LOVE & TREACHERY IN ANCIENT CHINA COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN

London. In a high profile event in 2009, Chen Deming, Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and The Right Honorable Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform supervise a signing ceremony for the Sacrifice motion picture, validating the importance of our story as not only a great feature film, but also a strong diplomatic opportunity to highlight Chinese culture to international audiences.

The film version of Sacrifice received endorsment at the highest politial levels in London. Standing (L to R): Susan Xu (Vice-President, China Film Co-Production), Zhang Xun (President, China Film Co-Production), Chen Deming (Minister of Commerce of the PRC), Richard Daniels (Composer), Lord Mandelson (Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, UK), Mark Troop (Composer) Sitting (L to R): Liu Yan (ESA Cultural Investment), Liu Rong (Dadi Media), Kenneth Clarke (Author)

The film version is unique by being one of the very few Chinese stories that is not a Kung fu action film, but rather, a story of love, greed, duty and betrayal, that is commercially targetted to western cinema ticket buyers.

Sacrifice is the story of Emperor Xuanzong (of the prosperous Tang dynasty 618-907 AD) who during the later part of his rein, brings Yang GuiFei, one of China’s most beautiful women, into his court as a concubine.Yang Guifei was the last of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China. Yang Guifei's real name was Yang Yuhuan and she was originally betrothed and married to Prince Shou, one of Xuanzong's numerous sons. However, when Xuanzong saw her, he fell head over heels in love and forced her to divorce Prince Shou. Later he took her as his own imperial consort, thus the name "Yang Guifei." Although he was a competent emperor at one time, Xuanzong's obsession with Yang Guifei caused him to neglect court affairs. This eventually led to a power struggle for central control of the government involving An Lushan and Yang Guozhong, both of whom had gained favor and power due to Yang Guifei's influence. The consequences were dire and Yang Guifei was blamed for the rebellion, forcing Xuanzong to make a painful decision... saving the woman he loves or preserving his crumbling dynasty.

Ultimately the message is simple; true love means sacrifice. Her immortal beauty ended a dynasty and gave birth to new era in Chinese history.

This great story enticed three western authors to China, intoxicated by its exoticism. What they found is the perfect vehicle for drawing west and east together; a transcendent love story that is, in fact, universal.

The film and musical, while telling the same story, do so in different ways. While the musicals greatest strength is its musical's format and target demographic, the film's greatest strength is its visual ability to better portray the lavish and lush Tang period, and to reach a much wider international demographic.

(L to R): Creators Kenneth Clarke, Mark Troop, Richard Daniels presenting the film version of Sacrifice at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

The Sacrifice team were invited to present the film development at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2008.  Following this, various potential co-production partners have pursued interest, however the authors and Producers are withholding rights to pursue a non-political co-production, in order to best showcase the story for foreign audiences, and to enhance the musical.

Review the press clippings to see the history of development of the project too date. A treatment and draft screenplay are available for interested parties.