Zhang Ziyi is Forever Enthralled

Zhang Ziyi sparkles in a cropped belted jacket at the photocall for Forever Enthralled as the 2009 Berlin Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Tuesday (February 10) in Berlin, Germany.

Forever Enthralled is a biopic that follows the life of Mei Lanfang, one of the greatest figures in the history of modern Peking Opera.

The day before, the actress celebrated her 30th birthday and attended the presentation of Shooting Stars at the Berlinale Palast, where nine young European actors and actresses were honored with the award.

Zhang Ziyi said, “Today, I’m very happy to be here to encourage the new generation of actors.”

Berlinale says "happy birthday" to Zhang Ziyi

The ongoing Berlin Film Festival welcomed the arrival of Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi on Monday with wishes for her 30th birthday.

Zhang Ziyi arrived in Berlin on Monday, the day of her 30th birthday, and was invited to present awards at the festival's "Shooting Stars" program the same evening. As the host welcomed Zhang Ziyi onto the stage with "Happy Birthday", the audience gave the star warm applause.

Zhang Ziyi told the audience in English that she was happy to get back to Berlin, where, nine years ago, her big-screen debut "The Road Home" won the Silver Bear award. "Today I'm very happy to be here to encourage the new generation of actors," Zhang said before she handed out awards to this year's "Shooting Stars". Ten young European actors and actresses were honored with the award.

Zhang Ziyi was in Berlin to promote her new film "Forever Enthralled", the only Chinese-language competitor for the festival's top honor, the Golden Bear. The 59th annual Berlin Film Festival runs until February 15.

Stephen Chow - Hollywood kung fu hero

Stephen Chow eyes Hollywood kung fu hero

Hong Kong comedic filmmaker Stephen Chow's Hollywood debut will be a little bit "Kung Fu Panda" and a little bit "Kung Fu Hustle".

Stephen Chow, whose parody-rich "Kung Fu Hustle" was the highest grossing foreign-language film in the U.S. in 2005, will write and direct a Hollywood comedy starring himself and American actor Jack Black, the Oriental Morning Post reported on Tuesday, citing Wei Dasen, a representative from Stephen Chow's company.

Jack Black was the voice of the panda Po in the animation blockbuster "Kung Fu Panda".

In December, Stephen Chow resigned as director and co-star of a Hollywood remake of Bruce Lee's 1966 TV series "The Green Hornet". The movie was supposed to be Stephen Chow's first Hollywood appearance. He told the media the reason for his resignation was he was busy arranging other projects.

Wei from Stephen Chow's company says the actor-director is currently writing the screenplay for the new film. "It will be about a superhero, action-packed, special effects-rich, and of course funny."

American beauty Anne Hathaway is likely to star in the unnamed film, according to Wei.

Chinese media cited sources close to Stephen Chow as saying that the film will be similar in style to "Kung Fu Hustle", which is full of parodies and exaggerations.

Chow joins Jack Black in superhero comedy?

Chinese media is reporting that Stephen Chow is considering writing and directing an unnamed Hollywood action/comedy starring himself and actor Jack Black. This is in addition to reports that Stephen Chow may yet star in a big screen update to THE GREEN HORNET

Black previously voiced the lead character in DreamWorks’ animated martial arts hit KUNG FU PANDA.

This unconfirmed report appeared in the “Oriental Morning Post” and cited Wei Dasen, a representative from Stephen Chow’s company.

Wei is quoted as saying, “It will be about a superhero, action-packed, special effects-rich, and of course funny.”

The newspaper said that sources close to Stephen Chow suggest that the film will be similar in style to his 2004 hit KUNG FU HUSTLE. That film was often liked to a live-action Looney Tunes cartoon.

Actress Ann Hathaway (GET SMART) has been named as a likely female lead.

Even if this news doesn’t pan out it suggests that behind the scenes there is intense effort being made on both sides of the Pacific to figure out some way to plug Stephen Chow into the Hollywood machine.

He has been box office gold in Hong Kong for years and recent hits like SHAOLIN SOCCER and KUNG FU HUSTLE have proven that Stephen Chow’s brand of humor translates well to the Western market.

With Stephen Chow continually being associated with directing a Hollywood movie, it’s more than likely that he is pushing to make sure that he doesn’t fall into the trap that some of his peers have, like Jackie Chan who ended up typecast in flimsy action comedies.

Zhang Ziyi back to work after Spring Festival

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi was spotted shooting a commercial for a famous cosmetics brand in Sydney on January 30, 2009.

Zhang makes up for NYC

IF you stumbled out of a pub in The Rocks yesterday and attempted to flag a yellow New York taxicab, be assured it wasn't the heat or the brew affecting your senses.

The cabs were props for a make-up commercial for US beauty giant, Maybelline, and the star of the commercial was actress Zhang Ziyi, acclaimed for her role in Memoirs of a Geisha.

The Chinese beauty, who also starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, will spend five days filming ads for both TV and print at the Botanic Gardens, Kings Cross and Circular Quay.

She'll then jet back to her New York base.

Ziyi was joined in the campaign by stunning US model Kemp Muhl, who is dating John Lennon's son Sean, as well as Anna Wang.