April 20, 2005 | Mars sends troops nervously
Liberty Times of Taiwan
Reported by Yi HuiCi
During the time China is having anti-Japan protests, Zaizai, DaS, and Lai YaYan will visit China cities, such as Shanghai and Beijing, in May to promote TV series Mars. Because Mars is adapted from Japanese manga, wondering if it will be affected and frightened, DaS is already doing what-if analysis.
Mars DVD distributor invites Zaizai, DaS, and Lai YaYan to China to promote Mars in China. They will have press conferences and meet and greets in selected cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. The TV series is adapted from Japanese manga. Moreover F4 will shoot their 2005 photo album at the end of April and Japan will be the location. Right now China is brewing with anti-Japan sentiment; the situations are rather delicate.
Comic Ritz planner Yang XinYu indicates that this promotion tour has been long planned and will be not cancelled because of China's anti-Japan protests. Entertainment business has nothing to do with politics. She emphasizes that Mars is a Taiwan TV series.
But DaS is really worried about her own safety. DaS' manager XiaoXuan indicates that of course DaS is worried. She has been observing the development of the situations and has simulated various scenarios with the company, including how to deal with if being thrown things at or protested against. She once considered not going.
Regardless, on second thoughts, DaS thinks fans love her and should be sensible. After all she also wants to meet fans whom she hasn't seen for a while.
Zaizai's manager Zhi XiangLi indicates that Zaizai isn't worried at all. Despite that Mars is adapted from Japanese manga, it's made in Taiwan. Besides Zaizai is not Japanese, instead he is a Chinese we can be proud of.
As for whether the photo album's sales in China will be affected by being photographed in Japan, Zhi XiangLi is also not worried.
Lai Yayan's response is the most interesting. She jokes that she is the queen of riots. At the beginning of the year, it happened that Indonesia was having anti-Chinese riots when Mars went there for promotion. Now they are leaving for China and China is having anti-Japan protests, it's quite a coincidence.
Comic Ritz has produced three TV series: Mars, "Magic Ring" and "Starry Night". The latter two will be aired on China's CCTV station in June and July respectively. The stars of those two TV series will also do promotions in China.
Among the three, Mars is the only one which cannot be aired on the TV station. Some people guess it's related to anti-Japan sentiment. But Yang XinYu indicates that it is entirely due to its subject matter and violence that Mars failed to pass the review.
Credit: laiou2002 of vicpower.net
April 18, 2005 | Mars can't get into the door of China Central TV
Mars can't get into the door of China Central TV station
Adapted from Japanese Manga and fallen victim to the anti-Japan sentiment
April 17, 2005, Lian He Bao of Taiwan
Reported by Lian ChangYu
Has the anti-Japan sentiment in China affected F4? Comic Ritz sent applications to China Central TV station for its 3 idol TV series: Mars, "Magic Ring" and "Starry Night". Except for Mars which is adapted from Japanese manga, the other two will be showed on CCTV during the prime time on May 1, China's Labor Day.
Mars, starring dream idol team Zaizai Zhou YuMin and DaS Xu XiYuan, has sold its broadcasting rights all over the world, but has run into obstacles in China. Besides the campus violence and dark and gloomy storyline, adapting from Japanese manga is viewed as one of the major reasons. It is broadcast on China satellite station and Mars DVD has also been released. Chai ZhiPing is disappointed that the all important CCTV, which everyone is after, did not pass Mars.
But the other two Comic Ritz idol dramas, "Magic Ring" and "Starry Night" have all passed the review and China Central TV station will start broadcasting them on May 1. Both TV series involve unmarried pregnant women. Comic Ritz producer Yang JiaYu said,"It's strange they cut the scenes containing the party flag of GuoMinDang and the road sign of Yangming Mountain. They were sensitive to political situations but did not cut any scenes related to unmarried pregnancy."
Credit laiou2002 (www.vicpower.net)
April 9, 2005 | Zaizai has 3 Mars meetNgreets in China
Zaizai coming to Guangzhou to meet fans next month
April 9, 2005, Guangzhou Daily of China
Reported by Su Lei
On May 13, Pepsi super star Zhou Yumin will hold a Meet and Greet for Mars Premiere at Guangdong Broadcasting Center. Zaizai (Zhou Yumin) will appear together with Mars leading actress DaS and producer Chai Zhiping. As the main attraction, Zaizai will sing live and play games with Guangzhou fans.
Zhou Yumin hasn't met with Guangzhou fans for over two years since he was here at the end of 2002 for the F4 Guangzhou concert, let alone interacting with fans. But Guangzhou fans are as zealous as ever.
Zaizai costars with DaS again and it gratifies countless fans who sighed at seeing the two passed each other in Meteor Garden. According to the introduction, TV series Mars is created by the original crew of Meteor Garden, including producer Chai Zhiping, and director Cai Yuexun, etc.
Zaizai's acting skills have made great progress in Mars. He acts two roles: strong, wild, and even a little bit cruel Chen Ling and timid, worrisome Chen Sheng. In Mars, Ling is a trouble makes for all teachers and yet a lady killer for all girls; and is envied by all male students. Hurt by his brother death, Ling becomes a failure. After he meets Qiluo, he realizes that violence isn't the only way to revolve problems. Qiluo's true love wakes him up from the darkness and he faces live positively once again. Reportedly, Zaizai will appear as a racer to meet with fans. |
