Clara Law to direct 'Like a Dream'

Romantic mystery stars Daniel Wu, Yuan Quan

By PATRICK FRATER

Macau-born helmer Clara Law, who now lives and works in Australia, is to return to China for romancer “Like a Dream.”

Story, which shifts between Shanghai, Taipei and New York, follows an American-born Chinese who becomes involved in a romantic mystery. Pic’s star Daniel Wu (“The Banquet”) will also be associate producer. He co-stars with Yuan Quan.

“Dream” is produced on a $3 million budget by Law’s long-time partner Eddie Fong with veteran Taiwanese producer Peggy Chiao of Arc Light Films.

Chinese conglom Bona Group has taken local rights and may expand that to include world sales under its new Bona Intl. wing. Yuan is repped by the recently launched Bona Yinglong talent agency.

Law, who unveiled the project on Sunday at the Shanghai Film Festival before returning to location scouting nearby, said pic is in pre-production ahead of a skedded August to October shoot.

“The idea for the film sprang from a conversation I had with a friend who remarked how much Shanghai resembles New York these days,” Law told Daily Variety.