Jackie Chan's Transcript

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Jackie Chan: On U.S. & Asian Filmmaking Differences
and Future Roles for his Career

On the eve of Jackie Chan's movie release of Rush Hour, and a national book signing tour of his autobiography , I Am Jackie Chan last September, he accepted the post of Ambassador of Tourism of Hong Kong, in a celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. AsianConnections covered the celebration and now for the first time release video and transcripts of Jackie's timeless comments on the differences in filmmaking styles in the U.S. and in Asia.

Jackie was introduced by Lily Shum, Regional Director ?The Americas for the Hong Kong Tourist Association. We're very honored to have Jackie as our Ambassador. Jackie needs no introduction, he's not only a famous movie star, he's now an author of his brand new book. I invite Jackie to say a few words about the many facets of his life.

Jackie: Hello! This time I come to America, many people think that I am only here to promote my movies and my book. Actually, aside from promoting my movies and book, the most important mission is about Hong Kong. Why? Because Rush Hour, about Hong Kong, the police want me to come America to do something, and also, my life, I Am Jackie Chan , is also?about Hong Kong!

My name, my family name is Chan, and middle name is "Kong Sang" ?meaning: Born in Hong Kong. So in Chinese, it's "Chan Kong Sang." I'm "Chan, born in Hong Kong," so (I'm) becoming an Ambassador today! Hong Kong is exactly like me, full of energy and handsome. (laughter) Welcome to Hong Kong and thank you very much! (applause)

Q: Jackie, Can you tell us about your book?

Jackie: My book talks about all my life, and my childhood. I want children to read this book, to let them know how tough (it) was when I was young. My family, when I was young, my parents leave me alone and they put me in Opera school (China Opera Research School) for 10 years. I've been like a child actor, (then a) young stuntman, middle stuntman, a stunt coordinator, and today, after twenty years�not easy.

I just want children to look at, all those years, what I have done, what I did for myself, my family and Hong Kong, too. And also, I don't want some other nonsense things going on, even in Hong Kong and in America, they write nonsense books�Jackie Chan stories, Jackie Chan's life, that is totally wrong. So that's why I do my own thing this time.

Q: Can you talk about "Rush Hour?" Your first starring role in a major American film in twelve years?

Jackie: It is the first American "big" movie for me, it's not like before, the Asian movies. But I'm already proud of myself, before like Super Cop & Rumble in the Bronx, how many Asian movies can (be) released in America ?big theatre? Almost none. Yes, they do, maybe just one theatre, two theatres. Then I have an excuse, "Ah, that's an Asian film not an American film, but this time it's a 100% American film so a lot of�really tonight, the premiere, I really cannot sleep the whole night!

Q: Will you make more movies in Hong Kong?

Yes, I do. After this trip, I go back to Hong Kong immediately to make a film, for Asian film. Because American film, a different culture to China, Chinese films. So, when you make American films, you don't think you can make any big box office in Asia. Very few movies, like Titanic, like Jurassic Park, everyone likes it. Even like Lethal Weapon, do hundred million box office in America, only 2 million in Hong Kong, you can imagine, it's different. Because American movie is more like on drama, dialogue, then comedy, then action. Hong Kong, Asian films, they like action, comedy, (then) drama. It is a totally different culture. That is why now I make an American film, like Rush Hour; next week, I go back to Hong Kong to make Asian movies, then coming back to make American films.

Q: I have heard that Hong Kong is called "Hollywood East" that there's so many movies made. Is this true?

Answered by Lily Shum: Hong Kong is the event capital of Asia, yes. We are the third largest film production city in the world after of course, Hollywood and India. And we're hoping that with Jackie's help we're going to get more and more movies to come to Hong Kong because there's no better way to come to Hong Kong than to show the audience, the world audience, the American audience Hong Kong.

Q: Will there be action comedy in Hong Kong with American production?

Jackie: Yes, yes. Action comedy, no. Drama, love story, comedy, action. Now I am changed. Before, long time ago, we just fighting, why are you looking at me fighting again. Why you look at me, fight, fight, fight, fight. All the movies, fighting, we don't care about the story. But now, we more like drama, love story, then comedy, then fighting.

Lily Shum: Hong Kong is a romantic place, so hopefully there's a romantic story to it.

Jackie: Yes, especially at night time in the harbor you can with your girl friend of your lover you know walking around, then you can see me jogging (Jackie pretends to jog on stage and turns his face to wave "hello") (laughter)

Q: Do you get hurt in all those movies, with all the stunts?

Yes, All those years, when I'm filming everyday, the fighting scenes, get punched, get cut, blood comes out, maybe just twist myself, which doesn't mean hurt. If all the stunt men, me, the ambulance didn't come, we not going to hospital, it's not hurt. Even if I broke my finger, "ouch," but it's okay, next shot! Really! Not like when I film in America, when I do the stunts, before I do the stunt, we have a meeting with 2 insurance companies. And the company invites the safety captain on the set and watch me. "Stop, no, no, no, what you doing?"

Okay, I was jump to the window, I remembered one shot. Jump to the tree, from the tree, jump to the window. First the location, the director says "Can you do something? I want you go in to the window? How? In front of the door, there's a police, behind there's FBI. How can you go in?" I said, "Can I go to the tree, to the window?" How? Then I changed the slipper from the stunt man, then I run, I slip, then the director says "Oh, what are you doing?"

I said, "No, no, no. Look." I go up, jump to the tree, I stop, a little bit, see the distance, then I jump to the window. Oh, good, but be careful! Jackie, come down!

Then the 2^nd day, the director asks me to show the stunt coordinator and the camera man again. I said, okay. Then I know a little bit danger, then I put the 'stunt-guy', 3 stunt guys below the tree, about that high, then I jump up, jump, jump, 'boom' (Sound he makes), good, be careful, Jackie, come down!

Then the shooting day coming, I said let's do it. No, we have a meeting. Why? With everybody. Then, later on, I find out. They put the air bag below the tree, and put the 'wire' make sure the tree doesn't break, call up Los Angeles, bring all the 'wire' come to the set. Put the 'wire' over the house, make sure the window doesn't fall ?4 hours. (laughter) I did it twice already!

And now the real shooting day coming, they just prepare all the safety things. But it's a good thing, like Terry Lander, the stunt coordinator said, "Jackie, look. In Hong Kong I know, you in Hong Kong always save time, save money, but you always hurt yourself." Like Rumble the Bronx, you jump over the bridge, you broke your ankle. What about (if it was at) the beginning of the movie? Everything (would be) stuck. You are lucky it's the end of the movie, so now you are doing this, you can do it over again. So it's true, when I go up the tree, jump, jump, jump to the window, I feel comfortable. And they change to the 2^nd angle, I do it again�I can keep doing! It's not like a Hong Kong film, what I am doing, dangerous stunt, call 10 camera men, 10 cameras, rolling!�one shot!?"Ahhhhhh?.(park) *Sound he makes*?okay!�Cut! next shot!

Wrong things�suddenly. Because sometimes, I don't have the patience! But making American film, I feel like a Big Star! (Laughter and clapping from audience)

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