Hong Kong director Stanley Tong is planning a film titled Diary, about the 1937 Nanjing Massacre during World War Two.

The director shed light on the plan while attending the opening ceremony of a bar in Shanghai on Friday.

Tong said he had spent four years collecting information before writing the script. So far, films delving into the massacre are not historically accurate, and this motivated Tong's decision. The director plans to focus on the emotions of those involved.

Cast members selection is underway, and Tong failed to reach an agreement with popular Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung. Hollywood will provide foreign actors, according to the director.

Shooting is expected to start in September in China, Japan, America and Europe. It is estimated to cost 250 million HK dollars for war scenes and computer effects.

(crienglish.com June 23, 2007)