Investors gather
for private
stage reading

"The Silk Curtain," written by
Kahala resident Consulina Wong,
follows the Empress Tzu Hsi

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By Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com

Potential investors from Hollywood to Hawaii and beyond gather here tomorrow for a private stage reading of the independent film "The Silk Curtain" to be co-produced by Michael Cimino, whose "The Deer Hunter" won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1979.

The screenplay was written by Kahala resident Consulina Wong, who would portray the Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi, who ruled China for 47 years until 1908. The story follows the empress from her mid-30s to early 70s.

The private reading will be held at the Kumu Kahua Theatre.

It's the first time a staged reading to raise funds for a major motion picture has been done in Hawaii, though the practice is common in Hollywood for studio executives who have the authority to green-light a project, Wong said.

"Originally we were going to do this in Los Angeles, but I decided with Hawaii's great pool of talent including actors, why not do it here," she said.

Some 114 invited guests are expected to attend, including Hawaii Film Office manager Donne Dawson and the state's high-technology guru Joe Blanco.

Wong declined to specify the film's budget or how much she hopes to raise from the investors. But "The Silk Curtain," which will be filmed entirely in China, will cost far less than the typical Hollywood motion picture, about $50 million, Wong said.

She also declined to reveal the names of the investors and other guests she's invited to the reading except for Lee Caplin, producer of "Ali," starring Will Smith.

"The Silk Curtain" will be produced by COJODA Productions, a Honolulu-Hong Kong company, along with Cimino and Hong Kong producer Philip Lee. Whatever the outcome of tomorrow's reading, Wong said "The Silk Curtain" will be made.

"I really want 'The Silk Curtain' to be a complete Hawaii project as far as backing as well as many local actors and all the post-production work," Wong said.

Cimino said he was drawn to "The Silk Curtain" by the strength of the characters and "the intimate story about their relationships played out against one of the most tumultuous periods in China's history."

Cimino wrote the Clint Eastwood movie "Magnum Force" and also directed "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," "Year of the Dragon," "Desperate Hours," "The Sunchaser" and the financial disaster "Heaven's Gate."

Wong received a Po'okela award for her lead performance in "The World of Suzie Wong."

Philip Lee is a veteran producer and associate producer of Hong Kong films such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "The Bruce Lee Story" and "M Butterfly." He is currently co-producing Zhang Yimou's new film, "Hero."

Jason Scott Lee, who is being considered for the lead in "The Silk Curtain" and another part, will read the male lead role at the stage reading, which is being directed by Melonie Hofstetter, who is known locally for her short film "The Chewing Gum and Mrs. Andrews," which won Best Comic Short Film at the 2001 Hawaii International Film Festival.

Other participants in the stage reading are Dawe Glover, Gary Sprinkle, Pamela Young, Fran Ward, Wayne Ward, Keith Kashiwada, Jade Glover, Mary Ann Changg, Edward Sciafani, Seth Char, Branin, Taryn and Charis Shimizu.

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