Sherwood Hu
Encyclopedia
Sherwood Xuehua HuSherwood Xuehua Hu (born in Shanghai
, is a Chinese American
Theatre director and film director
.
Sherwood Hu, “one of the most exciting and dynamic directors to emerge from China”(Kirt Honycutt, “Hollywood Reporter”). Born and raised in Shanghai surrounded by a creative and artistic family, Sherwood relocated to the US to receive his Masters of Arts degree from New York State University and earned a Ph.D. in directing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also studied at The Public Theater in New York under Joseph Papp, and began his professional career directing theatre, including productions of Rashomon, Constant Prince and The Chairman's Wife.
He created The Legend of Prince Lanling, a lavish stage production which received an Honorable Mention from the Kennedy Arts Center, and which he later adapted into his first feature film. WARRIOR LANLING, an epic ritual film about ancient China. His second feature, LANI LOA, THE PASSAGE was executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola.
Hu went back to China and formed his own company “Hus Entertainment” in 2005, and produced and direct a 40-episode television series PURPLE JADE for China Central Television. He returned to epic costume period film work with PRINCE OF THE HIMALAYAS, his own adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, set in ancient Tibet, and performed entirely in the Tibetan language. The film received Best Film Award from Calabria International Film Festival in Italy along with other awards in several film festivals, including Best Direction in Monaco Film Festival. His new TV series FIGHTING PEKING was aired during the Chinese Spring Festival of 2009 at BTV, and was rated #1 TV show of the nation. Hu made his first Chinese/English language film " Amazingi" in the fall of 2010.
Sherwood continues to pursue his passion for the stage with A.R. Gurney's Sylvia; Jean-Paul Sartre's Dirty Hands; and a modern ballet SHAKESPEARE AND HIS WOMEN. Sherwood adapted PRINCE OF THE HIMALAYAS for the stage in Shanghai and, after a successful run, the play was selected for The 9th Shanghai International Arts Festival. His most recent stage production “Myth of the Third Pole” opened to the sold-out audiences in the Spring of 2009, and was called “an instant classic’ praised by theater experts.
Between his film and theatre projects, Mr. Hu also finds the time to be a guest professor at the Shanghai Drama Academy where he supervises and mentors graduate students. Honored with the title of “Eastern Scholar” a distinguished professor. He is invited by Shanghai TV station “Art and Culture” channel hosting the only Film Critique program “Hu on Silver Screen” since 2009. Now he is the artistic director of 2010 World Expo Shanghai Pavilion, which is one of the most popular pavilions in the Expo.
Hu studied theatre and film in China and the United States of America. He has a masters degree in theater and film production from State University of New York
, and a Ph.D. in directing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa
. He also studied under Joseph Papp
at New York's Public Theater.
Hu began his professional career directing theatre, including Rashomon
, Constant Prince, The Chairman's Wife. He also acted in the lead role of Song Liling in several productions of David Henry Hwang
's M. Butterfly
.
Hu created The Legend of Prince Lanling, a lavish stage production set in ancient China; this received an Honorable Mention from the Kennedy Arts Center. He later adapted this into his first feature film, the epic Warrior Lanling, which was launched at the 1995
Telluride Film Festival
, San Sebastian Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival
and others.
In 1998, Francis Ford Coppola
and Wayne Wang
were executive producers of his second feature, one of the first co-productions between American and China. Lani Loa - The Passage
was a Hawaii
an ghost story/cop movie/spiritual love story, shot in Shanghai and Hawaii, and starred Angus Macfadyen
, Ray Bumatai
and Chris Tashima
. Tashima also starred in his next film, On The Roof (2002), a small indie
DV
ensemble piece
filmed in Pasadena, California.
In 2003, Hu returned to China to direct a 40-episode television series, Purple Jade for China Central Television
, and a 30-episode TV series "The War of Peking". He returned to epic costume period film work with Prince of the Himalayas (2007), his own adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet
, set in ancient Tibet
, and performed entirely in the Tibetan language. The film was received numerous awards including best picture, best director and best actor in several international film festivals.
Hu also has continued with theatre work, recently directing stage productions of A.R. Gurney's Sylvia
, Jean-Paul Sartre
's Dirty Hands
and a modern ballet, Shakespeare and His Women, for the 8th Shanghai International Arts Festival (2006), and a stage production of Prince of the Himalayas (2007) for the 9th Shanghai International Arts Festival.
Hu has served as guest professor at the Shanghai Drama Academy where he supervises and mentors graduate students.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, is a Chinese American
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
Theatre director and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Sherwood Hu, “one of the most exciting and dynamic directors to emerge from China”(Kirt Honycutt, “Hollywood Reporter”). Born and raised in Shanghai surrounded by a creative and artistic family, Sherwood relocated to the US to receive his Masters of Arts degree from New York State University and earned a Ph.D. in directing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also studied at The Public Theater in New York under Joseph Papp, and began his professional career directing theatre, including productions of Rashomon, Constant Prince and The Chairman's Wife.
He created The Legend of Prince Lanling, a lavish stage production which received an Honorable Mention from the Kennedy Arts Center, and which he later adapted into his first feature film. WARRIOR LANLING, an epic ritual film about ancient China. His second feature, LANI LOA, THE PASSAGE was executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola.
Hu went back to China and formed his own company “Hus Entertainment” in 2005, and produced and direct a 40-episode television series PURPLE JADE for China Central Television. He returned to epic costume period film work with PRINCE OF THE HIMALAYAS, his own adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, set in ancient Tibet, and performed entirely in the Tibetan language. The film received Best Film Award from Calabria International Film Festival in Italy along with other awards in several film festivals, including Best Direction in Monaco Film Festival. His new TV series FIGHTING PEKING was aired during the Chinese Spring Festival of 2009 at BTV, and was rated #1 TV show of the nation. Hu made his first Chinese/English language film " Amazingi" in the fall of 2010.
Sherwood continues to pursue his passion for the stage with A.R. Gurney's Sylvia; Jean-Paul Sartre's Dirty Hands; and a modern ballet SHAKESPEARE AND HIS WOMEN. Sherwood adapted PRINCE OF THE HIMALAYAS for the stage in Shanghai and, after a successful run, the play was selected for The 9th Shanghai International Arts Festival. His most recent stage production “Myth of the Third Pole” opened to the sold-out audiences in the Spring of 2009, and was called “an instant classic’ praised by theater experts.
Between his film and theatre projects, Mr. Hu also finds the time to be a guest professor at the Shanghai Drama Academy where he supervises and mentors graduate students. Honored with the title of “Eastern Scholar” a distinguished professor. He is invited by Shanghai TV station “Art and Culture” channel hosting the only Film Critique program “Hu on Silver Screen” since 2009. Now he is the artistic director of 2010 World Expo Shanghai Pavilion, which is one of the most popular pavilions in the Expo.
Hu studied theatre and film in China and the United States of America. He has a masters degree in theater and film production from State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
, and a Ph.D. in directing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
. He also studied under Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp was an American theatrical producer and director. Papp established The Public Theater in what had been the Astor Library Building in downtown New York . "The Public," as it is known, has many small theatres within it...
at New York's Public Theater.
Hu began his professional career directing theatre, including Rashomon
Rashomon (play)
Though Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon is the most famous instance, Akutagawa's stories have also been adapted for the stage.- Source material :...
, Constant Prince, The Chairman's Wife. He also acted in the lead role of Song Liling in several productions of David Henry Hwang
David Henry Hwang
David Henry Hwang is an American playwright who has risen to prominence as the preeminent Asian American dramatist in the U.S.He was born in Los Angeles, California and was educated at the Yale School of Drama and Stanford University...
's M. Butterfly
M. Butterfly
M. Butterfly is a 1988 play by David Henry Hwang loosely based on the relationship between French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu, a male Peking opera singer....
.
Hu created The Legend of Prince Lanling, a lavish stage production set in ancient China; this received an Honorable Mention from the Kennedy Arts Center. He later adapted this into his first feature film, the epic Warrior Lanling, which was launched at the 1995
1995 in film
-Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation....
Telluride Film Festival
Telluride Film Festival
The Telluride Film Festival was started in 1974 by Bill and Stella Pence, Tom Luddy and Jim Card in the town of Telluride, Colorado, United States. It is operated by the National Film Preserve....
, San Sebastian Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Festival
The Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks...
and others.
In 1998, Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
and Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang is a Chinese American film director.-Biography:Wang was born and raised in Hong Kong, and named after his father's favorite movie star, John Wayne...
were executive producers of his second feature, one of the first co-productions between American and China. Lani Loa - The Passage
Lani Loa - The Passage
Lani Loa - The Passage is a 1998 film directed by Sherwood Hu, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola, about a woman murdered on her wedding day in Hawaii who comes back to haunt her murderers...
was a Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an ghost story/cop movie/spiritual love story, shot in Shanghai and Hawaii, and starred Angus Macfadyen
Angus Macfadyen
Angus Macfadyen is a Scottish actor.Angus Macfadyen was born in Glasgow and was brought up partly in Africa, France, the Philippines and Singapore. His father was a doctor in the World Health Organisation. He was once engaged to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.Angus attended the University of...
, Ray Bumatai
Ray Bumatai
Ray Bumatai, byname of Raimund Bumatai was an American musician, singer, recording artist, and actor who worked in comedy and live entertainment in Waikiki and in live-action production and animation in Hollywood.Bumatai was born in Offenbach am Main, Germany, the older brother of stand-up...
and Chris Tashima
Chris Tashima
Chris Tashima is a Japanese American actor and director. He is co-founder of the entertainment company Cedar Grove Productions and Artistic Director of its Asian American theatre company, Cedar Grove OnStage. He is the son of U.S. Circuit Judge A. Wallace Tashima...
. Tashima also starred in his next film, On The Roof (2002), a small indie
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
DV
Digital video
Digital video is a type of digital recording system that works by using a digital rather than an analog video signal.The terms camera, video camera, and camcorder are used interchangeably in this article.- History :...
ensemble piece
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
filmed in Pasadena, California.
In 2003, Hu returned to China to direct a 40-episode television series, Purple Jade for China Central Television
China Central Television
China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
, and a 30-episode TV series "The War of Peking". He returned to epic costume period film work with Prince of the Himalayas (2007), his own adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
, set in ancient Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, and performed entirely in the Tibetan language. The film was received numerous awards including best picture, best director and best actor in several international film festivals.
Hu also has continued with theatre work, recently directing stage productions of A.R. Gurney's Sylvia
Sylvia (play)
Sylvia is a play about a dog, the couple who adopts her,and the drama that results. It was written by A. R. Gurney and first produced in 1995....
, Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
's Dirty Hands
Dirty hands
Dirty hands is a metaphor used in moral and political philosophy and everyday conversation to symbolize the sullying of one's moral standing by dealing with unsavory matters...
and a modern ballet, Shakespeare and His Women, for the 8th Shanghai International Arts Festival (2006), and a stage production of Prince of the Himalayas (2007) for the 9th Shanghai International Arts Festival.
Hu has served as guest professor at the Shanghai Drama Academy where he supervises and mentors graduate students.
Trivia
- Hu is sometimes credited as Sherwood X. Hu.
- He has a sister who is an actress and a brother who is also a filmmaker.