Filming near completion on Chinese epic

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONG KONG – Director John Woo has finished shooting the Chinese historical epic "Red Cliff," a massive production that has been beset by casting changes and set problems, and is already editing the raw footage, Woo's producer said Tuesday.

The big-budget movie marks Woo's return to Chinese-language film after a stint in Hollywood, where he made hits such as "Broken Arrow," "Face/Off" and "Mission: Impossible 2."

"We have finished principal photography, and John is heavy into post-production," producer Terence Chang told The Associated Press in an e-mail, referring to the process of editing the film and creating sound and visual effects.

He did not say exactly when Woo finished shooting.

Shooting for "Red Cliff," about a well-known battle in feudal-era China, started in April.

Chang was quoted as saying by Hollywood trade publication Variety in a report Monday that most of the shooting had finished on Nov. 30, although some second-unit filming will continue until February.

One of the film's stars, former Cannes best actor winner Tony Leung Chiu-wai, was still shooting as recently as Saturday, when he was unable to personally accept the best actor trophy at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan for his performance in Ang Lee's spy thriller ``Lust, Caution."

Leung spoke to reporters covering the ceremony by phone instead.

Chang said earlier the budget for "Red Cliff" was more than US$80 million – huge by Chinese standards. Woo later said that figure was overstated, but didn't provide a new number.

The film, which also stars Taiwanese-Japanese heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro, has suffered several setbacks.

Earlier, actors Chow Yun-fat and Leung pulled out, although Leung later returned to the cast. Woo also wasn't able to shoot at China's largest river, the Yangtze, and so he had to create a similar backdrop with special effects. He didn't say why his team wasn't allowed to film there.

Torrential rains also washed away part of an outdoor set in northern China.

Chang said earlier the Chinese government views the movie, which is partly backed by state-run China Film Group, as an important showcase of Chinese history and wants it released before the Beijing Olympics next year. The Olympics start on Aug. 8.

Chang said he has sold the film to European countries but hasn't sold it in the U.S.