Production is due to wrap soon on The 601st Phone Call, the Shanghai-set drama starring Hong Kong hot actress Cecilia Cheung.

 

Produced by Feng Xiaogang and directed by veteran TV actor Zhang Guoli, the picture is a contemporary drama based on a true story that revolves around the media frenzy sparked off last year when the phone numbers of over 600 celebrities were posted online.

 

Cheung, who recently played the lead actress in Chen Kaige's mega budget fantasy epic The Promise, is co-starring with up-and-coming actor Hu Ge and Zhou Bichang, winner of last year's Super Girl singing contest, the Chinese equivalent to American idol. This marks Zhou's second appearance after making her film debut in McDull, The Alumni produced by Peter Chan.

 

The Shanghai Film Group has high hopes on the contemporary drama which is scheduled for a summer release although it is not in the martial arts period genre such as Zhang Yimou's Hero, Tsui Hark's Seven Swords and Chen Kaige's The Promise which have proven to be huge box office hits in China in recent years.

 

(hkfilmart June 5, 2006)