Chinese director Lu Chuan broke the silence on Monday to respond to
all unfriendly rumors, shortly after inking a deal to win bulk
investment for his upcoming tribute film to the 70th anniversary of
the 1937 Nanjing Massacre.
Rumors have been suggesting that preparation for Nanking!
Nanking! kept encountering setbacks, and that the director was
struggling to find investors for his estimated budget of 80 million
yuan (US$10.5 million).
Lu Chuan admitted to the Beijing-based Star Daily that
preparation for the film had not been going smoothly, but that four
giant film investors, including the China Film Group Corporation,
have joined hands to meet his budget.
The Kekexili director is now hoping to begin shooting
in August. Lead cast members are yet to be named.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong film makers, Stanley Tong and Yim Ho, are
also planning their own work on the infamous incident.
The Nanjing Massacre occurred in December 1937 when Japanese
aggressor troops occupied the eastern Chinese city and killed over
300,000 citizens.
(CRI.cn June 26, 2007)
