Following a full year of controversy-plagued casting and the
turbulence of a director's resignation, the highly anticipated
remake of the Chinese classic TV serial A Dream of Red
Mansions was formally launched on Tuesday. Online portal
sina.com reported the details.
One of China's top female directors, 52-year-old Li Shaohong,
will take over the director's responsibilities from her old
classmate Hu Mei, who resigned in September due to "disappointment
at the cast members selected from the contest."
Cinematographer Zeng Nianping, also Li Shaohong's husband and
long-time film-making partner, will be the director of
photography.
Hong Kong-based Oscar-winner Yip Tim-Kap will serve as the art
director.
The cast, the makeup of which has been in dispute, is still not
confirmed. The competitors in the casting contest still have a
chance, but only to form a small part of the huge cast.
"The original work portrays more than 600 characters. The TV
serial may involve about 200 of them. The actors selected from the
contest are far from enough. We are looking at the profiles of each
competitor. Additionally, three working groups are working on
casting across the country," director Li Shaohong said.
The budget for the 50-episode serial reaches about 50 million
yuan (about US$7 million).
Production is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2008 and go
until August. The series will be aired in 2009.
Director Li Shaohong spoke
at the media conference for announcement of the TV serial A
Dream of Red Mansions in Beijing on Tuesday, October 30,
2007.
Cinematographer Zeng
Nianping attends the media conference for A Dream of Red
Mansions in Beijing on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.
(CRI.cn October 31, 2007)
