What's for dinner? Fan Bingbing is for dinner.

Fan Bingbing got together with co-stars Jiang Jinfu and Arif Lee to hype their upcoming release "One Night Surprise".

Ms. Fan shared the dinner table with a large dead fish:

Pretended to thump on a bass fiddle:

Looked seductively at her abs-flashing co-star:

And looked as if she was ready to get down to business (hint: she--or her character--probably doesn't since "One Night Surprise" is billed as a romantic comedy):

Sina Slide

Marie Claire awards in Shanghai

"Marie Claire", generally the fifth or sixth most popular fashion magazine in each region in which it publishes, had a bash in Shanghai a few days ago. It was an awards ceremony, giving meaningless awards to people who probably didn't know they were in line for one until their agents called to tell them they were working that evening.

The red carpet/photo-op was pretty interesting though, with several of our favorites looking great, none more so than Gao Yuan-Yuan in a Stella McCartney gorgeous green silhouette dress with mesh panels:

Coco Lee vamped it up in a dress with a (very) asymmetrical neckline and split skirt:

Coco had a backstage wardrobe malfunction attended to by an extremely alert seamstress using huge clothing clips while getting her nose powdered:

Li Xiaolu (Lu Lu) brought her cheekbones:

But somehow missed being included in the Celebrity side boob continuing feature in the Huffington Post:

Tiffany Tang was lovely in frou-frou chiffon while Yang Mi had a slightly edgier look in black leather:

Neither looked thrilled to be there in this shot:

Ni Ni dazzled with her million yuan smile:

And was so well coordinated that the trim on her handbag matched her lipstick--strange but true:

A good time was had by some. Sina; Eiffel in Seoul; Huffington Post

And now for something completely different

Ashley Winters, a very talented young singer (and my youngest brother's daughter) has released what I hope is the first of many albums. It is available for download or on CD from CDBaby and you should buy it. Now.

Do Chinese censors have a self-deprecating sense of humor?

Probably not. Censors everywhere take their work (and themselves) very seriously and have no sense of humor at all although one is tempted to think they might regarding the PRC release of "Titanic". Kate Winslet was cropped to remove any hint of naughty bits in the nude portrait scene in the watery epic. The Hollywood Reporter cited an unnamed Chinese official giving the reason: "considering the vivid 3D effects, we fear that viewers may reach out their hands for a touch and thus interrupt other people's viewing".

The Hollywood Reporter

This why Li Bingbing gets paid a lot of money for 30 minutes at a corporate event.

When a company (one whose name we will never know since Sina took their typical ham-fisted approach in covering its identity) hires Li Bingbing to appear at a convention, sales conference or product launch they get the value for their money. That she is a star in China and has some substantial roles in Hollywood movies will assure some press coverage but for impressing the audience of dealers/customers/employees, few do better than she.

She hits the stage with a beaming with a big smile:

Or with a just sexy enough sidelong glance:

She will be happy to open a curtain to show your wonderful new product:

Happy to share a laugh with the audience:

She will look shocked--no doubt at intelligence, hard work and sublime beauty shown by everyone involved with the event sponsor:

Li will look sincerely interested no matter how boring/long-winded/self aggrandizing the questions and comments are:

And finally really amazed at the wonder of it all:

Looks like a sponsor will get what he pays for.

Sina

Tang Wei has been seen and photographed over the past few weeks in Hong Kong while shooting Michael Mann's tentatively titled "Cyber". She is joined by her "Lust, Caution" co-star Wang Leehom and hulking Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, who plays a white guy.

CRI English; One Asian World

Christy Chung gets out of a limousine, walks

The gang at Yahoo China was kind enough to move some pictures of Christy Chung arriving at an event at Shenzhen Satellite TV. The images are accompanied by a short article with the refreshing lack of context that characterizes much of the Chinese celebrity coverage--at least that fraction that makes its way onto the screens of western fans--although Christy Chung in a short skirt, stilettos and a semi-transparent top creates her own frame of reference. The guy in the shorts and yellow trainers seems to be in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time.

Yahoo China

Gao Yuanyuan busy on the commercial/diplomatic front

Gao Yuanyuan was recently was named California's official tourism ambassador to mainland China. Her duties will be to hype the attractions of the Golden State that will encourage even greater numbers of mainland Chinese to book a trip that includes Universal Studios, Disneyland and Fisherman's Wharf by appearing in commercials and posing for photographs that run on Chinese websites. As the representative of the California almond growers for the past couple of years Gao Yuanyuan has some experience with having her picture taken while advocating international trade.

The new ambassador's official portrait:

Here are a couple of pictures made to look like tourist snapshots (other than being properly focused, exposed and composed) that show the uncrowded splendor of California shopping areas:

Two model type shots, one jumping on a beach, the other serving as a backdrop for yummy strawberries--another potential sponsorship, perhaps.

For the almond growers she is gamboling through an almond grove while being filmed for a commercial. For some reason the image that the PR agency moved was focused on the film cameraman and not the spokesperson or even an almond tree.

California almonds--the snack for those awkward social occasions where no one looks at anyone else:

or when you want to eat just one:

China Daily; L.A. Times; Xiaman

Zhang Ziyi and Liu Ye given French honor

Zhang Ziyi and Liu Ye were made Chevaliers in the Order of Arts and Letters by the government of France at a ceremony in Beijing. Established in 1957, the Order recognizes significant contributions to the arts and literature and has been bestowed upon such luminaries as T.S. Eliot, Elisabeth Söderström, Václav Havel and Wong Kar-wai.

Zhang Ziyi accepting her new medal:

Posing with Liu Ye:

Congratulations from John Woo:

Zhang Ziyi is part of the semi-official family at the Cannes Film Festival. She was on the Camera d'Or jury in 2006 and the jury for Un Certain Regard in 2013 when she stayed a few days after her duties were officially over in order to present the Golden Camera award to Anthony Chen for his debut film "Ilo Ilo". Not sure what Liu Ye's connection to the land of Liberté, égalité, fraternité is his marriage to acclaimed photographer Anaïs Martane.

People's Daily; Sina Englsih; China Daily; IFA Gallery

Pace Wu in Paris for Giambattista Valli and Ulyana Sergeenko

If past is prologue we will be seeing a lot of Pace Wu at the Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Fall 2013 shows. Designers want her in the front row and photographers love to take her picture. She started off with Giambattista Valli and Ulyana Sergeenko, looking fetching at both appearances plus a photo-shoot that took advantage of the Parisian light during the "golden hour" just before twilight.

For example here:

There is the usual standing around and looking at the camera stuff of course:

Here she is in (and with) Ulyana Sergeenko; not sure if the bro in the open necked shirt is a bodyguard (Sergeenko is the trophy wife of a Russian oligarch) or just a random photobomber:

She know how to sell a look even given the insalubrious setting, as in, "Go stand in that corner, away from the rabble at the front entrance. Face the wall and make it look great."

Sina; Zimbio; RCFA