China, US collaborate on Bruce Lee biopic
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 4, 2015
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Pang Hong, CEO of Kylin Pictures, speaks at the U.S.-China Co-production Film Summit held in Los Angeles on Nov.2, 2015. [Photo courtesy of Kylin Pictures] |
A Chinese producer of the new Bruce Lee biopic said they will retell Lee's story in an international perspective at a U.S.-China film summit held in Los Angeles on Monday.
"As an internationally well-known Chinese Kung Fu star, Bruce Lee had a legendary life and starred in legendary works," said Pang Hong, CEO of Kylin Pictures, at the U.S.-China Co-production Film Summit, "We are expecting to show Lee's legend from an international perspective no matter what is going on in terms of production team selection or the storyline itself."
"The Adjustment Bureau" director George Nolfi has signed on to direct the biopic. He came to China for early preparations at end of October to research locations, including Lee's ancestors' home in Shunde, Guangdong Province, and study Chinese martial arts of a variety of styles, especially Lee's master Yip Man and his Wing Chun style.
Nolfi learned a lot about Lee and the environment he once lived in, as well as Chinese Kung Fu, in terms of actual combat techniques and philosophy, during his China trip.
Kylin Pictures will collaborate with Groundswell Productions and QED International to produce the film. It was reported that the story is inspired by the true story of Bruce Lee's historic 1965 duel with Wong Jack Man, China’s most famous Kung Fu master at the time when San Francisco's Chinatown was controlled by Hong Kong Triads. The film will also tell the story of Lee's life before he became an international Kung Fu megastar.
Nolfi's writing credits include "Ocean's Twelve," "The Bourne Ultimatum," "Need for Speed" and "The Adjustment Bureau." However, the Lee biopic script is being written by Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele.
Shooting Lee's biopic is also a learning process for Chinese filmmakers, Pang said.
"Though China may soon surpass the North American film market and become the biggest in the world, Chinese films are still a small part of the world market," Pang said, "We have to take care of our own business while we share a piece of the global film market."
Pang said investing in Hollywood projects is not just investing money, but also a chance to get Chinese involved and learn from the veteran Hollywood film industry. "We can then tell the Chinese story to the world by using the industry’s mature techniques," he said.
The film is expected to begin shooting next spring. Chinese actors Jin Xing, Xia Yu and a collection of Chinese martial arts masters will star in the film.
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