In San Francisco yesterday (from left to
right), William H. Macy, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen and John Travolta look on
with admiration as they are entertained by youngsters from a local school who
serenade them by dancing in traditional Chinese dress and costume. The
four actors star in the upcoming Touchstone Pictures film "Wild Hogs", and
arrived in town on February 8 to celebrate the The Year Of The Pig, which begins
on February 18. (All photos by: Omar P.L. Moore)
It may have rained, it may have poured and it may have been dreary, but it
rained nothing but pigs in San Francisco yesterday, as the cast of the new
Touchstone Pictures film "Wild Hogs" came to The Embarcadero's Pier 27 to
promote both the film (which opens in North America on Friday, March 2) and
herald the start of the Chinese New Year, which is this year is The Year Of The
Pig, and begins on February 18.
Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy were serenaded by
dancers in traditional Chinese dress and costume and each said a few words
afterwards. Allen joked, "I want to thank the [Chinese] Chamber of
Commerce and the city of San Francisco for bringing forth a beautiful day!"
He added, "what a great dance -- I know very little, but I loved what I just
saw." Seeking to weave the movie's title into the Chinese New Year name,
Allen said: "we're gonna change it from The Year Of The Pig, if you don't mind,
to The Year Of The Hog." Co-star William H. Macy, who will shoot his
directorial debut this summer called "Keep Coming Back", a "coming-of-age story"
as he would later tell The Popcorn Reel, said that "it's great to see the rich
cultural diversity in this city and it's absolutely magnificent the way the
Chinese New Year Parade unifies and brings people together over one million
people."
John Travolta thanked the city of San Francisco and the Chamber of Commerce (and
later said that he "love[s] the people of San Francisco"). Travolta
introduced Martin Lawrence, who whipped the enthusiastic crowd into a frenzy
with some dog-barking shouts. Mr. Lawrence also got down to the bottom
line of the foursome's appearance at the special press/invitation-only private
event: "I just wanted to say, 'Happy New Years' and please, go see the movie.
God bless."
Each actor then proceeded to bang the ceremonial gong to bring in the Chinese
New Year.
"Rain is good," said Ringo Wong, President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce,
as he spoke to a crowd that included some local schoolchildren. Mr. Wong
added that rain symbolized good luck and that for the Chinese people for the
upcoming New Year, good omens would spring forth. "It's going to be a good
year," he said. Mr. Wong also banged the gong.
"Wild Hogs" is the story of four middle-aged suburban friends who take a road
trip on their motorcycles and enliven their hum-drum lives on an adventure,
along the way getting into a confrontation with a real-life biker gang called
The Del Fuegos, who don't take too kindly to their hi-jinks on the road.
Walt Becker directs the comedy-adventure, which will be released by Touchstone
Pictures in the United States and Canada on March 2.
John Travolta listens to Chinese Chamber of Commerce
President Ringo Wong yesterday at The Embarcadero's Pier 27 in San Francisco, as
he speaks about The Year Of The Pig, which is the Chinese New Year that begins
on February 18. San Francisco, whose population numbers almost 800,000, is
home to more than 285,000 Asian residents.
