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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)
AC:
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.
AC:
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!
AC:
Will you make more movies in Hong Kong?
Jackie:
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.
AC:
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.
AC:
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)
AC:
Do you get hurt in all those movies, with all the stunts?
Jackie:
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 2nd 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 2nd 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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