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Song of TV drama theme
Popular songstress Song Zuying will soon be heard nightly on TV singing the Song of Yancheng, theme song of the new TV series Spring and Autumn in Yancheng, set in the ancient town of Yancheng.
The drama takes place during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) of China's history, when Yancheng was a prosperous town. It is about the love of a princess for two young men from totally different social classes.
The song was composed before shooting began on May 9. Song has already given a live performance of it at the Musikverein Golden Hall in Vienna. The singer praises what she believes to be a perfect match of song and show, and has expressed delight at being able to take a hand in promoting the ancient town.
Environmental awareness
The organizing committee of the first Chinese International Environment Film Festival recently initiated a campaign calling on film celebrities to design motifs on linen or cotton bags geared to raise environmental protection awareness.
Among the 20 that have embraced the green project are actress Liu Zi and director Zhang Jizhong. These stars of the silver screen used ecology-friendly pigment in designs stressing the crucial nature of a green environment. Sales proceeds of these autographed bags will go to environmental funds.
The State Council banned the production, sale and use of ultra-thin plastic bags on June 1. Shops no longer provide free plastic bags, and retailers that continue to offer free plastic bags risk fines of between 5,000 and 10,000 yuan.
Stars and citizens compete on Qinglong Lake
The Beijing Qinglong Lake Cup Dragon Boat Tournament, one of the large-scale mass cultural activities celebrating the Beijing Olympics, was held on Qinglong Lake, Fangshan district on Sunday, the traditional Duanwu Festival.
In addition to races in which local teams competed, there was also a special demonstration competition between a team of citizens and one of celebrity rowers that included Olympic gold medalist Qian Hong, along with Li Na, Yang Ling and Ma Yahong and pop singers Guo Feng, Yang Guang and Ji Minjia.
The night before the tournament, citizens lit candles and floated them on Qinglong Lake as a traditional mark of mourning for the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan.
Woo's Red Cliff slated for July release
Celebrated director John Woo released the trailer and first mainland poster of his latest film Red Cliff last weekend.
Hong Kong superstar Tony Leung takes center stage in the poster, surrounded by a stellar cast that includes Takeshi Kaneshiro, Hu Jun and actresses Lin Chiling and Zhao Wei. The fiery river battle scene appears at the bottom of the poster.
The one-minute trailer gives a concise introduction to this story of the war in AD208 that effectively split China into three kingdoms.
Adapted from the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the $80 million project is the most hotly anticipated film of the year. It marks the first Chinese-produced film by John Woo,one of the most successful Chinese directors, after 10 glorious years in Hollywood.
French rock and Mongolian matouqin jam
Nery, eclectic artist and founder of famed French rock band VRP, performed a concert last week at Yu Gong Yi Shan Club with the band Belgistan and Chinese musician Bai Long on the matouqin, the Mongolian traditional stringed instrument.
The Lukou (Crossroads) represents the fruit of Nery and his friends' first tour of China, when their musical muse was reawakened by the discovery of the matouqin as played by Bai Long.
The concert, which is an aspect of the 2008 Festival-Croisements organized by the French Embassy in China and the French Culture Center, is an opportunity to hear the musical improvisations that ensue from French rockers and a classical Chinese musician.
Three-nation model competition
Top young models from China, Japan and South Korea are to compete in the upcoming 2008 China-Japan-South-Korea "Friendship Ambassador" Cup International Super Model Contest in Tokyo this December.
The contest will be a feast for talent scouts on the lookout for top young models in the three neighboring countries, and also an effective way of focusing young attention on cross cultural communication and friendship.
Chen Chen, president and CEO of China-Japan International Co, Ltd, which organized the event, said the recent warming of Sino-Japanese relations since Chinese President Hu Jintao's May visit to Japan has nurtured a greater rapport between the peoples of both nations.
Piano prodigy film picked for Olympic PR
Lang Lang's songs - Tribute to 2008, a musical documentary that traces young pianist Lang Lang's musical journey around the world recently premiered in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. The musical intersperses magnificent landscapes and metropolitan scenes with Lang Lang's sensitive interpretation of classical works. It also includes interviews with Lang Lang and his parents, who recall the early signs of piano prodigy in their son. The documentary has been designated publicity film for the Beijing Olympic Games.
China Daily
(China Daily 06/13/2008 page18)
