Taiwan's Arc Light Films has set Hsu Hsiao-Ming's Love Of May as the next film in the 'Changing China' series that it is co-producing with France's Pyramide group.

A romantic drama about the relationship between a girl from the Chinese mainland and a Taiwanese boy, the film will star Chen Bo-Lin, who also appeared in Arc Light's Blue Gate Crossing, and rising mainland actress Liu Yi-Fei. Taiwanese rock band Wu Yue Tian, aka Mayday, will also star in the film , which will be promoted by their record company Rock Records. Hsu's previous credits include Heartbreak Island and Dust Of Angels.

Principal photography is scheduled to start next month in Taiwan and the mainland province of Harbin as long as the SARS crisis doesn't interfere. Fifth generation Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang will also co-produce through rising mainland production force Century Hero Film Investment Co.

The Changing China series comprises contemporary stories from hot young Chinese directors - two each from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The first three films in the series - Wang Xiaoshuai's Beijing Bicycle, Lin Cheng-Sheng's Betelnut Beauty and Yee Chih-Yen's Blue Gate Crossing have played widely at festivals around the world.

Arc Light also produced Wang's Drifters which is screening here in Un Certain Regard. The film revolves around the relationship between a father and son living in a small town in China.

Arc Light principal Peggy Chiao is also developing Erotic, Taboo - an adaptation of the last novel written by Eileen Chang whose previous novels have been adapted by Ann Hui and Stanley Kwan.