Feng Xiaogang's Assembly - The cast and crew

War feasts upon death. Its greedy appetite carries away many a life on the battlefield, and soldiers must be ready to die at any time. Yet all these sacrifices can be given meaning and reason with honor. Directed by Feng Xiaogang, Assembly is released in UK cinemas on 7th March 2008 and on DVD on 21st April 2008.

THE CAST

Zhang Hanyu as Guzidi

Zhang Hanyu graduated from the Performing Department of the Central Academy of Drama in 1998. Prior to 1995 he participated in the translation and dubbing of several films, including The Silence of the Lambs, Saving Private Ryan, Con Air, Face/Off, Lord of the Rings and Troy. Zhang went on to star in many popular TV dramas and became well known among the Chinese audience. These performances attracted director Feng Xiaogang’s attention and he started working as supporting actor in many of Feng’s films. He rose to prominence playing a cop in A World without Thieves in 2004, through which he established himself as a “tough guy” on screen. Assembly is the first of Feng’s films that Zhang has starred in as the leading actor.

Deng Chao as Zhao Erdou

A graduate from the Central Academy of Drama, Deng Chao is a rising TV and movie star in Mainland China. He attained stardom after the TV drama The Young Shunzhi Emperor. His later works, Happy Like a Flower and The Young Kangxi Emperor, received top ratings, and critics have praised him as the up and coming star of the new generation of actors. Deng is good-looking and versatile, with the ability to accommodate his physical attributes to his acting skills. He possesses a constant desire to re-invent himself as an actor.

Yuen Wenkang as Wang Jincun

In 1999 Yuen Wenkang made his TV debut in The Anchorwoman and starred in dozens of TV dramas afterwards. He became well known among the audience. Yuen does not lend a lot of importance to his newly attained fame but he hopes his performance is appreciated. Playing Wang Jincun in Assembly was a challenge that Yuen enjoyed.

Tang Yan as Sun Guiqin

Tang Yan graduated from the Central Academy of Drama. Compared to her fellow actors in the cast, Tang Yan is a newcomer. But her inexperience and otherworldly demeanor suits her portrayal of a simple woman like Sun Guiqin. Tang’s performance not only brightens this film dominated by male characters but adds a touch of warmth to the dark and gloomy tone.

Liao Fan as Jiao Dapeng

Liao Fan graduated from Shanghai Theater Academy. With his tall and lean body and a wide range of talent, Liao’s face is often sighted in feature films, TV drama and theatrical pieces. He established himself as a TV idol after Keep Loving. He starred in Symphony of Rain and I Want to Be in Love, both critically acclaimed. In 2006 he outshone many of the cast in Curiosity Kills the Cat. Additionally, he has enjoyed great reviews in avant-garde theaters. His latest challenge, the lively Jiao Dapeng in Assembly, is a character worth paying attention to.

Wang Baoqiang as Jiang Maocai

Wang Baoqiang is the only actor in the main cast of Assembly who never received any proper acting training. He started learning martial arts at the age of six. When he was eight, he became a student at the Shaolin Temple in Mount Song and stayed there for six years. Due to his talent in Kung Fu, he began landing stunt and extra gigs in Beijing. At the age of 16, Wang was chosen by director Li Yang to star in his film Blind Shaft which won him Best Newcomer at the Golden Horse Awards. In 2004 Feng Xiaogang selected him to play Sha Gen in A World Without Thieves. The Chinese audience enjoyed his performance very much and he quickly became popular in the film industry. Having grown up in a peasant family, Wang rose to stardom through his natural talent and diligent hard work. Assembly is yet another breakthrough for him.

THE CREW

Director: Feng Xiaogang

Born in 1958, Feng Xiaogang developed a passion for painting and literature from early on in his youth. After graduating from high school, he entered the Beijing Cultural Military group and choreographed its dance performance. Starting in 1985, he taught art design at the Beijing Television Art Center, and served as a production designer for influential movies of that period such as Da Lin Mang and Good Man Good Woman.

He took his first writing step by collaborating on Unexpected Passion with Zhen Xiaolong. Directed by Xia Gang, the film won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Script along with four other awards. His next writing collaboration with Chinese author Wang Shuo produced the hugely popular Television Series A Newsroom Story and made his name.

In 1992, he once again collaborated with Zhen Xiaolong on After Separation which was awarded the Golden Rooster for Best Fiction Film and Best Script on top of seven other awards. 1994 marked his breakthrough in direction with the TV drama Gone Forever with My Love, an exploration of Chinese contemporary city life. In 1997, he directed the TV series The Other Face of the Moon, and his feature film directorial debut, The Dream Factory, was an immediate box-office hit. He continued to write box-office records with his second and third film, Be There or Be Square and Sorry Baby, and his seminal work, Sigh, made even larger ripples among critics and the general audience.

His recent works, Big Shot’s Funeral, Cell Phone and A World Without Thieves, The Banquet, have broke Chinese box-office records, making him the No. 1 grossing director in the country.

Screenwriter: Liu Heng

Liu Heng is a famous author. He is the Chairman of the Beijing Author Association and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Author Association. He wrote many novellas and novels and has published an “Anthology of Liu Heng.” In addition, Liu Heng is an accomplished screenwriter. His works include Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern and The Story of Qui Ju for director Zhang Yimou. He served as Chief Director for the popular TV Drama The Young Emperor in 2003.

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

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