Zhang Weiping
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Zhang Weiping (张伟平) is Chinese film producer and supervisor. He is currently chairman of the board of directors of Beijing New Pictures Film Co. Ltd. He is famous for his cooperation with internationally acclaimed movie director Zhang Yimou. He has promoted and produced almost all of Zhang Yimou's films. Thanks to his broad vision, resolve and creativity, Zhang Yimou's films have become well-known all over the world. However, on Aug. 21, 2012, Zhang Weiping confirmed the widely circulated rumor that his partnership with Zhang Yimou was on the verge of ending.
Born in Oct. 8, 1958 in a military family in Beijing, Zhang Weiping grew up in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Majoring in pharmacy, starting in 1977 he worked as a pharmacist for the Beijing No. 4 People's Hospital for almost 10 years. From 1987-1989 he served as an administrative manager for the Beijing branch of the German-based electronics and electrical giant Siemens. Starting in 1989, Zhang ventured into the real estate, aviation food service, and medical industries, entering into an emerging class of ultra-wealthy businessmen in Chinese mainland by the early 1990s.
Zhang met Zhang Yimou in a dinner party in 1989 and their cooperation first started with "Keep Cool" in 1996. The release of 2002's "Hero" hit a record high of 250 million yuan at domestic box office. Its global box office stood at US$177 million, resonating strongly in the world's film circles. The two Zhangs have since been called the "golden partners" by industry insiders.
The following are the main works which Zhang Yimou directed and Zhang Weiping invested in:
"Keep Cool" (有话好好说) in 1996,
"Not One Less" (一个都不能少) in 1998,
"The Road Home" (我的父亲母亲) in 1999,
"Happy Times" (幸福时光) in 2000,
"Hero" (英雄) in 2002,
"House of Flying Daggers" (十面埋伏) in 2003,
"Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles" (千里走单骑) in 2004,
"Curse of the Golden Flower" (满城尽带黄金甲) in 2006,
"A Simple Noodle Story" (三枪拍案) in 2009,
"Under the Hawthorn Tree" (山楂树之恋) in 2010,
"The Flowers of War" (金陵十三钗) in 2011.
