Chang Chen (장첸 (張震 ))

[Talk of the town] New John Woo film canceled

Source | 2009/04/03 | Permalink |

"1949" is no more.

The highly-anticipated film by renowned Chinese director John Woo, set to star Taiwanese actor Chang Chen and Korean actress Song Hye-kyo, has been called off, reportedly due to conflicts between Woo and the production company, China Film Group.

According to Song's management company, Woo has contacted her to apologize and has asked her to appear in future films that he will be directing.

Woo, known most recently for "Red Cliff", revealed plans for 1949 last year in May at the 61st Cannes Film Festival, announcing that shooting would begin in China and Taiwan by the end of 2008. The movie was scheduled to open in December.

The film was to be based on a tragic accident that occurred in the year 1949, when the ship Taiping collided with a cargo ship at sea. Of the over 1,000 passengers on the Taiping, only 38 survived. The film was to be written by Wang Hui-ling, the scriptwriter for Ang Lee's film "Lust, Caution"....| More

Song Hye-kyo Returns to Small Screen

Source | 2008/10/21 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Korean dramas are full of entertainment, with cliched yet dramatic plots, cute and handsome male characters, both main and supporting, and always a young pretty heroine.

Among these heroines is Song Hye-kyo, 26, who will appear in the new drama "Worlds Within". She returns to the small screen for the first time in four years after her hit series "Full House" with top singer/actor "Rain".

"For the past four years, I have been working on three films and so I was more accustomed to the movie filming atmosphere. TV dramas require quick reactions and with help from the director, I'm now back on track", Song said at a press conference of the program Monday at a hotel in Seoul.

The makers of the drama also made headlines, as the producer Pyo Min-soo, who brought "Full House", and writer Noh Hee-kyeong have teamed up. It is the first time in six years for the makers to get together for a program.

Despite criticism that large-scale dramas lack dep...| More

Song Hye-kyo to Become Producer in New Drama

Source | 2008/10/13 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Actress Song Hye-kyo will return to the small screen as an up and coming producer in KBS' new drama "Worlds Within" produced by Pyo Min-soo and written by Noh Hee-kyeong.

"When I finished filming `Full House' with producer Pyo four years ago, we promised to work together with writer Noh. I was their fan and so I had no reason to say no", Song said during an interview with Yonhap News Agency.

"Worlds Within" depicts the story of producers who work in a broadcast company. Her costar Hyeon Bin will also appear as a fellow producer. The drama brings the two actors together as fellow students, colleagues and eventually, lovers.

"I liked that it wasn't a Cinderella story many people dream about. It's different from previous melodramas. Scenes that may really happen in our daily lives happen in the drama", she said.

After appearing in the hit drama "Full House" with singer/actor "Rain" in 2004, she mainly worked on the big screen, appearing in t...| More

SONG Hye-kyo to Star in John Woo's 1949

Source | 2008/05/28 | Permalink |

Taking journalists by surprise at a press conference on May 20 at the 61st Cannes Film Festival, director John Woo and popular Korean actress SONG Hye-kyo appeared together to announce that she would star as the heroine in his next big budget production, '1949'.

With them were the film's producer, Terence Chang, and SONG's co-star, Taiwanese actor Chang Chen. Chang, who will play SONG's lover in the film, starred last year in maverick director KIM Ki-duk's Cannes entry "Breath" and has a lead role in Woo's soon to be released 2-part epic Red Cliff.

Actress SONG is adored both locally and across Asia for her endearing TV roles in dramas such as "Full House" (2004) and "Autumn in my Heart" (2000). Along with numerous commercials, the actress has made several features, including 2007's period drama "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007" which drew director Woo's attention to her. She also starred in "My Girl and I" (2005) and has just completed her US debut in the upcoming indie-feature "...| More

[Interview] Song Hye-kyo "I got to do a movie like a first love"

Source | 2008/05/22 | Permalink |

Top star Song Hye-kyo was at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival. She agreed to star in Director John Woo's next work "1949", and although she arrived in Cannes on the 17th, she had to hide in her hotel room.

On the 20th around 10:30 am, Director Woo and Producer Terence Chang held a press conference for their next work, and when Song Hye-kyo appeared, the Chinese journalists were shocked. It was because Director Woo did not even mention Song Hye-kyo in a briefing session on the 19th.

She wore a white dress and arrived with her opposing character, Chinese actor Chang Chen. She seemed flushed to be working with big names.

Song Hye-kyo said, "Director Woo contacted me after watching "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007", It's my honor to be able to work with a director that I respect". Her popularity is high in China because of "Autumn in my Heart" and "Full House" and many journalists were asking more questions toward Song Hye-kyo than the director or Chang Chen.

The following...| More