Chinese film star finds paradise in New Zealand

Xia Yu

Chinese movie star Xia Yu wrapped up a two-week visit to New Zealand this week, saying he wants to promote the country as a movie-producing paradise to the world's most populous market.

The Chinese equivalent of Ewan McGregor was invited by Air New Zealand as an ambassador to send virtual postcards back to China through his personal weblog, which is popular among Chinese movie fans and people in the movie production business.

"I was overwhelmed by the amazing landscapes and breathtaking outdoor activities in the country," said Xia. "The many first-time experiences impressed me a lot."

With parachuting, under-sea dolphin watching, heli-skiing, live volcano exploration, the actor and outdoor buff said every day was filled with new experiences.

"One morning at Taupo, I opened the window to find myself facing a picture that doesn't belong to the human world," he said.

"It was like a Jurassic era with strange plants I've never seen. The water was slapping the cliffs and everything was serenely shrouded in the mist, something like in the heaven," he said.

Xia rose to fame as a teenager a decade ago after he starred in his first and most famous movie, In the Heat of the Sun. The movie won him best actor awards at the Venice and the Singapore film festivals.

Late last year he worked with Edward Norton and Naomi Watts in the film The Painted Veil, an adaptation of Somerset Maugham's novel.

The movie, now in post production, will hit the screen in November.

Xia is the first of five Chinese celebrities who will travel in New Zealand over eight months as part of Air New Zealand's $4 million marketing campaign for its new direct services linking Shanghai and Auckland.

During his stay, he visited Northland, staying at Kauri Cliffs, saw the best of the Central Plateau from Huka Lodge, headed south to Queenstown where he stayed at Eichardts Private Hotel before taking in the Waitemata Harbour from the Hilton.

"New Zealand has affluent film-making resources which is an attraction for movie producers and talents in China and elsewhere around the world," Xia said. "It also has strong post-production capabilities."

China offers huge opportunities for New Zealand's film making industry.

Belinda Blight of Karen Kay Management, an actor management agency with about 150 signed actors, believes talent exchange will be a major way for both countries to collaborate in the sector.

"We have started to look at opportunities to introduce Chinese actors interested in developing their careers in New Zealand," she said. "Currently, we only have Asian actors living in New Zealand.We will be pleased to sign Chinese actors who are willing to develop their career in New Zealand."

Stephen Douglas, general manager of Film Construction Ltd, one of this country's major TV commercial producers, said he had made more frequent trips to China lately to tap its huge TV commercial market.

He would work with big advertising agencies in China to get more business.