CHINA / Face to Face
Jay Chou impresses Zhang Yimou
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-03-22 16:09
China's most respected director Zhang Yimou has praised the talents of
Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, who is starring in Zhang's new film, which
translates as "Wearing Golden Armor Across the City".
Director Zhang Yi Mou (R) and main cast of Gong Li (C) and Chow Yun-fat
meet the press in Beijing March 11, 2006. [sina]
At a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Zhang, the renowned and
controversial director of "Hero" and last year's Oscar-nominated "House
of Flying Daggers", expressed his satisfaction with Chou after several
days of filming.
"His performance has surpassed the atmosphere created by the original
script," Zhang said.
"Chou has surprised me with his sentimental expression. I expected he
would be OK with his cool appearance, but his performance has been beyond
my expectations. He is a successful singer now, and maybe he will become
an outstanding actor and even director."
Chou plays the role of the second prince whose lowly mother is banished
from the ancient Chinese palace. He becomes a general with powerful
martial accomplishments and seeks revenge for the treatment of his mother.
Zhang and his production partner Zhang Weiping said they chose Chou
because of his unique characteristics which suited the role.
"What impressed me most is that he acts and approaches the role with his
heart, the only in which an actor can strike a chord with the audience,"
said Zhang,
Chou said that because of his character, he acts the role partly as
himself. Compared to his maiden film "Initial D", he said he faced more
challenges in Zhang's film.
He admitted to feeling the pressure and speaking clumsily due to working
with two internationally famed actors - Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat. "What I
can do is to learn my lines carefully," he said.
According to Zhang, Chou has finished some scenes since he joined filming
on March 15, and in a scene in which the prince and his miserable mother,
played by Gong Li, recognize each other, all the people on the spot were
moved to tears.
Zhang revealed that on set Chou resembles a soldier on stand-by, usually
sitting on the sidelines, immersing himself in the role, reading his
lines and waiting for the action.
Chou, who has ambitions of being a director, said he had handed over a
MTV tape sung and directed by him to Zhang for advice.
Zhang described Chou's directing techniques as "very interesting",
saying, "With a latent capacity, Chou may surpass me in the
accomplishment of my art in the future."
Chou is expected to stay with Zhang for about 20 days and to compose and
sing the song played at the end of the film.
The film, based on famed Chinese modern playwright Cao Yu's drama
"Thunderstorm" set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), involves a power
struggle between the emperor played by Chow, the empress played by Gong
and Chou's character, the prince.
Despite being a novice in the film world, Chou last year won best
newcomer at the Golden Horse Awards - a Taiwan-based film award - for his
performance in "Initial D" in which he plays a street car racer. He's
nominated in the same category for the Hong Kong Film Awards.
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