Behind the scenes of ‘One Million Star’

On the surface, Stars (星光傳奇), a movie that tracks the fortunes of One Million Star (超級星光大道) pop idol competition contestants, seems nothing short of a commercially calculated attempt to exploit the popularity of a show that took Taiwan’s entertainment industry by surprise last year.

In all fairness, the well-executed documentary, which follows the second season’s hopefuls’ pursuit of fame and fortune, is smooth and pleasant to watch and technically proficient. Glances of the players’ offstage lives save the film from descending into a hollow publicity vehicle — just — and reinforce the plebian fantasy that any Tom, Dick or Harry could be plucked from obscurity and catapulted to fame and fortune.

Second-season champion Yuming Lai (賴銘偉) is portrayed as swinging between the traditional and the contemporary as a rocker, medium and member of a divine dancing Eight Generals (八家將) troupe.

Rachel Liang (梁文音) steals the show as an orphaned Aborigine, as does Gina Li (李千娜), for being a young single mother of two.

By underscoring the importance of dreams, hope, family values and friendship to the show’s appeal, the movie readily positions itself as an auxiliary product of a successful showbiz commodity.

The documentary’s producer, Chan Jen-hsiung (詹仁雄), said the contests’ power to move audiences lies in the honesty and innocence that the young aspiring singers exhibit.

Veteran producer Wang Wei-chung (王偉忠) concludes that the show’s success comes from the contenders’ unreserved displays of emotion.

Unfortunately, the documentary fails to take a more cerebral look at the mechanisms behind the TV program’s popularity and, therefore, leaves the One Million Star phenomenon largely unexplored.

By the final scenes, the seemingly endless group hugs and tears are enough to wear down even the most cynical of viewers. The formula is a winner, even if the film is not.

source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/Behind-the-scenes-of-One-Million-Star-talk528476.html

Top 5 Mandarin Albums (Apr 4-10)

April 4 to April 10
Album chart compiled from G-Music (www.g-music.com.tw), based on retail sales

1 Kenji Wu (吳克群) and Write a Poem for You (為你寫詩) with 4.72 percent of retail sales
2 One Million Star 2 (星光二班) and The Brilliance of One Million Stars (星光燦爛) with 3.32%
3 Eason Chan (陳奕迅) and The First Eleven Years (然後呢1997-2007跨世紀國語精選) with 2.52%
4 Compilation (合輯) and Hip-hop Best (嘻哈寶典) with 1.65%
5 Utada Hikaru (宇多田) and Heart Station with 1.62%

source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/Top-5-Mandarin-Albums-Apr-4-10-talk528472.html

Mother Says Anita Mui Mentally Impaired When She Signed Will

Dying Hong Kong pop icon Anita Mui was suffering from an illness that might have left her mentally impaired when she signed her will, a news report said Thursday. The singer-actress, who died of cervical cancer in 2003 at the age of 40, was diagnosed with an illness of the central nervous system a day after signing her will in hospital.

Mui's mother, Tam Mei-kam, is challenging her daughter's will drawn up less than a month before Mui's death, which left her monthly payments of 70,000 Hong Kong dollars (9,000 US dollars) out of a multimillion-dollar fortune.

The will left two properties to her close friend, designer Eddie Lau, and gave money to nephews, nieces and a Buddhist charity.

Doctors testifying at Wednesday's High Court hearing confirmed Mui was suffering from hepatic encephalopathy and displayed interrupted speech, dizziness and a dull mental state.

One of the doctors, Peter Teo, who witnessed the signing of the will on December 3, 2003, diagnosed her with the illness the following day, the South China Morning Post reported.

However, he said he believed Mui was mentally capable of making a will until she fell into a coma on December 24, six days before her death. The hearing in Hong Kong's High Court continued Thursday.

Mui's mother claimed that her daughter did not have the mental capacity to draw up a will in the days before her death and wants it declared invalid, which would entitle her to the entire estate.

source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/Mother-Says-Anita-Mui-Mentally-Impaired-When-She-Signed-Will-talk528465.html

Nicholas Teo will hold concert at Suntec City on May 31st

（Singapore）Nicholas will bring his concert over to Suntec City after concluding his first ticketed show in Malaysia. "From Now On Live in Singapore" will occur on the 31st of May at Suntec Convention Hall 6 at 8pm.

For the sake of upcoming event, Nicholas has been diligently working out at the gym and demanded himself to be in best shape and offering outstanding performance during the concert. Aside from fine profound dance performances, he does not mind attempting sexy styles to show one's results from tough training. Having a debut concert here, Nicholas will be delivering quite a number of K-songs including 《寂寞邊界》"The Edge of Loneliness"、《痛徹心扉》"Wound in the Heart"、《北極星的眼淚》"Tears of Polaris"、《我真的以為》"I Really Thought" and《錯了再錯》"Mistake After Mistake". It will surely let Nicholas' fans to have an unforgettable musical journey.

Tickets are priced at RM156、RM225、RM295 and RM365. For further information, please dial hotline 02-63485555 or visit website: www.sistic.com.sg。

source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/Nicholas-Teo-will-hold-concert-at-Suntec-City-on-May-31st-talk528430.html

Ariel Lin Willing to Cut Hair For Lover

Ariel Lin's wish of cutting her hair short will come true! A long time ago one after another of advertisements, she would have to keep the long hair look, now accepting the idol drama "Wild Rose 野玫瑰", she can naturally cut it like Yoon Eun Hye or Maki Horikita's cute image.

Ariel is the new favorite of advertisements, each time filming the ads, even though the merchants didn't request it in the contract indicating "can't cut short hair", but there is: "don't do too big of a change." Ariel personally really loves changes in hairstyle, but it's always limited by manager Xiaoyu.

Taking on the filming of new drama "Wild Rose", Ariel's dream is spoken. In the drama she loves a guy too much, but that person actually leaves, so with the pain decides to change herself to become him, with saying another word agrees to take the hair down: "just cut it."

Ariel's earlier preferred artist worker, seems to be far from any action, family and relatives are also not giving up on introducing her potentials, sometimes it would be during family gatherings, they'll bring to her to "matchmake". But those that know Ariel well know that the type she likes is the muscular Daniel Wu, all of the guys her relatives bring are all too honest, will never have sparks.

source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/Ariel-Lin-Willing-to-Cut-Hair-For-Lover-talk528402.html

TKA Rumoured Drama Become Real ~ Jiro & Rui Sha Over?

Jiro Wang rumoured to have good feelings for Ukraine beauty Rui Sha(Larisa) after filming, Rui Sha yesterday didn't respond, but she emphasized that Jiro is really smart, warm, is the type she likes, idol drama "They Kiss Again" work crew also privately disclosed: "of course there's something, but hearing it already ended." But Jiro's manager Chenhuiying says: "chaotic saying (bullshit)!"

Jiro and Rui Sha are close, they've been rumoured quite a while, people in the industry have said it's because of the drama promotions, but there's also wind saying Jiro actually likes Rui Sha, but because of the pressure stress from the company, at then end it was gone.

Rui Sha's posture, figure is excellent, lately she's become popular, many brands and functions have been knocking at her door, never thought yesterday it was disclosed that she had once married 4 years ago, it lasted 3 months and it ended. Yesterday she said to the reporters, after reading the report she cried sadly becuase this marriage relationship was very short lived, something she really doesn't want others to know about.

But once the topic changed to Jiro, Rui Sha couldn't help but smile, she first started speaking in a circle (taichi) about Jiro as a friend, and are lovers in the drama, but once the reporters said: "Didn't you go to his home?" She said: "Aiyo, he is frugal...but I can't say bad things about him la, he won't be happy."

Rui Sha admits she is a person that can focus in a relationship very easily, if the other person is bit more romantic; then it'll get her heart. But she says again" "can we continue dating, I am picky about guys." Including the person must love her enough, smart, considerate, respectful, warm, can't be jealous for no reason, and have to care for her father and mother, if Jiro wants to win the girl, he has to meet all these criterias.

Fahrenheit earlier with double the payment fees renewed a beverage contract, the four good looking guys when to Kenting to film the ad, enjoying the sunshine, beach, but the four always concerned of their hair style, even riding a bike they didn't forget to protect their hair, went all out spraying hair spray, but once they saw the swimming pool; the four all sunned out, immediately jumped into the water for a water fight long forgetting their hair style problem.

Filming the ad for 4 days in Kenting, Fahrenheit totally released themselves, and they even competed to see who's kite can fly higher. At the end because Jiro ran too quickly passing by Calvin, the Kite's line cut over Calvin's ear; leaving a scar, to play Aaron also held back the old knee pain to run back and forth on the beach.

But the most memorable to Fahrenheit was the ever amazing broad vast communication of fans watching for 24hours, causing them not only to just work, but almost being locked up in their room only. This time the fans not only supervised them the whole time, even staying at the room that is adjacent to Fahrenheit's room, knocking the door each day, "watching fort" surveillance of Fahrenheit's every move, causing Fahrenheit to only be able to look at the sea and sigh.

source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/TKA-Rumoured-Drama-Become-Real-Jiro-and-Rui-Sha-Over--talk528357.html

100-Day Olympic Countdown Theme Song Released

Bai Yansong (L), renowned host with Beijing-based China Central Television, and Taiwan entertainer Lin Chi-ling together host the release party for "Beijing Welcomes You," a song celebrating the 100-day countdown to the Beijing Olympic Games, April 17, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

The theme song for the 100-day countdown to the Beijing Olympic Games was released on Thursday.

With lyrics by Hong Kong's Lam Jik and music by Xiao Ke of the Chinese mainland, the song titled "Beijing Welcomes You" is expected to be a successful follow-up to the theme song for the one-year countdown celebration.

"We are ready," said Zhao Dongming, director of the cultural activities department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympics (BOCOG).

According to Zhao, more than 100 entertainers including Jackie Chan lent their voices for the studio recording of the song.

Beijing plans to hold a spectacular gala to mark the 100-day countdown on April 30 and more than 10,000 local citizens are expected to take part in a marathon on the day.

source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/100-Day-Olympic-Countdown-Theme-Song-Released-talk528352.html