Ratpack

Present

A Lion Rock Production

Directed by Su Chao-Pin

Co-directed by

Produced by John Woo &

Running time: 117 minutes Certificate: 15

Opens at UK cinemas on 15th February 2013

Press Contacts

Sarah Wharton – [email protected]

Lisa DeBell – [email protected]

Almar Haflidason – [email protected]

For hi-res images/production notes and more, go to – www.fetch.fm

CAST

MICHELLE YEOH - Zeng Jing JUNG WOO-SUNG - Jiang Ah-Sheng - The Wheel King - Turquoise - Lei Bin - Drizzle GUO XIAODONG - Zhang Renfeng JIANG YIYAN - Tian Qingtong - The Magician PAW HEE CHING - Mrs. Cai MATT WU - Killer Bear JIN SHIJIE - Doctor Li PACE WU - Kongdong Teal Sword CALVIN LI - Wisdom ANGELES WOO - Eater Bear

CREW

Directed by SU CHAO-PIN and JOHN WOO

Produced by JOHN WOO and TERENCE CHANG

Screenplay by SU CHAO-PIN

Action Director STEPHEN TUNG

Director of Photography HORACE WONG

Art Director YANG BAIGUI

Costume Designer

Composer PETER KAM

Editor CHEUNG KA-FAI

INTRODUCTION

Directed by Su Chao-pin (SILK), co-directed by internationally acclaimed director John Woo, and produced by Terence Chang and John Woo, is a style-martial arts actioner.

Filmed and choreographed similar in style to CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, but packed with suspense, romance and revenge, it offers up a story that is a combination of FACE/OFF and MR. AND MRS. SMITH set in ancient .

The project began when producer Terence Chang was looking for an action vehicle for international star and heroine . After several meetings with Su Chao- pin, Chang came up with the idea of a wuxia to revive the Chinese swordplay genre and showcase Yeoh’s prodigious talents as a martial arts star as well as a dramatic actress and graceful femme fatale.

Set during China’s Ming Dynasty, the film features a stellar international Asian cast from China, , , and Korea. Yeoh stars as a high level assassin, atoning for her past and trying to live a normal life.

Korean superstar Jung Woo-Sung portrays her seemingly naive husband. Terence Chang and his team worked tirelessly to pull together the rest of the pan-Asian cast, which also includes Barbie Hsu and Kelly Lin from Taiwan, Wang Xueqi from China, and Shawn Yue from Hong Kong. Also featured in the cast and making her screen debut as a ruthless assassin is Angeles Woo, director John Woo’s daughter.

After reading the script, John Woo was so impressed that he teamed up with Su, assuming the role of co-director. Woo stayed with the crew during the entire production and worked closely with Su to advise and guide him on the set-up and choreography and filming of the action sequences.

Terence Chang assembled a team of top experts to work closely with his two co- directors to plan and execute the production. All very experienced and renowned in their respective fields, action director Stephen Tung-Wai, composer Peter Kam, costume designer Emi Wada and director of photography Horace Wong were brought on to bring the story to life with the stunning visuals, action, and music expected of an international production.

SHORT SYNOPSIS

In ancient China, in a time of non-stop inter-clan warfare, Drizzle is the top assassin of a gang known as The Dark Stone. After a career of robbing and killing, she decides she wants to start a new life. As a gesture of atonement, she returns the remains of a mystical Buddhist monk to his tomb. It is rumoured that the remains contain the secret to obtaining absolute power and whoever possesses them can control the martial arts world.

In order to escape from The Dark Stone and rid her life of violence and bloodshed, Drizzle decides to undergo a drastic procedure to alter her appearance, to change her name to Zeng Jing (Michelle Yeoh), and to move to the Capital. Keeping a low profile as a shopkeeper, she falls in love with and marries a messenger named Jiang Ah- Sheng (Jung Woo-Sung). However, their peaceful life is soon disrupted when Zeng’s identity as Drizzle is unveiled in a dramatic fight and confrontation with her old gang, The Dark Stone. Amidst all the chaos and fighting, Jiang, her husband, reveals his true identity to her - he is the son of a government official that she murdered when she was still a member of The Dark Stone. Once both their identities are exposed, a lethal triangle in which allegiances are made and broken emerges between Zeng, Jiang, and The Dark Stone, who will stop at nothing in their efforts to obtain the monk’s remains and rule the martial arts world.

SYNOPSIS

In 428AD, Bodhi, the Prince of Southern India, becomes a Buddhist monk and sets off for China, earning a hallowed reputation as a mystical martial artist. Shortly after his death, his remains mysteriously disappear. It is rumored that his remains contain the secret to obtaining limitless power and ruling the martial arts world.

Centuries later, a team of deadly assassins known as The Dark Stone emerges as the most ruthless gang in the land. Their best assassin is the cunning, skilled, ruthless and invincible Drizzle (Kelly Lin). On her latest mission, Drizzle takes out Zhang Haiduan, a high-ranking court official. His son, Zhang Renfeng (Guo Xiaodong), while mourning his father’s death, is also attacked and seemingly killed by Drizzle and her fellow assassins.

Drizzle’s life changes when she kills Wisdom (Calvin Li), a monk with whom she has unintentionally fallen in love. Wisdom, who loves Drizzle as well, attempts to persuade her to repent and quit The Dark Stone.

To save Drizzle’s soul, he allows himself to be killed in battle, achieving a pyrrhic victory by succeeding only in death. The pain of losing someone who she cares so much about prompts Drizzle to leave her old life behind.

After returning Bodhi’s remains to their rightful resting place at Yunhe Temple, Drizzle decides to leave The Dark Stone and to go into hiding. But to escape she must do something drastic, otherwise The Dark Stone will pursue her to the end of the earth.

In order to find peace and a new life, she seeks out the legendary Doctor Li who can give her a new face and a new identity… and so she becomes Zeng Jing (Michelle Yeoh). She packs up her old life and moves to the Capital and embraces a new way of existence; a peaceful life as a shopkeeper. Eventually Zeng Jing meets and falls in love with Jiang Ah-Sheng (Jung Woo-Sung), a humble messenger, and soon they are married. But the past comes back to haunt her as The Dark Stone offers an enormous reward for Bodhi’s remains and Drizzle’s capture, driving everyone in the martial world to search for her. A confrontation in the Capital unveils Zeng’s identity, and she knows that The Dark Stone, as well as her past, have finally caught up with her when one morning, she finds three Dark Stone assassins standing outside of her door.

The merciless head of The Dark Stone, the Wheel King (Wang Xueqi), had assigned a trio of his top assassins, Lei Bin (Shawn Yue), Turquoise (Barbie Hsu), and The Magician (Leon Dai), to kill those around Zeng as a warning and to offer her a choice: hand over Bodhi’s remains and walk away, or die.

When Zeng Jing decides to hand over the remains, the Wheel King reneges on his offer and tries to kill her.

Barely escaping the Wheel King, she runs home in a vain attempt to flee with her husband Jiang. Unable to fend off The Dark Stone any further, Zeng collapses, but is then saved by her husband, who reveals his true identity as Zhang Renfeng, the son of the last official that Drizzle had killed before she assumed her new identity! He defeats The Dark Stone assassins and then tracks down and challenges the Wheel King to take revenge for his father’s murder.

Once both of their identities have been exposed, this leads to a lethal triangle and a fight to the death between Zeng (Drizzle), Jiang (Zhang Renfeng), and the Wheel King (The Dark Stone). Only one question remains: who will be the last one standing to uncover the secret of Bodhi’s remains?

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

By Su Chao-Pin

The original Chinese title of REIGN OF ASSASSINS was “Jianyu Jianghu,” which literally translates to “swords and rain, rivers and lakes.” After I completed the screenplay for “Jianyu” and was having it translated into English, I struggled for a long time yet still could not find an English phrase that would adequately express the meaning of “jianghu,” which literally translates to “rivers and lakes.” For the Chinese, the two characters of “jianghu” hardly ever need explanation. If you say, “When one is in the jianghu, one is not himself,” just about everyone would know what you are talking about. (However, if you were to ask a Chinese person to explain the meaning of “jianghu,” he probably would not be able to do so.)

That’s when I realized that “jianghu” is a noun that only exists in Chinese culture, one that refers to a very special imaginary world. Holding a place similar to that of martial arts films among movie genres, “jianghu” is in its own unique class.

Just like every other boy who grew up reading martial arts novels and watching martial arts films, I believe that making a film that reflects the martial arts world of my own imagination is a director’s (especially a male director’s) dream. For me, making this picture not only fulfilled my personal dream but also allowed me to contribute one small footnote in this special breed of Chinese-language cinema that is the wuxia genre.

I have always enjoyed creating stories with many characters, trying to squeeze in as many as possible within the limited time frame of a movie. To me, every movie is a world, and each world should have all sorts of individuals.

When I write a screenplay, or while I am filming, I always like to imagine that each one of those characters in my movie world, are each looking at me with a very peculiar expression, an expression that clearly tells me that they are waiting for me to give them their next line, to direct their next action.

During the filming period of over 100 days, I have watched my imaginary world come to life step by step every day. I really like to imagine that from now on, the movie’s characters have a home in which they can live forever.

Even after the story ends, they still live on in that home. Perhaps this sort of feeling is the reason why I have fallen in love with the profession of telling stories.

I sincerely thank everyone.

THE PRODUCTION

Lion Rock Productions

Lion Rock Productions was established in 1997 by John Woo and Terence Chang and was named after a famous landmark mountain in Hong Kong.

The duo had previously produced, under the WCG label, many international hits such as BROKEN ARROW (1996), THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS (1998), FACE/OFF (1997) and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II (2000). After forming Lion Rock, they produced THE BIG HIT (1998) for Sony, (2002) for MGM, PAYCHECK (2003) for Paramount, as well as the animated feature APPLESEED: EX-MACHINA (2007), released by Warner Bros. worldwide.

In 2005, they embarked on the most ambitious production ever, RED CLIFF (2008). Released in two parts throughout Asia in 2008 and 2009, the films soon became top-grossing hits in both China and Japan.

MY FAIR GENTLEMAN (2009) was the first romantic comedy produced under Lion Rock’s name. The production house will continue to focus on English and Chinese- language films. Recent projects include John Woo’s FLYING TIGERS, Kim Jee- woon’s IF YOU SAY NO, and Stephen Fung’s STRANGLEHOLD, as well as the long- awaited REIGN OF ASSASSINS.

THE FINANCING AND DISTRIBUTION

After the script came in, producer Chang immediately began to work on financing the film. Impressed by the script and Lion Rock’s previous production history, as well as Chang and Woo’s production expertise, Beijing Galloping Horse’s chairman, Li Ming, and Media Asia’s chairman, Peter Lam, signed on immediately in the summer of 2009.

Soon thereafter, hearing about the project, Gamania Digital Entertainment, the PC online game and digital entertainment corporation which produces many popular online games in Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and the US, and Lumiere Motion Picture Company, producer of many of Taiwan’s most successful television series, came aboard the project and helped to complete the film’s production budget.

After meeting with Chang, agreed to sell the film internationally, and has already successfully sold European and Middle Eastern territories in Berlin in 2010.

Principal photography began on October 4th, 2009 in Songjiang, China, and soon moved to Hengdian. Main unit shooting lasted for 89 days, while a separate action unit simultaneously shot for 50 days; the film wrapped on February 27th.

Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production

Incorporated in 1998 as a television production house, Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production has integrated film and television planning, production, and distribution. Adhering to its founding principle of “creating quality works,” Galloping Horse has produced some of the highest rated television dramas for the domestic Chinese market.

In 2009, Galloping Horse expanded its operations to include a greater focus on film production and invested in eight large-scale pictures, including METALLIC ATTRACTION: KUNGFU CYBORG (2009), ONCE UPON A CHINESE CLASSIC (2009), REIGN OF ASSASSINS (2010), Ning Hao’s NO MAN’S LAND and QING CHENG (2009), as well as three co-productions: MULAN (2009), THE KARATE KID (2010), produced in collaboration with China Film Group and international superstar Will Smith, and BEAUTY ON DUTY (2010).

Media Asia Group

Based in Hong Kong, Media Asia is one of Asia’s largest and most successful Chinese- language film studios.

Its vision is to produce quality Chinese-language films with commercial viability. Since its founding in 1994, Media Asia has produced or co-financed over 60 Chinese- language films, including critically acclaimed blockbusters like (2007), THE ASSEMBLY (2007), CONFESSIONS OF PAIN (2006), THE BANQUET (2006), (2006), INITIAL D (2005), WAIT ‘TIL YOU’RE OLDER (2005), and the TRILOGY (2002-2003), the last one spawning the Hollywood remake THE DEPARTED (2006) which won four awards at the 2007 , including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Media Asia’s films always catch people’s eyes in various major international film festivals and so far have won over 140 awards out of some 350 nominations. In addition to its own productions, Media Asia sports a library of over 150 feature films. It has also established a joint venture with China Film Group (China) for film distribution in China.

Fortissimo Films

Founded in 1991, Fortissimo Films is one of the world’s leading international film, television, and home entertainment organizations specializing in the presentation, promotion, and distribution of award-winning and innovative films from around the globe. With offices based in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London and New York, Fortissimo currently represents nearly 300 films from every corner of the globe. These include features by Wong Kar Wai (2046, IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE); Martin Scorsese (SHINE A LIGHT); John Cameron Mitchell (SHORTBUS); and Jim Jarmusch (COFFEE AND CIGARETTES). Approximately 20 films per year are added to the line-up. Other titles include Michael Winterbottom’s THE PROMISED LAND, and Iwai Shunji’s first English-language feature VAMPIRE.

THE CAST AND CREW

MICHELLE YEOH as Zeng Jing

Born in 1962, Michelle Yeoh is an internationally acclaimed actress and producer.

After obtaining a BA in Creative Arts in England, she was crowned Miss Malaysia. Yeoh soon became Hong Kong’s kung-fu queen, known for performing her own stunts, beginning with her first , YES MADAM (1985).

She has starred in over twenty films, including James Bond’s TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997), CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000), MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA (2005), SUNSHINE (2007), MUMMY 3: THE TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (2008), and BABYLON AD (2008). She has always challenged the traditional views of Asian women by playing strong and tough female roles.

Her performance in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000) earned her nominations for best actress at the Golden Horse Awards, the Hong Kong Film Awards, and the BAFTA Awards in 2001. She also received the “Award of Excellence in Acting for Outstanding Performance as an Actor” from CineAsia in 1999 and the “International Star of the Year Award” at the 2001 ShoWest. In the same year, Michelle was conferred the title of “Dato,” the Malaysian equivalent of being knighted, by the Malaysian state government.

In 2002, Michelle added another feather to her cap by producing and starring in THE TOUCH (2002), a contemporary romantic action adventure. She was honoured with the Montblanc Arts Patronage Award in recognition of her achievement and commitment to nurture creative talents in the same year. In 2009, Michelle became the first Jury President of the 3rd . In March 2009, she was honoured with the “Influential Chinese Award 2008” in recognition of her contributions and achievements, in Beijing.

Behind the silver screen, Michelle devotes herself to charitable and social endeavours by acting as the ambassador of amfAR (The foundation for AIDS research), Force of Nature, Hong Kong Cancer Fund, ICM (Institute for Cerebral and Medullary Disorders) and LoveFaithHope Charitable Foundation.

Selected filmography:

2010 REIGN OF ASSASSINS 2008 MUMMY 3: THE TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR 2005 MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA 2002 THE TOUCH (also as Producer) 2000 CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON 1997 TOMORROW NEVER DIES 1994 WING CHUN 1993 TAI CHI MASTER 1993 1985 YES MADAM

JUNG WOO-SUNG as Jiang Ah-Sheng

Jung Woo-Sung is one of the most sought after Korean movie stars today.

He started as a fashion model and was selected as an actor in the open audition for THE FOX WITH NINE TAILS (1994), his debut film. He solidified his Korean fan base with his performance in the SBS drama series THE ASPHALT GUY (1995). In 1996, Jung starred in GRAND (1996) together with world-renowned actors and . He received the Best New Actor Award of Korean Film Critics Association for BEAT (1997), the teen drama that established him as a box office star. His later films include CITY OF THE RISING SUN (1999), PHANTOM, THE SUBMARINE (1999), MUSA (2001) and MUTT BOY (2003). During this period, he won two People’s Choice Blue Dragon Film Awards.

The bittersweet A MOMENT TO REMEMBER (2004), starring Jung and gorgeous Korean actress Son Ye-Jin, established Jung as the No.1 romantic actor in Korea. The love triangle between Jung, Korean actress Gianna Jun Ji-Hyun, and Lee Sung- Jae in DAISY (2006), a co-production between Hong Kong, Korea and Holland, further strengthened his “heartthrob” image.

Recently, Jung has expanded into more action-oriented roles, with THE RESTLESS (2006) and the Manchurian-cowboy cult classic THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD (2008). The latter won him another People’s Choice Blue Dragon Film Award and a Best Supporting Actor Award at the Asian Film Awards. Most recently, he has completed filming on Hur Jin-Ho’s A GOOD RAIN KNOWS WHEN TO COME (2009). REIGN OF ASSASSINS (2010) is his first .

Selected filmography:

2010 REIGN OF ASSASSINS 2009 A GOOD RAIN KNOWS WHEN TO COME 2008 THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD 2006 DAISY 2006 THE RESTLESS 2004 A MOMENT TO REMEMBER 2003 MUTT BOY 2001 MUSA (THE WARRIOR) 1997 BEAT 1994 THE FOX WITH NINE TAILS

WANG XUE QI as The Wheel King

Born in 1946, Wang Xueqi is one of the most well-known and beloved actors in China.

He has been showing his amazing talents on television, the big screen, and on the stage for over 25 years. Wang first appeared in Kai-ge’s early works (1984) and BIG PARADE (1986). He has worked with various renowned Chinese directors over the years, including on CONDENAME COUGAR (1989), on (1994), on WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH (2003), and on (2009). His latest film, (2009), directed by Eddie Chen and produced by , was a box office success, and he received wide critical acclaim for his performance, garnering a Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor nomination. Wang is also a gifted director. His film SUN BIRD (1998) won a Special Grand Jury Prize at the Montreal World Film Festival.

BARBIE HSU as Turquoise

Barbie Hsu began her career as one-half of the Taiwanese girl-band S.O.S. (Sisters of Shu). Her first film was THE GHOST INSIDE (2005) alongside Mainland Chinese star Liu Ye. She then co-starred with Karena Lam, Yosuke Eguchi and in Su Chao-pin’s award-winning SILK (2006). Hsu proved her versatility as an actress with her outstanding performances in CONNECTED (2008), MY SO CALLED LOVE (2008), the zany comedy ON HIS MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (2009) and POLICE COPS (2009). After receiving much critical acclaim for her performance in Benny Chan’s CONNECTED (2008), Hsu was nominated for Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards. She plays assassin Turquoise in REIGN OF ASSASSINS.

SHAWN YUE as Lei Bin

Yue made his cinematic debut in the indie-feature LEAVING SORROWFULLY (2001) and soon established his stardom in JUST ONE LOOK (2002), HIDDEN TRACK (2003) and the popular manga-adapted car racing film INITIAL D (2004), alongside . His performance in INFERNAL AFFAIRS (2002), opposite award-winning actors Tony Leung, Andy Lau, , and Anthony Wong, earned him the leading role in INFERNAL AFFAIRS II (2003). He continued to excel in his later roles playing characters on both sides of the law in actions films including JIANG HU (2004), DRAGON TIGER GATE (2005), INVISIBLE TARGET (2006), PLAYBOY COPS (2007), THE MOSS (2007) and REBELLION (2008). Yue has also appeared in thrillers like DIARY (2006), IN LOVE WITH THE DEAD (2007) and RULE #1 (2007). In 2008, he went on to join the international neo- noir thriller I COME WITH THE RAIN starring opposite Josh Hartnett and Takuya Kimura. His recent projects include CURSE OF THE DESERTED (2010) and CHILD’S EYE (2010). REIGN OF ASSASSINS (2010) is his first period martial arts film.

KELLY LIN as Drizzle

Born in Taiwan in 1975, Lin moved to Santa Barbara, California with her family at the age of 12. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Economics and Comparative Literature.

Hailed by FHM as “Asia’s Sexiest Woman” in 2002, Lin has starred in various Hong Kong films and frequently collaborates with many eminent film directors including , Wai Ka-Fai, and . Her credits include Johnnie To’s (2006) and SPARROW (2008), Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai’s (2007), ’ BOARDING GATE (2007), and TRIANGLE (2007), a collaborative effort by Hong Kong directors Johnnie To, Tsui Hark and . Lin plays the invincible assassin Drizzle in REIGN OF ASSASSINS.

GUO XIAODONG as Tian Qingtong

Majoring in acting, Guo Xiaodong graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1986. He soon began appearing in Chinese television series, establishing himself as a versatile actor, in roles ranging from the comedic to the dramatic. After his cinematic debut in A LOVE OF BLUENESS (2000), he later appeared in (2002), for which he received a Best Actor nomination at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

He was the male lead in the critically acclaimed SUMMER PALACE (2005), which was nominated for the Palm D’or at the Cannes Film Festival, and in art-house favorite Jia Zhangke’s CRY ME A RIVER (2008). Guo has also worked with many renowned Hong Kong directors; he starred in Peter Chan’s THE WARLORDS (2007), Tsui Hark’s THE MISSING (2008), and Yuen Woo-Ping’s TRUE LEGEND (2010).

JIANG YIYAN as Zhang Renfeng

Jiang Yiyan began her career by creating the musical group “Pretty Babies” in 1999. After graduating from the Beijing Film Academy in 2002, she starred in various Chinese television series. Her cinematic debut came in ONE SUMMER WITH YOU (2003). Her second film, TO WHOM SHOULD I OFFER MY FIRST KISS (2007), earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival.

More recently, Jiang played a young girl trapped in Nanjing during the Japanese occupation in Lu Chuan’s highly regarded CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH (2009). This role brought Jiang wide critical acclaim. Subsequently, she was cast as the lead in QIUXI (2009), and starred alongside Alex Fong and Chang Chen in BLUE CORNFLOWER (2010). Jiang also has a successful singing career. She is signed to the Chinese branch of Avex. In 2007, she was named as the up-and-coming celebrity with the most potential by Forbes China.

JOHN WOO – Producer & Co-Director

John Woo’s illustrious career as a filmmaker began in Hong Kong where he spent over two decades at the centre of a thriving film industry, directing over twenty-six feature films. He was known primarily as a comedy specialist until the mid-1980s before creating a series of inspired romantic and violent gangster dramas that broke box-office records.

In 1985, Woo began a partnership directing actor Chow Yun-Fat in the gangster films (1986), A BETTER TOMORROW II (1987), and the comedy caper ONCE A THIEF (1991). Woo’s lush crime thrillers propelled him into global film history books; the most famous include the brilliantly choreographed, character- driven action films THE KILLER (1989), HARD-BOILED (1991) and (1990).

Woo made his US feature film debut with (1992), starring Jean- Claude Van Damme and his first Hollywood hit was BROKEN ARROW (1995), starring John Travolta and . His third Hollywood film FACE/OFF (1997), starring John Travolta and , was praised as a masterpiece by critics around the world.

Together with producer Terence Chang, Woo successfully executive produced the black comedy THE BIG HIT (1998) and REPLACEMENT KILLERS (1998). Woo then directed international superstar Tom Cruise in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II (2000), which grossed over $500 million worldwide. His next film, a WWII movie, WINDTALKERS (2002), reunited him with Nicolas Cage. Then in 2002 Woo helmed the short film THE HOSTAGE for BMW, winning five Clio awards for the project.

Most recently, John Woo and Terence Chang made the must-see, epically scaled, two- part film, RED CLIFF I (2008) and RED CLIFF II (2009), based on the famous epic battle that took place in ancient China in 208 A.D. It became the highest grossing Chinese language film of all time in and Japan.

Woo and Chang named their Los Angeles-based production company, Lion Rock Productions, after a famous mountain in Hong Kong. Winning numerous awards for his films, this innovator of the contemporary language of cinema was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.

Selected filmography:

2010 REIGN OF ASSASSINS 2009 RED CLIFF II 2008 RED CLIFF 2003 PAYCHECK 2002 WINDTALKERS 2000 MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II 1997 FACE/OFF 1996 BROKEN ARROW 1993 HARD TARGET 1992 1991 ONCE A THIEF 1990 BULLET IN THE HEAD 1989 THE KILLER 1987 A BETTER TOMORROW II 1986 A BETTER TOMORROW 1982 PLAIN JANE TO THE RESCUE 1979 LAST HURRAH FOR CHIVALRY 1977 MONEY CRAZY 1977 FROM RICHES TO RAGS 1975 HAND OF DEATH

TERENCE CHANG – Producer

Born in 1949, Terence Chang Chia-tsun has been actively participating in the entertainment world in different capacities, such as producer, executive producer and presenter, for over thirty years. He studied filmmaking at New York University and returned to Hong Kong in 1978 to become a production manager on two Golden Harvest films, ITCHY FINGERS (1978) and GAME OF DEATH II (1981).

He spent two years at Rediffusion Television before joining Johnny Mak Productions in 1981 as a producer, producing LONELY 15 (1982), DRAGON FORCE (1982) and EVERLASTING LOVE (1984), the last of which participated in the Director’s Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival in 1984.

From 1986 to 1988, Chang served as a distribution executive at D&B Films, during which time he launched the careers of actors Brandon Lee and Michelle Yeoh. In 1988, he joined as general manager, and was the production executive on contemporary classics like THE KILLER (1989), SWORDSMAN (1990), SPY GAMES (1988), GUNMEN (1988), A BETTER TOMORROW 3: LOVE AND DEATH IN SAIGON (1989), and II (1990). He successfully marketed each of these films internationally.

In 1990, Chang formed Milestone Pictures with director John Woo, and together they made ONCE A THIEF (1991) and HARD- BOILED (1992). He also became the manager of Asian superstar Chow Yun-fat and world-class author and screenwriter Lilian Lee.

In 1993, Chang co-produced John Woo’s American debut HARD TARGET (1993). One year later, he and Woo formed their first Hollywood company, WCG Entertainment, producing a series of big budget films including BROKEN ARROW (1996), FACE/OFF (1997), THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS (1998), THE BIG HIT (1998), THE CORRUPTOR (1999), ANNA AND THE KING (1999), and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II (2000).

Next, Chang and Woo formed Lion Rock Productions, producing WINDTALKERS (2002) and BULLETPROOF MONK (2003) for MGM, and PAYCHECK (2003) for Paramount. Woo and Chang also produced BLOOD BROTHERS (2007) for Taiwan’s CMC Entertainment, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Furthermore, their Chinese-language epics RED CLIFF (2008) and RED CLIFF II (2009) broke box office records in China, Japan, and .

Selected filmography:

2010 REIGN OF ASSASSINS 2009 MY FAIR GENTLEMAN 2009 RED CLIFF II 2008 RED CLIFF 2007 BLOOD BROTHERS 2003 BULLETPROOF MONK 2003 PAYCHECK 2002 WINDTALKERS 2000 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II 1999 THE CORRUPTOR 1998 REPLACEMENT KILLERS 1997 FACE/OFF 1996 BROKEN ARROW 1992 HARD BOILED 1991 ONCE A THIEF 1984 EVERLASTING LOVE 1982 LONELY FIFTEEN

SU CHAO-PIN – Director and Screenwriter

Born in in 1970, Su Chao-Pin emerged as one of the most promising screenwriters in Taiwan when his first script, THE CABBIE (2000), was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Golden Horse Awards. His success continued when he penned the script for Columbia Picture’s hard-boiled detective thriller DOUBLE VISION (2002), which topped the Taiwanese box office in 2002.

Su always surprises the audience with scripts that feature a unique twist. BETTER THAN SEX (2002), an extraordinary comedy that he both wrote and directed, and TWENTY SOMETHING TAIPEI (2002), co-written with India Cheng, explored the sensitive topics of love and sex from new angles. BETTER THAN SEX was the fourth highest-grossing movie in Taiwan that year. For his segment in THREE (2002), entitled GOING HOME, he was once again nominated for best screenplay at both the Golden Horse Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Su is a master of writing complex, exciting thrillers. Both TUNNELING (2003) and SILK (2005) won Best Original Screenplay Awards from the Government Information Office of Taiwan. SILK, which Su both wrote and directed, won a Golden Horse Award for Best Visual Effects, and was additionally nominated for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Selected filmography:

2010 REIGN OF ASSASSINS - Writer and Director 2005 SILK - Writer and Director 2003 TUNNELING 2002 BETTER THAN SEX - Writer and Director 2002 TWENTY SOMETHING TAIPEI 2002 THREE: GOING HOME 2002 DOUBLE VISION 2000 THE CABBIE 1999 A CHANCE TO DIE

STEPHEN TUNG - Action Director

Known for his extraordinary Northern style kung fu action choreography, Stephen Tung entered the industry when he was still a child. An apprentice of master Madame Fen Juhua, Tung was the action director of over 40 films and is now the preferred action director for many international productions. He worked on THE ACCIDENTAL SPY (2001) starring , Zhang Yimou’s HERO (2002), BULLETPROOF MONK (2003) starring Chow Yun-fat, and Chen Kaige’s THE PROMISE (2005).

He has also worked with Tsui Hark, Wong Kar-Wai, and John Woo on many films, including A BETTER TOMORROW (1986), AS TEARS GO BY (1988), (1991), THE BLADE (1995) and (1996). Most recently, Tung was the action director on the Peter Chan produced BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009). Tung has been nominated for Best Action Direction at the Hong Kong Film Awards ten times and has won three times for his work on DOWNTOWN TORPEDOES (1997), PURPLE STORM (1999) and THE ACCIDENTAL SPY (2001).

HORACE WONG - Director of Photography

Born in 1959, Wong grew up in Hong Kong and has been strongly attached to photography since secondary school. His first encounter with film production happened when he was working in a film equipment rental company. He was later employed as a focus puller in 1981. After working with director Tsui Hark on WORKING CLASS (1986), Tsui recommended Wong to be the director of photography on another important production, John Woo’s A BETTER TOMORROW (1986). The film was a huge box office success and opened the door to his career in cinematography. Behind the camera for more than twenty years, Wong has worked on nearly 50 films, including Johnnie To’s ALL ABOUT AH-LONG (1989), John Woo’s A BETTER TOMORROW II and THE KILLER (1989), Benny Chen’s A MOMENT OF ROMANCE (1990) and Wai Ka-Fai’s PEACE HOTEL (1995).

YANG BAIGUI - Art Director

A graduate of the Chinese Central Academy of Art and Design, veteran art director Yang Baigui has designed for a wide range of television dramas, commercials, and films for over 30 years. He has participated in many highly acclaimed films, providing them with an extra intangible aesthetic quality. Among these films are Chen Kaige’s THE PROMISE (2005), ’s THE BANQUET (2006), John Woo’s RED CLIFF (2007) and Chen Kaige’s FOREVER ENTHRALLED (2008). Currently a top- grade national artist at the China Film Group Creative Artists Center, Yang also worked as the chief designer of various art installations in Beijing and Hong Kong; he is also accomplished in Chinese calligraphy.

EMI WADA - Costume Designer

Born in 1937, Emi Wada is an internationally renowned Japanese costume designer known for her exceptional design and unparalleled artistic sense. For her work on ’s feudal epic RAN (1985), Emi Wada became the first Japanese female designer to receive an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

In 1989, she re-united with Kurosawa, designing the costumes for his psychedelic masterpiece DREAMS (1990). Her design for the opera OEDIPUS REX (1992) directed by Julie Taymor, brought her further recognition and won her an Emmy Award for Best Costume Design in 1993. Ms. Wada worked with Peter Greenaway on PROSPERO’S BOOKS (1991), THE PILLOW BOOK (1995) and 8 1/2 WOMEN (1998). Furthermore, as the costume designer for Ronny Yu’s BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR (1993), Mable Cheung’s THE SOONG SISTERS (1997) and Zhang Yimou’s HERO (2002), she won the Best Costume Design award at the 13th, 17th and 22nd Hong Kong Film Awards. Her exquisite designs appeared in Zhang Yimou’s (2004) earning her nominations for the Best Costume Design award at various international film festivals. She also collaborated with Chinese 5th generation director on THE GO MASTER (2006) and THE WARRIOR AND THE WOLF (2009).

PETER KAM - Composer

After graduating from the Music Department of San Francisco State University, Peter Kam immersed himself deeply into music composition and arrangement at the Dick Grove School of Music. Returning to Hong Kong, he wrote songs for local superstars and composed for films. He won a Golden Horse Award for Best Original Score for his work on PURPLE STORM (1999) and won twice at the Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Original Score with FLY ME TO POLARIS (1999) and LOST IN TIME (2003). His creativity is also recognized and appreciated worldwide. He won the Silver Bear for Best Film Music at Berlin International Film Festival for ISABELLA (2006). His credits include THE AGE OF MIRACLES (1996), SUMMER HOLIDAY (2000), THREE (2002), ONE NITE IN MONGKOK (2004), and PERHAPS, LOVE (2005), winner of the Best Original Score Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards.