[2014.08.01] DONNIE YEN MISSES 4 ALARM STUDIO FIRE

Donnie Yen is studying the script daily

Director Yuen Woo Ping and Donnie Yen discuss the details

Michelle Yeoh
courtesy of on.cc

"The Strongest in the Universe" Donnie Yen Chi Tan is in Auckland, New Zealand for the Yuen Woo Ping directed Hollywood film CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON 2, which yesterday morning ran into trouble as the studio had a four alarm fire. Two studios were engulfed in flames and the damage was estimated to be over 10 million.

Reportedly, Yen Chi Tan commuted between the two studios for shoots and practices everyday. When the fire took place Chi Tan just completed the day's shoot and returned to the hotel. In less than three hours the studio was on fire and Chi Tan luckily was spared. When he heard that the studio was on fire, he immediately asked his assistant to check if any worker or actor was injured. When he learned that there was no casualty he breathed a sigh of relief, but he could not sleep due to the tragedy.

Chi Tan said, "When I learned that no one was hurt I was much more at ease, but it truly is tragic that both studios were burnt. I can only console myself and say that fire burns thriving ground. I hope from now on everything will go smoothly and thrive. My hotel is only around half a hour from the studio. Everyday I would go to the shoot and the studio next door to work out and practice." Chi Tan continued, the production has not been affected. When he returned to another studio at the location, many firefighters were still on hand. He also provided photos of his earlier sets.

In order to handle the fire, the department sent 18 fire trucks and 60 firefighters and spent several hours to put it out. Reportedly a very elegant set that cost over US$1 million was built in one of the burnt studios. In the other studio was advanced fitness equipment and food for the actors' practice, which was worth HK$ 1 million. Now everything is gone. A conservative estimate of the damage would be over HK$ 10 million.

CROUCHING 2 stars Yen Chi Tan and Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King). Chi Tan played the villain Lone Wolf. Reportedly the U.S. television series GLEE's star Harry Shum Jr. also had a part. Yuen Woo Ping is the director. Film tycoon Harvey Weinstein and X-MEN film series producer Ralph Winter are the producers.