Jacky Wu
On March 30, 2006, A new reality show called "China Kungfu Star Global Contest" K-Star was announced in China, a joint production by Shaolin Temple and Shenzhen Media Group. Its aim, to search for potential Kungfu stars globally to find a new spokesperson of Chinese Kungfu for new generations. As Peter Hsiao, a spokesperson for K-Star described it, "The Shaolin Temple has an open position on really taking their heritage, through the special form of this television platform, to communicate their message of the unity of movement and emotion. Their participation has really made it unique." The first season of K-STAR or 功夫之星 began in April 2006, garnering 300 million viewers and over 100,000 applicants from six Chinese cities and Five International venues. After more than half a year of televised eliminations, contestants took part of a closed door training session at the Shaolin Temple from September 1–9. On October 1, 2006, eighteen competitors took part of the world final which was televised in a four-hour live broadcast judged by action star and former Beijing Wushu Team Member Jacky Wu Jing (Sha Po Lang, Tai Chi Master, Legend of Zu) Director Stanley Tong (The Myth, Martial Law, Mr. Magoo) and Director Wang Xiaoshuai (Frozen). First place went to China's Gu Shangwei, Second Philip Sahagun and third to China's Xue Jiangtao. K-Star's fifteen million yuan investment yielded a twenty million yuan return (or about US$793,000 profit). Additionally Shaolin Shenzhen Radio allegedly donated 100 Million yuan to the Buddhism Research Fund.