Interview: Donnie Yen Flying to Yunnan to Act in Twins Effect 2 - News Article

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Interview: Donnie Yen Flying to Yunnan to Join The Twins Effect 2

Yangcheng Evening News, 10 February 2004
Chen Ming-Hui

Donnie Yen on working with the Twins Being a busy man, it's was late in the night when Donnie Yen was being interviewed. It's an hour before Donnie Yen's flight to Yunnan when he granted an exclusive telephone interview with this reporter.

Donnie Yen is not only an outstanding action star, but also a great director, and a self-professed music lover - a tenth grade pianist. Currently, his latest directorial work, Protégé de la Rose Noir (Black Roses Academy) is being shown in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. During the interview, he exclaimed that he has a good sense of humour and that's why he could produce such a comedy. On being further pressed, he spilled some beans on The Twins Effect 2 (The Huadu Chronicles: Blade of the Rose).

Twins Have Shown Tremendous Improvements

This is the second time you're working with Twins. Do you think they are up to the mark doing the fight scenes?
Donnie Yen: The Twins Effect was the Twins' first action movie. The two little girls had some bit of pressure then. I recalled that when Emperor Multimedia Group's boss Albert Yeung brought them to me, and told me that I had to make them look good on the screen doing the action scenes, to bring about a pleasant surprise to the audience. It has been proven that I have made it. This movie even won Golden Horse Awards for Best Action on that year. With experience from The Twins Effect, the Twins have shown remarkable progress in Protege de la Rose Noir.

You're an action actor by profession, why did you want to shoot a comedy?
Donnie Yen: Everyone has been acquainted with my tough side, but, actually, I am very humorous. (Laughs). Protégé de la Rose Noir is a true blue Hong Kong comedy, very effervescent and modern. As I grew up in USA, I have a deeper feeling for the merger of Eastern and Western cultures, and am more sensitive to fashion. This film can be considered an experiment.

Which are the scenes you're most contented with?
Donnie Yen: Heroine Black Rose is a legendary character that is well-known throughout Hong Kong, a few Black Rose movies that were made some years back are very nostalgic in nature, carrying strong flavour of the 1950s and 60s. However, my Black Rose movie is different. It's about young people, so, the Twins are dressed up very fashionably. My aim is to let the audience be happy, especially when everyone would be laughing out happily in every scene. For instance, when Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi are being trained by Teresa Mo to be the next Black Roses, the whole process is full of hilarity, the audience loved it. In addition, singings have become part and parcel of Black Rose movies, and we're no exceptions. However, rather than Cantonese operas, we chose foreign songs. It's very funny as well.

Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi have always been compared. Having worked with them, what do you think set them apart from each other?
Donnie Yen: As everyone is aware, Charlene Choi is livelier and full of weird ideas. She has an aptitude for handling comical lines. On receiving the script, she would sometimes deliver her lines in a chaotic order, further adding comical effects. It can be said that she has developed her own flair for acting. Gillian Chung is the more studious type. She has great aptitude for action scenes. She could imitate moves reasonably well within a very short timeframe.

No Fear of Being Overshadowed by Jackie Chan

I heard that you would be joining the production of The Twins Effect sequel very soon. Would you be directing or acting?
Donnie Yen: I'll be working as an actor in the movie. I'll be shooting in Yunnan for more than a month, before moving to Guangzhou for a few more shots.

What type of role are you playing?
Donnie Yen: I'm playing a general of the ancient time, who protects the ousted prince Jaycee Chan Cho Ming. Later, I help him reclaim the throne and defeat the enemy troops.

Both Jackie Chan and you are excellent action stars, would you be fighting against each other in The Twins Effect 2?
Donnie Yen: I have a major battle against him by the waterfall. This is the climax of the whole movie.

Don't you fear that Jackie Chan would outshine you when the two of you are being pitted against each other?
No, I had a fight with him in Shanghai Knights too. As an outstanding action star, like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and me, no problems would arise when we are put together in a fight scene, regardless of time and place.

Would Never Act as A Treacherous Chinese

Apart from The Twins Effect 2, what are you plans for this year?
Donnie Yen: In April, I would be starring in a Hong Kong period kungfu movie that is being directed by Daniel Lee. (It might be called Swordmaster and also stars Wu Jing). In mid May, I would produce and also star in a Mainland wuxia TV series. The other cast-members have not been fixed. This would be my first venture into Mainland soap opera market. I would be trying out some new shooting techniques.

You seem to be doing lesser Hollywood movies recently?
Donnie Yen: The Americans and Hong Kongers have different ways of handling matters. In Hong Kong, perhaps someone look for you in the morning to shoot a movie. Once you have agreed, shooting would begin in the afternoon. But in Hollywood, they are very regimental and rigid about regulations. A script could take two, three years of discussions before they start shooting. When Zhang Yimou thought of getting me to do Hero, I was in United States of America. He had to send an English version of the script to my manager. Only after he had read it and given his approval before I could be handed a copy of the script. Then, I had to request for another copy of the script from the production. After going through it, I thought it was a great movie and decided to participate in the project. My thoughts have matured in the recent years, and I exercise extra caution before accepting any works in USA. They are still a society dominated by their own race, and it's difficult to come across a script tailored to a Chinese actor. So, while I often receive film offers, they are mostly secondary or even inconsequential roles, most of which I have rejected.

Are there any specific scripts that you would not accept?
Donnie Yen: I do not mind villainous roles but I would never act as a "walking dog" (traitor). I am a Chinese, and my heart lies with China. I had been approached to act in Tomb Raider 2 as a Chinese villain. After reading the script, I turned them down, for that role tarnishes the image of the Chinese. They had no choice but to look for someone else. (It subsequently went to Hong Kong actor Simon Yam.)