Chinese director Lu Chuan broke the silence on Monday to respond to all unfriendly rumors, shortly after inking a deal to win bulk investment for his upcoming tribute film to the 70th anniversary of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre.

Rumors have been suggesting that preparation for Nanking! Nanking! kept encountering setbacks, and that the director was struggling to find investors for his estimated budget of 80 million yuan (US$10.5 million).

Lu Chuan admitted to the Beijing-based Star Daily that preparation for the film had not been going smoothly, but that four giant film investors, including the China Film Group Corporation, have joined hands to meet his budget.

The Kekexili director is now hoping to begin shooting in August. Lead cast members are yet to be named.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong film makers, Stanley Tong and Yim Ho, are also planning their own work on the infamous incident.

The Nanjing Massacre occurred in December 1937 when Japanese aggressor troops occupied the eastern Chinese city and killed over 300,000 citizens.

(CRI.cn June 26, 2007)