film in China and giving new filmmakers an opportunity to present their work. Co-director Zheng Zheng also pointed out that the festival is presenting eight truly independent feature films this year, including an independent animation production

As a part of the festival's commitment to new filmmakers, this year's festival offers several showcases of student works. Participants exhibiting their works include local ChongQing students as well as groups from Beijing, Hong Kong and Japan.

The CIFVF is presented this year in cooperation with Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema http://www.netpacasia.org/2010/index.php NETPAC was formed 20 years ago to recognize the emergence of new cinematic talent among Asians. It publishes works on Asian film and is involved in promoting film showcases and festivals in Asia.

The Festival opened this year with Japanese director Ryuji Otsuka's Still Life in ChongQing , a 2 minute experimental short made with still shots from an SLR camera in ChongQing's CiQiKou old street tourist area.

It followed with Liu Heng’s Back to Daxian (Huidao Daxian), which is a compelling feature length student documentary of Heng's return to her 7th grade class room. It follows Chen TingTing, a rough and strong girl who is struggling to find herself in her rough neighborhood near the Daxian, Sichuan train station.

We are offered a rare glimpse into the loneliness, starkness and brutality of the life for many Chinese. But young TingTing offers vitality and strength as she fights - with her school mates, her teachers, her parents, her fate in life. TingTing becomes very unaware of the camera so behaves naturally, which is to say charming and bratty, in front of the camera. She also, very touchingly, forgets the camera and reaches out to the documentarian herself, behind the camera, seeking understanding, validation, or perhaps just connection.

This was shot on DV camera with no crew, so sometimes the image is hard to watch and the 120 minute film could profit by some tighter editing and stronger narrative structure, but Liu Heng presents a strong and personal documentary, often providing her own voiceover about her home and memories and her choice of subject in following TingTing makes this film compelling.

Gianpaolo Lupori Explores Shanghai Through "Dreams"

2010-11-07T07:35:00.000-08:00

Roving Dreams, a short documentary film by Italian Director Gianpaolo Lupori and Producer Maxine Zhang will premier as part of a showcase of shorts portraying the spirit of Shanghai.

The Shanghai Portrait Project

Thurs, 11 Nov. 2010, 19:00-22:00h

Lola Club, 570 Yongjia Rd, building 4, room 413, Shanghai

‘Roving Dreams’ is a mini-documentary made as part of the ten-piece series, idiosyncratically directed by as many independent filmmakers, portraying remarkable individuals in Shanghai. As possible pilot for a future feature-length endeavor, the documentary spends a night wandering the convoluted web of elevated highways, streets and alleys that are urban Shanghai by taxi hopping to experience the city as perceived by its driver.

Having seen the world fly past him all his life as he sits still, a Taxi driver is the essence of street wisdom. As he drives sleeplessly though the night, he embodies the city’s paradoxical nature of being both a city of dreams and one that never sleeps - A somewhat permanent nocturnal daydream.

Yet while he himself is deprived of sleep, he is Charon to the millions of dreams that bustle around the city. He has seen dreams come true, be trampled underfoot, vanish, be forgotten or turn to nightmares in the eyes of his passengers. Who hasn’t found himself inside a Taxi bracing himself before a potentially life-changing meeting, felt ecstatic after a successful encounter, shattered after a defeat or inebriated after a night of excess?
Any Taxi Driver has seen that and more through his rearview mirror in the eyes of his passengers. While he himself may have no time to dream, he knows more about dreams than arguably anyone in the city. While most of the city sleeps, the documentary hopes to get a pulse on its dreams through the eyes of its subject. Yet rather than his own dreams, the driver will be asked to talk about the dreams of his passengers.

Lazy Susan Productions - The Shanghai Portrait Project

A series of shorts by international directors living in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Portrait Project is a series of 3-4 minute documentaries that together make up a mosaic of local life. This project brings together the creative scene in Shanghai and showcases the talents of some of its brilliant directors. We have 10 directors committed to the project so far. Each director chooses their own subject, this could be a person, group or place in Shanghai that represents "My Shanghai."

Shanghai's East West Theater presents Caucasian Chalk Circle

2010-11-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

East West Theatre presents

“The Caucasian Chalk Circle- CCC - a Satirical Comedy of Our Times” -

by Bertolt Brecht.

Friday Nov 12^th, Saturday Nov 13^th, Sunday Nov 14^th, Friday Nov 19^th, & Saturday Nov 20^th (At 8pm precisely)

Performance Language: English with Chinese subtitles

Venue: Xin Jiu Han Performing Arts Theatre, 2^nd floor, 251 Beihai Lu (near Yunnan Lu)

Nearest metro: Peoples Square (exit 1 or 15)

Presale tickets for 150RMB are available from Cotton’s at either 294 Xinhua Lu (evenings and weekends) or 132 Anting Lu (every day 10am-2am)

Group bookings and further information: call 13564102955 or email east.west.info@gmail.com

____________________________________________________________

" The Caucasian Chalk Circle" speaks to us, who live in these materialistic and property-obsessed times, of the Idea of ownership, it ask us to consider:

What do we own?

How Much?

Why do we own it?

Do we need it?

Do we have a right to own anything?

Do we own anything at all?

The Caucasian Chalk Circle tells a parable that explores what happens when the law conflicts with justice and asks questions about who is right and wrong in complicated situations. Setting up the play, a Prologue introduces the idea that things should be given to those who will take care of them as two farms dispute ownership of a valley. Once an agreement has been reached, the villagers put on a play—The Caucasian Chalk Circle.__

What makes director Bas Roeterink Happy?

2010-09-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

By Richard Trombly

Shanghai, Sept. 6, 2010 -- Director Bas Roeterink's new documentary HAPPY STREET: JOHN KÖRMELING aired on Ductch TV and will screen in Shanghai on September 11. Roeterink is also the editor of Gan Chow's 2009 documentary The Red Race. Here is what the director had to say about the film.

HAPPY STREET: JOHN KÖRMELING was made for about 40,000 Euros, which Roeterink.characterizes as a low budget film. The film was well underway when it attracted the interest of a producer in Rotterdam.

"I didn't have any funding when I started," says Roeterink. "So I paid for everything myself."

Starting with a strong interest in following designer and architect John Körmeling and almost no money, Roeterink did everything himself from shooting and sound to directing and editing. But the hard work paid off when the producer sold the documentary to Dutch TV before it was even entirely completed shooting. It aired on May 7, 2010 and is traveling to various international film festivals.

It will be shown at Shanghai's unique "1933Shanghai" slaughterhouse-turned-art venue on September 11, 2010 at 08:00 pm with an entrance fee of 20 rmb.

"I started filming John Körmeling in 2007. in that year he won the competition for building the dutch pavilion at expo 2010 Shanghai. I live and work as a freelance filmmaker in shanghai since 2005.
Körmeling has been one of my hero's for 15 years now. He is not a real architect, more a designer, with very original ideas and solutions. So it was pretty exciting for me when I finally convinced him to let me shoot him. He hates cameras.
I just showed up every time he was in Shanghai, hanging around him with my camera untill he kind of got used to me. During the next 3 years we became friends and thats why I decided to make it a rather personal documentary. A lot of close ups. Let him talk to the camera (I was hiding behind it), as if he is talking to the audience.

The result is a movie in which you see an unusual architect working in China for the first time. And, despite frustrations, he loves it here.

"Here in China they probably like it more than people in Holland do. Dutch people will ask:"How much does all this cost?" and "Is it necessary?". While in China they like extreme ideas."

The chinese construction workers love to work with him, they feel he is one of them.
The migrant workers have a nickname for the architect. They call him 'farmer'.
On the other hand, the officials of the Dutch government don't know how to handle him and don't show much respect. There is a very embarrassing scene in the film in which our Prime Minister asks about where he got the idea from, but won't listen to Körmeling's answer.

And at the background, we see the pavilion taking shape."
53 minutes, Dutch/Chinese/English spoken. English subtitles.

http://www.1933shanghai.com/ 1933Shangahi's Glass Theater, 29 Shajing Lu, Shanghai tel: (0)21 6888 1933

Twilight Saga IV - Eat, Prey, Suck

2010-08-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

Twilight Saga IV: Eat, Prey, Suck (2010)
Not coming soon to a theater near you.
By Richard Trombly

Middle-aged Bella Swan-Cullen (Julia Roberts) had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having - an eternally teenage boy toy vampire husband (Robert Pattison) , a house with a dog door for her lupine lover, the eternally shirtless werewolf (Taylor Lautner), a successful career - yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life - (which all along has been to be turned into an undead, since in this crazy mythos vampires aren't really evil because they are so handsome - and looks are more important than your soul.)

Evil hag Bella Swan (Julia Roberts) bares her fangs to suck the life out an unwitting Italian epicurean

Newly deceased and undead, - and still yet to actually have sex with Edward - she is at a crossroads, Being eternal and dead wasn't all she thought it would be. Bella steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life (or is that undeadness?), embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery.

Bella tells Edward she has new boyfriend who has a special surprise for him

In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment in a frenzied blood lust of eating Italians; then desecrating the power of prayer in India by discovering the true evil of vampire kind, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of truly debauched sexual ecstasy in Bali with a hot hunk named Blade, the new addition to the Twilight love triangle (.And let's face it- after decades of teenage angst from metrosexual Edward's endless coquetry, she needed a good lay, and in the end she realizes that indeed vampires suck. (as does the parody film of that name.)

Coming in 2011 ... (which is still sooner than Edward ever will!)

Twilight Saga V: Necrophilia or Furries

48 Hour Film Project for machinima

2010-08-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

48 Hour Film Project for machinima

CALLING ALL Machinimatographers!

The 48 Hour Film Project, the oldest and biggest time filmmaking competition, is looking for machinima! In a wild, sleepless weekend, you and a team will make a movie ---- write, shoot, edit and score it. From scratch. In 48 hours. On Friday, September 17, you'll get a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre, all to include in your movie. By Sunday, September 19, the movie must be complete and uploaded to our server in California.
Each completed film is guaranteed a screening in Twinity, Inworldz and Second Life.
Winner ánd runner up will be screened at MachinimaExpo 2010.

Meet other machinimatographers, spend 48 hours in intense movie making, have your film screened in several virtual worlds, and compete to represent machinima against the other 90 48HFP cities! Come on out and make a movie!
To be part of the 48HFP, register online at: http://www.48hourfilm.com/machinima
Registration costs $48 per team. Space is limited, so register today!
The events in 2010 are held in Second Life, which is a free download at: http://secondlife.com/support/downloads/
Teamleaders are expected to be present at kickoff and screening event, if you need any help at all in entering Second Life; please contact Chantal Harvey, and you will be coached step by step. It is also possible to come to the events in a ready made account. (talk about it being easy.)
Communication can be through using skype @ chantal.harvey, and by email: machinima@48hourfilm.com

The UWA_BOSL Theater in Second Life

This SLurl will take your avatar to the 48HFP theatre : http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA/6/248/1638
Some dates to remember: (all times are sl/pacific times)

September 14: Meet and greet the 48HFP teams - 3 pm
September 17: Kickoff event at 5 pm, genres/prop/line/character handout and start of contest September 19: Dropoff event at 5 pm, end of contest is 6.30 pm
September 23: Screening of the films, awards and winners announced

Dont miss the change to bring your machinima to the World, the winner will be screened at our Filmapalooza Festival, and winners there will go to Cannes!!

Chantal Harvey
Machinima Producer 48 Hour Film Project
http://www.48hourfilm.com/machinima
machinima@48hourfilm.com

info@mamachinima.eu

Lovers in the Water

2010-08-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

Love triumphs over death in rural China

Shanghai Aug. 16, 2010 -- Lovers In The Water, a feature film by co-directors Zheng Zheng and Chen Fu, is currently undergoing the final stages of post production in Shanghai. This is Chongqing Normal University film professor Zheng’s third feature film. Singer Shang Hua, best known for her hit pop single QQ Love and films like Lao Wu’s Oscar, takes the female lead and male supermodel Li Xueqing makes his acting debut in the lead role.

Lovers In The Water (手舞之恋 or Bai Shou Wu Zhi Lian literally “Waving Hand Dance of Love”) was filmed in June 2010 in quaint locations like Gongtan old town along the 1200-kilometer Wujiang River about 260 kilometers outside of Chongqing, China’s largest city. The rural location is important to this tale, which reflects the mindset and metaphysical angst of China’s “thirty-something” generation.

In this tale, an upwardly mobile Chongqing professional (Li) in his thirties learns he has a terminal illness. He cleans out his desk, walks out of his office and throws away his cell phone and then returns to his tiny home village seeking some meaning to his life. When he boards the bus to the rural hill town of his youth, he has a fateful meeting with the village school teacher (Shang).. In a nostalgic gesture, he reopens his deceased father’s restaurant, which brings him into further contact with the teacher. What results is a platonic love story as well as a return to a simpler time.

Shang Hua (left) and Li Xueqing (right) pose on set in Gongtan village

Zheng filmed this feature in the minimalistic style of the Taiwan new wave directors like Hou Hsiao-Hshien. While his last film, I Think Your Dancing is Beautiful (2009,) showed his ability to produce a film with modern style, pacing and cinematic skill, the camera language of Lovers in the Water is a simple as the rustic society in the Wujiang mountains. Zheng had big production filming equipment like dolly and crane and an expert crew but most of the time, he was shooting very simple shots that lend a very basic sense to this film.

Director of photography Jeffrey Chu, was also cinematographer on films including Japanese director Atsuhiro Yamada’s Happy Ending (2009.) Chu said Zheng clearly visualized the film and practically edited it with the camera. This may have been common in the past when shooting on expensive film stock, but modern directors shooting on HD tend to have fast-paced editing and strong coverage, shooting each scene from several angles. But Lovers in the Water indulges in long shots and a slow lyrical pace.

“I started making suggestions for some creative shots and to get ‘coverage’ of the scenes,” said Chu. “But Zheng was not interested. He really knew exactly what he wanted. It is rather experimental in this modern age, but for this film, it really works.”

The simplicity of the shooting builds a mood that reflects the soul-searching of the protagonsit, said Chu. It does evoke the style of Taiwan’s new wave filmmakers or the French auteurs. Zheng however points to South Korea’s Jin-ho Heo’s Christmas In August, also a platonic romance between a terminally ill man and a charming young woman. There are certain scenes in Lovers In The Water which echo Christmas In August. In both films, the protagonist is suddenly taken to the hospital and the lover, who has no idea of the illness, returns to find only the closed shop.

“Urban life and modern love can become complicated,” said Zheng. “I wanted to make a film that explores the purity of love.”

Zheng Zheng (left) prepares to film a scene with actress Shang Hua (center)

In Christmas In August, the two lovers have an unrequited love, but nonetheless develop a relationship that is very powerful and becomes the center of the film. Zheng’s lovers remain platonic, but never seem to form a deep bond. The center of the film becomes more about the protagonist coming to terms with his death … and his life.

This film is a spiritual journey that expresses the zeitgeist of the generation in China approaching middle age. They are beginning to come to terms with mortality and the meaning of their lives. In a pivotal scene, one of the protagonist’s childhood friends dies suddenly and all of his friends share his own need for soul searching as they realize that all too soon they will all face the same fate. In this rural village, life is centered around the water. We never see the protagonist’s death, rather the last we see of him, he is diving into the pure water as If it were a sort of communion.

Chongqing announces 4th indie film fest

2010-08-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Organizers of the Chongqing Independent Film and Video Festival 2010, which will be held from November 14-20, 2010 , said that this fourth installment of the annual festival will be bigger, more diverse and pursue higher quality than the previous years. The festival seeks to support cultural exchange and develop the independent film industry in China. The festival is open to all submissions and focuses on promoting film rather than competitions or awards.Submissions should be made in China or related to China or Chinese culture to fit the theme and focus of this festival.

Call for submissions deadline August 15, 2010.

http://www.cifvf.org/zh/index.php

rough translation from the above website.

CIFVF2010 sign film started (deadline: August 15, 2010)

2010-08-06 19:00:58

CIFVF2010 (11 月 14 日 -20 days) will be held in Chongqing, after the first three festivals of experience, this year CIFVF in overall size, the pursuit of quality and diverse programming, inter-cultural exchanges, and more extensive peripheral activities and so continue the fine tradition of last year, and try to do better. 2010 video collection has been started to work actively welcome all friends to attend.

Application forms and prospectus information please go to the download page to download.

-------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------

Contrast Youth: The Fourth Film Exhibition in Chongqing civil works exhibition prospectus

Chongqing Independent Film & Video Festival 2010 4th edition, 2010 Regulations

Contrast City: Chongqing civil Film Exhibition (Chongqing Independent Film & Video Festival, CIFVF) purpose is to promote the private film and digital video media creation and exchange, to encourage Chongqing and China's New video creators, and the expansion of youth groups artistic vision and imagination.

The Film Festival by the Milky Way Film Co Ltd and Chongqing outdoor movie studio (Open-air Theatre Studio), organized 90 minutes movie studio 90 Minutes Film Studio) Co; in November each year, held in Chongqing, China. This festival every effort to provide high quality images for the local audience programs throughout the world to create images of space to express freely; in the audience and between the structures of a liberal, freedom, equality, exchange and communication platform.

Nature

1. The festival is to work for the main purpose of screening the exchange of image arts and cultural activities;

2. This does not establish any official film festival awards.

Qualifications

1. No qualifications, all artists are invited to submit their works;

2. The festival no entry fee.

1 pre-work. Accepted genres include drama, documentary, animation and experimental films; welcome cross-type creation, declined to TV column and commercial applications programs;

2. Works shall be in January 2009 and thereafter produced;

3. Video show length does not exceed 60 minutes, the length of a long slide show of not less than 60 minutes;

4. Works shall not contain any violation of PRC laws and regulations related to the content;

5. Works of non-Chinese dialogue, accompanied by bilingual subtitles; Chinese Putonghua works, accompanied by English or in Chinese and English subtitles; Chinese works of non-Mandarin dialogue, accompanied by subtitles in English and Chinese;

6. All works completed by CIFVF selection of films pre-selection panel; CIFVF film selection panel constituted by the following persons: to be bright, Ou Ning, the cloud (LI Yun-bo), Zhou Hao, Li Ning and Lei Lei.

Submit

1. Limit each participant to submit entries of up to more than two;

2. Entries must be submitted in each of two identical standard DVD discs (PAL format) for pre-selection;

3. Entries must each also submit the following materials:

• A completed application form

• According to a director, JPG format, size less than 1M;

• two different photo stills and a job, JPG format, within each size of 3M;

• A work summary, 500 words or less, WORD or plain text format;

• A director explained, 500 words or less, WORD or plain text format;

• Director Biography and other works of the situation, WORD or plain text format;

Submit the above materials in kind to the film festival organizers, digital files, please send an email to opentheatre@gmail.com .

4. All participating works, together with a completed application form and relevant explanatory documents to be submitted before the deadline Film Festival Organizing Committee;

5. All works submitted must be clearly marked on the DVD disc title, name of film and director;

6. All work from the field sent to the organizing committee, please use EMS, DHL or other courier services to package the form of submission; delivery costs borne by the participants;

7. DVD disc of all submitted works and related materials will not be refunded.

Deadline

August 15, 2010.

Screening time and place

November 14, 2010 -20 Day. China • Chongqing, Galaxy Pictures Shapingba Chongqing University, and other cinema and screening room.

Selected works
1. Works selected filmography will be held in late September 2010 the official web site; all sign up will receive if selected for the work of individual notice;
2. All candidates will receive a certificate of selected screenings;
3. Selected will be required to provide complete copies of the works and new (video or DVD) for screening purposes; screening copy copy the contents to be consistent with the pre-selection;
4. If selected to provide a screening copy of the DVD, will not be refunded; if selected to provide a screening copy of the video, except with the prior statement, the organizing committee will retain copies of the show; for all the work to retain copies of the Organizing Committee, panellist will ensure that only for data archiving and academic activities;
5. Provide screening of selected videos, the acceptable format for DV, DVCAM, HDV or BETACAM SP, PAL standard;
6. For the prior statement to the return of the pony show video, the organizing committee is responsible for showing video from the day before the festival to play the end of the custody period, if lost or damaged, the Organizing Committee will only compensate for the corresponding number of new formats and blank video;
7. Apply to all field work participants sent to the participants own expense, send the cost of the return video showing borne by the Organizing Committee.

Invite

All selected works director (a) the whole festival will be invited to attend the event, accommodation and food costs during borne by the Organizing Committee; and to provide full, as the case from tolls or subsidies for certain travel expenses.

Participants authorize one. Participants are required to ensure full copyright ownership of the work / or may authorize the public screening of the works;
2. Participants Organizing Committee may be authorized to work pieces (not more than 3 minutes) and the relevant data for television channels, print media, radio and the Internet for non-commercial promotional activities;
3. Organizing Committee have the right of participants to modify their work, but will only be made after participants agreed to amend;
4. Participants are required to fill out the application form to ensure that all personal and other information with the authenticity of the Organizing Committee to consider whether the information is only for selected purposes, and subject to the laws and regulations on the protection of personal privacy terms of constraints;
5. Participant agreement with the Organizing Committee, if the participants in the festivals because under this statute the violation of intellectual property rights of any person, portrait, reputation or contain defamatory, or for any other reason of any breach of the provisions, resulting Zuwei Hui or suffer any third party actions, proceedings, claims, claiming, liabilities and expenses, at any time, participants must take full responsibility, and to ensure not involved with the organizing committee.

The right one. Participants enroll in this festival not only of accepting the Constitution, not the Constitution in the face of limited cases, the committee will be handled through consultations with the participants, as participants do not accept the negotiation of handling, the Organizing Committee the power to make the final decision;
2. The festival organizing committee reserves the right to charter all.

-------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------

Contrast City: Chongqing civil Film Exhibition (CIFVF) Organizing Committee Contact: Ms Zang (CIFVF Film Festival co-ordination)
Address: Jiangbei District, Chongqing Jianxin Road 2 North City Arts Building (next to the New Century) 14 F -11 E Postal Code: 400020
Tel: +86 13696406684
E-mail: opentheatre@gmail.com
Official Website: http://www.cifvf.org

Local films showcased at Shanghai's Dada Bar

2010-07-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

Shanghai, 14 July 2010 -- The second monthly installment of Cinemashup played to a full house on July 14 at Dada Bar, Shanghai. Tina "Sprinkles" Blakely and top local DJ Laura Ingalls selected the content for the night. They also provided some visual and sound presentation.
"I am really interested in experimental film," said Blakely. "I like blurring the boundaries of art and film."

There were locally made  films showcased in the lineup. One film by film by first-time local filmmaker Tim Chu with his short  film "Shattered" that is a psychological horror. Another was "Outsiders" by American filmmaker Richard Trombly. In this experimental short, Trombly utilized an SLR camera to take over 1500 still photos inserted in sequence to provide a form of stop-action animation. This was mixed with camera footage to provide an experimental love story

Actors Zhu Tianjie (left), Karl Dominik and Christy Shapiro in "Outsiders"

Blakely said that she is planning another lineup of international experimental shorts for the next event at Dada Shanghai on August 11, 2010. Submissions of all kinds -- especially locally-made films -- are welcome. To submit or for more information contact: cinemashup@gmail.com

Meiwenti's film contest v.9 -- Awards Ceremony - get your tickets now

2010-06-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

Meiwenti's film contest v.9 -- Awards Ceremony - get your tickets now

Meiwenti has done it again. The best filmmakers in Shanghai have make their entries and are ready to premiere them to the public and the best will win the top awards. Come to the Xinguang Arts Center, 586 Ningbo Rd on Saturday, June 26, 9:30pm!

Buy your tickets now!!!!!!!!!!!

The time has come to know who's Shanghai's best filmmaker!

Saturday, June 26, 9:30pm!

Tickets in advance ONLY through SmartShanghai.com:

Areas A, B and C : RMB 90 (inc. ticket, DVD and after party ticket at Sin Club with one free drink).

VIP: RMB 150 (inc. ticket, 2 free drinks (wine, beer, sodas), DVD and after party ticket at Sin Club with one free drink).

at the door:

Areas A, B, C: RMB 130

VIP: RMB 190

Cinemash Up Short film night -- Call for Submissions

2010-06-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

Cinemash Up - is a monthly short film night at

Dada

115 Xingfu Lu

幸福路115号

Shanghai

June 16, 2010 Shanghai -- After a Successful launch of Cinemashup at Shanghai's premier party spot, Dada Bar, Organizer Tina Blakeney says she will offer these film nights on a monthly basis. The event was packed and there was a mix of international and local material -- leaning toward the experimental side.

"I have concentrated on experimental film and video images," said Blakeney. "I look for material pushing the boundaries of filmmaking."

Blakeney said she has experimented with projecting films and images on the audience, handmade films and other ways of pushing the limits. She is also interested in local Chinese content.

Cinemash up will feature art house short films, animations and
documentaries from around the world, selected by Tina Sprinkles and
Laura Ingalls

There is a particular focus on work made by local film makers. All
homegrown content of any genre is welcome, please contactcinemashup@gmail.com for submissions.
A very special thanks to Mei Wenti Productions for all their help and
support for local film content.
A full film program is available, with film details and local
filmmaker information, please contact cinemashup@gmail.com for details

local filmmakers are encouraged to submit their short films. The date for the next event will be released shortly

--contact
Tina Blakeney
+86 13916754247

Enter the Italian Dragon : Christian “Kang” Bachini

2010-04-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

The Return of Kung-fu Cinema

By Jason Lee

SHANGHAI -- A premier screening of the action short film Deficit: The Silent Revenge showcases the newest action duo to hit the independent filmmaking scene in Shanghai with Chinese-American Film Director Richard Chung and emerging Italian Martial Arts Action Star and Film Actor Christian Bachini. It was a unique event that gave the attending crowd the opportunity to witness the debut work made by this new team of talents.

Italy, widely known for its legendary "spaghetti Westerns" and violent crime films that made the history of cinema in the 70s and 80s, but have been quite for the past 30 years or so during its long hiatus away from action. Finally the time has come and Italy is coming back to action cinema with its very own “first Martial Arts Movie Superstar ever” in Christian Bachini.

Christian Bachini pays homage to European martial art superstar Jean Claude Van Damme

as he mimics a move from his debut movie "No Retreat No Surrender"

Fusing Christian Bachini's unique fighting style with Richard Chung's innovative ideas and vision, this dynamic duo aim at revolutionizing the Kung Fu genre with a character driven martial art action drama that provides an East meets West themed love story in the modern day while showcasing a brand new way of action choreography on screen. Incorporating the most spectacular and effective Asian martial arts as well as the western fighting styles and MMA with parkour and Brazilian Jiujitsu, and Capoeira. a new genuine mix of fighting arts were born from the mind of Christian Bachini. This new action choreography and philosophy about martial arts will be presented through films and storylines to fulfill the audience’s long awaited passion in seeing the classic martial arts genre revived.

A night of excitement and energy from the live crowd over hundreds in attendance witnessing the premier along with live fights featuring professional boxers, karate demonstrations and Muay Thai fighter, as well as entertainment segments were the audience got the chance to interact directly with the movie's cast and crew.

Richard Chung (l.) and Christian Bachini (r.) Pose with legendary actor Jon Benn

The event's stature increased through the special guest appearance of legendary actor John Benn, the unforgettable villain in Bruce Lee's most famous movie "The Way of the Dragon", that, call it fate or destiny, just happened to be set in Italy, in the city of Rome. After the screening, the audience anxiously anticipated more upcoming films by the explosive Director/Star duo as they are currently in the process of expanding the short film into a full-length feature, that will showcase more exclusive and never before seen action sequences coming soon.

As the great Bruce Lee made his way over to Italy in the past, now it is time for the Italian dragon to start his own legacy in the martial arts action film in China. Stay tuned…

Note: Christian Bachini will co-star in Eric Heise's Film "Shanghai Chill"

HK Filmart and China Radio International interview

2010-03-28T02:43:00.000-07:00

HK Filmart and China Radio International interview

Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 4:53PM

I had the opportunity of attending the HK FILMART and meeting many of the great folks working to develop the industry of film in Asia and advance the film culture. Filmart is the warmup of the big spring film markets, with everyone anticipating Cannes.

A strong focus of the seminars and many of the exhibitors was on the digital and CGI technology as well as 3-D technology. After Avatar, we can all expect to be experiencing a deluge of 3D films. let's hope we don't get only 2D characters and plots.

As a former Hollywood Reporter journalist and AlivenotDead artist, I also attended the star-studded "Hollywood Reporter Magazine/AlivenotDead.com Party honoring Next Generation talent ( young film industry movers and shakers.)

At Filmmart, There was a lineup of interesting Asian films and a few Asia or world premiers. Of the films that I saw "She a Chinese" had already played in Venice, but the actress Huang Lu put on a great performance in that edgy film. It is worth a watch.

And the period piece "Cow" (duo niu) presented an interesting narrative around a little-known program from the Allies in Europe sending Holstein cows to China to help China resist Japan (because this breed offers superior milk production) The story focused on one cow and the simple man charged with being her keeper (played by CRAZYSTONE's Huang Bo. ) during the harsh winter of 1940 during the Japanese occupation of China. This was a good piece of storytelling by Hu Guan (known for 2002's EYES OF A BEAUTY) which shows some mature work and well-developed story.

I was also part of a radio panel discussion on China's film industry with China Radio International. There is a link to the radio show below. I was a call-in from Hong Kong since i was still at the Filmart. Show co-host Qinduo left, Amy Liu and Donny Liang of Entgroup.cn, professor Liu Jun of Beijing Film Academy and show co-host Chris Gelkin is on the right. Professor Gary XU also joined the panel on the phone from the University of Illinois.

http://english.cri.cn/8706/2010/03/26/481s559400.htm

Organization supports indie film in Shanghai

2010-01-20T05:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2010/201001/20100120/article_426247.htm

Making movies in Shanghai

Created: 2010-1-20

Author:Nancy Zhang

THE Shanghai Independent Film Association brings together expat and Chinese film makers, actors, writers and creative types to make new movies. Nancy Zhang interviews founder Richard Trombly.

After a hiatus of half a year, the Shanghai Independent Film Association is back in the swing for 2010, and the first event is the screening of a martial arts film by local Shanghainese film makers in early February.

Richard Trombly (left), founder of the Shanghai Independent Film Association, is on a shooting site with Chinese film makers.

The club, founded two years ago, aims to bring professional and amateur film makers, actors and creative types together to build ideas for new films.

Shanghai Daily talks to founder Richard Trombly, a former journalist, about local film making, and the stories Shanghai inspires.

Q: How did the club start?

A: I studied film and theater in college but then went into journalism as it seemed a more realistic career. By the time I came to Shanghai two years ago, I had been in journalism for 20 years and felt I'd had enough.

I got involved with a local expat group making short films, and just met more people doing film. The great thing about any expat community is that it's charged with energy, with people who had the drive to leave home. You get to meet the most interesting minds. I love people who have the energy to just go and do something, so I wanted to support local film makers.

Q: What's its mission?

A: To get people together and talk about what they're doing, find people who can maybe work together, and encourage the cross-pollination of ideas. The film community is very integrated, so we have a range of members, not just directors but also actors, cameramen and others.

Our events include screenings of films by members or local independent film makers, film shootings, and also drinks and other social get-togethers. Each time up to 50 people will come, and each time it's different people.

Q: What kind of film ideas have emerged?

A: We're currently working on a script called "Father John," which I co-wrote with another member. He was working for the US Embassy when he came up with the idea and he found people at the club who could help him realize the idea.

It's a spy story set in Shanghai and it's about the complex web of relationships and intrigues here that lie underneath the bright skyline, taking the main character through the labyrinth of Shanghai longtang (alleyway). We are now seeking funding.

I also shot several films in the past about the immense social changes taking place here. For example, my film "Waiting" was about a single-dad family from western China and how this juxtaposed with the very conservative idea of family in China. Modern forces are causing a breakdown in the family, so it was sociologically very interesting.

Another film, "Noah's Harvest," was about how cripplingly shy young Chinese adults, even well into their 20s, can be when it comes to relationships.

Q: Does Shanghai inspire film makers?

A: I'm so inspired by the stories here. It's a city of dreams. I think it's the only city name that has been made into a verb! Some independent film makers are drawn here by the stories they think can be found here, others come for other purposes and are later inspired by the stories here to make films.

In terms of the local film scene, there are also genuinely new things being done here and new ideas coming out from Asia. Local film makers can benefit from the contact with a variety of ideas and international people. When I first came, Shanghai was such a business city, but art is becoming more and more important.

Q: What are your hopes for this year?

A: We want to support more local Shanghainese film makers and get them more involved to exchange ideas. At the moment the club is 60 percent expat.

The next event, for example, is screening of a martial arts film made by local film makers. It's not really smooth or professional and not high budget at all, but we just want to help them meet more people who may come to the screening, and make some useful connections.

Film screening
Date: February 6, 6-9pm
Venue: Shanghai Loft, 739 Dingxi Rd
Tickets: 70 yuan (includes dinner and drinks)
Call 1381-8837-641 or e-mail to richard.trombly@gmail.com for more information about the film association.

Voting begins for People's Choice Awards film script pitch contest

2010-01-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

07 January, 2010 Shanghai -- Please vote at the American Film Market / People's Choice for Father John / David Minnihan (the 5th one) and make it the most-want-to-see movie in 2010.

If you are tired of run of the mill Hollywood rehash, then vote for Father John. A spy film based in Shanghai with the thrill of Asia's most exciting city as a backdrop to espionage and plot twists which will keep you on the edge of your seat.

It is really simple, all you need to do is just a click on the link below to open the page. Then vote for the best film. We sincerely believe it is Father John. Winning this contest would help greatly in developing this project and we greatly appreciate your help.

http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/influence/AFM/

Father John was written by Steven G. Long and Richard Trombly.

For more information on Father John project, please visit www.fatherjohnthemovie.net

Happy new year everyone, and happy VOTING!!!

--
Best Regards,

Richard Trombly

"Father John" goes from Zhapu Road to Tinseltown

2010-01-07T01:01:00.000-08:00

see the Zhapu Road video by my friend and fellow Shanghai expat Jakob Montrasio of MK Media.

Zhapu Road video shows a raw and rough side of Shanghai north of the Bund. This is a look and feel that is a reference for the shadowy feel we want in the upcoming international spy feature film Father John www.fatherjohnthemovie.net

Father John, written by Steve Long and Richard Trombly, is one of five film projects in the AFM/People's Choice Award. See the press release:

http://fatherjohn.neucoimage.com/pdf/PressReleaseEN.pdf

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMPhwprUgBM

Father John: Zhapu Road Test from MK Media Productions on Vimeo.

International Spy Film goes from Shanghai to Tinseltown

2010-01-07T00:48:00.000-08:00

SHANGHAI SPY DRAMA FATHER JOHN NAMED FINALIST IN PEOPLE’S CHOICE
AWARDS FAVORITE FILM PITCH CONTEST
Father John Will Compete with Four Other Film Pitches for Audience Support;
Award to be Chosen in January at peopleschoice.com
Shanghai, China, Dec. 22, 2009 – For the first time, people all over the world will have
a chance this January to let their voices be heard in Tinseltown. A high-profile film pitch
contest, co-sponsored by the People’s Choice Awards and the American Film Market,
will give people an unprecedented choice in the films they want to see made. The
contest has included at least one bold choice among its five finalsts: a Shanghai-based
contemporary spy drama was selected from hundreds of candidates as one of five films
most likely to be made in 2010.
The film, Father John, is set in the film-noir atmosphere of nighttime Shanghai. It tells the
story of John, a London-based spy who is sent to Shanghai after his cover is blown.
There he encounters new kinds of danger and international intrigue.
One of the film’s producers, David Minnihan, says he was thrilled by the response.
“Going into the contest, I didn’t have any expectations. I just gave my pitch and tried to
show our project in its best light. I’m pretty excited that we got to this level, especially for
the recognition it will bring to our film. I think our international story and gripping drama
will appeal to people all over the world.”
The contest was a collaboration between the People’s Choice Awards (PCA) and the
American Film Market (AFM), held last November. Industry professionals attending the
market were given the opportunity to pitch their films on video during the eight-day
market.
Afterward, the AFM assembled a group of industry leaders to select five finalists. Their
pitches will be posted on www.peopleschoice.com — the official PCA Website —
following CBS’ broadcast of THE 2010 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS in early January,
allowing fans to choose the ultimate winner: the film they would most like to see get
made.
“Now, for the first time, fans will also have an influential voice in deciding what films get
produced.” Says PCA President Fred Nelson. “This is a very exciting development that
takes our brand, pop culture, and user-generated video to an entirely new level.”
The voting commences on January 6th and closes at 11:59 pm EST on January 20th, with
the winner scheduled to be announced the next day. This gives people ample time to
vote, be heard in Hollywood, and encourage the kind of filmmaking they want to see in
the future.
---
Father John’s website at www.FatherJohnTheMovie.net gives more information about
the upcoming production, including synopsis, character descriptions, storyboard images,
production blog, and bios of the Shanghai-based crew.
The People’s Choice website at www.peopleschoice.com serves as a year-round
destination for entertainment enthusiasts to voice their opinions on pop culture. Now in
its 36th year, The People’s Choice Awards is voted on entirely by the public for fan
favorites in music, movies and television. Fred Nelson is the President of People’s
Choice, and the website and awards show are produced by Procter & Gamble
Productions.
The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), the trade
association representing the world’s producers and distributors of independent motion
pictures and television programs. For more information, visit
www.AmericanFilmMarket.com.

Contact:

Steve Long/David Minnihan
Father John Productions, LLC
China: +86 1500-172-6242
US: +1 314-397-3456
Stevenglong@gmail.com
David.Minnihan@gmail.com

Sherwood Hu films video for the Shanghai 2010 World Expo

2009-12-31T10:39:00.000-08:00

Sherwood Hu, director of Prince of the Himilayas (2006), was in Shanghai this past week filming a video for the Shanghai pavillion of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. The video is meant to convey the Shanghai experience of the past century and the grand development of Shanghai in the current era. It is a very feel good piece, so do not expect any wartime scenes or period of cultural revolution struggle.
The most interesting thing was the camera rig they used to film this. Since it is intended to be projected in around the walls of the pavilion, it was necessary to film 360 degrees. The camera team used 5 Canon Mark II SLR cameras rigged together (one up and 4 at 90 degrees to one another)

The camera team and the impromptu Canon 360 degree rig

The crew was a combination of local talent and a photography department from USA that will be doing some of the work on Spiderman 4. The photo rig was their solution to film for a 360 degree projection on a severely low budget. The production was commissioned by Shanghai so it was done on a limited budget that would not allow a typical IMAX-style camera but they needed the same results. The resolution is only in HD from these cameras but the results are still admirable.

Christian Bachini (l), Richard Trombly and Alex Genneopoulos pose as 1930s stock traders

Many of the local expatriate actors were called on to act in this piece to fill some of the grand old dance halls and galleries on the Bund. The mandate was to show the grandiose scale of Shanghai in the 1930s before WWII and Shanghai's current grand scale of modern development.
"It is great to be in the project and work with a director like Sherwood Hu," said Christian Bachini. He is a young actor from Italy who came to China specifically to work on martial arts films, learn from Chinese martial artists and is also studying the Chinese language. He and Alex Genneopoulus have taken part in several short films as stuntmen, extras or actors and were cast in the upcoming film Chen Zhen.
The Shanghai 2010 Expo will run from May 1 to October 31, 2010 in Shanghai, China.

Italian film maker Gianpaolo Lupori makes his mark on the China film scene

2009-12-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

***Gianpaolo Lupori and Richard Trombly have collaborated on many projects including the below-mentioned film "MeatSpace" which was recently featured in a Chong Qing, China film festival.***

Italian film maker focuses on China's urban youth

NEWSPAPER EDITION
2009-12-9 00:00

CINEMATIC postcards from the edge are created by an Italian film maker focusing on young Chinese Internet addicts and others on the fringes of the urban mainstream. Sam Riley reels it in.

The lives of young people in China's fast-changing urban environments fascinate Italian film maker Gianpaolo Lupori, who delves into Shanghai's metropolis to tell stories from the fringes of the mainstream.

In his film "Meatspace," recently screened at the Chong Qing Film Festival, Lupori looks at young Chinese who spend so much time online in cyberspace that they refer to their "real lives" as time spent in "Meatspace."

The inspiration for the 17-minute film came while Lupori was working in a computer games company in Shanghai.

The characters are "real people," not actors, and some were the online enthusiasts that Lupori worked with.

They talk in Shanghai dialect, with English and Mandarin Chinese subtitles.

"I researched online, but not understanding Chinese was a huge handicap. But through working with these kids, who also acted in the film, I was able to understand a lot more," he says.

"Meatspace" is very much about what is happening in China, he says.

Lupori, who has lived in Shanghai since 2004, says he was drawn to the idea of people who identify more with their online life than their day-to-day reality.

"Not knowing Chinese I had to take information second- or third-hand about the online world of these kids but I kind of like that," he says.

"Before I did the film, I hadn't played an online game, and as an outsider in the culture you have a unique position as an observer. You can see things that those who are totally involved in that life may not."

"Meatspace" was shot on just 1,200 yuan (US$176) and Lupori hopes it will become the pilot of a full-length feature film.

He worked extensively with the Shanghainese actors to make sure the dialogue was right and that it reflected the way a young online computer enthusiast would speak.

Lupori has shot another two short films, again on shoestring budgets of less than 1,500 yuan each.

One of the films, the 12-minute "Dark Moon" is about problems of making connections in a big city. It was screened at Shanghai's Meiwenti film festival in June 2008.

His third movie, still untitled, was filmed this year and follows the mishaps of a young man who finds a bag on the street of Shanghai and tries unsuccessfully to get rid of it.

Lupori would like to screen all the three films together because they are all urban stories about local people, "universal stories but very localized."

Telling stories from China's urban heart might seem a leap for Lupori, who grew up in the barren rural landscape of southeastern Italy in countryside near the port city of Bari.

At first he followed his parents, working in childhood education that runs arts, crafts, music and multimedia activities to engage children in learning.

He worked with underprivileged children and new immigrant families. He also taught English in Italy.

Lupori came to Shanghai because the parents of his wife, Nadya Alexander, were working in the city. The couple has two children, Shawn, 9, and Aidan, 8. Alexander teaches at a Montessori school.

"The plan was to stay six months or a year at most but we got caught up in the spirit of the potential that is such a part of Shanghai," Lupori says.

He taught English before moving into acting and film. On arriving he quickly gained a toehold in the local film community, getting parts as an extra in Hollywood films "The White Countess" and "The Painted Veil." He was also a stand-in for Jonathan Rhys Myers in "Mission Impossible 3."

He was a runner on sets, organizing actors and equipment on shoots. In 2007 he got a part in a high-profile commercial for electronics manufacturer Philips Global that was directed by acclaimed director Wong Kar-wai.

He also has been directing programs for Luxe, a series of in-flight television shows featuring China's luxury goods industry, for Shanghai Airlines.

Looking back on five years in Shanghai, Lupori says he has forged a career in the local film and media industry that would not have been possible in his home country.

"The media industry in Italy is very closed, and there is no room for innovation and it is all in the hands of a few people," he says.

"Film making is not what it used to be in Italy - I thought I might be able to be a critic or something but never what I have been able to do here."Gianpaolo Lupori

Nationality: Italian

Age: 32

Profession: Media producer

Q&A

Description of self (three words):

Scruffy, analytical, picky.

Favorite place:

The inside of any means of transportation.

Worst experience:

Yet to come.

Motto for life:

"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making plans." (John Lennon)

How to improve Shanghai:Less luster and a little more drama. I fear that the obsession with improvements is rendering the city sterile, dull and lifeless. Every city needs a healthy dose of grime.

Advice to newcomers:

Get over the disappointment of not encountering the much anticipated cultural shock and realize that the city does have an exotic strain, faint as it may be.

Introducing the Shanghai Repertory Theater

2009-11-30T01:36:00.000-08:00

Shanghai Repertory Theater stages its first show. Repertory theater is a company that presents several different plays, operas, or pieces usually alternately in the course of a season at one theater or is a theater housing such a company. Hard to be a repertory theater on your first try but the actors are good so we can give the produce an "A+" for ASPIRATION if not actual reputation as a repertory... And maybe SRT will build on the success of all those volunteers that made East West theater - many of whom are in this production - which gave producer Rosita Janbakhsh her start. Rob Tromp stars as SCROOGE in their first show : A Christmas Carol

Tickets for a Christmas Carol are on sale now. RMB150 for students, RMB200 for adults. Group packages are also available. To purchase, visit www.kecenter.org.cn, www.ticket2010.com or call 136 4170 1170.

Introducing the Shanghai Repertory Theater
Daily Blog
Monday, 16 November 2009 11:11
Written by Caroline Tylawsky

Shanghai’s newest theater company, the Shanghai Repertory Theater, is kicking off the holiday season with a production of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Scrooge in all his philanthropic glory and his whole gang of ghosts will be on stage at the Ke Center from December 2-6.

SRT is an English-language professional theater run by Rosita Janbakhsh, previously the executive producer at East West Theater. A Christmas Carol will be their debut performance, featuring several familiar faces in the cast and crew – including Rob Tromp as Scrooge, Charlie Mayer as Bob Cratchit, Arran Hawkins as Marley’s Ghost, and Jessica Sands as Tiny Tim.

To help introduce the new theater company to the local stage scene, they’ll be holding a launch party at Chinatown this weekend (Saturday, Nov 21, 5pm) – members of the cast and crew will be in attendance, and the night will feature ticket giveaways, scene previews, canapés and, of course, some holiday drinks. It’ll be free entry starting at 5pm, with scene previews at 5.30, 6.30 and 7.30 (which will also be the ticket giveaway times).

Keep your eyes open for our interview with Rosita and more about A Christmas Carol in an upcoming issue of that’s Shanghai.

Tickets for a Christmas Carol are on sale now. RMB150 for students, RMB200 for adults. Group packages are also available. To purchase, visit www.kecenter.org.cn, www.ticket2010.com or call 136 4170 1170.

Fan Yuming starts filming "Huo Guo"

2009-11-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

Director (Andy) Fan YuMing kicks off filming the short trailer-style film "Huo Guo" ("hot pot") today. This modern gangster comedy film presents a satyric look at modern China as local and Italian forces struggle to gain a piece of art from China's heritage. Mix all the ingredients and wait until it comes to a boil.

A typical spicy hot-pot

I feel like I am going out of the frying pan, (or at least the hot pot) and into the fire. I am acting in this little production and will be speaking in Chinese.. Wo zhen hai pa, yingwei wo Zhongwen zhen shuo de hen cha !!! (I am nervous because my Chinese sucks!)

including some lines in Shanghainese -- so now I know the meaning of "Nao zi wa te le!" a local insult meaning literally "your brain is broken"and have found it is useful in Shanghai traffic.

Westview Films announces "Dark Waters"

2009-11-24T21:02:00.000-08:00

Westview Films announced its new feature film project, DARK WATERS.

Like director Richard Trombly's other Mandarin language films in China, this story centers on the struggle Chinese youth face in balancing 5000 years of tradition and the crashing wave of modern society and western culture.

Even as the modern world should offer endless freedom of choice, there seem to be so few options to many young Chinese. It is like being on a boat and seeing so many possible destinations in the distance around you while being restricted in choice to merely going up or down stream.

(one of China's ubiquitous riverboats)

"When I arrived in China 6 years ago, China had few highways and few tractor trailer trucks to deliver things. China was, however, embarking upon a great effort to create a vast national highway project and has made incredible progress," says Trombly. "But for now, there are still huge numbers of riverboats traveling the "water highways" in rivers and canals across the country. Thousands of families live on these riverboat barges that remain the backbone of the logistics in China. But times are changing and the modern highways and improved rail systems are slowly spelling the end of this way of life."

Trombly is fascinated with this way of life that will soon disappear and how it fits the struggle of young people in China. This setting makes an ideal backdrop for exploring some of the issues and challenges faced by China's youth. The restricted and claustrophobic environment leads to interpersonal conflicts against a counterpoint of some of the loveliest rural scenes in China.

Trombly said the script is currently in development and will be filmed later in 2010. Trombly is working with some top Chinese talent to develop this story with native authenticity and international perspective.

Director Richard Trombly to head Westview Films

2009-11-24T17:46:00.000-08:00

Westview Films

Westview Films is founded to make international films within the China market. Few foreign filmmakers can successfully navigate the governmental restriction, take advantage of the cost savings in China or produce stories that resonate within the Chinese culture.

Few Chinese filmmakers can make films that are accessible to an international audience.

That is our niche.

We will work together with top foreign and local talent to promote cultural exchange with producing great films.

We will be shortly announcing our first project.

Contact : Richard@trombly.com

2009-11-11T02:31:00.000-08:00

"Meatspace" Short film selected for Chong Qing, China film festival Nov 21-29

Director/producer Gianpaolo Lupori's intriguing short film follows the theme of lost youth in modern China. Many young Chinese spend so much time online that they never talk about being in "cyberspace." Instead, their "real" lives are referred to as spending time in "meatspace." This presents a vision reminiscent of Clockwork Orange but with the director's keen insight into the gentler and more restrained nature of Chinese youth. It is in fact the very restraint and lack of power, that drives this story forward. Richard Trombly co-produced this Shanghainese-language short.

Synopsis

Among the millions pursuing a better life in the technologically saturated city of Shanghai, four dissatisfied ordinary youngsters drift between reality and cyberspace as they attempt to transform their nondescript lives by posting a series of controversial videos on the Internet.

The virtual quest, however, soon turns into a nightmare as the backlash response to their posts spills out into the real world to haunt and track them down.

Statement

Over the past years, the Internet has not only had a deep effect on the way we interact with each other, but also how we determine our personalities and relate to our surroundings. individuals are now able to creatively engineer their persona, giving new relevance to enduring philosophical investigations on the nature of identity and reality. The extensive influence the Internet has on individual and collective patterns of behavior has also spawned numerous alternative cultures that already present complex hierarchical structures, beliefs, mythologies and parallel economies.

While critics are concerned that these virtual behaviors are unraveling an already fragile social fabric and destabilizing traditional values, others believe cyberspace has provided its inhabitants an opportunity to escape their worries, broaden their horizons and satisfy emotional needs.

However - as is the case with any fledgling alternative culture - while they struggle to break out of conformist patterns, these individuals may find themselves completely disorientated, possibly facing irreversible alienation.

‘Meatspace’ is a poetically licensed reflection on some these social, psychological and cultural alterations generated by virtual interactions between individuals.

Inspired by true accounts, as well as research into various cyber cultures, ‘Meatspace’ investigates the dysfunctional relationships members of these newborn cultures may establish with the various alteregoes the Internet enables them to create. The film also attempts reveal some of the difficulties they may face as they struggle to reconcile their disembodied, virtual experiences with their material lives and the devastating effects it may have on the individual.

The movie refuses to take sides, choosing rather to ally itself with its characters, sympathetically portraying difficulties of individuals trapped between two equally menacing realities; describing how lack of prospects, human contact and self esteem may drive someone to burrow themselves completely into a parallel reality where they may experience the artificial freedom of recreating themselves.

Director's Statement FATHER JOHN: Into The Shadows

2009-10-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Why Father John?

First of all, this is the archetypal hero’s quest. A flawed hero is thrust out into the greater world where he faces and overcomes great challenges. He also learns about himself, faces his faults, grows stronger and then brings this knowledge, maturity and strength back home to solve problems there. And Father John does this in a delightfully fresh new way.

When I came across this script, I immediately saw the potential in doing a neo-noir spy tale in Shanghai. The signature Shanghai architecture, the Shikumen-style housing blocks, are twisted mazes of narrow alleys that leave you turned about and confused or facing a dead end. And that also reflects the traditional lives and personal relations in those communities along those longtang lanes. Famed Chinese writer AnYi Wang said that in these neighborhoods, truth, lies and dark deeds all vanish into the mist.

With a bunch of recent films showing famous Shanghai views of the riverfront with the iconic Pearl Tower or the neon lights and international fashion brands of Nanjing Lu, I wanted to see a film that went deeper into the “real” Shanghai I have come to know and love. It is an ocean teeming with the endless ebb and flow of humanity.

There are some incredibly rich and vibrant views of Shanghai that will add depth and texture to this story. From the dingy back alleys and the dilapidated dwellings to fresh new neighborhoods of the new class of upwardly mobile professionals, Shanghai is an amazing backdrop for any drama.

I also was intrigued by exploring the inner conflict in John. Spies have to do some dark things that you would only expect from confidence men, thieves and murderers. The only difference is that spies can pretend to themselves that doing it for a good reason, in service of their country, makes it ok.

John’s way of maintaining his identity and self-respect in this environment is to take on the role of nice guy; almost to a fault. He tries to make an orderly world in his office where he can dot the “I”s and cross the “T”s and everything will be alright. In a world of shoot-from-the-hip rule breakers, John tries to follow the rules and a personal code of ethics. John quite effectively carved out this niche for himself in London where, under a business cover, he could effectively play the well respected man about town. But John has been lying to himself about his nice, perfect life and the darker side of his own nature.

When he is thrust into Shanghai, his life turns upside down. In London, John kept a perfectly ordered life while in Shanghai, everything is unsure. He is out of his element and not only are the people in his new office nearly hostile to him, but there is also a traitor in their midst. His partner Bill is uncooperative and on the verge of hostility toward John.

A local Chinese staff at the office and Yuri, a shadowy figure that rescues John from a mugging, seem to be his only friends. He does not know who he can trust. But he has to learn quickly if he is going to survive, because his predecessor did not.

2009-10-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Greetings all

It has been several months since I have written. I have been devoting myself to developing the Feature film production of the international spy film : FATHER JOHN : Into The Shadows.

This is a neo- film noir spy story about a spy who is a true gentleman perfectly suited for London but has his cover blown in London and finds himself thrust "into the shadows" of Shanghai, in a world filled with intrigue and deception. In this environment, who can you trust? John forms a tenuous alliance with an enigmatic figure named Yuri and he must unravel a terrorist threat before the terrorists carry out a contract to assassinate him.

update projected shooting : Fall 2010

We have been slow to raise money in this current economy, but the interest is developing and we expect some strong financing shortly. But we have deeply revised and perfected the script and a few actors have read the script and expressed interest. We are able to name two actors that have committed their interest in this project.

Juliet Landau

Juliet Landau ( famed for the film Ed Wood and her recurring role as Druscilla in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) is up for the lead female role as John's primary love interest in London.

Peter Stomare (Prison Break, Fargo, Constantine) is the ideal casting for the shadowy Yuri.

I have spoken with Elias Koteas about playing the role of John's partner in Shanghai, Bill. I hope to have the honor of bringing these three great actors together. If the funding picture keeps on it s current optimistic track, I am hoping we can secure the fund to attach the lead star to play John.

more info to come:

thanks to my friends for the help and spiritual support in this time of struggle

Hong Kong joins in Meiwenti Global Short Film Contest

2009-05-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong joined the Meiwenti independent film movement along with 13 other global cities. The Meiwwenti Global Short Film Conntest is a part of the Meiwenti Network and is designed to support independent film makers develop a supportive community and cultural exchange though film.

Cities include

Buenos Aires Bogota Mexico DF St. Louis Los Angeles

Madrid Paris London Moscow Beijing

Guangzhou Xi’an Shanghai Hong Kong

Contact your local promoter

Hong Kong is : hongkong@meiwentinetwork.com

madrid is : Madrid@meiwentinetwork.com

The same format for the other cities.

any confusion just contact: international@meiwentinetwork.com

and a helpful meiwenti associate will help you out.

Meiwenti announces global film contest

2009-05-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

For complete information please visit:

http://www.meiwentinetwork.com/contest

Introduction
In the soon-to-be-infamous Meiwenti Global Film Contest, all entries have just one month to write, shoot and edit a short movie, is a natural progression from our very successful and popular Shanghai Short Film Contest. With this, we will be hoping to build similar communities of filmmakers and enthusiasts to the community that has emerged in Shanghai or to link existing communities around the world in one global contest. This will involve all cities hosting their own contests simultaneously and having their own Awards Ceremony.

Then, all the winning films will go forward to the global contest in Shanghai and compete for the prestigious Global Winner award. This global ceremony will be screened in your city where there will be a vast array of different styles on show from all over the world. There will be an added edge, as the film representing your beloved city fights for its pride.

Why the Meiwenti Global Film Contest is unique
There are thousands of short film contests and festivals in the world, what sets us apart is:

We are the only contest whose aim is to create communities of independent film lovers around the world and use this global network for the international distribution of indie feature films
Our business model is designed to benefit the indie filmmakers worldwide
We want to involve everyone in filmmaking, not just film students and industry insiders
The Meiwenti Network will support filmmakers in the production of films that have met the quality standards

Timeline

Kick off: June 11th
On this day, all the filmmakers who have signed up will meet up in a venue and the promoter will explain what are the requirements for the contest. The promoter will also email the requirements that same night for those filmmakers that can’t make it.
Entries Deadline: July 8th
Any movies submitted after can not be included in the contest, so it is very important that you mark this date and plan carefully so as not to run out of time.
Local Ceremony: July 18th
The local awards ceremonies will take place on July the 18th at a venue in your city with the 12 best films being screened and the winning films and actors being selected by a Jury of film industry professionals and the audience getting to vote for the ever-popular, "People’s Choice Award".
Global Ceremony: August 1st
All the winning films from each city being screened and a coveted Global Winner being chosen by a Jury of professional filmmakers from all over the world.

Award Categories
The voting will be carried out by a judging panel of film professionals in your city. The jurors (4 to 6) will grade the films according to the different technical aspects of filmmaking. In addition, the audience will be the Jury for one category, the always popular "People’s Choice Award".

Winning Film
2nd Best Film
3rd Best Film
Best Actor
Best Actress
People’s Choice

Disclaimer
Meiwenti Productions has the right to show the films on its website or at one of its affiliated websites and to produce contest compilation DVDs.

Sign up
Email your local promoter to sign-up or to answer any questions you have.

If your city doesn't have a promoter, you can participate in the INTERNATIONAL contest, where all the orphan filmmakers will compete.
For more info, please contact: international@meiwentinetwork.com

Meiwenti mobile phone video contest

2009-05-12T07:43:00.001-07:00

Shoot a short film .... best film wins a nifty Nokia E71 phone.

Theme - Friends

less than 1 minute: no editing:

You do not have to be in Shanghai or even China to participate. Global entries accepted.

send entries to : Mobile@meiwentinetwork.com

Best "clips" will be screened in Shanghai.

Have fun!

Meiwenti Productions introduces Meiwenti Network

2009-05-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

Shanghai 3 May 2009 -- Meiwenti Productions has been making independent film and supporting the independent film community in Shanghai since 2005. Now Meiwenti launches the Meiwenti Network, www.meiwentinetwork.com, an alternative way to develop a grassroots film community supporting cultural exchange and artistic expression through film around the world.

The Meiwenti team in action

Founder Juan Vargas refers to the Meiwenti Network as a revolution in the film industry.

"You have photographer, writers, artists, painters and sculptors working independently but only in film do we refer to the film industry," says Vargas. "But technology changes from digital distribution to desktop PC editing and affordable cameras has opened new possibilities and the time is ripe for a film revolution."

Vargas envisions the Meiwenti Network as a potential global distribution channel among worldwide communities of film professionals, afficionados and movie lovers. He does not see it as competing with the existing movie industry. Rather this would be a new way of getting quality movies to an interested public.

Vargas says there are many people around the world who want to see quality film that is different from the run of the mill Hollywood fare. And he does not think he is alone.

Meiwenti Network is looking for Meiwenti Network Promoters worldwide. For more information contact : Richard@trombly.com

Time in USA with family

2009-04-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

After living in China for 6 years, it is always nice to spend some time in the USA. Especially when my lovely kids are in the U.S. and I still live in Shanghai. I arrived home in Belchertown, Massachusetts on April 8 to freezing temperatures and chilling winds. Thankfully before I left I had some real spring weather and saw the cherry blossoms come out and heard the "peeper" tree frogs emerge and perform their spring serenade.

Speaking of serenades, my (former) sister-in-law Katerina Korolov lives with my kids currently and she has a lovely dulcet voice and is handy with a guitar, banjo and some other string instruments.

Katerina Korolov plays guitar while singing a tune she composed

I guess that side of the family is responsible for the musical artisitry of my 14 year old Anastasia. Anastasia regaled me with her own musical skills. She has gone just a bit Goth on the fashion but she is still primarily a sweet and lovely geek....

Anastasia Trombly provides musical accompaniment to her drama club musical play

She is also playing musical accompaniment to the Belchetown middle school's drama club musical play. I was honored that my teenager asked her director dad to help organize the show and assist the drama club teacher, Mrs. Edwards. It is an adaptation of the classic Peter Pan. Next stop: NeverLand....

Why is it almost all of Neverland's "lost boys" are girls?

My son was a delightful companion during the week of school vacation I shared with my kids. He is an active 11 year old boy. Always playing frisbee, hiking, biking, on the swing (or jumping from it) and swimming on the school swim team.

Basil jumps off his swingset but is not as aerodynamic as Peter Pan

Took a nice day in Boston to visit the Boston Science Museum and saw the Omni-theater presentation Roving Mars about the Mars rover mission. We also visited Quincy Market in downtown Boston and the Boston Common.

Richard and Basil Trombly hiking on Mt. Toby

Basil also accompanied my on a nice hike in Western Massachusetts on the fun climb up Mt. Toby to the summit.

April 28 I parted with my sweet kids and boarded a plane ot China - 20 hours and a day lost over the international dateline later, I arrived in China.

Shanghai 2020 completes filming

2009-04-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

19, April, 2009, Shanghai -- The Science Fiction action/adventure SHANGHAI 2020 wrapped filming today. The 20 minute short film is the brainchild or Meiwenti Productions founder Juan Vargas. This is a community film production using the resources of Meiwenti members and some creative but effective rundraising methods.

In a time when the entire economy is in a slowdown, Vargas and his Meiwenti Productions simply respond, "Meiwenti." This is Mandarin Chinese for "No Problem." That is the mindset that Vargas takes to film making.

The iconic Shanghai 2020 "SWAT chicks" get ready for some action on set

The Meiwenti community approach to film making has allowed talented amateurs to connect with seasoned film professionals to rapidly produce quality film while providing essential cultural exchange between local Chinese and expatriate foreigners.

Even as this production wraps filming and prepares for postproduction by Meiwenti professionals, Vargas and Meiwenti are preparing for the next project. The independent feature film FATHER JOHN.

For more information please visit

www.meiwentiproductions.com

See more photos from the set of Shanghai 2020 at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?page=1&aid=244651&id=741605563

"Father John" feature film casting now

2009-04-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

I am preparing for directing the feature film, FATHER JOHN. A unique an spellbinding spy thriller much more in the Hitchcock style than a Bond 007 or a "Jason Bourne" action story. This is an independent film but we have great equipment, are attracting expert crew and are assembling a great list of credited professional actors.

Director: Richard@trombly.com

casting director: "Lola" Le Guan casting@meiwentiproductions.com

line producer: Juan Vargas juan@meiwentiproductions.com

to learn how you can get involved in this unique feature film project....

SYNOPSIS -- "Father John"

He is the nicest spy you could ever meet in London… He has just been re-assigned to Shanghai. His whole world is about to be turned upside down!

"Father" John is aptly named for his gentle ways and reputation for always getting critical intelligence and "confessions" from even the hardest of sources. His style is uniquely suited to London, from polite society to the mean streets. He has it all - the respect of his office, a covert love affair and prospects for promotion after successfully unveiling a terrorist plot. That is, until one of his sources ends up dead, his cover is blown and a contract is issued on his life so John is reassigned – to Shanghai.

Shanghai is modern and international with a bright and shiny skyline, but there is a dark underbelly beneath it all. John finds a complex web of relationships and intrigue that takes him deep into the dark “long tang” lanes and the labyrinthine Xikumens of the real Shanghai. He must learn in this new environment to recognize his enemies from allies in this unfamiliar environment.

He starts out on the wrong foot with all the Shanghai office and gets beaten by a gang on the Shanghai streets. It seems his only friend is a dubious Russian named Yuri who claims to be in the shipping industry. Things turn around when he befriends the office assistant everyone calls Susie and he cares enough to learn her native Chinese name, Fei Yuying. John enlists her aid to help him learn the ropes in Shanghai. She helps him make connections and unravel the levels of international deceit and deception. She also shows him some of the real China and its culture that the other foreigners miss as they travel only in the restrictive expatriate circles.

John begins to master the situation is Shanghai, but he finds he is up against the Russian mafia, Korean crime lords and the same terrorist organization that he faced in London. Will he be able to navigate these turbulent waters, bring down the terrorists and save London before they can carry out their contact on his life?

Visiting my kids, birthday party

2009-04-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

I am about to wrap on the filming of Distance Runners, so after a quick trip to Hong Kong I will drop my stuff in Shanghai, pay my rent and pet my dogs, and desert them yet again. (a friend and a maid care for my dogs during my frequent travels)

One of my dogs, Xingxing ("star")

The reason I am running to America without taking a break from running non-stop since preproduciton for Distance Runners is that I have not seen my kids in 4 months!!!!!!!!

I visited my kids and my dad in the fall of 2008

But I get to go home and see them for 3 weeks while i work on the initial preproduction on the film Father John that I will be directing in May and June.

My daughter is having a birthday party for her 14th birthday. She is an amazing young lady. She is a programmer with Linux installed on her computer and is programming in PHP, Wordpress and a few other programming languages and she has some business clients. She is a lovely and beautiful young girl.... AND a self-professed "nerd" (like her dad), a devoted reader of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimon, and a devoted Dr. Who fan.

Anastasia has her own unique style.

Oh yeah, she now plays electric violin in a garage band too. :-)

Anastasia Trombly plays her (non-electric) violin last Christmas when i was in USA at Christmas

My son Basil is a creative young artist. He is an engineer at heart I think. He is always designing things like space stations and vehicles and when he was younger made amazing worlds in a wondrous land of Lego blocks. He is now 11 1/2 and eagerly awaiting the chance to spend Spring holidays hiking and boating with his dad. He is also quite a swimmer and a member of the "stingray" swim team at his school.

Basil's 11th Birthday party

While I am excited to get on to my next film project in China, nothing is better than some time with the family, the kids that I love.

Distance Runners films in Kunming College

2009-04-03T01:21:00.000-07:00

March 26, 2009, Kunming -- Distance Runners spent 3 days filming in various locations within the Kunming College of Science and Technology, Oxbridge College Campus. This served as hospital, therapist offices, training grounds and more.

Andrew Edelson plays Dr. Alistair Crane the doctor and mentor that helps Li Shan overcome his injuries after a crippling accident.

"Alistair" shares his wisdom with "Li Shan"

The charming "Xu Mei" (singer Li-Tong Hsu) played the role of a traditional Chinese medicine doctor skilled in accupuncture and Eastern philosophy. This doctor team brings about the physical and spiritual recovery of Li Shan.

Of course there is always some fun on the movie set.

"What is the diagnosis, Doctor?"

"Dude, you are like sooooooo crippled - ha, ha, ha..."

After wrapping the Oxbridge Campus location, we started looking at filming the ultramarathon scenes. We had a day off while director Robert Vicencio visited key locations for filming the ultramarathon race featured in this film.

Camer a operator He Yun uses the RED ONE camera on a Steadicam unit

Filming running scenes is difficult and a marathon is not about speed and fast-paced competition, so the challenge for the director is to keep up the excitement with great cinematography, fast-paced editing, and a gripping story. Obviously we needed to use vehicle shots, steadicam and lots and lots of extras to film a race.

Nearly finished shooting Distance Runners film in Kunming, China

2009-04-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

April 3, 2009, Kunming --

The race phase of the Distance Runners film shooting schedule is finished after a long week of shooting. Even though this is not generally the rainy season in Yunnan, the weather was not always on our side. This is largely due to the week of rain induced by Kunming government "cloud seeding" to make it rain.

While the scenes in the rain helped to give the feeling of a grueling and arduous race, it is no fun filming in the rain. And even in Yunnan, where the weather is temperate, the wind and rain can get pretty bone-chillingly cold.

"Josh" and "Katsuro" battle for the lead

The actors and the crew were relieved to have some sunny days to shoot in as well. There are some beautiful locations in Yunnan. We are fortunate to get a chance to shoot out in such a beautiful region of China.

"Josh" is an arrogant British runner who seeks victory at any cost

Director Robert Vicencio has combined his unique dramaturgical mastery and the amazing RED ONE camera to make the most of his vision with a dramatic road race traversing the rugged countryside of Yunnan while lead character "Li Shan" has flashbacks of insight into his troubled past.

Lead actor Shao Wen puts on the speed and passes another competitor

"This film is intented to portray a spiritual journey," says scriptwriter and associate producer Richard Trombly. "As Li Shan travels through the 188 km endurance course, we see flashes of the past that led him to undertake such an extreme challenge."

Producer Steve Long Finalizes Script for "Father John"

2009-03-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

28 March 2009 Shanghai -- Steve Long of Golden Quill Productions penned the script for his latest production "Father John" to be shot in Shanghai in late May/ early June 2009. Long says the script is currently undergoing final revisions.

Long tapped Richard Trombly as director for this film noir-style intrigue and espionage thriller. The feature-length film is expected to premier in Shanghai this summer and then enjoy an international video release. Trombly is currently in Kunming, China as Associate Producer on the feature film Distance Runners.

"I immediately realized the potential of this script when Steve Long first discussed this project with me," says Trombly. "It draws from his background of experience within the American Consulate and other departments of the foreign service."

Trombly expects the film to have wide appeal because it will feature some off-the-beaten-path views of Shanghai and will draw and Long and Trombly's familairity with China's most international city.

"Shanghai offers a unique mix of the traditional Chinese culture alongside a thriving and modern metropolis," says Trombly. "Shanghai is also ideally suited to a spy film. The mere name 'Shanghai' evokes the mystery and allure of the East."

The film will offer some cloak and dagger action with a host of international villians, says Trombly. He also hopes to show some of the charm of the city and its people that has drawn him and thousands of other expats to enjoy living in this swarming metroplolis.

For production support, Long looks to Meiwenti Productions. This will be a micro-funded production. Long, currently head of the IT department at the US Consulate in Shanghai, is a devoted tech-lover and will be using much of his own equipment accumulated over the years. Much of the crew and cast talent, however, will come through the Meiwenti network. Meiwenti will help locate active members in the independent film community that will bring this project together at a rapid pace and micro-budget.

Distance Runners meets the press

2009-03-28T17:54:00.000-07:00

March 18, 2009 Kunming, China - As Distance Runners kicked off filming in Kunming, China, several reporters turned out to see the stars. Huang Lu and Shao Wen expressed their eagerness to be in this film by first-time director, Robert Vicencio. (Vicencio is known for his role in Miss Saigon and as a performer.) Local reporters and press from Chengdu (Huang Lu's hometown) came to interview the actors and crew of this feature film about running an ultramarathon in the remote countryside of Yunnan.

Huang Lu 黃璐 said she was happy to return to Western China for this feature. Since her starring role in Mang Shan (Blind Mountain) 2007, Huang has starred in several internaitonal features, including the acclaimed (The Red Awn 2007) and director Xiaolu Guo's (She, a Chinese 2009) which was filmed in London.

Huang Lu joins the cast of Distance Runners

Shao Wen is the male lead in this sports/drama film being shot in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. He plays a runner that recovered from a crippling accident and must face his past.

Scriptwriter Richard Trombly poses with the lovely Huang Lu and co-star Shao Wen

For helping to make this film possible, Vicencio said he appreciated the support of shoe maker, New Balance. Expect a product placement or two.

Filming "Distance Runners"

2009-03-28T01:43:00.001-07:00

March 17, 2009 Kunming, China -- "Distance Runners" has opened filming. Director Robert Vicencio says his vision is to make an inspirational movie about making dreams come true.

For lead character Li Shan (Shao Wen "In Love with an Angel" and "Unnamed Heroes") finding

his dreams does not come easy. A popular and athletic youth, he suffers a crippling accident, falls into depression and drives away the love of his life, Wen Yi (Huang Lu "Blind Mountain") [on IMDB as the Chinese title Mang Shan 2007]

Star Shao Wen, center, with singer/actress Li-tong Hsu and Kyle Rothstein )

The road to recovery begins when he meets a foreign doctor, Alistair Crane, that heals his body and becomes his mentor. Alistair introduces him to running as a physical therapy. But Shan has big dreams and undertakes a 188km (112 mile) run through the hills of Yunnan. He has a spiritual journey that leads to the restoration of his soul as he struggles through this torturous race course and faces his past.

Richard Trombly's Shanghai, China Film Blog

Cinemashup kicks off a new season at Dada bar

LaoBans gears up for production

Update from Shanghai's Lemontree Productions

Judy Lee joins with Obscure Productions for "Polluted"

Beijing Short Play Festival is "Causing a Commotion"

Underground Chinese filmmakers make their mark in USA

More entries >

Underground Chinese films make their mark in USA

China Underground Film Series at Viz Cinema

Shanghai Portraits Project: Gianpaolo Lupori

Creative Hunt

Australia and China form film alliance

ChongQing Film Festival goes "Back to Daxian"

Gianpaolo Lupori Explores Shanghai Through "Dreams"

Shanghai's East West Theater presents Caucasian Chalk Circle

What makes director Bas Roeterink Happy?

Twilight Saga IV - Eat, Prey, Suck

48 Hour Film Project for machinima

48 Hour Film Project for machinima

Lovers in the Water

Chongqing announces 4th indie film fest

Local films showcased at Shanghai's Dada Bar

Meiwenti's film contest v.9 -- Awards Ceremony - get your tickets now

Cinemash Up Short film night -- Call for Submissions

Cinemash Up - is a monthly short film night at

Enter the Italian Dragon : Christian “Kang” Bachini

HK Filmart and China Radio International interview

HK Filmart and China Radio International interview

Organization supports indie film in Shanghai

Voting begins for People's Choice Awards film script pitch contest

"Father John" goes from Zhapu Road to Tinseltown

International Spy Film goes from Shanghai to Tinseltown

Sherwood Hu films video for the Shanghai 2010 World Expo

Italian film maker Gianpaolo Lupori makes his mark on the China film scene

Introducing the Shanghai Repertory Theater

Fan Yuming starts filming "Huo Guo"

Westview Films announces "Dark Waters"

Director Richard Trombly to head Westview Films

Westview Films

Director's Statement FATHER JOHN: Into The Shadows

Hong Kong joins in Meiwenti Global Short Film Contest

Meiwenti announces global film contest

Meiwenti mobile phone video contest

Meiwenti Productions introduces Meiwenti Network

Time in USA with family

Shanghai 2020 completes filming

"Father John" feature film casting now

Visiting my kids, birthday party

Distance Runners films in Kunming College

Nearly finished shooting Distance Runners film in Kunming, China

Producer Steve Long Finalizes Script for "Father John"

Distance Runners meets the press

Filming "Distance Runners"