The jing

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-15 09:46

Millions for young directors

Director Jia Zhangke (pictured below) said yesterday at a press conference that his company has raised 100 million yuan for a new project that will invite young, up-and-coming Asian directors to shoot their films.

Regarded as a leading member of what is known as China's "Sixth Generation" of film directors (a term that refers to its edgier, more underground style of filmmaking), Jia's films received little recognition beyond the independent circuit until his breakout film, The World, in 2004.

At the press conference yesterday for his latest film about the history of Shanghai titled, Shanghai Chuanqi, he also discussed two new movie projects by Hong Kong director Tang Xiaobai and Korean director Bai Cheng Xun.

Beer pong bonanza

It seems Beijing's beer pong craze is bouncing even bigger than ever, according to beijingboyce.com.

The Rickshaw beer pong champions plan to challenge their counterparts at Pyro Pizza to a match that some observers are already saying would rival last year's Olympics.

Beer pong is a sport that requires a fine balance between drinking ability and hand-to-eye coordination, with studies showing top players have superior "fast twitch" muscles, particularly in the elbow area.

A representative of The Rickshaw team plan to deliver a hand-written challenge to Pyro to play the match in a neutral location, with The Bird's Nest seeming an ideal spot.

Beauty is only skin deep

Some foreigners have experienced this - the Chinese obsession with white skin. Many come from a culture that is obsessed with having a golden tan.

So many foreign friends here who come from a consumer market where skin products are frequently designed to aid the darkening process, or provide a "fake" tan upon application, it comes as quite a shock when they are all of a sudden forced to pay special attention to the soaps and lotions they buy at the supermarket, making sure they are free of skin "whitening" components.

Recently, the JING stumbled upon a story about seven women militia who applied for the upcoming Miss International Beauty Pageant 2009, to be held in Chengdu on Nov 29.

According to one of the pageant's directors scathing assessments of their appearance: "The girls' skin is too tan. It looks like they just came out from coal pit."

To add insult to injury, the director went on to say that their muscular, soldierly physique rendered their calves "really ugly when they wear swimsuit."

The good news (if we can call it that) is that the pageant is willing to work with them to "solve their skin and muscle issues".

Tibetan Rock Dog: The Movie

Several months ago Chinese rock star, Zheng Jun came out with a graphic novel titled Tibetan Rock Dog, which is set to become a movie by 2011. Admittedly, the JING has never read it, but what we have read makes us extremely curious about both the novel itself as well as the film.

Part allegory, part autobiography, Zheng's novel chronicles a mastiff named Metal who is raised in a Buddhist temple in Tibet after his family dies protecting a peasant family.

Metal grows up learning the secret ways of mankind (walking and talking) until a rock musician on a pilgrimage adopts him and bring him to Beijing.

Upon his arrival Metal discovers a whole new world of dog opportunities and starts his own rock band.

At the launching ceremony yesterday it was revealed that the budget for the film will be $30 million and will be made in conjunction with a Hollywood film company.

No famous movie stars have signed on to do voiceovers yet.

One expensive kernel

At an auction specializing in the sale of corn seeds yesterday in Beijing, a corn seed sold for 5 million yuan. This seed, known as "Huayu No 15", was auctioned with a starting price of 3 million yuan but rose quickly.

The eventual winner was Beijing Doneed Seeds Co Ltd, which now has exclusive production and management rights. Its representative, surnamed Huo, said 5 million yuan was an "acceptable price" but that he was surprised by the fierce competition.