Into the Rainbow (titled: 奇迹：追逐彩虹; The Wonder: Chasing Rainbows) is a fantasy adventure film directed by Norman Stone, co-directed by Gary Wing-Lun Mak, and written by Ashley Sidaway and Robert Sidaway. The film stars Willow Shields, Leo Wu, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Joe Chen, Jacqueline Joe, Archie Kao and Christy Chung. The film is a co-production between China and New Zealand.[2][1] The film was shot in 3D.
| Into the Rainbow | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpeg) Teaser poster | |
| Chinese | 奇迹：追逐彩虹 |
| Directed by | Norman Stone Gary Mak |
| Written by | Ashley Sidaway Robert Sidaway Lindsay Edmonds |
| Produced by | Iain Brown Richard Fletcher Emma Slade Zhou Difei |
| Starring | Willow Shields Maria Grazia Cucinotta |
| Cinematography | Richard Bluck |
| Edited by | Peter Roberts |
| Music by | Tom McLeod |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Stellar Mega Films (China) Rialto Distribution (New Zealand)[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 88 minutes |
| Countries | China New Zealand |
| Language | English |
| Budget | US$20 million[1] |
Plot
editTwo troubled teenage girls, Rachel and Grace, discover an incredible natural phenomenon and find themselves transported inside a super-powered rainbow to China. Due to this, they disturbed nature's balance and are chased down by an obsessed scientist and her mysterious international organisation. Using Rachel's connection to the energy of the rainbow and with help from their new friend Xiao Cheng, they must race against time to restore nature's balance before catastrophic storms destroy the entire Pacific and threaten the world.[1]
Cast
edit- Willow Shields as Rachel
- Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Julia Bianchi
- Leo Wu as Xiao Cheng
- Jacqueline Joe as Grace
- Joe Chen as Lian
- Archie Kao as Song
- Christy Chung as Mei
- Emmett Skilton as Tom Williams
- Tania Nolan as Lindsay
- Bruce Hopkins as Major
- Chelsie Preston Crayford as Susan
- Peter Feeney as Scientist
- Colin Moy as Ben
- Tessa Rao as Koia
- Sophie McIntosh as Koia's girl
- Sylvia Rands as Gini
- Talia Pua as Sea Shore customer
- Scarlett Sills as young Rachel
Production
editThe film was shot in Qingdao, China and Auckland, New Zealand.[3][4]
Release
editThe film was shown at the TIFF Kids International Film Festival during April 2017.[5][6][7]
The film received its United States. Premiere with a Gala Screening at the Savannah Film Festival on 4 November 2017.[8][9] and was Opening Night film of the Asia Pacific Film Festival in Auckland on 28 October 2017.[10][11]
After a limited theatrical release in China during April 2019,[12] the film was scheduled for a nationwide release on January 25, 2020, during the Chinese New Year holidays.[13] Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the release was delayed and the film made available through the Smart Cinema online app.[14][15] It was subsequently announced that the film's theatrical release in China was scheduled for April 5, 2020.[16]
Novel
editA novel titled The Wonder, Into The Rainbow was written by Robert Sidaway and Ashley Sidaway based on the story and screenplay.[17] The book includes a foreword written by Willow Shields. It was first published by Steam Press, part of the Eunoia Publishing Group, in October 2017. In 2019 it was made available as an ebook in both English and Simplified Chinese.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Patrick Frater (29 October 2015). "Archie Kao Joins China-New Zealand Fantasy Film 'The Wonder' (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.com. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 November 2016). "AFM: Metro International heads 'Into The Rainbow'". Screen Daily. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ Andreas Wiseman. "'The Wonder' 3D fantasy heads for China shoot". Screen Daily. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ Variety Staff (4 November 2016). "Wanda's Qingdao Complex Is Set to Lure Producers With Hefty 40% Incentive". Variety. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ Sonya Davidson (15 March 2017). "TIFF Kids Film Fest is coming to Toronto and here's what we're excited to see!". Toronto Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
- ^ "Into the Rainbow". TIFF Kids International. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
- ^ Courtney Small (2 March 2017). "Smurfs, Ballerina, and more play 20th Anniversary of TIFF Kids International Film Festival". Cinema Axis. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
- ^ Bruce Haring (2 October 2017). "SCAD Savannah Film Festival Lineup Set". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "SCAD Savannah Film Festival Schedule". Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Asia Pacific Film Festival 2017". Asia Pacific Film Festival 2017 Schedule. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
- ^ "Auckland to Host 5th NZ Asia Pacific Film Festival". Retrieved 26 October 2017.
- ^ "9 Foreign Films in Chengdu". Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ "A Look at 2020 Chinese New Year Films". China Insider. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ "China's Virus Crisis Hands Initiative to Video Streamers, Games Firms". variety.com. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ "Smart Cinema release". Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ "China Theaters Begin To Reopen". variety.com. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ Sidaway, Robert; Sidaway, Ashley (2017). The Wonder Into The Rainbow. ISBN 9781978458550. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "The Wonder book". Five Dogs Books. Retrieved 30 March 2020.