Chen Kaige to shoot Mei Lanfang biopic

ANEWfilmdepictingthelifeofPekingoperalegendMeiLanfangwillstartshootinginBeijingandShanghaiinMay,withacclaimeddirectorChenKaigeatthehelm.

ManyoftheimportantscenesinthemoviewillbeshotinareplicaoftheoldJixiangTheater,whichwillbeconstructedinsidetheBeijingFilmStudios.

ManyprominentPekingoperasstars,includingMeiLanfang,YuShuyanandYangXiaolou,performedattheoriginalJixiangTheater,whichwasbuiltin1906.

MeiLanfang'ssonMeiBaojiusayshehadcompiledcomprehensivebiographicalinformationabouthisfatherforthedirector,includingpictures,recordsandarchivalfilmfootage.

TheactortoessaytheroleofMeiLanfanghasnotbeenannouncedyet,althoughChenhasreportedlydiscussedtherolewithTaiwanpopstarWongLee-homandHongKongveteranLeonLai.

MeiLanfangwasthefirstartisttowinwidespreadinternationalrecognitionafterperformingthePekingOperaforoverseasaudiencesinJapan,theUnitedStatesandotherregions.

OverthecourseofMei'scareer,hismostfamousroleswerethoseoffemalecharacters;skillfulportrayalofwomenwonhiminternationalacclaim,andhissmooth,perfectlytimed,poisedstylehascometobeknowninoperacirclesasthe'MeiSchool.'HealsoplayedanimportantpartincontinuingtheperformancetraditionofKunqu,notedparticularlyforhisinterpretationsofDuLiniangin"ThePeonyPavilion"andBaiSuzhenin"LeifengTemple."