Why 'Shanghai' was Shanghaied
As many of us are aware, the production in China of the World War II-era film 'Shanghai' set to star John Cusack and Gong Li has been blocked by SARFT (State Administration for Radio, Film and Television). No official reason has been given. However, Zhongnanhai has, through reliable sources, learned of the main reason behind the scrubbing of the shoot here in China. As has been reported, officials were concerned about the script. But what has since been revealed to us is that it was a scene toward the end of the film that apparently disagreed with the censors. As was relayed to us from people closely connected to the film, SARFT officials were reluctant to have a film shot in Shanghai which would portray the Japanese 'villain' in the film (to be played by wonderful actor Ken Watanabe) as sympathetic. As the story goes, apparently in the film, Watanabe's character, a Japanese officer who previously takes part in atrocities during the invasion of Shanghai, witnesses the murder of someone (who that someone is wasn't made clear to Zhongnanhai). Following this murder, Watanabe's character is said to display some form of remorse. And according to our source, apparently SARFT felt that this was a big sticking point because of the 'historical fact' that the Japanese would never show such remorse because they were all brutal. According to our source, this was - as we say in Canada - the TSN turning point, and threw the production off the rails, though the portrayal of opium-addicted Chinese people was apparently also a sore point.
Thankfully, the producers of 'Shanghai' are still soldering on with the film. As has been relayed to us, the vast majority of the production will now be taking place in London, with the China scenes set to be filmed in Thailand, though this has yet to be confirmed. I, personally, can't wait for the film to come out for two reasons. A) I'm a history junkie and love anything related to it and B) I'm a big John Cusack fan (and Gong Li ain't bad to look at either!)
As for SARFT and the Chinese government, all I can say is the hypocrisy of this is maddening. This is the same government that has promised to open up its doors to foreign film productions. But yet, it will hold its nose at anything that would give credence to the possibility that not all the Japanese were evil bastards during the invasion. But, to say I'm surprised would be a lie. This is the same government that is hypocritical enough to tell the world not to politicize the Olympics, while at the same time conveniently forgetting the fact that it boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow for 'political reasons' (though China wasn't officially part of the US-led boycott over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan). To quote Charlie Brown -- 'Arrrgggghhh!!!'
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Who is the confirmed cast?
I love Gong Li
(and Gong Li ain't bad to look at either!)
That's the understatement of the decade.
Filming Start date?
Shouldn't SARFT be made into a verb so that you can say "SARFTed" ?
Principal photography on the film starts March 10th, so a decision will have to be reached by then. A real shame that it has been SARFTed.
Thanks Tim.
A decision? I thought it had already been denied shooting in Shanghai?
@Qunui:
It has been denied shooting in Shanghai. However, if changes to the script are made, there is still a chance that shooting is still a possibility in Shanghai. However, don't hold your breath on that happening.
I dont see them changing the script. I read this thing has been in the making for 10 yrs. This film has some pretty big producers.
@Cocoa:
I totally agree with you. The one thing that potentially may change SARFT's position, though, is that -- apparently -- the same people who are backing this production also had similar agreements to make other films here in China. That's a lot of potential film money flowing here into China. But, that being said, I suspect this situation has probably soured them off China all together. Shame, really, because there are a lot of talented people in this country (our inside sources included) who have been left out of work because of this whole situation.
Paul, do you find it as sad and ironic as I do that the two biggest female and male movie stars{Gong Li and Chow Yun Fat} are unable to film in their own country? Of Course Gong Li should be used to it by now. Being most of her films have/were been banned in China
@Qunui:
Of course it's absurd that these actors are restricted in their own country. But, I bet if you ask them, they will probably admit to it being a mixed blessing. Anyone who works in a creative-based industry knows that once you become complacent, you fail to grow in your respective trade. And for stars like Gong Li and Chow Yun Fat, the fact that they don't have the chance to just kick back and stay within the safe confines of Chinese film probably makes them better actors.
This was In Anne thompson Variety Blog(Thanks to marla).
....as well as permits to shoot in China, including Mikael Hafstrom's "Shanghai."
Word is that the Chinese harbor a grudge against Harvey Weinstein for reneging on his promise to release Chen Kaige's $35 million epic "The Promise." But Medavoy cites Chinese issues with drug-running and prostitutes in the script, which he compares with "Casablanca."
If "Shanghai" never clears the gate, the project will lose some $3 million in Chinese pre-production costs and will have to move to Thailand and/or Hong Kong, says Medavoy, who grew up in Shanghai and has developed this project for a decade. "It's an international movie that should play everywhere. The Asian stars lend luster to it."
Harvey Weinstein and producer Mike Medavoy are still hoping to gain access to China this April to shoot the $30 million pre-Pearl Harbor mystery "Shanghai," starring John Cusack, Chow Yun-Fat, Ken Watanabe and Gong Li, for year-end release
So this starts in April, not in March?
@Cocoa:
Thanks for adding that information from Variety. Medavoy's comments basically confirm one half of what we have heard about the scrubbing of the film.
@Qunui: Like we mentioned before, there is still an outside chance that SARFT may change its mind about the potential filming. And because they can do a fair amount of filming in London, potential shooting can be delayed here in China. But there would be logistics problems, even if SARFT changed its mind. Those people who were originally hired to coordinate things such as casting and the like have since moved on to other things. As such, if a reprieve were given to 'Shanghai,' it would still take quite a bit of time to get all the staffing back in order. Hence why the producers would be looking to start shooting in April instead of March.
Paul is the casting of all the major roles complete on this?
@Qunui:
I can't say for sure on that front. The last I heard is that there was still negotiation underway with Chow Yan-Fat. Don't know if those have been finalized yet. But, with the shooting situation being changed, a lot of variables get thrown out of wack, given that a lot of the principles have other committments.
Gong Li said last night the film is rolling in April(3-4 month shoot) and the studio "is actively coordinating with the parties". Gong Li did not say where it was fiming and had no idea about the Opium scenes.
@Cocoa:
Thanks for the heads up on that. I suspect that we'll be getting a bunch more information over the next week or so. If and when you hear any info, please, keep me in the loop! I'll try to do the same.
You got it Paul!
Have you heard anything Paul? Chow Yun fat was interviewed last night at his photo exhibition but was not asked about Shanghai. Bummer. This thing is rolling in a month and no new info yet.
'Shanghai' rebuilds in Thailand 3/19/08
By PATRICK FRATER
Production of the Weinstein Co.'s period piece "Shanghai" is to relocate to Thailand and Blighty following its forced exit from China.
Company co-prexy Harvey Weinstein considered Hong Kong and other Asian locations but said, "Hong Kong doesn't have the colonial era setting we need; it is difficult to find a building here less than 50 stories high. So we will be going to Thailand and, believe it or not, England."
Pic is to be directed by Swedish helmer Mikael Hafstrom from a screenplay by Hossein Amini and will star John Cusack, Chow Yun-fat, Gong Li and Ken Watanabe.
Hafstrom last month learned that the pic, which was in pre-production in China, had been denied the shooting permit it expected to receive (Daily Variety, Feb. 10). TWC had spent nearly $3 million building sets.
Word is the Chinese harbor a grudge against Weinstein for reneging on his promise to release Chen Kaige's $35 million epic "The Promise."
Weinstein denied this. "The decision has nothing to do with 'The Promise' and everything to do with (the Chinese authorities) not liking the script, especially elements about (Chinese-Japanese) collaboration," he said.
Set in 1940s Japanese-occupied Shanghai, the story involves an American who stumbles across government secrets while investigating the death of his friend.
"Of course we'll be in China in the future with films like (remakes of) 'Avenging Eagle' and 'Iron Monkey,' " Weinstein said. "We respect (China's) rules. And if things are too sensitive or too difficult, we'll simply locate production elsewhere."
The company controls a $285 million Asian movie fund, which has invested in pictures including Wong Kar-wai's "My Blueberry Nights" and upcoming China-set fantasy adventure "The Forbidden Kingdom," with Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Weinstein is in Hong Kong at the Asian Filmart, which ends Thursday.
@Cocoa:
Thanks for posting that. I really appreciate the heads up. I'm also glad to see that my sources connected to this particular film were spot-on with their information. If anything new comes down the pipe, I'll be sure to fire up a new post on this subject.