Director Dennie Gordon thanks her 'lucky stars'

American director Dennie Gordon talks about her Chinese-language movie "My Lucky Star" on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. (Photo: Yao Lan/Ecns.cn)

(ECNS) -- American director Dennie Gordon's 2013 movie "My Lucky Star" will soon greet Chinese audiences in September.

Starring Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and singer/actor Wang Leehom, the long-awaited Chinese-language movie has made Gordon the first American woman to direct a feature for the domestic market in China.

"It made me really excited and I loved the challenge," says Gordon. "I always like to try to do something that I've never done before."

Gordon says "My Lucky Star" is a prequel to 2009's "Sophie's Revenge." This time around, Sophie goes on a crazy multi-city adventure in which she must learn to be a spy.

"I am excited that Ziyi and Leehom have become very good friends, and you know, every director dreams of their stars having chemistry, because that's what makes a romantic comedy work," says Gordon.

Gordon says she is also happy with the creative freedom she has had in China, and has not encountered any censorship problems while adding a Hollywood style to make the movie more international.

As a veteran director, Gordon has directed many successful television productions such as "The Office" and "30 Rock." In recent years, she has focused more on filmmaking.

Gordon says she is thrilled to be working with some of the most creative talents in the business, and thinks highly of Wang Leehom for his writing, directing and acting.

"We talked endlessly. Leehom is the kind of artist that has so much talent. And his developing talent will let him go on to be a fantastic director," she says.

About the development of China's film industry, Gordon says the market is growing stronger and stronger. She adds that she still has two films in development in China, including one from the "Go LaLa Go" film series.

"My Lucky Star" is presented by Bona Entertainment and will hit screens in China on September 17. It will also be released in some major metro areas of North America at the same time.