Chan bridges H.K., China divide

BEIJING Peter Chan unveiled a slayer of demons to highlight the growing cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong when he introduced "Jung Ku -- The Man From 18th Hell" at Cannes this week.

The fantasy adventure, to be helmed by Chan, is one of four projects that Cinema Popular, a shingle formed jointly by Chan, mainland Chinese group PolyBona and helmer Huang Jiangxin, is set to complete next year.

Cinema Popular is one of a growing number of ventures bridging Hong Kong, which reverted to China in 1997 but is technically self-ruled, and mainland China.

Despite the global recession, China's film market is growing, largely thanks to improved access to cinemas. Hong Kong filmmakers and their mainland Chinese counterparts cooperate regularly on co-productions or on wholly Chinese films. Chan said at the launch of Cinema Popular he hoped the shingle would make production easier and speed up logistics and regulatory issues. Greater synergies also allow for bigger budgets.

The $22 million "Jung Ku" is set in a time when humans lived alongside gods and demons. The title character is inspired by Zhong Kui, a mythological figure who protects mankind by killing ghosts and demons.

News source: Chan bridges H.K., China divide (Variety)

News tag: Peter Chan Teddy Chan Cannes Film Festival

Related titles: Jung Ku - The Man from 18th Hell (2010) Bodyguards and Assassins (2009) Queen's Road Ripper (2010) The God of Wealth (2010) The Flying Guillotine Remake (2010)

Related persons: Peter CHAN Ho-San Teddy CHEN Donnie YEN Leon LAI Ming Nicholas TSE Eric TSANG Chi-Wai Hu Jun Dante LAM

Related companies: Cinema Popular