Movie "Shanghai" Now to Be Filmed in UK and Thailand

This serves as a furthering of the saga over the anxiously-awaited period film "Shanghai" starring lovely mainland Chinese actress Gong Li.

See previous tumultuous news about this film here and most recently here.

ROUND THREE: FILM TO BE SHOT IN THAILAND & THE UK

According to the entertainment Web site Variety, Harvey Weinstein and company are moving production of the period film "Shanghai" from China to the UK and Thailand due to China government concerns regarding the script.

Under the direction of Mikael Hafstrom Gong Li, Ken Watanabe, and John Cusack cast in the 1940s drama Shanghai, which tells of the story of an American who stumbles upon government secrets while investigating the death of a friend. The piece depicts a war-torn Japanese-occupied Shanghai.

After failing to secure proper permits for shooting in China, the movie Shanghai's second relocation reflects the latest aftermath wrought by China's censorship organs and international film artists. "[The] Decision has everything to do with (the Chinese authorities) not liking the script, especially elements about collaboration,"Variety quoted celluloid mogul Harvey Weinstein, co-president of film producer The Weinstein Company.

ROUNDS 1 & 2: KICKED OUT OF CHINA - PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG

After having already spent nearly $3 million in building sets for the movie in China, filming was later considered for Hong Kong. However, "Hong Kong doesn't have the colonial era setting we need, it's difficult to find a building here less than 50 stories high, so we will be going to Thailand and, believe it or not, England," Weinstein said in a statement to Variety."

While attending a Hong Kong film festival, Weinstein stated "Of course we'll be in China in the future with films like (remakes of) 'Avenging Eagle' and 'Iron Monkey'. We respect (China's governmental) rules. And if things are too sensitive or too difficult we'll simply locate production elsewhere."

CHINA IN TURMOIL OVER RECENT "MISHAPS"

China's government has come at odds with several performers in recent weeks. Iceland's eclectic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet! Tibet!" at a recent concert in Shanghai, and has been banned from future performances in China.

Other incidents exacerbate the criticism drawn against China in of the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Among these include China's recent crackdown of the escalating rebellion in Tibet, which has moved the Dalai Lama to threaten resignation as leader-in-exile if the violence escalates.

MORE ABOUT THE MOVIE

For those of you who have followed her career, you will know Gong Li starred in at least one other period piece about China's most sultry city. This other movie, Shanghai Triad (1995), stars Gong in a role as Xiao Jingbao, a high-class "flower vase" kept in-waiting by Chinese triad gangster Boss Tang, played by actor Li Baotian.

For those of you who have not seen Shanghai Triad, I recommend it wholeheartedly as a preview to the upcoming movie - as you will be able to see Shanghai in much of its old glory, very much as I saw it when I lived in China and worked for a Chinese boss.

A SURE WINNER

Shanghai is reported to co-star American actor John Cusack and Japan's illustrious Ken Watanabe of The Last Samurai (with Tom Cruise), and of Clint Eastwood's moving Letters from Iwo Jima. Personal opinions aside, with the above all-star slate in motion, we hope to see a stunningly engaging piece also with Gong Li in the movie Shanghai, rumored to be released in 2009.

"SHANGHAI" THE MOVIE

The new movie Shanghai is a period piece set several months before the Pearl Harbor bombing. The plot features "an American man (Cusack), who returns to a corrupt, Japanese-occupied Shanghai four months before Pearl Harbor and discovers his friend has been killed. While he unravels the mysteries of the death, he falls in love and discovers a much larger secret that his own government is hiding."

Have fun!

- John

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