IMAX Corporation announced that John Woo and his producing partner Terence Chang will have their next film, Flying Tigers, digitally remastered for The IMAX Experience. The film–a Hollywood-China joint production with China Film Group as lead Chinese financier–tells the story of the American Volunteer Group and its later incarnation as the 14th Air Force during WWII. Led by Air Force General Claire Chennault, the joint air forces consisted of American and Chinese pilots flying side by side against the Empire of Japan. Shooting begins next spring.
Said Woo: “It has always been a dream of mine to explore shooting with IMAX cameras and to work in the IMAX format and the strong visual element of this film is incredibly well-suited to the tastes of cinemagoers today. Using IMAX for Flying Tigers would create a new experience for the audience and I think it would be another breakthrough for Chinese movies.”
Last week when I wrote about Mike Medavoy and The Wildest Dream director Anthony Geffen’s plans for a company formed to make 3D documentaries on larger than life subjects, Geffen said that exploiting the expanding IMAX screens were an important part of that business plan. Getting in on the ground floor of Chinese produce seems a smart way for IMAX expansion in an untapped region with massive growth potential.
I too am thrilled that Woo is working on this film. I hope they re-create it in it’s entirety including the discreet negotiations between China and the USA that led-up to it all. Yes indeed, Chinese pilots did fly with the Tigers shortly before they were disbanded.
Well, with all due said, I’m interested in finding out where JW got his permission to make this film? As far as a Gentleman who’s on our Team, said he is the only person living that has any permission to do anything with the Flying Tigers names or likeness (an official letter)… Hmm…. He says he’s backed by the China Film Group… that’s nice, but you still need to obtain proper permission! Other related films were never made for this very purpose. In fact only one film was ever made, with the Duke! 1942! There’s a reason why folks! Good luck to Mr. Woo & Mr. Cruise… it will have to be another ‘Pearl Harbor’ to make his movie. Don’t want to see him crash & burn! Look for our Film, ‘Under the Shadow: The Flying Tigers’. We have our permission! See ya’all at the movies!
This is a confusing article….at the top it says the film will be digitally remastered for the IMAX screen…implying the DMR process that only takes advantage of half the IMAX screen, and isn’t truly IMAX. Then John Woo is talking about using IMAX cameras, which would mean a 70mm experience similar to the Dark Knight IMAX experience. So which is it?
I wish IMAX would just fess up and admit that not every IMAX Experience is equal. They’re weakening their own brand’s standards by lumping the superior IMAX camera experience with the DMR process.
I just hope Woo doesn’t reduce the Tigers themselves to a story gimmick instead of its substance, like he did in Windtalkers.
I agree. On one hand, I’m thrilled that somebody is doing the AVG’s story with modern cinema technology. On the other hand, I’m hoping they don’t do anything stupid with the history or characters. We don’t need another “Pearl Harbor.”
I wrote a Flying Tiger AVG script, and did a ton of research, i.e… meeting pilots and ground crew people personally, and I never heard one thing about any Chinese pilots. The Chinese had some crucial roles working with the AVGs . but not flying… It’s a hell of an interesting story. I hope “political correctness” doesn’t screw up the truth.
Yes, one of the mechanics that worked on the electrical systems was my uncle, Kee Jeung Pon. Because he was bilingual, he also helped train the Chinese military in Hong Kong to work on the systems as well. He passed away Mar. 12, 2011.
Johnsamo – you obviously didn’t do enough research – or even read Wikipedia. There are still Flying Tigers who are Chinese and served during World War 2 living right here in LA. Shame on you for undermining this underrepresented story as “political correctness” instead of truth.
Seconding Johnsamo’s comment here. Hollywood and historical accuracy often sing from very different songsheets, and I fear the insertion of, say, a Chinese American and/or African American pilot just to satisfy the PC crowd. It won’t matter too much to audiences perhaps, but even so.
You are correct, there were no Chinese Pilots in the AVG. However after the AVG was disbanded CACW’s ( Chinese-American Composite wings) were formed. They were part of the Chinese Nationalists.They flew Later model P-40N types and had a mix of Chinese and American USAAF pilots
Recently, I came across a former Chinese Air Force pilot who was posted to the Chinese American Composite Wing (CACW), 1st Bomb Squadron from Sep-Oct 1944. He was born in 1920 in Ipoh, Malaya (now Malaysia, and is now residing in Singapore. If John Woo is looking for such an airmen who is still living today, please let me know.