'Memoirs of a Geisha' finishes filming
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-02 09:14

The newly revealed poster of the film "Memoirs of a Geisha" [sohu]

Led by director Rob Marshall, a galaxy of Asian stars, including Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh and Japan's Ken Watanabe, attended a press conference in Tokyo on Monday, to mark the completion of filming for Memoirs of a Geisha, a much anticipated cooperation between Asian and Hollywood filmmakers.

Zhang Ziyi, who had the leading role in Geisha, was absent from the conference because she was shooting a commercial in Romania.

Chinese quality actress Gong Li smiles at cameras at the news conference marking the completion of of filming for Memoirs of a Geisha. Zhang Ziyi was absent for personal reasons. [sohu]

Directed by Chicago filmmaker Marshall and co-produced by Hollywood tycoon Steven Spielburg, the film is due out later this year.

Spielberg appeared via a video message at the news conference to congratulate the end of shooting the film.

Based on the U.S. best-seller of the same name, Geisha is set in 1920s Japan and tells the story of geisha Sayuri Nitta, played by Zhang Ziyi, and her love of a rich man, played by veteran Watanabe.

Watanabe said in an interview with Fuji TV that all film crew members, including Marshall, were crying and emptied two full tissue boxes after shooting the last scene.

Although the last scenes were filmed in Japan, most of the shooting was done in Los Angeles.

Watanabe was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor in 2003's The Last Samurai, which starred Tom Cruise. Zhang starred in the Oscar-winning movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Close

Casts promote 'Seoul Raiders' in Beijing Li Bingbing 'Beyond' puts on farewell concerts

Today's Top News     Top Life News
China shares snap six-day losing streak, up 5.35%         Meningitis outbreak 'Controllable'         All eyes on China at G7 meeting in London         IPR disputes highlight absence of law         Was 'abducted' US soldier in Iraq a toy?         Pope hospitalized for breathing problems	Will Lang Ping coach America to play China?       210,000 ideas for Beijing Olympic slogan       Boyfriend arrested for body-carving freak       'Memoirs of a Geisha' finishes filming       Dialects making way for putonghua       Picasso in profusion