Coming attractions: May 5th May 16th

We will introduce you to some of the best films, plays, concerts that are sure to leave you with an array of exciting choices during your free time. So why don't you start marking your calendar, if films and shows are your cup of tea.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" on screening

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" the superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Wolverine is showing in movie theatres across the Chinese mainland. It is a prequel to the X-Men film trilogy. It focuses on the mutant Wolverine and his time with Team X, before Wolverine's skeleton was bonded with the indestructible metal -- adamantium. Set roughly twenty years before X-Men, the film focuses on Wolverine's violent past and his early encounters with William Stryker. The Weapon X program is explored as is Wolverine's interactions with other mutants, including his relationship with half-brother, Sabretooth.

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Legendary Josephine Siao Fong Fong

Legendary Hong Kong film actress Josephine Siao Fong Fong will be presented with a lifetime achievement at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night. The 62-year-old actress became popular as a child and continued her success, winning numerous domestic and international film awards throughout her career spanning some five decades.

Josephine Siao was born in 1947 as Siao Liang in Shanghai. At the age of two, she was brought to Hong Kong by her parents. Siao's first movie appearance was at age seven in "A Child's Tear". Two years later she won the Best Child Award for her role in "Orphan Girl".

Unlike many child stars, Siao made a successful transition to adult stardom, remaining one of Hong Kong's most prolific and popular actresses. In the 1960s alone, she starred in over 200 films. She was one of the popular female teenage stars who were termed the "Seven Cantonese Princesses" of the 60s. But she was perhaps the most popular of them all. She appeared in all sorts of films, from romance to drama, to comedy, action and fantasy.

In 1970, she cut back on her film output to focus on her education. Siao earned a Communications degree from New Jersey's Seton Hall University. From then on, she worked less frequently in films. In 1974, Siao had only a small part on the screen as the hero-cop "Girlfriend", but it won her the Best Supporting Actress at Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Awards.

In 1975, she worked as one of the directors for "Jumping Ash". The film is regarded by film critics as a prelude to the Hong Kong New Wave movies of the 1980s. She then created for TV the bumbling plain Jane character, Lam Ah Shun, in 1977.

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Documenting ordinary peoples lives

Movie-maker Jia Zhangke is a representative figure of China’s six generation directors. That refers to a group of young directors who are around the age of forty who often are the recipients of awards from abroad. Jia’s films documentary-style films are made even more powerful due to their authenticity and reality. His down-to-earth portrayal of the lives of ordinary people have earned him legions of loyal followers. In Today's spotlight we review Jia’s latest film -- “24 City”.

The film “24 CITY” is based on a group of workers
living and working in a military-supply making
factory. It documents the changes in the lives of
ordinary workers in a factory that will soon be
converted into a civilian-use company.

The film “24 CITY” is based on a group of workers living and working in a military-supply making factory. It documents the changes in the lives of ordinary workers in a factory that will soon be converted into a civilian-use company. Jia’s early films were often set in the director’s hometown of Shanxi. But this film, along with Jia’s last movie... are set in the city of Chengdu, in southwest China. The area is well-known for rich produce and spicy food, as well as the prosperous atmosphere among civilians.

The film features a time span of fifty years, during which the roles experience the ups and downs of their lives. Actresses Joan Chan, Lv Liping and Zhao Tao are in the cast, as they are in nearly all of Jia's films. Joining them is popular television star Chen Jiabin.

The names of the stars do not appear in the film until about one-half hour into the film. Jia Zhangke makes use of some non-professional actors and actresses as cast members during the first half hour of the film. That's because he says the stories of real people are often even MORE fascinating than the best scripts. That's characteristic of Jia's films, which is evident from his previous works. Jia says he interviewed nearly a hundred workers in the factory where the story takes place.

Director of "24 City" Jia Zhangke said, "I hope to do all of the interviews by myself. This work should’t be done by others. I went to Chengdu for around ten times during the course of one year... with my longest stay being sixty six days. Sometimes when the person is silent... the words he DOESN'T speak are much more powerful than what any scripted lines can say."

The stars are dressed and behave just like ordinary workers. Ordinary people might not be able to differentiate between the stars and the non-professionals. The actors and actresses say the documentary style film was a big challenge.

Coming Attractions: Apr.27th - May 4th

Next is our weekly pick of entertainment options in major Chinese cities. We will introduce you to some of the best films, plays, concerts that are sure to leave you spoilt for choice during your leisure time. So why not start marking your calendar, if films and shows are your cup of tea.

"Iron Man" to be released

A model oil worker famous in China during the 1960s has been portrayed in a recent big screen production. The biopic will be released across China during the May Day holiday.

Revolving around the career and life of model oil worker Wang Jinxi, the film tells the story of a group of oil workers in 1960s China who dedicated all their efforts and enthusiasm into the country's oil exploration. The film also chronicles China's oil industry over the past five decades. It was shot at the Tarim oil field in northwest China as well as at the Daqing oil field in the northeast.

Director Yin Li says he hopes his film reflects part of the huge changes in the country after the establishment of the People's Republic of China. And he added that it is a gift to the motherland on it's sixtieth anniversary.

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Winners of Hong Kong Film Awards

The winners of the prestigious Hong Kong Film Awards were announced last weekend. Local movies "Ip Man" and "The Way We Are" were standouts at the event. Let's take a look at the five biggest winners.

No.5 "Assembly"

War epic "Assembly" won the trophy for "Best Film from Asia". Two of Feng Xiaofang's latest films were nominated for the award, including "Assembly" and "If You Are the One." It's rare for two films by the same director to be nominated in this category. The criteria for winning the prize includes the film's influence, and it must convey a positive, inspiring theme.

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Student Film Festival gives out awards

The sixth annual Beijing Student Film Festival has awarded its trophies after an online poll of college students from around the country,and with the assistance of expert judges.Filmmakers are paying increasing attention to the tastes of students who make up the largest part of China's audience for films.

ThesixthannualBeijingStudentFilmFestivalhasawardeditstrophies
afteranonlinepollofcollegestudentsfromaroundthecountry.

Fan Wei and Zhang Jingchu were chosen as the Most Popular Actor and Actress.

"Ip Man"'s director Wilson Yip won the award for Most Popular Director.

A biopic of late Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang, "Forever Enthralled", was named Best Film. And Yu Shaoqun, who plays the younger Mei Lanfang, was named Best Newcomer.

Zhang Jiarui won the Best Director Award for "Red River". And the box office hit "You Are the One" won the Critics Award.

Thefestivalalsolaunchedaprojectaimedatencouragingcollegestudents
towritescreenplays.

Donnie Yan was the "Best Actor" winner for his role in "Ip Man". And Zhou Xun was "Best Actress" for her part in "The Equation of Love and Death".

"Painted Skin" won the Best Visual Effects Award.

The festival also launched a project aimed at encouraging college students to write screenplays.

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