Headlines from China: Wong Kar-wai to Start Shooting New Film ‘Blossoms’

Wong Kar-wai to Start Shooting New Film ‘Blossoms’

In a recent interview at Hong Kong Screenwriter’s Guild, acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai revealed the latest progress on his new film Blossoms, which is a follow-up to Wong’s two other romantic drama films In The Mood For Love and 2046. After four years of planning, Wong hoped to complete the script soon and start filming as early as the end of 2019. Blossoms is adapted from a novel of the same name by Jin Yucheng. Wong stated that no actors have been cast for the film so far. But one requirement is clear that the actors need to be able to speak Shanghainese. When Wong was asked whether he would invite Tony Leung Chiu-wai to play a role in the film, he replied, “as long as he can speak Shanghainese.” Read more on Ming Pao

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HBO Asia to Produce Four Original Sci-Fi Series 

HBO Asia recently unveiled its upcoming slate of original sci-fi series in Hong Kong. The highlight of the series is a Chinese-language sci-fi show named Dream Raiders. Starring Taiwanese actors Vivian Hsu, David Wang, and Jason Wang, Dream Raiders  is a crime drama that involves sci-fi elements, such as consciousness, aliens, and virtual reality. The series will be filmed in Taiwan. Veteran Hong Kong director Cheang Pou-Soi will executive produce. Another series in the lineup is Taiwanese drama The World Between Us, which will be broadcasted on HBO Asia on March 24.  The show follows the aftermath of a mass shooting in which all the parties involved have intertwined fates. It stars Alyssa Chia, James Wen and Wu Kang-Jen. Read more on Mtime

Bona Film Group Receives License to Operate Movie Theaters in China

Recently, Chinese film production and distribution company Bona Film Group received the license to operate movie theaters in China. This is the first license granted by China’s film bureau after the new policies on film exhibition were announced last December. Over the past 5 years, the film bureau has granted a small number of licenses to limit the number of companies in the film exhibition sector. By the end of 2018, 48 companies have been licensed to operate cinemas in China. But the new policies loosened up the control to encourage new players to enter the sector. The film exhibitor sector is expected to see further consolidation in near future. Read more on entgroup.cn