SNEAK PEEK: The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman in Australia

Its great to see that Asian action films are hitting mainstream Australian cinemas with the push of China Lion Film group. Tomorrow, I'll be hitting the city to check the preview the highly stylised martial arts action-comedy - THE BUTCHER, THE CHEF AND THE SWORDSMAN, - before its national release (also in North America and New Zealand) on March 17.

Here's a bit of a blurb:

THE BUTCHER, THE CHEF AND THE SWORDSMAN follows the journey of a mystical blade as it passes through the hands of three ambitious men. As the interwoven story unfolds, they find that the blade possesses the power to dramatically change the fate of each of its owners. The Butcher is a simple man in love with a beautiful courtesan, but is rebuffed each time he approaches her. The Chef is a handsome loner obsessed with seeking vengeance for the slaughter of his family. The Swordsman, the son of a legendary warrior, is consumed by the desire to eclipse his father in both power and fame. Their stories comes full circle as each man takes possession of the mystical blade and discovers its double edge--- the great power it bestows is matched by even greater danger.

Directed by up-and-coming Chinese filmmaker Wuershan, the film is Executive Produced by acclaimed director and producer Doug Liman (Bourne Identity, Mr & Mrs Smith, Go) who calls the film CROUCHING TIGER meets PULP FICTION!

Check out there Trailer here!

To win a DOUBLE PASS giveaway to see the movie, email me maria.tran@questforjackiechan.com on the 16 March your answer to this...

In less than 25 words, which is the greater evil: IGNORANCE, GREED or VENGENANCE...and why?

To other news about the Asian film industry, China looks like the next big thing when it comes to "exploding markets" and my colleague Clint Logan has recently forward me this link "China vies for its own Hollywood". So I hope the Australian Film Industry, up the scales, start investing in the action film genre and also the martial arts genre (According to Cable (2009) the Martial Arts Genre rates more "sellable" globally than "dramas" than "comedies"). Since 2006, Australia and China has only forge two co-productions. What's in it for the future? In the meantime, let's start learn more about this genre, hit the Greater Union screens and check out the international content, use it as a source of drive and make some martial arts genred films from downunder.

Science Fiction Martial Arts Flick "Vela 734" - What's Your Thoughts?

Now I’m gonna get to the point, here’s Antony Szeto’s latest developments called:
Sci Fi martial arts - Vela 734. Check out the link below.
So what do you think? Wanna get you comments across to Mr Szeto?
Leave your name, age, area, profession, email and comment at info@mariatran.net and I'll pass it onto him.

Okies, back to where I am.

Its 1.30am the beginnings of the 26th of Dec, Boxing Day 2009. I’m on the computer formulating the next Vietlish TV! projects, pile and packed away “Vietnamese Storyexchange” past projects and organized “Rumble High” TV series concepts to be posted out at the next available date. Mum’s decided to have an “all night” watching a full dose of senseless midnight movies and making absurd comments about different actors.

But a highlight of the early morning is most probably Mr Szeto’s email revealing his latest developing project in Hong Kong this time, a science fiction martial arts feature flick in pilot mode; Vela 734.

Antony Szeto, once was a Sydney sider, a part of Australian Wushu team has come a very long way in terms of fly kicking into the world of action flicks.

It’s funny how I bumped into this character while on my early morning yellow skin “stalk” campaigns – endlessly googling prominent fellow Asians in Ozland and across the globe and seeing what they’ve been up to, their struggles and triumphs, their ups and downs and their colour preference, somewhere between yellow and white.

Antony has got to be one of the “good” guys on my list and replied to my enquires and rants about “making it”.

But anyhow, back to Mr Szeto.

Antony Szeto, 45 years of age, is currently a film director residing in Hong Kong. Some of his uber cool works include Dragonblade. Check out the trailer here.

This project was pioneering indeed. It was a world's first 3D computer animated martial arts film that sported a range of headline HK actors such as Actors: Karen Mok, Daniel Wu, Doug Baker, Grant Thatcher. A very family friendly film that was set in a fantastical version of the ancient Middle Kingdom, the film follows Lang, a teenage martial arts fanatic, who dreams of one day finding the legendary DragonBlade a weapon of ultimate power which may only be wielded by the pure of heart and noble of spirit.

Unfortunately, I didn’t hear about it when it was released and had to rummaged high and low in all the dingy Asian video stores to find a legit copy to hire.

Next big jump is Wushu (2008) directed by Antony Szeto and produced by Jackie Chan.

Check out the trailer.
Here’s a pic of me with Wushu Wang Fei who was one of the leading actresses of “Wushu” when she was contracted out to Australia and I got a short opportunity to work in the pre-developmental stages of "Shanghai Ladykillers".

It was fun getting to know her, however, most of the time communication was via excessive pointing, hand gestures and facial grimaces. *Lol*. She’s gone back home now and is scheduled to be back next year.
Check out her sick wushu form. All I can say is…jawdropping…..