Hollywood joins in 'Legend of Daming Palace'

Updated: 2011-09-06 10:44

By Lu Hongyan and Gao Shuyue (chinadaily.com.cn)

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As the first movie using IMAX 3D technology in China, "Legend of Daming Palace" has invited a first-class team from Hollywood, to ensure high quality in photographing and post-production technology. Jin Tiemu, a famous director from CCTV, once went to Hollywood to study 3D film production in order to make a real 3D movie for audiences.

"The photographer of 'Legend of Daming Palace' is Reed Philip Smoot, a dean of IMAX 3D movies in Hollywood, who has participated in more than half of special film's photograph in IMAX cinema," Jin said. Meanwhile, "Legend of Daming Palace" also elaborated on the post-production. The video production director is Peter William Anderson, who is respected as the living embodiment of 3D movies. Such strong international group lays a solid foundation for "Legend of Daming Palace."

According to Jin, "Legend of Daming Palace" faced many difficulties during filming. The shooting scenes were set up in reality in order to restore the prosperity of Tang Dynasty. To have good effects on voice, the film studio did not have refrigeration equipment, and the temperature even reached 40 C. Although the conditions were very hard, no one complained in order to get perfect shooting.

"I just want to define the dream of Chinese film. It's not just my dream to shoot Chinese own 3D film," said Jin.

"Legend of Daming Palace" tells a romantic story during the reign of Wu Zetian in Tang Dynasty. Actress Song Jia plays the role of Wu Zetian in the movie. Compared to Feng Baobao, Pan Yingzi and Liu Xiaoqing, Song Jia pays more attention to the feminine, tolerant and soft side of Wu Zetian, the only empress in Chinese history. She expresses a new side of Wu Zetian, which is seldom known to others. "In the movie, Wu Zetian is just an ordinary woman, not an emperess, so I'm always smiling," Song said.

About 95 percent of scenes of "Legend of Daming Palace" were shot by 3D camera, where the requirement for scenes, picture and makeup is very high. According to the exposed stills, Song Jia is dressed in gold embroidery equipment. The gold hardware is very attractive. The royal noble is revealed everywhere. Another modeling, mainly made of red silk fabric, expresses the temperament of the emperor.

"The hair net weights 8 to 10 pounds. The whole makeup process takes more than two hours every time", Song said. "It's not easy to be an emperess!"

The total investment of the movie is about 40 million yuan ($6.26 million).