Renowned Chinese film-maker Chen Kaige is going to shoot his first TV commercial for a domestic household appliance manufacturer. And surprisingly, he will be sitting in for another famous director, Zhang Yimou.

Chen Kaige, who is busy shooting his latest martial arts movie, The Promise, has agreed to shoot a TV ad for the Guangdong-based TCL, a leading Chinese TV and cell phone maker.

Interestingly enough, last year it was Zhang Yimou who directed an advertisement for the company featuring a popular South Korean actress.

The reason why Cheng Kaige replaces Zhang Yimou as director of the advertisement has so far been kept a secret.

Sources have revealed that Chen Kaige will introduce a visual heroine named Meng'er, or Dreamer, for the TV commercial, a bit like the synthetic actress in Al Pacino's movie Simone.

(CRI April 28, 2004)