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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.
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This is a fantastic story not many people are familiar with. It will make an awesome film, especially in John Woo’s hands. I can’t wait for the bit where the pigeons or doves fly up in slow motion.
I have over 600 photos of the Flying Tigers stationed in China that have never been published, These were all taken by my father who was at the time stationed with the Tigers as an ariel photographer.
The every day life at work and at play of these airmen captured by my dad are amazing and show how young these courageous airmen were . Photos range from ariel bombardments to take offs and landings by a variety of planes operating from the same airfields.
His albums that I inherited also document the Chinese living in the country in everyday life planting crops ,baking and surviving the war.
If anyone has a contact for John Woo….he may be interested in these for film reference.
my father was an original Flying Tiger Ace. He died at 95 yrs of age on aug.18, 2009.
We have a considerable amount of his memorabilia. He actually later joined the Air Force and retired 30 yrs. later as a 2 star General. He wrote a book called “Diary of a Flying Tiger” that was published by Texas A@M Press, and is an incredibly accurate historically written account. His kids are selling his memorabilia and his collection of aviation art of the Tigers. If john Woo or anyone else is interested, please let us know at the above e-mail.
Thanks for sharing.
I don’t see why you would not identify your father, MG Charles Bond. I served under General Bond at the 25th Air Division, McChord AFB, Washington in the late 50s. I have a signed copy of the book you mentioned.
Hang onto your photos because they may never be returned to you. If you ever find a contact for John Woo, like I am, make sure you give them copies.
My uncle recently passed away. He was one of the original Chinese mechanics with the AVG who worked on the electrical systems.
Roby, I am currently hosting a group of Chinese scholars here in the US working on retrieving historic photos of this conflict at the National Archives. I am sure they would be interested in your photos.
They have copied 23,000 photos of the WWII China, Burma, India Theater resulting in the publication of their “National Memories”, volumes I and II in China. Their “National Memories” Photo Exhibition has toured four major cities in China. All NARA Work Team members are volunteers with other careers. They are working on thier second book.
Woo-hoo! Love this guy.
Interesting… My dad was a Flying Tiger and I have been to 14th Air Force Association conventions, yet I did not know there were Composite Wings in the 14th AF. The story should be told. I hope the film is a good one.
American Volunteer Group (AVG)/Flying Tigers and the 14th Air Force are really two different groups. The AVG is a group, that until recently was shrouded in secrecy. The 14th Air Force assumed control over the AVG, but many of the pilots were U.S. Marine and Navy pilots. Read Greg Boyington’s book.
He said in his book that he wanted his tombstone to read Greg Boyington USMC, not US Army Air Force. So he and others of the original “Flying Tigers” wouldn’t join the 14th Air Force and they broke there mercenary contract, as they never agreed to be mustered into the Army, when the signed up for the AVG. This really pissed off the Army Air Force. The AVG is credited with 294 enemy aircraft shot down. The AVG only had 12 of their own aircraft shot down.
This will break Pen Densham and John Watson’s hearts at Trilogy Entertainment. They had a Flying Tigers project running for like fifteen years at Morgan (gag) Creek.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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!
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.