Choreography

While promoting Bodyguards and Assassins in Shanghai on December 9, producers Peter Chan and Yu Dong gave their thanks to Donnie Yen for helping the film wrap up successfully, returning to the set after filming had ended to re-enact a fight scene without taking extra pay. They also presented Donnie Yen with a film print of the parkour fight scene, that Donnie Yen, working with Cung Le and his longstanding team of 17 stuntmen, choreographed.

When did you start work on Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg?
Yuen Tak: In August 2008. Had been discussing with the director, he said he wanted to shoot a film on robots, but the martial arts scenes must be oriental. I found it very interesting, to me, it's something somewhat new.

On November 20, Nicky Li, Wu Jing and Celina Jade were invited for a chat hosted by Sina, sharing the joys and pains on the set of Legendary Assassin.

The subjects brought up include the frustrations of waiting passively for chances in Hong Kong, the reasons for opting for a simple story, their approach to action, preconceived notions on action stars' acting, one's respect to the profession, the tricks to crying, the difficulties of working with the giant wrestler, injuries and box office outlook.

Legendary Assassin opens in cinemas on December 10.

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 Chiu), 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