"Shanghai" Shot in Thailand After China Ban

ANCHOR:
In the latest clash between Chinese censors and international artists, the 1940's drama "Shanghai," was forced to switch locations after being banned from filming in China because of the script. The film stars Chinese actors Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li, as well as American actor John Cusack. The crew is now almost finished with production in Thailand. Here's more:

STORY:
"Shanghai" star Chow Yun-fat said at a press conference on Sunday that there had been problems with filming in China, but didn't go into detail.

[Chow Yun-fat, "Shanghai" Actor]:
"Of course we have some problems in China but finally we shot in London and in Thailand."

The film crew failed to secure a shooting permit because of the script, and has been filming in Thailand since March.

But the actors aren't complaining. Actress Gong Li, of "Memoirs of a Geisha"-fame, says the sets look better in Thailand.

[Gong Li, "Shanghai" Actress]:
"Everything is beyond my expectation, I think the building in Bangkok is much more good-looking than in China."

Chow also compared "Shanghai" to his older projects like "Shanghai Godfather." But he says the production quality of "Shanghai" is better.

[Chow Yun-fat, "Shanghai" Actor]:
"If there people in here when they were young, they're watching Chow-por Shanghai (Shanghai Godfather in English) for long long time. And another 20 years later, I'm still shooting the same old deal. But it is totally different. It's huge, sad, the clash, the costume, lightning, and everything. I mean, the sequence in you a lot of substance about the old shanghai."

Actor John Cusack says "Shanghai" is less commercial than most Hollywood movies, but still has a Hollywood-size budget.

[John Cusack, "Shanghai" Actor]:
"You can do a very very commercial film at big budget, that is very simple. And then you can do art film, that's very interested that have a lower budget. And the opportunity to do both, to do something that has a big budget, a great scope with the great director, and great actor that has a quality level of writing, a level of production design, and the scope of
something like this is once in a life time opportunity. It is very rare that you can get this kind of a quality project with this kind of a budget."

China has locked horns with a range of performers over the past few weeks, drawing criticism ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Earlier this month, the Culture Ministry said it would tighten controls over foreign artists after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet! Tibet!" at a concert in Shanghai.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• china
• censorship
• shanghai
• movie
• thailand
• arts
• ban

[kabyluvnicole]

@gil166 are u a fans of Gong Li <3

[kabyluvnicole]

Gong Li look so hot :)

[ThaGeniusDude]

china gov bans EVERYTHING! hahaha

[DantesSmirk]

At 1:31 Chow Yun Fat is saying "the screen give(s) you", not "the sequence in you"...

[samquan123]

That is.. "Chau Nhan Phat"

[bobbyhitsbakk009]

Move called "Shanghai" banned in China?

WTF??? Thats just weird

[mydreamoflife]

@archstudio67 It was in Bankok, the set was like 30 mins from city. Most of the crew stayed in the Mayfair Mariott Hotel :)

[archstudio67]

Does any one know where in Thailand they film this movie? Thank you.

[archstudio67]

Does any one know where in Thailand they film this movie?

[joannegerber]

What does Zionism have to do with this? That's crazy.