Shanghai, Shanghai part one

June 14, 2008

SHANGHAI, SHANGHAI: Film festival blues in China’s second city.

Hong Kong cinema owes a huge debt to Shanghai. It was the exodus of talent from this great metropolis that kick-started the then-crown colony’s industry. Today, the city’s massive film studio back-lot hosts countless local and international productions. Kung Fu Hustle was filmed here, as was the late era Shaw Bros epic Hero (a future Dragon Dynasty release.) The latest Donnie Yen actioner, ‘Ip Man’, has just wrapped its Shanghai shoot, and is on hiatus before filming its final scenes in Hong Kong.

If our own company had been granted assisted production status as expected, I’d have flown in to the Paris of the East at around this time for the filming of our eponymous period thriller. As it stands, ‘Shanghai’ is being shot in London and Bangkok, and I’m en route to the city’s annual film festival. ‘Shanghai’, the movie, is being produced with great style, professionalism and attention to detail. Would that the same could be said of every aspect of the festival…

The expected airport greeter fails to materialize, and I make my way to the Crowne Plaza, ground zero for the festival’s activities. Once there, I track down a friendly face, British-Chinese actress Selina Lo, and we try to locate the opening night party. The desk clerk at the hotel has no idea where this is being held, and the festival coordinator isn’t answering her cell ‘phone. A huddle of voluntary staff has no information to volunteer, and they even go so far as to suggest there is actually no such event. Fortunately, Hong Kong sales company boss Carrie Wong sails past, and divulges the time and location of the party.

The festival‘s opening night bash is actually at the Hyatt, so we taxi our way over. At the entrance, I encounter director Sherwood Hu, who helmed the ‘other’ Chinese remake of Hamlet, the underrated Prince of the Himalayas. (‘Our’ version, Legend of the Black Scorpion, formerly The Banquet, is out now on Dragon Dynasty.)

By this time, the guest liaison lady has surfaced, telephonically speaking, and promises I’ll be warmly received. The greeter at the entrance to the event is horrified that I have a ‘plus one’. ‘You only have one invitation,’ she explains, indicating Selina. ‘Your friend will have to wait outside…’ I start to storm off and she relents. Inside, there’s the kind of crowd that an alcohol-free party deserves.

Happily, it features several friendly faces, including director, producer and occasional actor Tsui Siu-ming, there with Dicky Cheung, star of Tsui’s recently completed Olympic-themed martial arts film, ‘Champions’. I remember Cheung, who is best-known as a TV star, from his work on the old Fong Sai-yuk series. I tell him I’m a big fan of Tsui’s earlier films, especially the world’s first, and so far only, feng shui flavoured kung fu movie, ‘Bury Me High’, and that I’m looking forward to seeing his new one.

Wong Kar-wai is on hand, replacing the late and greatly lamented Anthony Minghella as jury head. He’s also hosting the premiere mainland screening of the reworked version of his sole ‘wu xia’ project, Ashes Of Time. Director Wong is preparing his own, rival Ip Man project, and I hope, in vain, for a Wing Chun showdown between him and Donnie Yen on the red carpet.

Daniel Wu, star of the aforementioned ‘Legend Of The Black Scorpion’, is getting a big hand on-stage as he either gives or receives an award (or both). I try and track him down after, but he’s retreated to his suite. (‘You look just like that secret agent guy in Iron Man’, he observes, when I call to ask, in vain, if he wants to find a bar that does serve a real drink. I’m wondering if Daniel’s beaten me to the bottle, but, having checked on IMDB, yes, Agent Phil Coulson is indeed a handsome brute.)

Lo, the ghost of chop sockies past, in the form of Conan Lee, star of Ninja in the Dragon’s Den and Tiger on the Beat. I first met Conan in Hong Kong way back in the 80s, and, despite my usually unfailing personal charm, we just did not get along. I find him much changed, and for the better. I wish could we have been friends in the old days, I tell him. Me, too, he says, ruefully. Lee seems to be in good health, and says he is planning a comeback.

As the party winds down, Selina and I wend our way down to the ground floor bar, where a swinging jazz quartet revisits the lost glories of Shanghai. Various other festival attendees have taken refuge there. Thankfully, alcohol is served, and the evening mellows out accordingly.