Seven actors encouraged to take turn behind camera

Web portal Sohu.com has joined forces with China Film Group Corporation and cell phone manufacturer Nokia for the 7 Film project, which centers on seven A-list Chinese actors and their dreams of directing.

The seven actors - Liu Ye (pictured), Huang Lei, Zhang Mo, Li Guangjie, Wang Xuebing, Wu Xiubo and Huang Bo - will each direct a short film, financed by the organizers.

Liu Ye is now looking for scripts among his fans via Sina Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter. Huang Bo, a popular comedian, may direct a short comedy.

The finished works will be shown on the video channel Sohu.com.

Festival of theater works to mark CPC milestone

To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Culture will host a festival of theater works in Beijing.

Lasting for a month from June 25, the festival will present 27 works from all over the country, including Cantonese Opera, Qinqiang Opera and Huangmei Opera. The realistic works will reflect the lives of Chinese people in the past 90 years.

The performances will be held at different theaters in Beijing, such as Chang'an Grand Theater and Poly Theater. The subsidized tickets will cost less than 50 yuan.

Artists from across the Straits to share music stage

Midi Music Festival, the oldest and most established outdoor music festival on the Chinese mainland, and Hohaiyan Rock Festival, the annual music festival of Taiwan, will share their lineups at the upcoming 2011 Ocean Midi Music Festival, to be held from Aug 4 to 7 in Rizhao, Shandong province.

More than 40 musicians and bands from the mainland, including Cui Jian and Tang Dynasty, will share the stage with artists from Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Beijing-based rock band Miserable Faith will perform at the two-day Hohaiyan Rock Festival, from July 10 to 12.

Philanthropist reaches out to mainland teachers' colleges

Hong Kong entrepreneur and philanthropist Zhong Jianguo has donated 46.8 million yuan ($7.2 million) to eight teachers' universities on the Chinese mainland through the Mingde Normal Education Fund.

The fund is aimed at helping morally upright and academically talented students and teachers at universities. It will also provide sustained funding to improve the training of teachers at the grassroots level, in the country's central and western regions.

The fund is expected to benefit 20,000 students and teachers between 2011 and 2024.

The eight beneficiary institutions are Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Northeast Normal University, Central China Normal University, Shaanxi Normal University, Southwest University, Hunan Normal University and Guizhou Normal University.

A river tells its stories through symphony music

To mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, a symphony concert Yangtze River was held recently at Poly Theater.

Produced by Chongqing Opera House and Chongqing Symphony Orchestra, the symphony consists of 12 chapters and tells the story of the origin of the Yangtze River, the regions it passes through and the local people's lives. The combination of music and multimedia techniques used both Western and traditional Chinese instruments.

China Daily