STORY TO BE TOLD

Kwon Sang-woo considers new film project

Reports are circulating that Kwon Sang-woo is eyeing a new movie project, which would have him working with Kwak Kyung-taek, who directed the 2001 blockbuster movie Friend as well as the 2009 drama version, Friend, Our Legend.

The project is called Pain, and unfolds around a loan shark who can’t feel pain and a woman who is hyper-sensitive to the pain of others (Korea really loves these setups, doesn’t it?). They, of course, fall into “an unavoidable love.” If anything, it’ll be interesting to see a loan shark portrayed as a hero for once; they (understandably) are typically portrayed as villainous or at least antagonistic types.

Kwak had been planning to work on a different film first, Beautiful Us, which had at one point cast Hyun Bin in the lead; however, the film lost him and has halted production. The director turned to other scripts in the meantime, and with investments secured for Pain, is now getting to work on pre-production.

Kwon hasn’t committed himself to paper yet, though the production company reports that he’s in talks with them and considering it favorably. His own reps confirmed that he is looking at the project, though they emphasize that it’s not a done deal yet. He probably won’t decide till the lead actress is also cast; rumors are that a top A-list star is in negotiations with director Kwak for the role.

Kwon has had a string of disappointments in recent years (Cinderella Man, Bad Love), but has found his footing again with SBS’s current hit drama Daemul, in which he stars opposite the fabulous Go Hyun-jung, who just won a Daesang (her second in two years) for her portrayal of a president.

Pain plans to enter filming early this year, as soon as casting is completed.

Via Star News

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Actor Faizal Yusof dies after fainting

KUALA LUMPUR: Actor Faizal Yusof, star of Malay dramas such as Tiramisu and Manjalara, died at 1.45pm yesterday at Pusat Rawatan Islam (Pusrawi), Jalan Tun Razak here due to heart failure.

When met at the hospital, his elder brother Shaiful Yusof said Faizal, 32, was reported to have fainted at his home in Anjung Villa, Bandar Baru Sentul around 9am before being rushed to the hospital.

The actor, who was a popular feature in local televison shows, leaves behind wife Rosmunira Rashid, 27, who is five months pregnant.

Faizal married Rosmunira last year.

Previously, he was married to popular singer Siti Nordiana and was blessed with a son, three-year-old Mohd Rayyan Nakhaie. — Bernama

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Woman among world's oldest dies at 112 in US

OCALA, Florida (AP) - Florida's oldest resident, a 112-year-old woman counted among the world's 25 oldest people by a research group, has died.

Onie Ponder of Ocala died Friday morning. Her son, Carswell Ponder, says his mother died after a brief bout with pneumonia.

According to the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group, Onie Ponder had been the oldest person in Florida and one of the 25 oldest people in the world. She was born Sept. 3, 1898.

She was asked about her secret for longevity at her birthday party in September. Ponder told the Ocala Star-Banner: "The good Lord had something to do with it. He treats me pretty well."

Carswell Ponder says his mother stayed active all her life. He says she liked to read and listened to books on tape after her eyesight deteriorated.

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Shoppers to pay 20 sen for each plastic bag on Saturdays

PETALING JAYA: Shoppers throughout the country will now have to pay 20 sen for each plastic bag when they shop at hypermarkets, supermarkets and Petronas service stations on Saturdays.

The move, which is already in force in Selangor and introduced to reduce the eight billion plastic bags used each year in Malaysia, caught many shoppers by surprise.

Other developments:

> The sum charged will go to a special fund which will benefit the environment and community;

> Shoppers in Penang will have to pay for their bags in these outlets every day; and

> Plastic industry players in Penang have expressed unhappiness, vowing to distribute 30,000 free bags in defiance of the move.

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Edison hopes everyone will forget "the past"

Once he said he would retire from showbiz indefinitely, but then Edison Chen made his comeback last year.

The singer has started his fashion business and is releasing a new album.

He said that he has to first forgive himself, then seek forgiveness from society and lastly from Nicholas Tse and his wife Cecilia Cheung.

Nicholas was the best friend of Edison and Cecilia was one of the artistes involved in the 30-year-old Canadian Chinese’s sex scandal two years ago.

"I'm prepared, definitely we would have a chance to meet up but I will react naturally. I will also talk to them, won't avoid them," he said when asked what he would do if he met the Tses.

Edison thanked his girlfriend Vincy for her support.

He said: "She's a superwoman. We've been together for more than four years….

"I need to thank her for many things."

Asked if the couple has any plans to get married, Edison said: "I thought of it. If it was four years ago, I would have this impulse to do so. But now I have so many things to do. It's more important to be happy everyday."

Asked if Gillian Chung will still consider him as a friend, Edison said: "The incident took place years ago, we've grown up. Hope everyone can forget the past!"
Source: TVB News

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