"Strawberry Cliff" Makes Its Premiere at PIFF

After more than two years since this blog posted news about Strawberry Cliff, the film (finally) made its world premiere at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival on October 8, 2010.

Program Note
Kate has a special talent. She can foresee exactly when others are going to die just by looking at their faces. One day, she meets a young man named Jason and informs him of his time of death and that he will be able to tell her about life after death. Jason promises he will send messages to her from beyond-if that is even possible, of course. At the time of his predicted death, Jason is mysteriously killed. Kate then receives a call from someone who claims to be Jason and a flight ticket to Hong Kong, where she discovers the painful truth about love, life, and death.

Director Chris Chow was born in China and raised in Hong Kong and learned filmmaking in the United States. As if to reflect his own cross-border experiences, Chow mixed Eastern and Western ideas together to unravel the mysterious story involving prediction and death in an intriguing, yet serious, way.

Director
Chris CHOW
Born in China and raised in Hong Kong, writer Chris Chow is a graduate of USC. As well as a screenwriter, Chow is a playwright and has directed several short films, two of which are award-winners. His credits as writer include Blood: The Last Vampire (2009) and Fearless (2006). Strawberry Cliff is his feature directorial debut.

Credits
Director: Chris CHOW
Producer: LU Cien-hioe, LEE Chi-ngai, Mathew TANG
Cast: Eason CHAN, Roy WERNER, Anthony CHAPUT, Leslie-Anne HUFF
Screenwriter: Chris CHOW
Cinematography: YOSHIDA Teruhisa
Art Director: NAKANISHI Rika
Editor: Daniel MARTINICO
Sound: Michael BAIRD
Music: YAMAMOTO Youki
Production Company: Mega Ascent Ltd.

Source: piff 2010 10.08.2010

Also noted at the PIFF were 2 other films in which Eason starred, Lover's Discourse (which also made its world premiere) and Dream Home.

Chris Chow Rejects Filming "Strawberry Cliff" Without Eason

Two nights ago, Eason Chan, Eric Tsang, Gigi Leung, Karena Lam, Andy Hui and others attended the 2008 Hong Kong Film Development Council Christmas Reception where the Hong Kong Film New Action plan was revealed. Eight films would receive funding under the plan.

During the reception, Eason revealed that he did not intend on filming the full English language film Strawberry Cliff (贖命), but director Chris Chow (周隼) informed him if he doesn't participate they will cancel their request for funds. Eason says, "I was shocked, so I accepted, but the entire film was in English which was a challenge." The film eventually received $3 million HKD in funding.

Eason further reveals that he worked with actress Leslie-Anne Huff and his scenes were filmed in Hong Kong, saying, "In all the times I've filmed in Hong Kong, this was my first time experiencing a Hollywood-like feel. This is because they set 8 hours to film and they will film in 8 hours, unlike the typical Hong Kong film where the pace is extremely fast, just like if we were illegal street vendors running from the police (jau gwai 走鬼)."

Sources: the sun & mingpao 12.05.2008

Upcoming Film: "Strawberry Cliff" - On-Set Photos

Eason & Leslie-Anne having fun after a serious shoot

Eason & Leslie-Anne have fun after working hard

Caught sleeping (Eason, right)

Eason caught sleeping

Eason, Chris Chow (Director), Leslie-Anne Huff

Film Information:
Strawberry Cliff
Non-Union Feature Film
Producer: Lu Cien Hioe
Director: Chris Chow
Casting Directors: Donald Paul Pemrick / Dean E. Fronk
Casting Assistant: Eddie Jaszek
Start Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Los Angeles / Hong Kong

Synopsis:
Kate has a gift: she can tell when people will die just by looking at them. A phone call from "the Afterlife" sets her off on a journey to Hong Kong, where she encounters Darren, a bartender who suffers from an "incomplete soul". Together, they embark on an adventure that leads to the most unexpected truth about life, death and love.

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As reported earlier (here & here) Eason Chan films his first Western film titled Strawberry Cliff.

The photos above are from the blog of the actress Leslie-Anne Huff. Visit her blog for info from the film set in Los Angeles (posts on June 16 & 23) and her latest experiences filming in Hong Kong (posts July 2-17). Lots of her personal insights and photos are posted.

Sources: aarising 05.13.2008 & leslie-anne huff's blog 07.17.2008

Eason Gets Beat Up...In New Film

Eason Chan, who recently accepting filming for a Western film, was in Central District filming a scene where he gets beat up by a number of men in a back alley. Due to a number of on-lookers passing by blocking the lights and Eason and the other actors not being able to hold in their laughter there were many NGs and the filming of that one scene took an hour.

Source: oriental daily & the sun 07.18.2008

Eason Chan Films New Western Film

Having filmed a number of Hong Kong productions in his career, Eason Chan will finally get a chance to film a Western film, to our knowledge Success Film Production (安樂電影公司) will take part in the production of this film. Two nights ago, Eason and a foreign actress were in Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong shooting an outdoor scene.

Two nights ago, Eason and a foreign actress were in Lan Kwai Fong shooting a scene where the two are standing by the stairs talking heart to heart. Before they were ready to shoot, Eason was constantly talking to the actress and the two were seen laughing and smiling. After shooting the scene, Eason was seen getting into his car and leaving.

Sources: appledaily & qq 07.15.2008