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Song Hye-kyo cast in The Grand Master

December 2009

According to China’s portal site, Sina.com on December 21st, Song Hye Kyo (Full House) has decided to appear in director Wong Kar-wai’s The Grand Master and is currently undergoing intense training. Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, and other top stars from Greater China are also appearing. This will be Song Hye Kyo’s first challenge in an action role since her debut. It has been known that Song Hye Kyo went to China at the beginning of this month to undergo martial arts training. Sina.com revealed photos of her practice form where she is sporting casual attire.
Wong had continuously expressed his interest in working with Song, officially stating so at the Pusan International Film Festival in 2004. He also invited her to the premiere of his film “My Blueberry Nights” held in New York of August 2008.
A rep for Song Hye-kyo confirmed, ” Due to confidentiality stipulations, further details cannot be revealed, but it is correct that Song Hye Kyo she is currently preparing for a new project in China.”
Song Hye-kyo’s management company, Eden9 stated, “Since first receiving director Wong’s proposal, she decided to take part in the movie. As of yet, we are not at the stage to reveal which role she will take. Currently, she is learning Cantonese and practicing martial arts.”
Director Wong Kar-wai stated, “Though she won’t have many action scenes, we want her body to be familiarized with natural movements.” Also, she will work with a native tutor to study Chinese.

http://www.songhyegyo.net/press/articles_010610.htm
http://star.moneytoday.co.kr/view/stview.php?no=2009122017021753955&type=1&outlink=1
http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/12/song-hye-gyo-cast-in-wong-kar-wais-new-film/
http://www.songhyegyo.net/press/articles_122109.htm

For her first advancement in China with the movie, “The Grand Master”, ‘Hallyu Queen’ Song Hye Kyo (28) is living life like a high school senior as she takes the most excellent measure in preparing for this project.
Ahead of next month’s full-scale filming for the movie, these days she remains on location in China, coming and going between her lodging quarters and the martial arts practice room. In between this, she receives two hours of private Chinese lessons everyday. As she is in an area without internet access, she speaks with both her mom and lover Hyun Bin by telephone to send each other their best regards and love.
A close associate of Song Hye Kyo conveyed how she has been getting along. “This is her first Chinese advancement work, so she has great enthusiasm for this movie.” She added, “As of late, she pretty much just goes to and from her lodging quarters and the martial arts practice room and cannot even cast her eyes to any other place. She is no different than a high school senior preparing for exams.”

http://www.songhyegyo.net/press/articles_032910.htm

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Tony Leung training for The Grand Master

September 2009

Already eight years in the making, Wong Kar Wai’s ‘The Grand Master’ will officially start filming in November 2009. As Tony Leung had broke his arm training for the movie, filming was delayed for two months while he recovered. Earlier on, Tony began training anew and has fully immersed himself into martial arts again. Even the Wing Chun masters who have been training Tony have praised his understanding and skill in Wing Chun. Tony is preparing to film ‘The Grand Master’ in his best form.

Does Light Exercises While Recovering
Tony’s been training at the martial arts school under the guidance of Master Yip Siu Hung and his disciples. While he had to stop training during his recovery period, Tony was still able to do light exercises. He says that kung fu training is something you can never get enough of anyway. Tony expressed that the past two months have been like an extended holiday. His doctor had strongly advised him to wait at least three months before doing any vigorous activity. After resting for a few weeks, he began exercising again to keep his body in shape. Everyday he’ll run for one or two hours. He also arranged for one-handed fitness sessions at the gym to keep his arms and legs in shape. In order to keep his arm immobile while running, he had to bandage it tightly to prevent any movement. Whenever he saw people on the streets, they would kindly ask him how his recovery was going and reminded him to be more careful.

Best Actor to Play Yip Man
Master Leung has been very satisfied with Tony’s performance. He especially admired Tony’s ‘never give up’ attitude. He has high hopes for Tony in the role of Yip Man. He believes Tony’s spirit, appearance and comprehension is very similar to Master Yip Man and is the ideal candidate to play him.
Tony Leung, who is back to Wing Chun training, still feels some pain when exerting his arm as it takes 3 months before his fractured arm would fully recover (he’s rested for two months). Producer Ng See Yuen says “The Grand Master” by Wong Kar Wai, which is about Yip Man’s life after his migration to Hong Kong and his relations with other sects, has to begin filming in November – come what may. But who knows it’d be pushed back yet again. Ng See Yuen is forbidding Wong Kar-wai, who’s facing tremendous pressure, from altering the script on the set, “The script must be finalised first, can’t let him keep changing the script as he shoots the film.”

http://ol.mingpao.com/cfm/star5.cfm?File=20090929/saa01/mba1h.txt
http://video.sina.com.cn/ent/m/c/2009-07-17/182747455.shtml

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Tony Leung breaks arm in training session

July 2009

Directed by Wong Kar-wai and starring Tony Leung, “The Grand Master” has met with countless obstacles from the start. Seven years ago, Tony Leung started learning Wing Chun from Master Yip Man’s son, Yip Chun, to prepare for the movie. However, Wong Kar-wai kept delaying the film.
Last year Raymond Wong took over with his version of Ip Man, starring Donnie Yen. Not only did producer Wong’s version do well at the box office, it also garnered many awards.
Undeterred by it, Wong Kar-wai stated that he will shoot his version in August/September. To prepare for the role, Tony has been training relentlessly. During a practice fighting session, he was kicked in the left arm, which broke on impact.

Bulking up with martial arts and training at the gym
To prepare for the movie, Tony has begun training since October 2008. Besides practicing Wing Chun, he has also been working out at the gym to build up his body. As filming was scheduled to start in August/September, he has steadily increased his training sessions. Starting early morning he will train with different Wing Chun masters to practice his fighting. With such an intense schedule, something finally went wrong.

Practiced fighting with five Wing Chun masters
Tony began training as usual with five Wing Chun masters. Tony appeared very strong in his attack, going towards one master at full force. The master was surprised by him and naturally reacted in self defense, using his own force to counter attack and kicked Tony’s left arm. Tony’s legs then buckled and he painfully held onto his left arm with his right arm. Since his arm had no strength, he went to the hospital for a check up. After x-rays were taken, it showed that one of the bones in his left arm was broken. The doctor suggested that Tony’s arm be put in a cast, but Tony refused saying that muscle atrophy will set in and all the work he spent building the muscles in his arm will be wasted.

Hasn’t notified wife Carina
As broken bones take about 5 to 6 weeks to heal, the doctor has told him not to move his arm at all costs. Not only can he not practice Wing Chun, he’s not even allowed to go jogging. But Tony is very anxious to get back to training as he’s afraid that if he doesn’t practice, his martial arts skills will decline. The only thing he can practice now is his leg work. Tony said that he was prepared for injuries when he signed on for a martial arts film. He knows that the actual filming process will be even tougher. Getting injured now at least gives him preparation for what’s to come.
Has he notified wife Carina, who’s currently filming in Hengdian? He replies, “It was too sudden. I went to the hospital right away and didn’t have a chance to notify her.”

http://ol.mingpao.com/cfm/star5.cfm?File=20090714/saa01/maa1.txt
http://ol.mingpao.com/cfm/star5.cfm?File=20090811/saa01/mca1h.txt

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Chang Chen recommended Jay Chou to play Bruce Lee in The Grand Master

Chang Chen said in an interview that he will not be playing Bruce Lee in “The Grand Master”. In fact he personally recommended to WKW that Jay Chou should be cast in the role.
“I do not feel like Bruce Lee, I think that Jay is more suitable, I once recommended him to Wong Kar-wai.”
About rumors that Zhang Ziyi will play Ip Man’s wife: “I do not know! But if it’s true, I’m looking forward to cooperating with her.”
He also said that he’s looking forward to working with Tony Leung again.

http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2009-10-28/00412747174.shtml

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Opening Ceremony Photos of The Grand Master

November 2009
Opening ceremony photos of “The Grand Master”.
Attended by Wong Kar-wai, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen and martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (wearing the baseball cap).







http://blog.sina.com.cn/kk6737

Wong Kar-wai secretly had the opening ceremony of the “The Grand Master” in Guangdong.
On 21 November 2009, Wong Kar-wai took Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen to a hotel in Kai Ping town to have a small blessing ceremony (with roasted little piglets) for the start of shooting the film.
The reporter heard from the producer that the shooting will be taking place at the studio (Film Park) near the town from 12 December 2009 to 18 April 2010. The Film Park will be closed for the public during that time, and reopen on 19 April 2010.
The producer also said that the shooting should start at the end of November however we will have to wait to hear from WKW himself about the details of the actors and their roles.

http://www.gd.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-11/24/content_18313012.htm

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Song Hye-Kyo on The Grand Master

On March 17, 2010, Song Hye-kyo sneaked to Hong Kong to meet with Tony Leung in preparation for “The Grand Master”. The two chatted for two hours and after the meeting, she walked out cheerfully. She is now in China.

http://ent.qq.com/a/20100318/000047.htm#p=1

Song Hye-kyo is currently in China working on her next role in “The Grand Master”, the martial arts movie directed by renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai, and will apparently be displaying some “real action” skills in the film.

“The Grand Master” stars Tony Leung as Wing Chun grandmaster Yip Man, and also features Chang Chen and Zhang Ziyi. Each of the actors has been outfitted with specialized protective gear that has been made especially for this film, to prevent injury while upping the realism of the fight scenes. The guards are made of silicone and fitted to each actor’s body to move with them and, as they are lightweight, remain undetected underneath clothing. As Song Hye-kyo is reportedly using these guards in filming, we can look forward to seeing her in action. (It’ll be an interesting sight, that’s for sure; Song has always been known for her femininity and beauty, so a martial arts action film will be a complete turnaround from her existing image.)
Song has been traveling back and forth between Korea and China since December, and has been diligently practicing her Chinese language and martial arts skills. “The Grand Master” recently began filming, and is planning for a release in the second half of next year.

http://news.donga.com/3//20100301/26533047/1

Whilst promoting the drama “Worlds Within” in Taiwan, actress Song Hye-kyo told reporters that she is a self-proclaimed fan of Kar Wai, and loves his films such as “As Tears Go By“, “ChungKing Express“, and “In the Mood For Love“. Being able to participate in his film for her first Chinese movie, “The Grand Master”, she is excited. Kar Wai is a director who keeps the script safe in his heart, so actors often don’t know what he’s thinking. However, she is not worried at all. She likes Wong Kar Wai’s style of movie direction, no scripts will give the director more freedom in shooting the movie. “Since I debuted, it’s the first time I’ve come across such an acting style, so I am very excited.”

http://showbiz.chinatimes.com/2009Cti/Channel/Showbiz/showbiz-news-cnt/0,5020,100105+112010041200010,00.htm

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Filming The Grand Master near Diaobingshan

“The Grand Master” has been secretly filming in Diaobingshan, Tieling City for the past two months. In order to prevent the plot from being leaked out, the crew has been extremely strict with reporters visiting the set. Even those delivering food had to sign confidentiality agreements.
On March 30th, reporters were finally able to uncover the latest progress from the movie. Actress Song Hye-kyo finished filming her scenes from the film yesterday. She flew back to South Korea from Shenyang earlier in the day.
Joining the crew after Chinese New Years, Tony Leung had a chance to meet with his idol Zhao Benshan in Diaobingshan. According to sources, Zhao Benshan will be making a guest appearance in “The Grand Master”. While his screen time has still not been confirmed yet, Wong Kar-wai will be keeping the workload light for his friend and will only arrange for him to film one scene in the movie.

http://big5.ce.cn/xwzx/shgj/gdxw/201003/31/t20100331_21210949.shtml

Chinese news report regarding the filming of “The Grand Master” near Diaobingshan, China.
Filming at the old station of South Manchuria Railway (before 1945) with a steam engine. Also some scenes of a big funeral, possibly for Yip Man’s relatives.

http://video.sina.com.cn/ent/m/c/2010-04-12/021668241.shtml

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WKW’s next film: The Eternal Snow Beauty starring Brigitte Lin?


In 2009, Hong Kong newspapers and magazines reported on Brigitte Lin‘s return to film.
Originally thought to be a part as Yip man’s wife in “The Grand Master” it was later speculated that she would star in a different film:

“Brigitte Lin has reportedly decided her return will be with Wong Kar-Wai in an adaption of “The Eternal Yin Hsueh-yen” (aka The Eternal Snow Beauty).
She turned down the role of Ip Man’s wife in “The Grand Master”, as the part wasn’t tailor-made for her, to play the lead in this film.
Filming won’t begin until after “The Grand Master” is completed, Tony Leung wishes to participate.
Taiwanese writer Pai Hsien-yung previously said: “Brigitte Lin is my old friend. She has always wanted to act in movies or dramas adapted from my stories such as “The Eternal Yin Hsueh-yen”, “A Touch of Green'” and etc. I’ve extended my invitations in the past, but she was unable to take up the offer and it was much regretted.”
http://ent.cctv.com/20090901/103273.shtml
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_59c138c30100ez8i.html

The story:
The Eternal Snow Beauty (永遠的尹雪豔) the aging “Snow Beauty” (Yin Hsueh-yen) looks back on her days as the belle of Shanghai’s Paramount ballroom; she is still the center of attention at upscale mahjong soirees she arranges at her Taipei home.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_People