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• I love Botswana!
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  Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 2:08PM / Standard Entry

  I love Botswana!
  
  It wasn't my first time to Botswana, but I learned so much more about this lovely country the second time around and have come to appreciate it even further.  We were lucky enough to be around for the 44th anniversary of their independence.  We didn't get to stay for all of the fireworks but we did get to see the pride the Botswanans have in their country.  And rightfully so!  Only 44 years ago Botswana was a poor country suffering many of the same problems that exist throughout Africa, however, Botswana was lucky enough to find diamonds within their boarders and, thanks to a government that was not corrupt and cared for its people, it's now a fast growing, thriving country and a shining example to other African countries.
  
  There are malls and universities, but they have still managed to keep a huge portion of their land reserved for the wildlife.  In Botswana you won't see as many tourists on your game drives as other countries.  Botswana has adopted a policy of high quality, low volume tourism, keeping the reserves less damaged and untouched.
  
  It is, however, the people that make Botswana a wonderful place.  Unlike so many other countries in Africa, you don't have to worry about getting pick pocketed or cheated out of your money or about your safety.  The people of Botswana are not violent and do not like confrontation.  Granted, you can't always get exactly what you want all the time there (fast internet, for one thing) but the people are very generous and accommodating.
  
  Working with some of the orphans at the media arts camp put on by the Pearson Foundation was one of the highlights of my trip.  In this camp, run by Erik Gregory and Andy Lewis,  they were taught how to use computers, take still photos and use digital video cameras.  None of them had ever touched a computer or video camera before.  The wonders of a digital camera where you could immediately see the results was so amusing to them they constantly erupted in fits of laughter seeing the photos of themselves on the camera monitor.  They were able to take the cameras home to shoot as much footage as the camera could hold, and the results were amazing.  We were able to see a side of the orphans that would normally take years for them to show any stranger.  They and their fellow orphans felt right at home when one of their own was behind the camera and they hammed it up.  You can see some of their photos at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8QcNGrJw5cs96.
  
  I look forward to returning to Botswana in the near future and take in even more the lovely place has to offer.
  
  
  
  
  

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• Blog: Monday, Oct 1
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  Monday, Oct 1, 2007 3:09PM / Standard Entry

  Finally finished shooting "The Tournament" in Bulgaria a couple of weeks ago.  It was a very long 2 months of work plagued with accidents, it's amazing we were able to finish the film at all, much less on time.
  
  One of the last days of shooting with Ving Raimes, I was watching CNN International when I saw a story about Ving's assistant back in Los Angeles.  Apparently, his  body was found in the front yard with bite marks from his dog.  Needless to say, Ving was devastated and needed to get back to Los Angeles right away to speak with the police.  As it turned out, it was not the dogs who killed his assistant, but some sort of heart attack or stroke.
  
  A couple of weeks after that incident, we had an accident on set that left one of our P. A.'s, Shero, with two broken legs.  One of the stunts they were having problems with was a automobile stunt in which a huge truck had to be flipped while coming to a screeching halt.  They tried the stunt for two nights in a row failing to complete it.  On the third night one of giant pistons,  used to flip the truck, accidentally shot outward into the crew who was standing alongside the road watching and recording the shot on their cameras and phones.  The piston spun around into the crowd managing to narrowly miss one of the producers, and rammed our P. A.  in the knees breaking both his legs.  Shero has had his legs operated on and it will be at least 6 months before he can walk again.
  
  Despite all of the accidents I still managed to have a terrific time shooting in Bulgaria.  The crew on this set were amazing.  There wasn't anything they were not willing to do to make this film happen.  The Bulgarian stunt men were some of the craziest stuntmen I've ever seen.  The acrobatic skills which some  of these guys possessed was unbelievable.   I had a great time in Bulgaria and made some great friends.
  
  
  
  

  
  

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• My first day in Prague
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  Monday, Jul 30, 2007 4:33PM / Standard Entry

  Got to Prague in the afternoon.  The driver who picked me up from the airport was really sweet but didn't speak English.  He eagerly took me all around the city and I couldn't explain to him that I needed to get to the apartment right away to meet Michael and Kauila who took a train in from Berlin to meet me.  We finally met up at the apartment and I found out that Michael hadn't been to sleep or even showered since the morning before.  He'd gone out clubbing all night in Berlin and got home in the morning just in time to take the early train to Prague.  He managed to stay awake long enough to show us the square in the Old Town and have a bite to eat.  I went way off my diet when I ordered the duck breast with dumplings and sauer kraut.  Then I  
  went deep when I had to try the apple strudel with whipped cream.   
  The waitress insisted that I have it with the ice cream and took it upon herself to serve it up that way even if I didn't ask for it.  My stomach hurts so much I feel like I'm going to explode.  Damn lactose intolerance.  No more falling off the wagon here.  I gotta remember that I'm here in Europe to work.
  
  The old square has this a funny Astrological Clock that everyone waits to see strike on the hour for some sort of performance.  So on the way back from buying groceries to stock up our kitchen we stopped
  15 minutes before the hour to watch the clock.  Tons of folks were already gathered there staring up at the clock in anticipation of the delightful performance we were about to be treated to.  Just about 2 minutes before the hour it started to rain.  I insisted we stay and watch even if we didn't have any umbrellas because we had already invested the other 13 minutes standing there staring up at that stupid clock.  It even began to thunder a bit and I was holding the plastic grocery bag full of food above my head when the clock finally struck 9:00PM.  By then we were soaked.  But I was ready for the magnificent performance which I was told would consist of dancing skeletons and a must see in Prague.  The whole thing only lasted for about 30 seconds and all it was was a bunch of mannequins going  
  around in a circle and waving out the tiny window up top!    That's  
  it!  We waited around in the rain for that!?!  I couldn't have been more disappointed.  Lesson learned.  Don't ask the guy who has been up for the last 40 hours if it's going to be worth it.
  
  Michael got home and immediately began snoring when he stepped into  
  his room.  I wasn't sure he was even going to make it up the stairs.   
  He's in the attic room that has a windy stairs that wraps around a pole.  Sure hope he doesn't have to wake up in the middle of the night to pee.
  
  Can't wait to see what the rest of Prague has to offer in the morning.  So far it's all pretty magnificent.  Like a fairy tale or Disneyland, but real.  It's hard to remember to be careful of pick pockets when there's so much to admire.
  
  Wish you were here!
  
  Kelly
  
  
  
  

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• Bulgaria update
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  Saturday, Jul 7, 2007 12:42PM / Standard Entry

  The flight from L. A. to London was amazing.  We flew first class on Virgin Atlantic.  The seats folded down to full beds and we each had our own little cubby hole.  I got a massage on the flight.  Not a very good one mind you.  Should have opted for the much needed manicure instead.  Managed to sleep 8 of the 10 1/2 hours of flight.   
  But then had a miserable 7 hour lay over at Heathrow.  I was hoping to visit a friend while in London, but due to the high security we weren't allowed to leave the airport because we had luggage checked through.  So I ended up spending way more money than I should have at the shops in the airport.
  
  Bulgaria is quite dreary and poor.  The buildings are mostly old and grey.  The only manicured lawns I've seen in the place so far are here at the hotel and at the American Embassy.  The embassy is a very large, new building with lots of security.  Somewhat imposing.  The shopping center is quite modern, too.  The young people seem to spend a lot of money on their fashion.  The t.v. channels are filled with fashion and music videos.  Interesting.
  
  I'm glad my cousin, Michael, was able to come along to assist and cook for me.  The food here is, as I suspected, mostly bread, sausages, cheese and over cooked veggies.  Makes it difficult since I've been on a cleansing diet for the past 3 1/2 months now.  Got pretty sick after the marathon and my acupuncturist put me on a diet free of wheat, dairy, alcohol, sugar, white rice (only brown), anything fermented (like soy sauce, miso, or vinegar), tomatoes, corn, red meat, and a whole bunch of other stuff that's supposed to be off limits until my system gets stronger.  We have a driver who has taken us shopping for food and things for the apartment.  We went to a Costco-like store and a big grocery store.  I was surprised to find a small health food section in the grocery store and soy milk at the Costco place.  What a relief.  We flew first class so we were able to bring 3 bags each.  I brought 2 suitcases of clothes and packed one full of food from home.  Did manage to forget my camera though.  My friend, Krista, whose staying at my apartment for the next month, is FedExing it to me.  As usual, packed way too much clothes.  Should have packed more food.
  
  The apartment isn't too bad.  Not luxurious but comfortable enough.  I did have to ask them for a microwave oven though.  We have a washer in the unit but no drier.  Spoiled American, huh?  We have to hang everything on a rack outside on our balcony.  Very old school.  We only have 2 burners on our stove, too.  But it's the modern kind that's completely flat.  Michael's been making some really great healthy stuff on just 2 burners anyway.  We get a free breakfast at the hotel every day, but the only thing I can really eat there are the eggs.  I've been cheating a bit and eating the yogurt with some muesli, but I've been paying with a sore stomach.  Lactose intolerant.
  
  Lots of stray dogs in this city.  A cute, friendly Golden retriever sits in front of our apartment building.  I haven't seen it yet, but my make up and hair guy, Kauila, bought food for it yesterday at the Costco place.  Apparently the dogs are a real problem here.  Some have rabies, but most do not.  The people here are friendly with them and feed them, but won't take them in.  So they just continue to multiply.  They think it's cruel to catch them and fix them and they don't want to exterminate them either.  Quite a dilemma.
  
  Found out something quite unusual about Bulgarian culture today.   They have opposite head movements for yes and no.  They shake their heads for "yes" and nod their heads for "no".  Someone in our crew got stuck in town when she went from cab to cab asking if they'd take her to the hotel.  Everyone kept shaking their heads "yes", but she took it as a "no" and couldn't get back for hours.  It's a good thing they told us that one!
  
  Just found out that I have 3 weeks off in a row.  Don't think I should go home in case they need me back immediately.  Plus the time change is already killing me.  I will more than likely go somewhere around here in Europe.  Maybe visit Bryan Singer and Chris Lee shooting "Valkyrie" in Germany or some friends in Romania shooting the next "Narnia" film.  We'll see.
  
  (Also posted some pix from the Yellow Magazine photo shoot.)
  
  

  
  

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• Friday,July 06,2007(taken from the Official Kelly Hu Website)
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  Friday, Jul 6, 2007 12:01AM / Standard Entry

  2007 has been a hectic year for Kelly so far. She recently completed filming the thriller "Stilleto" starring Stana Katic, Tom Berenger, Tom Sizemore, Michael Biehn, William Forsythe, Dominique Swain, D. B. Sweeney and writer Paul Sloan. Kelly plays the detective looking ot hunt down an assassin whose seemingly random killings puzzle her lover, a wealthy Greek crime boss (Tom Berenger "Training Day"), whose organization is jeopardized by his love for her and the return of his ruthless criminal cohort (Michael Biehn of "Grindhouse").
  
  After that, Kelly went on to shooting "The Farmhouse", a psychological thriller set in the modern day mid-west. We follow a young couple, played by William Lee Scott ("Pearl Harbor") and Jamie Brown ("The Notebook"), as they leave their everyday lives behind and head out to a new beginning; starting over from scratch. After becoming stranded in an isolated Wine Vineyard in the middle of nowhere, the young couple is forced to face the secrets they are running from, all the while trying to escape the malicious intent of the Vineyard mysterious inhabitants, Kelly and Steven Weber ("Wings," "The Shining").
  
  Working on her third film back to back, Kelly is in Bulgaria preparing for her lead role along with Ian Somerhalder, Robert Carlyle, and Ving Rhames in "The Tournament". Every ten years in an unsuspecting town, The Tournament takes place. A battle royale between 40 of the world's deadliest assassins. The last man standing receiving the $10,000,000 cash prize and the title of Worlds No1, which itself carries the legendary million dollar a bullet price tag. All fights are monitored 24hrs a day on redirected CCTV cameras and broadcast secretly to a ring of high stake billionaire gamblers. A gritty, multistranded action-thriller, The Tournament brings together international killers from every imaginable discipline in a blood-bathed contest to the death. We follow the competition favourites through stories of love, betrayal, revenge and redemption as they finally discover the true value of life.
  
  

  
  

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