Feng Xiaogang's Assembly - The production

Feng Xiaogang was ushered into the spotlight by Dream Factory, Be There or Be Square and Sorry Baby, all of which were big hits during the Chinese New Year movie season. Since 1997, Feng’s work, including A World Without Thieves and The Banquet, has constantly topped the box-office and even surpassed major Western imports. Despite being the most bankable director in China, Feng never stops improving himself artistically. He now not only enjoys commercial success, but is also a well known movie icon.

After the box-office triumph of The Banquet in 2006, Feng Xiaogang now extends his talent to commercial war films. In Assembly, Feng proves yet again his adeptness at painting the endearing common man. The film tells the legendary story of an ordinary, brave and stubborn soul trying to fight his way out of a war both internal and external.

Assembly is adapted from the short story Guan Si (Lawsuit) written by Yang Jingyuan. It was on the news that Yang first heard the story of the perils of a man determined to locate his dead compatriots. Yang was deeply touched and inspired to write Guan Si.

“Zhang Guoli (Sigh, Cell Phone) recommended this story to me two years ago,” Feng remembers. “The original story was very short and the storyline was quite simple. A commander named Guzidi received an order to go on a sniping mission that lasted four hours, and he was the only one who survived. But after the war, the brave sacrifice of his men was not recognized. So the surviving commander devoted himself to finding the bodies of his men and restoring their honor. I was really touched by the story and this particular character.” Luckily, Wang Zhongjun, Managing Director of Huayi Brothers, shared the same feeling.

“The original story had only three pages,” producer Wang Zhongjun recalls, “but Feng Xiaogang thought we could make a great movie out of it. He told me his ideas and I immediately felt that we would have a hit. I have never spent so much time working on a script, and I am still amazed by some of the plots.”

Executive Producer Chen Kuofu has vivid memories of Assembly’s birth, “Feng Xiaogang was very enthusiastic about this subject. The minute I decided this project would work, he immediately called Liu Heng and asked if he could write the script. When he sees an opportunity he jumps on it, and his passion enables him to make great films.”

Liu Heng was acclaimed for his writing of Ju Dou, The Story of Qui Ju, Raise the Red Lantern, Breaking the Silence. He has won numerous awards. It did not take him long to decide to write Assembly. “I was having dinner with a friend when Feng Xiaogang called. He spent half an hour telling me about this story. Feng’s enthusiasm and the emotional depth of the story caught my attention. I felt an instant urge to write this film,” he recalls.

Feng Xiaogang and Huayi Brothers set out searching for a professional partner worthy of the new-born project. Feng had admired the film Taeguki (Brotherhood) for a long time and decided to invite its special effects team to join the Assembly’s crew. Executive producer Lee Ji Yun from MK Pictures played a key role in the collaboration between China and Korea. In May 2006, Lee and the CEO of MK Pictures met with Feng and Huayi Brothers Pictures in Beijing and decided upon the alliance. Lee says, “We decided to do it because of Feng Xiaogang. He is a reputable director in Asia. Also, we enjoyed the script a lot. Everyone who read it was genuinely touched. So we had great expectations for this project and we wanted to work with Huayi Brothers and Director Feng to make it a brilliant film.”

Soon Feng Xiaogang had finalized the main list of production crew members. Wang Danrong, one of the most skilled sound engineers in China, was brought in to work with the top Korean sound specialist Kim Suk-won. Experienced editor Liu Miaomiao came back to work with Feng again after The Banquet. Music director Wang Liguang had also worked with Feng before. His well-known work in A World Without Thieves had been a favorite among the movie’s audience. In the meantime, detailed preparations for the production had started, these included location selections, special effects arrangements, costumes and props’ production. A lot of emphasis was put on the war scenes, making them as impactful and true to life as possible.

A strong production team had come together and the shooting began right after an Assembly call was sounded. Producer Wang Zhonglei was overjoyed because the film united the best and the most productive filmmakers around the globe. Backed by a solid script, an experienced team and an ample production budget, Assembly was on the right track to becoming a brilliant war epic.

Assembly is released in UK cinemas on 7th March 2008 and on DVD on 21st April 2008.

assemblyfilm.com