Thanks Nina!
Chinese Evening News, xmwb.xinmin, has a post up about Keanu Reeves. We learn some new info from the post. No copyright infringement is intended with the translation.
Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves, who directed and starred in Man of Tai Chi along with Chen Hu, Karen Mok, Simon Yam, brought the film to the 3rd Beijing International Film Festival. He reports that is is currently working on post-production to ready the film for its upcoming summer release in China.
Fifteen years ago, the world had the opportunity to get to know the martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping and martial arts teacher from the Matrix. Fifteen years later the three men worked together again on the action film Man of Tai Chi. Woo-ping worked on the action sequences, Keanu ated and directed the film and Chen Hu moved from behind the scenes to the forefront to play the lead role in the film.
The entire film was shot in China and Hong Kong to capture the strong atmosphere of China. Keanu Reeves said, “he felt quite honored and is 1/8th Chinese. this film fulfilled his dream of making a Chinese kung-fu movie. He also revealed that everyone in the studio affectionately calls him ‘the talk of the town’. When he revealed his nickname, there was a burst of applause from the audience. ‘The talk of the town’ also said that he likes spicy food, his favorite being Sichuan, dumplings, and he likes to drink liquor.
the MOTC trailer shows different styles of martial arts. Keanu Reeves said, “The film reflects the life of Mr. Chen Hu. On the one hand, he is a traditional man and on the other hand, he is a modern man.” Ye Qing revealed that Keanu Reeves play a demon in the film and “Chen Hu hovers between angels and demons.”
The entire article is here.
Note: I’d venture a guess that the nickname ‘the talk of the town’ originated with tiger. In Tiger’s blog where he chronicles Keanu’s trip to China in 2007, he refers to him as ‘the talk of the town’ throughout. The first part of the 2007 China trip log has been translated and is in the forum. Hopefully, I will get back to it eventually to finish the second leg of the trip.