Yuen Wo Ping
Choreographer YUEN WO PING served as the Kung Fu Choreographer for Keanu Reeves' 1999 mega-hit, "The Matrix". Wo Ping has an extended list of film credits as well as the diversity of talent to take on one or more key film roles�that of action choreographer, film director, actor, and/or producer. Wo Ping was born 1945-- the eldest son in a family of 12 in Guangzhan, China. In the 1960's, Wo Ping found work as a stuntman and kung fu fighter. By the age of 26, he had earned his first film choreography credits with the early kung fu hits of Ng See Yuen. In 1978, Wo Ping directed his first film, the well regarded "The Eagle's Shadow", starring now legendary, international cross-over
star Jackie Chan. He went on to direct another Jackie Chan feature, "Drunken Master". By 1979, Wo Ping had formed his own production and choreography company. The timing proved fortuitous, with the popularity of kung fu in China followed by steadily growing interest worldwide. Though the years, Yuen Wo Ping has worked with or directed many of China's top film talent. "Last Hero in China", "Tai Chi Master" and "Fist of Legend" featured the incomparable Jet Li, recently on the Hollywood big screen as Lethal Weapon 4's
memorable villain. Sammo Hung, now of CBS-TV's "Martial Law" worked with Wo Ping in both "The Magnificent Butcher" and "Eastern Condors". One of Wo Ping's most highly regarded films is 1991's "Iron Monkey", starring popular star and former Yuen Wo Ping prot?? Donnie Yen. |