Dance Of The Dragon to be Filmed entirely in Singapore

Hollywood actor Jason Scott Lee (Dragon – The Bruce Lee Story), Korean heartthrob Jang Hyuk (Windstruck, Volcano High), and Singapore’s A-list artiste Fann Wong (Shanghai Knights) will star in Easternlight Films’ Dance Of The Dragon. The three leads and the film’s director/writer Max Mannix met the media Monday ahead of the start of shooting which starts today for the next seven weeks.

Filmed entirely in Singapore, Dance of The Dragon is a modern day tale of love, passion, courage and hope, with the demanding and visually stunning disciplines of ballroom dancing and martial arts woven into the plot.

Mr Ken Low, Assistant Chief Executive (Brand & Communications), Singapore Tourism Board, said, “The film’s strong storyline and cast set against Singapore’s rich and vibrant landscape is a wonderful way to present our city as the ideal filming destination for the entertainment media. I hope filmmakers will tap on Singapore’s unique and varied locations, world-class infrastructure, excellent production facilities and quality services, all of which are very conducive to meet various filming requirements and needs.”

Dance Of The Dragon featured various settings which in turn required many variations in backdrop – from old world charm to modern city sophistication. Among the locations that audiences worldwide will see in the film are the Singapore River, the former Supreme Court which will be the new National Art Gallery in a few years, the Malay/Arab precinct of Kampong Glam, the lush Singapore Botanic Gardens and Robinson Road in the heart of Singapore’s bustling financial district, Marina Bay area, Raffles Hotel, and Chinatown.

Writer/Director Max Mannix is supported by multi-award winning cinematographer John Radel as Director of Photography, and film industry personality Robin Leong as Executive Producer.

On his vision for the film and his decision to shoot it in Singapore, Mr Mannix said, “The entire cast and crew have exceptionally high expectations of themselves and are committed to producing a truly beautiful film. Singapore has much to offer beyond just a perfect setting against which to tell this heartwarming story. It has a charm and potential not yet fully explored in film.”

Easternlight Films is the Singapore production arm of its partner company, US-based Arclight Films. It specialises in the production, sales, marketing and distribution of films from all regions within Asia, and is devoted to showcasing the best of Asian cinema to an international audience. Tapping on the long established strategic distribution arrangements of Arclight Films as sales agent, every film will have immediate access to the international market place.

In Dance Of The Dragon, Asian American Hollywood actor Jason Scott Lee plays the role of Cheng, a former martial arts champion. His relationship with Emi (played by Fann Wong) is threatened by the arrival of Tae whom Emi mentors in dance. Soon, student and mentor appear to develop feelings for each other, leading to a showdown that will resolve the passionate love triangle. Korean sensation Jung Hyuk plays Tae in his first-ever English-speaking role. Veteran Singaporean thespian Lim Kay Tong (Perth, City Sharks) rounds up the stellar leading cast playing the role of Li Bao, an underworld character.

Dance and martial arts are pivotal to the film’s storyline. Ballroom dancing is Tae’s lifelong dream and through Emi, he can develop this craft. Tae must also face in a martial arts challenge with the loser leaving Singapore – and Emi.

Dance Of The Dragon began an intensive seven-week filming schedule today, and will wrap up on 16 September 2007. It will debut at Cannes in February and is scheduled for international release in the second quarter of 2008. Apart from Singapore, Dance Of The Dragon has already been pre-sold to several foreign markets including Australia, America, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and New Zealand. 

See other recent news regarding: Singapore