Choreography

Legendary Assassin, a HK$31m film directed by Nicky Li and Wu Jing, with a cast including Wu Jing, Celina Jade, Kou Zhan Wen, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Aoyama Noriko, Jiang Bao Cheng, Sammy Leung, Lam Suet, Shui Hung Hui, Mark Cheng, Ronald Cheng, etc. was introduced at Golden Rooster & Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Dalian, Liaoning on September 11 afternoon.

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

In this interview, maestro martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo Ping gives a blow by blow account of the choreography behind Forbidden Kingdom.

It has always been my practice to choreograph the action based on the script as well as the personality of the character, this is very important. Jackie Chan plays Drunken Immortal in the movie, he's more outgoing and lively, as well as suave, he loves drinking, it's like he's roaming the mundane world casually.

Continue reading "Yuen Wo Ping's Annotations on Forbidden Kingdom's Martial Arts Choreography"

Background on Forbidden Kingdom

Jackie Chan and Jet Li, the two most revered martial arts superstar actors in the world today, have come together for the very first time in filmmaking history to pit their skills in The Forbidden Kingdom as Lu Yan and the Silent Monk respectively.

In this one-of-a-kind project, producer Casey Silver has not only succeeded in bringing together an exceptional group of people, including some of the best talent in Asian and Western cinema, for the first truly international Asian blockbuster movie. He has also pulled off a great feat in making the entire film in China.

This epic production is written by veteran screenwriter John Fusco, whose past works include the Academy Award®-nominated Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and directed by Rob Minkoff of The Lion King fame, who brings his unique blend of character, comedy, drama and storytelling to the enthralling and innovative time-traveling story structure...

An Empress and The Warriors Sina Chat

Sina, Feb 20, 2008

New Dragon Inn

Host: The Empress and the Warriors will be released in March. In our memories, this isn't Ching Siu Tung and Donnie Yen's first collaboration. They first collaborated on New Dragon Inn in 1992.

Donnie Yen: Yes.

Host: My most memorable scene is the finale in the desert with Donnie Yen fighting against Maggie Cheung et al. Do the two of you still remember it?

-- Bruce Law: The Accidental Stuntman --

Hong Kong's veteran stuntman and special effects expert Bruce Law had been busy coordinating car stunts and pyrotechnic effects on the Shanghai set of the new Hollywood production "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" which wrapped up production last month. Law recently took a break to discuss his career, from his first Hong Kong action movies to his latest work shooting in China. Hong Kong stuntman Bruce Law has performed in some 200 films over his past 21 years in the movie industry.

CNN: You started out as a professional Thai boxer, and you were even part of Hong Kong's Auxiliary Police Force. What finally brought you to the film industry?
BL: I actually got into the industry by accident. When the opportunity came up to work within the industry, I jumped at it. Meanwhile, my previous experiences had laid a somewhat diverse, but very useful, foundation for me.  CNN >>More<<

-- The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor --

Wu Jing plays an assassin from state of Chu, who, along with two other assassins, attempts to get rid of the despotic Dragon Emperor. The duel between Jet Li and Wu Jing, an indoor scene, is very exciting. As with Jet Li, Wu Jing has deep foundation in martial arts, his reflex is very swift and he's a fast learner. He is able to memorise the moves taught by the martial arts director within a short time and his moves are very crisp. Jet Li is equally comfortable sparring against Wu Jing. Both of them move very fast, they are equally matched, and need not worry about the other lagging behind. They coordinate with each other very well, resulting in very beautiful action from both.

Wu Jing is no less skilled in wires. The wire team is from Yuen Wo Ping's team, actually, the martial arts director is none other than Dee Dee (aka 谷轩昭 Ku Huen Chui), who's been working with Yuen Wo Ping all along. Safety aspects are well taken care of, the only requirement is for the actor and the wire team to coordinate with each other and trust each other. Many actors might fight well, but it's a big headache when it comes to wires. Either they use too much or two little strength when jumping or their timing are off. However, Wu Jing handles wires quite well. When watching the film, the audience would be hard-pressed to distinguish which moves were wire-assisted.  Liu Xiao's Blog

Videos of news reports offering glimpses of Michelle Yeoh vs Jet Li swordfight: A, B   Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre

-- The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor --

The fight scene between Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh is no less exhilarating than it is graceful. Both show excellent skills. They perform everything personally and the scene is captured from different angles. Their exciting performance often wins applauses from everyone on the set. The fight between Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh is meant to be kept as realistic as possible without much CGIs.

On the previous day, both Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li arrived at different times. Michelle Yeoh showed up at 10am and only did one take, after which she retired. Jet Li appeared in the afternoon and did three takes. Other shots were completed by doubles. Sometimes, one may not understand why doubles are used. Doubles are necessary part of a filming process, sometimes, they are needed so that the actors would not wear themselves out or they could be needed for shooting elsewhere at the same time.

Working as stunt doubles is a very demanding, stressful and risky job. They have to get up very early at around 3am and set off at 4am. On reaching the set, they have to set up the cranes and the wires, rehearse the moves. Sometimes they don't even get to have a meal until afternoon. Given the high demands of an action director, they'd have to do jumps and falls from some high places, and when doing weapon fights, wounds are unavoidable. When the director likes what they did, they may be required to fight longer. And it's easier for one stuntman to fight another since they would not be as stressed as facing a distinguished star. Depending on circumstances, sometimes, they would change their moves to suit the opponents, requiring them to be flexible, to take care of their opponents. Their contributions to the industry should not be overlooked.

Part of the plot: The Dragon Emperor's (Jet Li) martial arts skills are unrivalled, and having conquered all lands, he should be happy and contented, yet there's something that sticks out like a sore thumb - his love for the sorceress Zi Yuan (Michelle Yeoh) is unrequited for she is in love with General Guo Ming (Russel Wong). Guo Ming is valiant general who has contributed greatly on the battlefields and is respected by his troops, and enjoys the company of Zi Yuan. Green with envy, the Dragon Emperor always mistreats him. Guo Ming and Zi Yuan decide to leave the kingdom. The Dragon Emperor begins a hunt and find them at a town. He has the whole town massacred before apprehending Guo Ming, bringing him back to be dismembered by eight horses...  Liu Xiao's Blog, Lin-An News

-- Philip Ng on Wing Chun TV Series --

There has always been the misconception that Wing Chun kung fu was developed by a girl for a girl, but in reality, Wing Chun is a method of combat that has been developed for human beings, regardless of gender, race, or even choice of eating habits. Wing Chun's success as one of the premier combat arts is due primarily to it simplicity, efficiency, and directness in both its techniques and concepts.  Philip Ng Blog >>More<<

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

Jackie Chan will be using his signature move Drunken Fist for his character Lu Yan. Yuen Wo Ping hopes to present Drunken Fist as something gentle on the inside, forceful on the outside. Silent Monk (Jet Li), who was transformed from a strand of hair on Monkey God that escaped when the latter was imprisoned, uses Monkey Fist; Yuen Wo Ping designs for Jet Li the ancient form that dazzles the opponent with fast and ever-changing moves before delivering the fatal blow. White Hair Demoness (Li Bing Bing) uses Phoenix Dancing in Ninth Heaven, and specialises in whip and twin swords. Golden Swallow, (Liu Yi Fei), whose forte is lightness kungfu, employs Pipa Skill; when strumming the pipa, secret weapons will shoot forth.

Liu Yifei's mother has agreed to play Queen Mother who appears briefly in the movie. Unfortunately, Li Xue, Li Bing Bing's sister agent, turned down the cameo role of moon fairy Chang-er, who dances at the Peaches Meet. White Hair Demoness was originally a male character Whitebrows. But on Peter Pau's suggestion, they changed it to a female character whose hair turned white overnight when she was betrayed by her lover. Forbidden Kingdom will wrap up in August and be released in around April 2008.  Nanfang Daily, Sina

Donnie Yen Defines the Art of Practical Combat Onscreen

Watching Movie, 13/7/2007
Zhu Qin
 

 
I heard that the concept of mixed martial arts is implemented in the upcoming summer movie Flash Point.
Donnie Yen: Mixed martial arts, a combat sport that has become popular in the West in the recent years, is an effective fighting system that employs a vast array of different martial arts techniques. Each contestant possesses a variety of martial arts techniques such as Jujitsu, boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, etc. I believe this is the most authentic type of combat. I have been researching, studying and learning it. I introduced some of it in SPL - Brazilian Ju-jitsu.