Art of Andrew C.C. Huang

Master of His Generation -- China master Zhang Yimou discusses his latest movie “House of Flying Daggers” and the crafts of filmmaking -- By Andrew Huang (This article originally appeared in Taiwan News on December 15, 2004) When I saw Zhang Yimou, he was sitting in a beech chair situated right next to the swimming pool of the Martinez Hotel in Cannes. The brilliant sunlight of the summer French Riviera was brilliant and all-penetrating. The cascade of light poured onto the swimming pool surface and bounced back onto the poolside. In the middle of his long press junket, director Zhang was sitting in his chair, his entire body enveloped by the celestial brilliance of sunglow. The effect is what you would call a cinematic moment --- a cinematic master sitting right in front of you literally radiating light. Zhang is wearing his trademark working-class style outfit – blue shirt over grey T-shirt with olive pants. It seems that despite his decade plus world-class fame, Zhang remains clos...

Jet Li's "Fearless" story 2 Newsweek

Jet Li's "Fearless" story 1 Newsweek

Jet Li is fearless in his own right 2006-02-03 / Taiwan News, Contributing Writer / By Andrew C.C. Huang Anxiety and doubt cast shadows during the pre-production promotion for "Fearless." Jet Li, the kungfu superstar who has moved on to a Hollywood career, has finally returned to Asia to make a film he claims will be his "last kungfu movie." Will it turn out to be a publicity stunt of biblical proportions or a real kungfu classic? Li has claimed that there are few martial arts movies these days that truly convey the spirit of the real kungfu or "wushu." Hence the motive to make this movie as the epitome and "the pinnacle of Jet Li's kungfu movie career." Can any movie live up to this great expectation? Well, the verdict is out -"Fearless" surpasses expectations. "I started the idea of wanting to make this movie two years ago. I discussed it with Bill Kong (the producer of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and was fort...

"Midsummer Night’s Fable" Poem by Andrew C.C. Huang I have a midsummer night’s fable to tell you It started with a dream A fable is a tale in which we human beings project Our utmost desires and fantasies into At a midsummer’s night such as this one The vaulted sky is sprinkled with sparkling starry eyes The smoldering heat propels the body to move While the insouciant breezes carry the mind’s imagination forward We have tumbled and fallen We have stumbled and risen again Now we know the secret of life is to Tumble through these unquenched desires and unchained emotions With remorseless abandon Like this midsummer’s night When we carry our children to this midnight’s garden of desires and fantasies The rising temperature of passion and the sobering coolness of will Might turn our children into full-fledged human beings who could be loved So this is my midsummer night’s fable A fable woven by the fabrics of human desires, disappointment, passion, hatred, and th...

"A Duet by Myself" Poem by Andrew C.C. Huang Tonight, I am lonesome and alone I keep thinking of you You who are far away and yet so close Tonight, I am alone in this dimly lit apartment I simply have to sing a duet by myself A love song duet is sung by two persons in love Since you are not here tonight, I have to raise my voice -- in danger of breaking my voice -- To imitate your soprano voice Then I have to maintain my lower tenor voice, to sing about my yearning for you However, my voice is not the only one that is portraying two roles tonight My hands become substitutes of your love My two hands, dexterous, handle the microphone by turns Singing a duet by myself I raise my rise hand to sing about my longing for you My left hand tells me that the body is the embodiment of love, As if possessed by your soul I hand over the microphone to my left hand My left hand urges me to sing of my unconditional love for you While my right hand caress my forlorn heart, as ...