Influential Chinese director Feng Xiaogang yesterday denied the Web report that he planned to quit the film industry and his final film would be based on a novel by a female writer from Shanghai.

 

According to the Beijing Youth Daily, Feng clarified the rumor to a Daily reporter on the phone, saying, "This is too ridiculous. Where am I supposed to make a living if I quit?" 　　

 

He recently told TV host Yang Lan on her show that he wanted to "drop the game." He said that he told his wife, Xu Fan, "I don't want to play in entertainment business any more" after a few quarrels with the media.

 

　　

 

"But that was just a joke in my family. Of course I will continue to do what I love doing," Feng said in the phone interview.

 

When asked if he had been under too much pressure recently with several heart attacks while filming in the United States, Feng answered, "I'm in good shape now. ... For me, pressure is not a problem." 　　

 

Feng was most annoyed at the Web reporting that he planned to work with a specific writer when he has no idea who she is. According to Feng, he will shoot several more films this year after The Banquet, starring Memoirs of a Geisha Zhang Ziyi. 　　

 

A director who wields major influence in the Chinese film industry, Feng is co-chairman of Huayi Brothers & Taihe Film Investment Co. Ltd. Xu Li, the vice chief of Huayi, confirmed that Feng would not retire, adding that he's a workaholic. 　　

 

(Shenzhen Daily March 9, 2006)