Latest news with #Chinese-language
Malaysian Reserve
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
《Gou Li Hao Xi》 – A Musical with Heart Makes Its Debut
Star-studded production delivers warmth and healing while tackling mental health through music and dance KUALA LUMPUR – The Chinese-language entertainment industry is set to welcome a landmark theatrical event with the debut of 《Gou Li Hao Xi》, an original large-scale musical unlike any before. Helmed by KK Wong, this heartfelt production brings together a celebrated ensemble cast to explore the topic of mental health in a way that is uplifting, accessible, and deeply human. Blending moving melodies, dynamic choreography, and compelling storytelling, 《Gou Li Hao Xi》 is more than just a stage performance—it is a timely and thoughtful response to the rising tide of emotional distress in modern society. The production seeks to raise awareness around issues such as anxiety, depression, and burnout, which the World Health Organization has identified as some of the leading global health burdens. Yet, within many Asian communities, these emotional challenges remain stigmatised or unspoken. Courageously confronting these realities, 《Gou Li Hao Xi》 adopts a bright, positive tone—presenting difficult topics through a musical format that offers lightness and hope. At its core, the production delivers a simple yet powerful message: 'Take the first step, and love will be there— every day is a new beginning.' It is a message of empathy and encouragement for anyone navigating emotional hardship. The producers, director, and cast of 《Gou Li Hao Xi》are super excited to invite you to catch our original musical live from September 26 to 28 at PJ PAC Stage 1 Theatre! Don't miss this milestone moment in Malaysia's Chinese entertainment scene 《Gou Li Hao Xi》is KK Wong's brand-new 2025 production and his first undertaking as executive producer. Not only does it feature Terry Ong (翁诗传), in the dual role of producer and cast member, it also marks director Ryon Lee's poignant return to the stage after a 15-year absence. The musical direction is helmed by renowned husband-and-wife duo Jiahui Wu and Chan Yi Yi, breathing new life into the production. Every song and every dance step delivers a message of encouragement, a gesture of comfort, and a ray of light shining through the darkness. KK Wong has assembled an impressive cast, uniting familiar names such as Cheryl Lee李欣怡 , Orange Tan(陈慧恬), Rickman Chia (谢承伟), Loo Aye Keng (吕爱琼), Remon Lim (林奕廷), Wayne Cai (蔡佩璇), Kopi Lim (林国伟) and Reno Lee (李宜诺). Alongside them, four rising stars— Richard Tan (陈星福), Olio Tan (陈颖恒), Andrew Lim (林楷宪), and JY Lim (林家杰) — were selected through a nationwide audition process, adding fresh energy and talent to the cast. 'At a time when society is increasingly burdened by anxiety and emotional fatigue, we need a meaningful production that can both entertain and heal,' said KK Wong. 《Gou Li Hao Xi 》explores themes of depression and emotional health in a sincere yet accessible way. Through the expressive power of musical theatre, we hope to bring audiences closer together—with more understanding, empathy, and hope. 'In a gesture of social commitment, part of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Life Line Association Malaysia, a national mental health support hotline. The production aims to not only start meaningful conversations, but to also offer tangible support to those in need. 《Gou Li Hao Xi》 is more than just a 'good show'—it is a call to care, to connect, and to believe that healing is possible through art, storytelling, and collective compassion. PERFORMANCE DETAILS: 📅 Show Dates & Times • Friday, 26 September 2025 | 8:00 PM • Saturday, 27 September 2025 | 3:00 PM & 8:00 PM • Sunday, 28 September 2025 | 3:00 PM 📍 Venue : PJPAC – Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre 🎭 Cast : KK Wong (黄国强) , Cheryl Lee李欣怡 , Orange Tan(陈慧恬), Rickman Chia (谢承伟), Loo Aye Keng (吕爱琼), Remon Lim (林奕廷), Wayne Cai (蔡佩璇), Kopi Lim (林国伟), Terry Ong (翁诗传), and Reno Lee (李宜诺). Special Feature: Emerging talents — Richard Tan (陈星福), Olio Tan (陈颖恒), Andrew Lim (林楷宪), and JY Lim (林家杰) 🌈Language : Mandarin, Cantonese and English 🎫 Ticketing Details Ticket Prices: RM228, RM198, RM168, RM108, RM88 🎉 Limited-Time Early Bird Offer is Here! 🎉 From June 26 to July 9 only, enter PROMO CODE: EB25 to enjoy up to 25% off! Don't miss out on this rare opportunity! 🔥 Ticketing website:
HKFP
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- HKFP
Renowned Hong Kong-based food critic Chua Lam passes away at 83
Renowned food critic Chua Lam has died at the age of 83, according to an announcement on his Facebook page on Friday. Chua, who was born in Singapore, spent most of his life in Hong Kong, where he built a career in the city's entertainment and culinary scenes as a movie producer, writer, and food critic. He passed away at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on Wednesday. 'In accordance with [Chua's] wishes, and to avoid disturbing family and friends, no ceremony will be held. The body has been cremated,' the Chinese-language post read. 'We thank everybody for their concern for Mr Chua Lam,' it added. Born in 1941, Chua left Singapore for Japan when he was 16 to study film. He worked for Hong Kong film company Shaw Brothers Studio there and later also spent time in New York, Seoul, India, and Nepal, according to his biography. He moved to Hong Kong in 1963 at the age of 22, working as a production manager for Shaw Brothers Studio. Around a decade later, he joined local film company Golden Harvest, where he produced films for actor Jackie Chan. Chua ventured into the food industry in the 1990s, becoming a prominent food critic and host of cooking shows. In 2020, he started a YouTube channel called ChuaLam ColorfulWorld, where he posted food review videos of restaurants in Hong Kong. Chua was active on Facebook until April 2023, when he posted on his page that he was recovering from a fractured leg. It was his last update before the post announcing his death on Friday.
Sinar Daily
5 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Teacher found dead at home after missing school
The late Huang Shuyun. - Photo: China Press SHAH ALAM - The sudden death of 55-year-old teacher Huang Shuyun in Seremban has shocked the school community in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, after she was found dead at home on Sunday, following her absence from school. According to a report by Chinese-language daily China Press, Huang, who taught Year One students at SJK(C) Chee Wen in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan recently joined the school in early 2024 after over two decades of service at SJK(C) Bahau. Concerned about her sudden absence, the school's Assistant Principal He Lijing and Parent-Teacher Association chairman Chan Kah Kien, went to her home to check on her. When they saw her car parked outside but received no response, they contacted the Fire and Rescue Department for help. Authorities entered the house and discovered her lifeless body in the bedroom. According to the police, no foul play was involved and the case has been classified as a sudden death. A post-mortem was underway to determine the cause of death. Huang was reportedly alone at the time while her husband and daughter were not at home. It is understood that she had a history of heart complications and had previously underwent treatment at the National Heart Institute. Her death deeply affected her colleagues, students and the local community. In a heartfelt tribute posted on Facebook, SJK(C) Chee Wen expressed their sorrow. "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved teacher, Madam Huang Shuyun. The entire school community mourns this loss deeply. We are grateful for her years of service, dedication and love for her students. "May she rest in peace," the school wrote. The late Lo Kwan Fong. - Photo: Facebook Previously, it was reported that 39-year-old teacher Lo Kwan Fong was found dead in her home at Bandar Selesa Jaya, Skudai, Iskandar Puteri on June 12. The police discovered the decomposed body of the woman who had not been seen at school since Sept 24, 2024. Investigations found that the woman, who lived alone, was believed to have died approximately a month prior. She was believed to have suffered from depression due to debt problems with loan sharks (Ah Long). Her neighbours had alerted authorities after noticing a foul odour at her home.
AsiaOne
5 days ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Inaugural Golden Singa Awards, organised by Dasmond Koh for international Chinese films, to be held on Dec 1, Entertainment News
Local entertainment company NoonTalk Media is organising the first Golden Singa Awards to be presented in Singapore in December. The international film awards ceremony aims to bring together filmmakers to recognise and celebrate Chinese-language cinema. At the press conference yesterday (June 23), NoonTalk Media CEO Dasmond Koh said: "We believe that in the Chinese film market nowadays, there aren't many award ceremonies that are open to outside the region. With that in mind, we hope to make Singapore an international stage for all Chinese-language films to participate in." The 52-year-old shared that apart from the Golden Horse Awards held in Taiwan, other Chinese-language film awards such as the Hong Kong Film Awards and China's Hundred Flowers Awards and Golden Rooster Awards are country-specific, which leaves a gap for international filmmakers. At the Golden Horse Awards in 2018, Taiwanese film director Fu Yue said in her winning speech after receiving Best Documentary that she hoped Taiwan would be recognised as "independent". Her speech sparked outrage among China filmmakers and celebrities — as China regards Taiwan as part of their territory — and triggered an official snub of the ceremony from the following year. According to a report by Taipei Times in 2021, China's national film board had ordered directors and actors to boycott the event. Several Hong Kong films also reportedly dropped out of the awards under pressure from Beijing. Since then, mainstream Chinese filmmakers steered clear of the Golden Horse Awards for fear of repercussions. About the upcoming Golden Singa Awards, Dasmond added: "We hope that within five years, with the awards ceremony held annually, we will be able to let it develop into the most prominent and trusted awards ceremony in the Asia Pacific region." Dasmond told AsiaOne that Singapore is the ideal location to host the international film awards as it provides a neutral ground. Furthermore, he hoped that the event would "spur the adrenaline rush" for local filmmakers to excel and create opportunities for them to participate in the awards as well. However, he also said: "We had discussed and know that it might be a little bit difficult for local productions to emerge as winners for a lot of categories. We should be seeing quite a bit of overseas artistes and nominees running for the awards." 22 awards categories to be presented, calls for submissions now open The Golden Singa Awards will be presented on Dec 1 at Capitol Theatre in conjunction with the Infocomm Media Development Authority's (IMDA) Singapore Media Festival. Ng Tse Meng, Honorary Chairman of RuiFeng Wealth Management Pte Ltd, invested in the event. The awards committee comprises industry veterans including producer and founder of film company Xue Zhe Ying Shi (Scholar Films) Tsai Sung-lin and his wife Lu Meihui. They had distributed and invested in films such as Farewell My Concubine (1993), Ashes of Time (1994), A Chinese Odyssey (1995) and In The Mood for Love (2000). There will be 22 award categories: Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Male Actor, Best Female Actor, Best Male Supporting Actor, Best Female Supporting Actor, Best Rising Star, Best Director of Photography, Best Animated Film, Best Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound Effects, Best Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Action Design, Best Asian Feature Film (Non-Chinese), Most Popular Feature Film, Most Popular Male Actor and Most Popular Female Actor. To qualify, the film must run for at least 60 minutes and be screened in cinemas between Jan 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025. The international call for submissions is now open at . The jury panel, which will comprise nine to 11 international industry representatives including award-winning filmmakers, producers, actors, musicians and costume designers, will be finalised in July. The preliminary jury will evaluate and shortlist submissions for nomination in September and nominees will be announced in October. In November, the final jury will evaluate and decide on the winners. Local jeweller Risis is the official trophy partner for the awards and will be designing and crafting trophies for the ceremony. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 许振荣 Dasmond Koh (@dasmondkoh) [[nid:719279]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Netflix's K-pop Demon Hunters sparks culture war, accused of stealing Chinese traditions despite breaking global streaming records
Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters is riding high on global success, but its rise hasn't come without controversy. The animated film, which combines the glimmer of Korean pop stardom with fantasy worldbuilding, has claimed the top spot on Netflix in 26 countries and landed in the Top 10 across 93 nations. Yet even as it captures hearts around the world, the movie is drawing criticism from Chinese viewers who accuse it of appropriating Chinese culture. Chinese netizens accuse K-Pop Demon Hunters of 'cultrual appropriation' According to KBIZoom (via Sohu News), the backlash stems from claims that the film's aesthetic borrows too heavily from Chinese tradition. According to the report, Chinese netizens believe the movie "stole from Chinese heritage", citing specific details like traditional garments, palace-style architecture, herbal medicine references, and symbolic design motifs. One online comment read, 'Is Korea not even trying to hide their cultural plagiarism anymore? This is clearly Chinese.' Another accused Sony, one of the film's co-producers, of aiding what they called 'cultural theft'. The comments quickly multiplied on Chinese-language platforms, with statements like 'All the traditional knots are clearly Chinese' and 'Too many cultural thieves' flooding posts about the film. Some went further, mocking the animation quality and the character design, calling it 'cheap, boring trash' and taking aim at the male lead's visual styling. However, a number of Chinese viewers were also impressed by the movie, praising it as 'a rare animated gem' and appreciating the dynamic female leads and energetic soundtrack. One viewer wrote, 'The sisters are cool, and the music is great,' while another added, 'Sure, the story is simple, but it's still fun and engaging.' Netflix is not available in China Notably, Netflix is not officially available in China. Many of the loudest critics of the movie likely accessed K-Pop Demon Hunters through unofficial or pirated channels, leading to a wave of irony as those who watched it without authorisation accused the creators of theft. This paradox wasn't lost on other social media users, who questioned the basis of outrage from people watching on illegal streams. K-pop Demon Hunters breaks streaming records Despite the criticism, the film is undeniably thriving. Streaming analytics platform FlixPatrol reported that as of June 22, it was the most-watched title on Netflix globally, with a viewership score of 771. That's a solid lead over the runner-up, Straw, which scored 609. The film's widespread popularity speaks to its ability to connect with viewers beyond the K-pop fandom, offering a colourful mix of music, action, and mythology. K-pop Demon Hunters Soundtrack soars on US iTunes According to the Chat Data X account, the film's soundtrack shot up to No. 1 on the US iTunes Album Chart. The lead single, Takedown, is a standout, featuring powerhouse vocals from TWICE's Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung. Fans are loving its bold energy and slick production, with other tracks like How It's Done and Golden also earning plenty of replay value. The soundtrack feels like a legit K-pop album—and that's exactly the point. 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' soundtrack has reached #1 on US iTunes. K-pop Idols inspirations behind the heroes and villains The animated girl group Huntrix didn't come out of thin air. Director Maggie Kang shared that the team took major cues from real-life K-pop queens—especially BLACKPINK—when shaping the group's fierce energy and confident stage vibes. You can feel it in their styling, their moves, and the way they command every scene, just like how BLACKPINK owns a stage in real life. On the other side, their on-screen rivals, the Saja Boys, bring that sleek, polished look fans often associate with K-pop idols, particularly ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo and BTS' Jimin. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
