Access Newsbits! [Week of Mar 14]

Artistes Featured This Week:
A-Mei, AK, Alice Tzeng, Amber An, Andy Lau, Annie Yi, Aska Yang, Baron Chen, Bianca Bai, Blackie Charles Chen, Blue Lan, Chang Fei, Charlene Choi, Cheer Chen, Chen Zi Han, Circus, Coco Lee, David Chao, Devin Wu, Dylan Kuo, Ella Chen, Ethan Ruan, Fan Fan, Faye Wong, F.I.R, Harlem Yu, He Shou Cheng, Hoshino Aki, Hu Gua, Hu Jia Ai, Huang Guo Lun, Hung Yi Feng, Jackie Chan, James Wen, Jay Chou, Jaycee, Jerry Yan, Jiro Wang, Jocelyn Wang, Kingone Wang, Lene Lai, Li Jing, Makiyo, Mark Chao, Meia Fu, Niu Er, Rainie Yan, Ronald Cheung, S.H.E, Sharon Li, Show Luo, Sonia Sui, Stanley Huang, Sukie Chung, Terri Kwan, Tiffany Hsu, Viter Fan, Vivian Hsu, Weng Li You, Wu Bai, Wynners, Yao Yao, Yuming Li, Zhu Ge Liang

Van Ness becomes producer for new drama

Despite the drug scandal from earlier, Van Ness Wu’s Smash and Grab production company has taken up the new PTS drama project to film the upcoming 6-episode idol drama, “那年，雨不停國” (lit. That year, rain does not stop the nation), where the story takes place after Typhoon Morakot.

The drama was not a project proposed to PTS by Smash and Grab Productions, but rather, it was PTS who had already completed the script and was very interested in having Director Chen Hui-Ling to film it. Director Chen was still busy filming “Autumn’s Concerto” at the time of PTS' invitation, but Van Ness fell in love with the script after reading it, so Director Chen later helped materialize the collaboration between PTS and Smash and Grab Productions. It’s estimated that the production fee would cost around one million dollars (NT) per episode and it is expected to start broadcasting on May 15.

Media were allowed to visit the set of the drama yesterday and Director Chen joked that it feels like “payback time” from Van Ness Wu. She explained that because she was too harsh on Van Ness when he was acting, and now he is her boss, controlling quality and budget of her new drama.

Van Ness admits that the details of the project are mostly handled by his partner Jimmy Hung, while he focuses on acting as a special guest star in the drama. Van Ness plays a therapist who is responsible for helping youths in post-traumatic recovery. Besides have long lines of dialogue, Van Ness reveals that the word “死” (“Si”, die) gives him the most headaches as he can never pronounce it right.

The theme for the drama is exactly what Golden Bell Awards loves, so there is a possibility that it may go head to head with “Autumn’s Concerto” this year. Van Ness comments that regardless of which drama gets a nomination or award, it’s all good. If the new drama is well received, it will make him a proud producer. The drama is also filled with talented actors such as Ding Qiang, Ke Shu Qin, and Liu Rui Qi. Van Ness expresses that it’s a very meaningful project as it talks about the post-traumatic recovery of youths, and he hopes that the script can be a form of showing support to those affected by Typhoon Morakot.


Source: UDN

The Kings and Queens of songs: who decides them anyway?

The Kings, Queens, Goddesses, Divas, and other absurd titles are attached to almost every celeb. Who named them? Who agreed to them? Record companies admit that these titles used to be given by the audience, but nowadays, the titles are more or less serving as a “goal” or “ambition” of the artist.

Janine Chang hopes Mike He gets a tan for their new drama

Janine Chang attended an event to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the Neutrogena Fine Fairness mask as their spokesperson yesterday. She sang a short verse of Happy Birthday but the harmonies were so loud that her voice couldn’t be heard. She admitted, “Even acting won’t be this intense.”

Janine Chang will collaborate with Mike He in April.

Janine Chang also said she was born with dark-toned skin, so she needs to use everything from whitening concentrate, enzyme, collagen, apples to homemade soups to achieve her fairness. She revealed that people would call her “In-depth Black” after getting a tan from filming in Kenting.

She will next collaborate with Mike He on the drama (roughly translates to) Happiness on the Most Sunny Day in April. She said she admires Mike He’s never-aging face, but she asked him to get a tan because she is worried that his skin is even lighter than hers. There is no need for concern because, as reporters at the event informed her, Mike He’s fairness is achieved by make-up.

Source: AppledailyTW, Chinatimes

Crowd Lu pampers his skin with toner and lotion

Golden Melody Best Newcomer Crowd Lu can’t stop the endorsement offers from coming. Following his mineral water and convenience store commercials, Crowd’s latest is to promote a line of acne care cosmetics. He revealed that after releasing his first album, he started to apply toner and lotion, “(I) feel a sense of achievement when my skin improves, (I) feel girly saying this!”

The brand Ettusais selected Crowd Lu as their spokesperson because of his affinity. He said he was the “Prince of Pimples” in high school, and often compared with classmates to see who has more. He wasn’t worried about his pimple-face back then since he didn’t have a girlfriend. Crowd only learned about skincare after his debut. He said he did it by experimenting as he didn’t have any mentors, “I’d just do it carelessly! Like putting on lotion when my skin cracks, and apply toner after the shower.”

There are many pretty girls among his fans, but Crowd said he is afraid to pursue any of them, “If I look into the eyes of my fans, my brain would go blank and forget all my lyrics. It happened a few times before, so (I) dare not to look down the stage, and never thought about finding a girlfriend within my fans.” However, a male fan shouted out “I love you” to him at the event. Crowd was shocked and said, “My legs weakened a bit”!

MSN icons from Ettusais

Here is his mineral water commercial


Source: Chinatimes, Libertytimes, counterheart's Channel, ettusais.com.tw

KKBOX's Weekly Mandopop Music Chart - 2010 March Week 4

1. (--) A-Lin - 現在我很幸福 (I'm Very Happy Now)
Genre: Pop Ballad

Album: Before, After
Watch: MV
Comment: One of the more unique sounding songs from A-Lin’s latest album, the sound mixes haunting harp-like strings with light electrical guitar interludes, before a fuller band cues in later in the song. All this playing background to the rich vocals of A-Lin. Truly an unique, yet beautiful, song.

2. (--) Tiger Huang 黃小琥 - 沒那麼簡單 (Not That Simple)
Genre: R&B Ballad

Album: Simple / Not Simple
Watch: MV
Comment: Veteran pub singer Tiger Huang releases a brand new album, “Simple / Not Simple,” after becoming popular as a judge on the hit singing competition show, “Million Star.” In contrast to her poisonous tongue image on the competition show, Tiger Huang softens her image with a new wig and demonstrates her powerful vocal in this soothing love ballad, “Not That Simple.”

3. (+10) S.H.E - SHERO
Genre: Pop

Album: SHERO
Watch: MV
Comment: S.H.E’s newest single, “SHERO,” debuts at number 13 on the chart. “SHERO” repeats the feminist theme that has been apparent in S.H.E’s previous albums. S.H.E enriches the pop-rock song with their harmonized vocals.

4. (-1) Show Luo 羅志祥 - 愛不單行 (Love Doesn’t Travel Alone)
Genre: Pop Ballad

Album: Rashomon
Watch: MV
Comment: Show Luo may be known as the dance king to many Mandopop fans, but his "Love Doesn’t Travel Alone" proves that he has fans that adore his ballads as well. The song has become widely popular as the insert song to the hit drama, "Hi! My Sweetheart," which also stars this hearthrob singer.

5. (-1) Rainie Yang 楊丞琳 - 雨愛 (Rainie Love)
Genre: Pop Ballad

Album: Rainie Love
Watch: MV
Comment: Following the success of “Take Me Away” in her previous album, Rainie Yang presents us with yet another drama ending theme song, “Rainie Love” (Hi! My Sweetheart). This debut song is also her debut track and most well-known from her latest album.

ELVA and S.H.E show their support for A-Mei

A-Mei returned to the Taipei Arena last night as Amit for her second show. She went all out and even needed two cans of oxygen in order to keep going. The organizers were fined NT$100,000 for going over time on the first show, which didn’t finish until 11:26 pm. She kneeled down on stage and bowed to her fans numerous times to show her gratitude.

The excitement of the fans kept the temperature and carbon dioxide at a high level throughout the show. A-Mei described, “After the fast songs segment, it felt like a heat wave was coming towards me from the audience.” She was suffocating at times and looked for canned oxygen for some relieve. The staff prepared 20 cans of oxygen for the second night. She used up 2 cans during the show and her legs were cramping after leaving the stage.

Hangeng to be Superboy's spokesperson

Hangeng, the leader of the hugely popular boy group, Super Junior-M (SJ-M) and member of Korean group Super Junior, is currently in a lawsuit to end his contract with his management company, SM.

Many rumors regarding Hangeng’s next move have surfaced. Rednet, Sina, and other media recently reported that an online blogger revealed that Hangeng had already signed on with eeMedia to form a new idol group called, “SD5 Xing Tang” (SD5行堂). However, both parties have denied such news right after, which suggests that the SD5 Xing Tang rumor was most likely a marketing ploy.  Furthermore, Hangeng worries that such rumors would affect him negatively regarding the lawsuit. Insider news revealed that Hangeng will actually become the next spokesperson for Hunan TV’s Superboy. The production team indicated that they have contacted Hangeng and commented, “Compared to 2007’s spokesperson, Li Yun Di, Hangeng’s image feels even friendlier and closer to the audience. Thus, he is very likely to become the spokesperson. (I) Hope we can work together this time.” As for the spokesperson price, the production team said, “It’s definitely with a ‘friends’ discount.”

After Hunan got the approval for Superboy, they announced that they will be scouting talents from abroad as well. On March 16, Hunan’s representative, Li Hao expressed that the details for the show is still in discussion and a press conference will be held at the end of the month to announce the outcome. The team’s main goal is to “strive for creativity and breakthroughs.”

With all this being said, nothing has been confirmed from Hangeng's end.


Source: Chinatimes

Peter Ho's robot pic attracts many

Just yesterday, Peter Ho, with the title “Restricted horror pics,” posted a picture of himself morphed into a robot on his blog. In just two days, there are already a hundred and forty thousand hits on the page, and even someone with the name, “Dee Hsu” left a comment. But Peter laughed, “Oh, she’s not Xiao S.” Peter revealed on his blog that the photo was designed by fellow actor, Andrew Lien. He further explained that even though the audience mostly only knows Andrew as an actor, Andrew has worked and is working as a special makeup effects artist in Hollywood.

Peter explained that the reason he wanted to create this robot photo was because when he was 17, he was injured while playing basketball, causing six vertebrae to shift. In addition, during the filming of the TV version, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, he got frostbites on five of his toes, and he even broke his nose when filming The Legend of Hero. He feels that he is still able to continue acting in movies and dramas because he is actually a robot wrapped in human skin.


Source: UDN, herundong@sina

Director Niu hopes to cast Zhou Xun in next movie

Monga, directed by Niu Cheng Ze, starring Ethan Ruan and Mark Chao, is closing in on three-hundred million in box office. Director Niu received fifty-million from GIO (Government Information Office) as a bonus from Monga, which he plans to use for his next project. Yesterday on a variety show, Director Niu revealed that he has already started brainstorming for the script, “(I) want to film a big city love story because there are actors that I want to work with from Beijing, like Zhou Xun. Hopefully, it can be a story that takes place in both Taipei and Beijing, portraying their lifestyles, as well as expressing my views on love.”

Besides naming the A-lister and Golden Horse Best Actress Zhou Xun as someone that he wants to work with, he also would like to work with fellow buddies in Monga again. He said, “Like Ethan Ruan and Mark Chao, I will continue working with them for a long period of time.” In regards to Director Niu’s invitation, Zhou Xun’s manager Huang Feng responded, “Zhou Xun and Niu Cheng Ze are good friends, so she’s definitely interested in working with him.” According to various sources, Zhou Xun’s movie price in Mainland China is a hefty sum of four-million RMB (18.5 million TWD), but Huang Feng did not confirm this.

Director Niu may be planning a love story between Ethan and Zhou Xun on his next project.

Source: Appledaily