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VIDEO – 葉麗儀 上海灘+萬般情 Vancouver, Sep 22, 2012
A Video by Ray Van Eng [Scroll down to read more...]


Frances Yip 葉麗儀 上海灘 S.U.C.C.E.S.S. 2012 Charity Concert in Vancouver to Benefit Seniors & Women Services. The Hong Kong-raised pop superstar performed a variety of Cantonese, Mandarin, Taiwanese and English songs at The Centre in Vancouver, BC on Sep 22, 2012.

Frances Yip seems to have a fondness for movie songs in both English and Chinese. She even sang a few James Bond movie numbers such as Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, For Your Eyes Only etc. and plenty of classic Hollywood movie theme songs as well, including Over The Rainbow. According to her, that theme song from the 1939 production of The Wizard of Oz was the first tune that made her famous back in the early 1970s.

Her rendition of As Time Goes By (Casablanca) won her another round of applause from the audience that filled up the entire theatre with no seats unsold. All very well too, as the proceeds from the concert is to benefit the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation in Vancouver to be used for seniors and women services and programs.

The singer is almost a senior citizen herself as she was born on October 22, 1947. Soon, she joked, she would be able to ride the MTR (Hong Kong Subway) for an elderly fare of just $2 for all zones. But would she need to do that? She has homes in Sydney, Australia and Hong Kong and travels the world often for concerts and other reasons. Besides, she is probably rich enough to own not only a car but a Rolls Royce has she been inclined.

Perfectly bilingual, she often spoke in both English and English to explain jokes to a mixed audience and mentioned that last year the royalty earned from her most famous tune, The Bund or Shanghai Beach 上海灘 alone was a six-figure sum mainly from ringtone downloads, much of which came from China.

All that brought us back to that famous Hong Kong TVB TV-series theme song from Shanghai Beach that shot her to superstardom almost overnight. She delivered the tune with such a perfect tempo that made you wonder if anyone could ever improve on it.

Very well-known internationally, Frances Yip has performed in over 30 countries across five continents, in concerts and on television. She has recorded over 80 albums, participated in three feature films and appeared in stage musicals.

2012 marks the 10th anniversary of Frances Yip’s first Charity Concert for the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation.

Happy return, Frances!










The Center 777 Homer Street, Vancouver BC

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The Chinese Cultural Centre Museum (CCCM) and the Hanfu (ancient clothes of the Han cultural group which is the largest in China) Culture Society of Vancouver presented the Chinese Hanfu and Culture Exhibition from June 20 to July 14, 2012.

汉服文艺复兴在中山公园，中华文化中心。

Hanfu 汉服中国传统服饰 has an influence on the Kimono 和服 of Japan or the Hankok 韓服 of Korea. The basic style of the Hanfu was from the Shang Dynasty 戰國 商朝 (16th to 11th century BC). Much of the design stayed the same through to the Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (1046 – 256 BC). Until the Sui 隋朝 (589 AD – 618 AD) and the Tang dynasty 唐朝 (618 – 907 AD), Hanfu saw further refinement in style and the name 唐装 is taken from this period as well.

The exhibition featured Chinese traditional period dresses ranging from the Qin Dynasty 秦朝 to the Ming Dynasty 明朝.In recent years, Hanfu is seeing a renaissance as younger generations both in China and abroad want to re-discover their roots and view this particular style of traditional Chinese clothing as an embodiment of the many virtues of the Han group that symbolizes honesty, good mannerism, refined tastes, well-being, excellent cultural upbringing and other appealing natures.

On closing day July 14, 2012, a Hanfu dance was performed inside the cultural centre museum. But when I brought the models out into the adjacent Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, the dresses and the wearers really came alive. The clock was turned back. I sensed a real potential of a Hanfu Renaissance taking place in Vancouver.

Fashion comes and goes, but a clothing style that comes with a 3,000+ year old tradition has lasting values. It is seeing a comeback.

[Er-hu music by Joanna Wang. You can also catch her act at various Skytrain stations in the downtown area as Ms. Wang is a City of Vancouver-licensed street-performer.]

A Video by Ray Van Eng – Hanfu Renaissance

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, 578 Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC

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Life For Mile Facebook Page –

The day after the Rambo Bridge Final Take event has taken place on July 10, 2011, a demolition crew started to take down the bridge. Piece by piece this iconic Kawkawa Bridge as it was known to locals will be gone. So will a part of Hollywood history that lasted almost 30 years.

Rambo fans in the hundreds turned out to reminisce and enjoyed one last stroll along the wood and steel structure before it finally disappeared. The former Mayor of Hope was on hand and told people why didn’t the government paid fans the demolition fee which is $100,000 and let them turned that into a tourist attraction. Many who were there probably had the same thought. In the name of progress and in this case, structure soundness possibly leaned heavily against saving the bridge. After all, there is a new and modern concert span running across the same section of the river serving what the old one did.

Maybe Rambo fans didn’t want to forget this part of Hollywood history but the Hollywood crowd who were most connected had chosen to ignore it. None of the original actors such as Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehey and dozens of others didn’t bother to show up to lend show, except Stephen Chang, the BC actor who played VC Commander in the movie.

All is not lost though because Stephen Chang has a new movie in the works. It is titled Life For Mile. It is a movie about the Chinese and native Indians building the transcontinental railway that united Canada as a nation in the 1880s. Life For Mile will be out in 2012.

Life For Mile is based on a true story and a real-life character, Ming, a Chinese railroad worker who used Kung Fu to unite with the aboriginals and the Asians. Together they fought discrimination and mistreatment of the days and ultimately restored some degree of dignity for themselves. History books have forgotten Ming’s story until now. Life For Mile is projected to have a theatrical release date of summer 2012.

VIDEO – Life For Mile takes shape

Rambo Bridge – Kawkawa Lake Road, Hope, BC

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Life For Mile Facebook page

On July 10, 2011, the iconic wood and steel bridge in Hope, BC that was featured in the 1982 movie Rambo: First Blood bid an emotional farewell to movie fans in an event dubbed Rambo Bridge Final Take.

Many movie fans dressed up like Sylvester Stallone in Rambo and offered themselves up for a voluntary arrest and have their pictures taken by friends and family just to capture a piece of Hollywood movie history that will soon be gone forever. Because starting from the next day, the structure that was known as Kawkawa Bridge by locals was scheduled to be taken down piece by piece by a demolition crew.

Not all will be forgotten though. At least one man will have memory of the bridge etched forever on canvas by artist Mary Haymes who finished the work in 2003. He was seen cradling the artwork in his arms anxious to share with anyone about the painting.

On its last glory day of existence, the bridge was surrounded by hundreds of Rambo fans, some of whom came from as far away as Australia and England. Hope Mayor Laurie French reenacted the sheriff role that Brian Dennehy portrayed to the delight of many who stood by and watched.

Almost the entire cast of Rambo: First Blood which consists of Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, David Caruso etc. were a no-show. The only star that showed up was BC actor Stephen Chang who played VC Commander in the Vietnam vet turned unstable civilian flick.

Stephen Chang used the opportunity to sell some autographed copies and promoted his new movie Life For Mile, a feature film about the Chinese and aboriginal involvement in the construction of the transcontinental railway that united Canada as a nation in the 1880s. Life For Mile is executive produced by Stephen Chang and he will act in it. He is currently producing the movie with Producer/Screenwriter Ray Van Eng of V21 Media.

The Final Take event began at 11:00 AM with a Rambo look-a-like contest and later a helicopter fly-by over Coquihalla Canyon as demoed by Valley Helicopters. Props such as a 1980s police car, a jeep and an army vehicle were on display to beef up the presentation.

When the day’s activities were finished, a screening of Rambo: First Blood was shown at 3:00 PM at the Hope Cinema. Rambo fans paid $5.00 to catch the matinee show.

VIDEO –Rambo Bridge Final Take & New Movie ‘Life For Mile’

Kawkawa Lake Road, Hope, BC

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Life For Mile News!

As the Life For Mile movie has a 50-50 split in terms of cultural representation between the Chinese and First Nations subjects, we shall attend the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow 2011 this weekend (July 8-10, 2011) at the Capilano Indian Reserve.

The event is scheduled for three days with a Grand Entry at 7PM on each day (Sat. July 09, 1PM & 7PM). While thousands of aboriginals from across Canada and the U.S. will come to celebrate this annual gathering, about a hundred native dancers in full regalia would participate in the Grand Entry dance. It will be quite a sight.

Fans of the Life For Mile production are welcome to join us as well. Actor/Executive Producer Stephen Chang, Producer/Writer Ray Van Eng and other actors and crew members will be present.

Life For Mile Facebook Page

http://www.powwowtime.com/

Life For Mile is a movie currently being produced about the Chinese and First Nations involvement in the construction of the transcontinental railway in the 1880s that united Canada as a nation.

Here’s a video of the Squamish Youth Pow Wow 2010 last year


100 Mathias Rd, Vancouver BC

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Just for fun, for the fans, we slapped together this quickie movie trailer for Life For Mile. Hope you guys like it!

Life For Mile is a Historic Drama/Western/Kung Fu/Mystery/Action/Comedy movie. It is based on the true-life story of the Chinese and Indian (First Nations) laborers who worked together in the construction of the transcontinental railway that united Canada as a nation in the 1880s.

Cultural content-wise, the movie is 50% Chinese and 50% First Nations. Western genre movies are often about cowboys or cowboys and Indians, but Life For Mile is different. This movie is about the true-life accounts of the Chinese and indians (First Nations) railroad workers who united together to go against their railway cowboy masters and ultimately restored some degree of dignities for themselves. Life For Mile is executive produced by Hollywood actor Stephen Chang. [Music by Kevin MacLeod.]

Life For Mile Facebook Fan Page

VIDEO – FOR FANS ONLY Life For Mile Movie Trailer

Shell Road, Richmond, BC

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It’s 1889, the year that this Shand Mason Horse-Drawn Steam Fire Engine was made. More relevant, it is just four years earlier in 1885 that the transcontinental railway that united Canada as a nation was finished and soon after that, Vancouver was incorporated as a city.

These dates are important to the movie: Life For Mile. It is in the same period. And as I watched the steam fire engine at work as the pistons pumped up and down, I couldn’t help but let my imagination runs wild. I thought about the life of the Chinese railroad workers back then. They had no means of going back home as the Canadian government (and railroad company) conveniently forgot to pay their return boat fare that was promised when the Chinese were hired. Some of the Chinese died and were buried in Boston Bar, the city of Kamloops and other places along the Fraser Canyon where the transcontinental railroad was built. The infamous Head-Tax was legislated into laws that kept more Chinese from coming into Canada amidst waves after waves of anti-Chinese sentiments among a largely European population which went on for decades.

Life For Mile is a Historic Drama/Action/Kung Fu/Mystery/Romance/Comedy feature film based on true events about the Chinese and Indian (First Nations) laborers in the construction of the transcontinental railway that united Canada as a nation in the 1880s. It has been said that for every mile that the Canadian Pacific railroad was laid, one Chinese life had been sacrificed, hence the title of the movie) but it is rarely ever mentioned about the native Indian’s contribution. Those two compelling historical facts and unique Canadian heritage have also rarely been put in the entertainment media in the past until now.

Life For Mile is executive produced by Stephen Chang, a Kung Fu Grandmaster and Hollywood actor (VC Commander in First Blood ” Rambo “) and produced by Ray Van Eng with a script written by Ray Van Eng based on a treatment by Stephen Chang. Mr. Chang also acted in such movies as Double Happiness (1994 – 2 Genies), International Rescue (1990 Hit) Icarus (2010) and TV series such as The X-Files, Twilight Zone, Kung Fu – TLC (1996 Warner Bros.) Psych (2011), The Evidence (2006) and dozens of other productions. Mr. Chang has spent the last 35+ years in conceiving this movie after he met the real-life character, a Chinese railroad worker named Ming, in the early 1970s who told Chang the true-life story that is now being produced as a feature film planned for a world-wide theatrical release on the big screen.

For the latest updates and info, please visit the – Life For Mile Facebook page

Stephen Chang, Actor/Executive Producer IMDB Page
Ray Van Eng, Producer/Writer – Vancouver21

2 Water Street, Vancouver BC

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A few nights ago, I watched the movie Bonnie & Clyde (1967) on TV again. Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman etc. Directed by Arthur Penn who also made Little Big Man (1970), an American Indian movie, that as a producer/writer of Life For Mile, I feel that I can derive inspiration or borrow some techniques from these two Hollywood films.

The last sequence in Bonnie & Clyde just before the crime couple is shot in a hail of bullets is so memorable to me. There is a very fast sequence of editing of the two looking into each other’s eyes. Those split seconds of shots (or montage, if you like) are so powerful that I remembered them very well throughout all these years since I first watched the movie in the mid-70s. Beautifully depicted is the moment when they realize what’s coming but can’t escape it. The fatality of it with no time left to say goodbye. So tragic and poetic.

Splicing it all together by hand first was Dede Allen, the three-time Oscar-nominated editor who executed it so well. Bonnie and Clyde is classic Hollywood moviemaking with the use of genres and superb film language articulation.

Working on the movie Life For Mile brings together many of the things that I learned in movies in the last 35+ years.

Here’s to Hollywood! And my tremendous respect I reserved for those who work in the industry, past and present.

Movie: Life For Mile Facebook page

Bonnie and Clyde

Little Big Man

This is Vita’s the first ever concert in Vancouver and it is performed at the River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond BC on February 03, 2011. His North American tour include 7 cities in both the U.S. and Canada. 01/28 in New York, 01/29 in Toronto, 01/30 in Chicago, 02/01 in Miami, Feb 03 in Vancouver, 02/04 in LA and 02/05 in San Francisco. The concert ‘Sleepless Nights’ is a medley of Italian, Chinese and Russian songs.

VIDEO – Vitas in Vancouver ‘Sleepless Nights’ concert
























































8811 River Road, Richmond BC

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This is the FIRST EVER concert that Vitas has performed in Vancouver, Canada at the River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond, BC on February 03, 2011. Vitas sang in different languages: Italian (Nessun Dorma, O Sole Mio, La Donna Mobile, Ave Maria), Chinese (The Tibetan Plateau) and, of course, Russian where the singer is from. The concert is a brand new production named Sleepless Nights and Vitas is being branded as an ‘Artist Who You Have Been Waiting For.’

The high octave operatic style of music has that unique Vitas showmanship coupled with a genuine desire to please the audience which made him such an international star who has sold more than 100 million CDs worldwide. In his official Russian web site, Vitas is known as an author/composer/actor.

[Please note: This music video of Vitas’s first ever concert in Vancouver is only available at Vancouver21.com. http://www.vancouver21.com A special thank you to the Vitas producers for making this exlusive arrangement possible. Video producer: Ray Van Eng.]
VIDEO – VITAS LIVE in Vancouver.

River Rock SHow Theatre 8811 River Road, Richmond, BC

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