While THE KING AND I is infecting our local cinemas (the only reason to see the film is the IRON GIANT trailer attached) on the otherside of the world... a cool version is being made with Jodie Foster and Chow Yun Fat. Here's the latest from the far side of the globe...

you asked for the lATEST SCOOP.well,i happen to stay near where tha crew is shooting in Penang island. They've redecorated the Penang port colonial buildings and a local Khoo kongsi temple into a turn of the century Siamese port. There are live size mockups of ancient ships at the harbour.

Ten days was spent on shooting the first scenes when anna fist arrived! actress bai ling shot a scene where she ran across the port being chased by royal guards....she and a couple of local actresses play the mistresses.

Locals were hired for a hundred of our currency per day.they were required to shave.didn't see any scenes of the stars except for jodie's stand in......now they are shhoting 80 percent of the movie in Ipoh city.

Here's an excerpt from the press;

'The sleepy town of Papan, about 15 km from Ipoh,awoke yesterday when the film crew of the movie,anna and the king,moved its shooting to Rumah Besar Papan,a century old Mandailing mansion.The scene being shot showed KIng mongkut played by chow yen fatt,coaxing his children to bed and the mansion's enchanting surroundings by the night.The mansion has been redecorated and transfored into part of King Mongkut's Grand Palace. Location shooting has beeen moved to the mansion in Kampung Melayu Papan after the crew completed shooting scenes in British tutor anna's abode-a traditional village house- in Parit'

it goes on to say about the mansion's history.i'm keeping an eye out for gorgeous jodie fster myself! Apparently they have flown in elephants from Siam for the Ipoh scenes.local craftsman has been ordered to make Siamese costumes .a complete replica of King Mongkut's palace has been recreated in a secret location.Us locals are so impressed with hollywood proffesionalism!thats about all...and yup,it's cool allright!

ackerberry.