The Real Shaolin by Alex Sebastien Lee

[doug maverick]

from what i see of the trailer this looks like an amazing documentary about four people training at shaolin and the surrounding school(s). website has a great layout too, enjoy:

http://www.realshaolin.com/

this film is going to be shown at the toronto film festival.

[doug maverick]

and if you are up on this gene sorry for calling you out like that.

[@PLUGO]

Gene's on Vacation, not at Shaolin.

[@PLUGO]

After a quick look at the website and the Director's bio I'm fairly certain Alexander Lee paid a visit to our office some time ago (maybe a year?). We even got a peek at the Documentary's trailer.

[GeneChing]

I first met Alex at Shaolin - it was his first trip there. He told me of his vision and truth be told, I sort of wrote him off along with so many people that want to do this. But he made it happen and got a very intriguing angle. I last saw Alex at the Otis Gallery showing of Justin Guariglia's work (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=877268). Alex joined Justin & May, Craig & Sylvia and me for a late night diner run. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Thanks for the website link. I hadn't seen that yet.

I'm stealing this from the media forum for the Shaolin forum.

[uki]

actually there are no true and real shaolin in china, atleast not at the so called temples... most emigrated(and re-incarnated) to elsewhere in the early 20th century by 1930 or so... no true monks were left. all you see these days a communist china puppet players enhancing the tourism industry. enjoy the shows though.:)

[SimonM]

The dharma is where you find it.

Don't get hung up on lineages.

[richard sloan]

The dharma is where you find it.

Don't get hung up on lineages.

but the lineages are all provably in tact. to suggest otherwise in this day and age is just ignorant.

[SimonM]

Not saying that.

I was just saying that it didn't matter one way or the other as long as they were still communicating the dharma.

[GeneChing]

He's very excited, of course. I met Alex in 2003. We were part of what we called the 'laowai' club, a handful of foreigners who met in a hotel lobby every day to decompress. Alex had already been there for a month or so when I arrived. I sort of wrote him off until Justin mentioned that he had seen some of Alex's preliminary work and was impressed. That perked my ears up since Justin is an excellent judge of such things. As DS mentioned, Alex came by the office a while back and shared some preliminary footage. He attacked the Shaolin saga from a very human angle, focusing on a few students instead of the monks. I'm really eager to see the final cut.

More to come on this... ;)

[richard sloan]

Not saying that.

I was just saying that it didn't matter one way or the other as long as they were still communicating the dharma.

sorry simon, meant more to reply to uki.

I completely agree, I always say the dharma is self evident and self manifesting. Even an illiterate wood chopper can find it.

[SimonM]

No problemo.

[uki]

Even an illiterate wood chopper can find it.i can relate... i chopped over 8 cords of wood for my woodstove last year by hand(with a maul), you really do get alot of time to ponder on the nature of things... oh... i can enter that into 10,001 ways to strengthen the fist.:)

[hanguolaohu]

Hi everyone! Thanks Doug for spreading the word! I e-mailed Gene about the announcement and didn't hear from him, but then Gigi told me he was on vacation. Where'd you go to Gene? You must have suffered without internet :)

The Real Shaolin is premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival from 9/4-9/13 and there will be 3 public screenings. Anyone in the Toronto area or people visiting for the festival should come! I would recommend purchasing tickets early as it will definitely sell out. I will soon make an announcement of screening times. Also...

http://www.tiff08.ca/press/pressreleases/default.aspx?newsId=590

"FESTIVAL SHOWCASE Martial Arts demonstration
A martial arts demonstration will be featured in support of Alexander Sebastien Lee's The Real Shaolin. Rich with dazzling displays of kung fu, The Real Shaolin follows two Chinese and two western students as they undergo a year of rigorous training in martial arts at the Shaolin temple in Central China. Wednesday, September 10 at 6:30 p.m."

This will be a large event at the Yonge Dunda's public square at the heart of Toronto. We will have Kung Fu demos and show a trailer for the film. Then at 9pm that same evening we'll have a screening of The Real Shaolin. Hope to see you there!

Alexander
www.realshaolin.com

[hanguolaohu]

The Real Shaolin will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival! The Real Shaolin follows the story of two Chinese and two Westerners who are inspired by Kung Fu movies starring Bruce Lee and Jet Li. They journey to the Shaolin Temple in China, known as the birthplace of Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism, and undergo a year of rigorous martial arts training in the hopes of becoming Kung Fu warriors.

Here is our screening schedule:

All screenings at theater AMC Yonge & Dundas 24 in Toronto
Public Screening 1 (AMC 6)
Sunday September 7th at 3:45pm

Public Screening 2 (AMC 9)
Wednesday September 10th at 9pm

Public Screening 3 (AMC 9)
Saturday September 13th at 3:15pm

Yonge-Dundas Square Live Kung Fu Demo: Wednesday September 10th at 6:00pm

Ticket's info: http://tiff08.ca/boxofficeinfo/tickets/default.aspx

Premium tickets are already on sale. Regular tickets will be available September 3rd. Purchase your tickets early as they will sell out! Also, we are having a live Kung Fu demo at Yonge-Dundas Square with some of the top schools in the Toronto area! The event is FREE to the public! Hope to see you there!

Best,
Alexander Lee
www.realshaolin.com

[hanguolaohu]

http://www.tiff08.ca/filmsandschedules/films/realshaolin

[hanguolaohu]

http://www.tiff08.ca/filmsandschedules/films/realshaolin

[GeneChing]

It wasn't all vacation. I worked over Labor Day going as a witness for Dr. Yang Jwing Ming's discipleship ceremony (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51747). Figures Gigi would call that vacation. :mad:

After that I went to Disneyland. ;)


Toronto documentary gets real about kung fu dream (http://news.yahoo.com/story//nm/20080908/en_nm/toronto_shaolin_dc_2)

TORONTO (Reuters) – They went to kick butt and gain enlightenment, but what the men in new documentary "The Real Shaolin" found in China was loneliness, pain, bad food and angry kung fu teachers.

For aspiring martial artists, movies about kung fu fighting are the stuff of which screen legends are made. The stars' names are well-known: Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jackie Chan.

But the reality, as told in "Real Shaolin" which debuts at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, has little to do with flying fists and more with hard work.

"The difference between movies and the reality I try to show is that in the movies when they experience hardship, it's romanticized," director Alexander Sebastien Lee told Reuters.

"In China if you go to a master and tell them I want to learn to beat someone up and kill somebody they'll tell you to go somewhere else," he added.

"Real Shaolin" follows two Chinese and two Westerners who journey to the Shaolin Temple in central Henan province, inspired by the mythical feats from film heroes Li and others.

Glorified images of warrior monks effortlessly breaking spears with their throats and withstanding brutal body blows inspire many to learn the deadly art form at its birthplace.

A Korean-American, Lee decided to make his documentary after venturing to Shaolin to see if he could survive the excruciating training. Lee, 29, a black-belt in tae kwon do and a first-time director who wrote, produced and shot the film, found something else.

Since hardly anyone actually studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple (it is mostly a tourist attraction now after surviving 1,500 years of wars and revolutions), Lee follows the four students in the nearby rural city of Dengfeng, dubbed "Kung Fu City" for its 40,000 students and 100 martial arts academies.

He spent about 18 months filming two Chinese, Yuan Peng and Zhu Hao Shan, American Orion Lee and Frenchman Eric Guillou, as they spent 8 to 10 hours-a-day kicking, punching stretching, and just as important praying and meditating.

But their initial excitement and dreams -- Eric wants to become the first non-Chinese Shaolin monk -- are tempered with squalid living conditions, isolation and not always training with strong rivals but with children.

"I was almost mystified by the kung fu warriors, by the Shaolin monks, training in the mountains and being in this beautiful temple where people have dedicated their entire lives to the pursuit of kung fu and Buddhism," said Orion Lee, a blond-haired and blue-eyed man from Connecticut, who was just 19-years-old when the documentary was filmed.

"The lesson I learned was really to appreciate everything you have and everything that you stand to lose."

For the two Chinese subjects, one 9-year-old Yuan Peng who was abandoned by his parents at the Shaolin Temple, their path is equally trying but it can transform their lives.

Martial artists in China can hope to escape poverty with a career as a policeman, soldier, kung fu coach or bodyguard -- and if they're really lucky, a chance to work in the movies.

[hanguolaohu]

Yonge-Dundas Square Live Kung Fu Demo: Wednesday September 10th at 6:00pm

http://tiff08.ca/filmsandschedules/yds/default.aspx

[uki]

shaolin do not perform for money... wonder who does...

[Shaolinlueb]

actually there are no true and real shaolin in china, atleast not at the so called temples... most emigrated(and re-incarnated) to elsewhere in the early 20th century by 1930 or so... no true monks were left. all you see these days a communist china puppet players enhancing the tourism industry. enjoy the shows though.:)


wow :rolleyes: you know there are non martial monks there who are strict buddhists that you never see or hear of right?

[uki]

wow. you know there are non martial monks there who are strict buddhists that you never see or hear of right?there know see or buddhists you of right, strict are non martial monks are hear who there never you are... wow...

[Fa Xing]

there know see or buddhists you of right, strict are non martial monks are hear who there never you are... wow...

Someone needs to lay off the whiskey.

[Shaolinlueb]

Someone needs to lay off the whiskey.

fa xing i didn't understand a word he wrote. i tried reading it out loud. still the same.

[uki]

fa xing i didn't understand a word he wrote. i tried reading it out loud. still the same.

Someone needs to lay off the whiskey.
come on guy's... where's your sense of perception and observation of the fine details? as martial artists, ones mind must compensate for physical losses in the event of a confrontation... the ability to discern fine details and subtle deviations of energy should be second nature. all i did was simply scramble the same words from the original response... thats all. awareness is the key...

[Shaolinlueb]

come on guy's... where's your sense of perception and observation of the fine details? as martial artists, ones mind must compensate for physical losses in the event of a confrontation... the ability to discern fine details and subtle deviations of energy should be second nature. all i did was simply scramble the same words from the original response... thats all. awareness is the key...

there is a difference between
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

and pure babble.

[uki]

there is a difference between
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

and pure babble.mind is the path.

[Sifu Bok Se Teung]

Uki is correct. There is no real Shaolin left in China. Most of the temple priests had left China even before the communists took over. In 1933 the communists, though not in power yet, burned and looted the remaining temples. The remaining monks and priests scattered, some to Hong Kong, but most to North America.

Those who have been to Honan, including myself and distinguished masters such as Jon Funk can attest there is no evidence of a single genuine Kung Fu style being taught today. The communists replaced Kung Fu with Wu Shu, which de emphasizes the martial aspects. Wu Shu can best be described as a combination of dance and aerobics. It looks good, is difficult and can give you a real work out, but it is not Kung Fu. It is lacking in chi development among other things.

The communists have reinstituted many of the traditional temples, filling them with actors and aerobats in order to draw tourists and hard cash. They continue to suppress Buddhism - and remember Shaolin is a form of Chuan Buddhism sprinkled with Taoism. Don't believe me, then take a look at what's happening in Tibet to the Buddhist monks and priests. Or consider this. Would a true disciple of Shaolin, or Buddhism for that matter, perform for money? Monks are taught to divulge themselves from worldly possessions and to carry a begging bowl. Would they sell "Shaolin Cola" at a religious temple? Would you ever see a monk or priest at a traditional Shaolin Temple smoking a cigarette? You'll find all of this and more at the newly reconstituted Communist Tourist Trap at Honan that masks as a Shaolin temple.

Go in peace and stay true to the faith.

Bok

[David Jamieson]

*snip* awareness is the key...

I think that's what Lueb is saying. IE: You are unaware if you think there isn't any buddhism or wu seng at the shaolin temple in spite of the tourism. the world is not so black and white as it's made out to be and certainly Shaolin temple is not either.

Notre Dame cathedral in Paris for instance is a working Religious center. But it is filled with Tourists daily. It doesn't stop religious observance and mass and teaching from occurring there. Commercialism doesn't stop the esoteric practices at Shaolin either.

the only thing I would say is that it is not necessary to go all the way to shaolin to learn good kungfu. I guess that's what the folks who go there learn as well. :)

[uki]

I think that's what Lueb is saying. IE: You are unaware if you think there isn't any buddhism or wu seng at the shaolin temple in spite of the tourism. the world is not so black and white as it's made out to be and certainly Shaolin temple is not either.i think you are in denial... the truth of this fact is because this magazine operates most entirely on the belief that there is infact real shaolin in the china temples... imagine what this place would turn into once the truth comes out... talk about being hoodwinked.


Notre Dame cathedral in Paris for instance is a working Religious center. But it is filled with Tourists daily. It doesn't stop religious observance and mass and teaching from occurring there. Commercialism doesn't stop the esoteric practices at Shaolin either.hahaha... religion is a sham aswell.


the only thing I would say is that it is not necessary to go all the way to shaolin to learn good kungfu. I guess that's what the folks who go there learn as well. :)true, but it's the false advertisement that is irksome.

[David Jamieson]

i think you are in denial... the truth of this fact is because this magazine operates most entirely on the belief that there is infact real shaolin in the china temples... imagine what this place would turn into once the truth comes out... talk about being hoodwinked.
hahaha... religion is a sham aswell.
true, but it's the false advertisement that is irksome.

but, shaolin is a buddhist temple first and foremost. the whole martial arts thing is quite secondary and has only been placed where it is due to a lot of modern misconception.

anyway, there's plenty of martial arts available in and around shaolin and quite a lot of it is pretty decent stuff. Certainly not cakewalk type stuff. I wouldn't sell them short.

I still don't think you need to go to shaolin to learn good kungfu. There's plenty of excellent martial arts everywhere nowadays.

[GeneChing]

...but it's a lot of fun to train there. It can be very spiritual, if you are open to it. And you can be abused by tourist scams, but that's all part of it too - part of the tradition. There are registered complaints about Shaolin tourism that go back 400 years, twice the age of the United States. Think about that. ;)

[GeneChing]

In the wake of TIFF

Just Hollywood lore? (http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2008-09/24/content_16524406.htm)

The mention of Shaolin Temple conjures up images of a quiet and peaceful monastery on a remote mountain in China, a peaceful retreat, a place to worship, a place to reflect, and dozens of monks practicing kungfu.

Alexander Sebastien Lee, a Korean-American, was one of those with such an idea, thanks to the Jackie Chan and Jet Li movies of his childhood. But when he actually went to visit Shaolin Temple and studied kungfu there in 2003, he found a very different Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese kungfu.

After graduating from the USC School of Cinema-Television, Lee saw a documentary about the Shaolin monks and their amazing physical feats. The monks would head butt sandbags, kick trees, and break spears by pressing down on the pointed end with their throats. Born in Los Angeles, Lee studied the Korean martial art Taekwondo from the age of 7, which prepared him for the basics of kungfu.

"I wanted to see if I could withstand the brutal training, and was extremely curious about the legendary birthplace of martial arts," Lee says. However, that trip which was supposed to last three months, gave birth to another idea - a documentary about the modern day Shaolin Temple, The Real Shaolin.

A trip to Shaolin Temple inspired Alexander Sebastien Lee to make a documentary about life at the temple today.

Instead of explaining the history of the Shaolin Temple or showing amazing qigong demonstrations, first-time director Lee wanted to understand the daily practices of the kungfu students and the reasons for Westerners to travel so far to learn a Chinese martial art.

Kungfu may be the stuff of Hollywood lore, but the roots of the ancient martial arts run deep in the temple's hallowed ground.

When he arrived in Shaolin Temple, it was very different from what he had expected. Shaolin is no longer a quiet monastery on the top of a serene mountain filled with monks practicing kungfu. It is now a tourist attraction, and the epicenter of a kungfu city with more than 100 kungfu schools and 40,000 students.

The director sets the documentary in Dengfeng (dubbed "Kungfu City"), Henan province, where the Shaolin Temple is located, and follows two Chinese and two Westerners who journey to the Shaolin Temple. Over months of difficult lessons and life-changing experiences, the four students reveal just how much hard work goes into those dazzling moves.

When asked how he found the four characters, he simply says "yuan fen" (follow destiny). But each of the four characters follows different kungfu dreams at Shaolin Temple: 9-year-old Chinese boy Yuan Peng is abandoned at the Shaolin Temple and is adopted by a Shaolin monk. He dreams of becoming a monk with courage and righteousness, like Jet Li in the film The Shaolin Temple. Orion, a 19-year-old American, believes that the martial arts are a way of life, a philosophy that - he says - is not understood by most Americans. He journeys to Shaolin inspired by Bruce Lee's incredible enthusiasm for the martial arts. Zhu is 19 years old and comes from a Chinese farming family. He is a student at the largest martial arts school in the world named Tagou. He trains in the modern kungfu sport called Sanda, which is a brutal competitive sport resembling kickboxing. Eric is 29 years old and journeys from France determined to be the first non-Chinese Shaolin monk. Under the famous Shaolin grandmaster Shi Deyang, Eric is accepted on the condition that he remains exclusively at Shi's school for a minimum of three years.

"The idea behind The Real Shaolin is that the modern day Shaolin Temple differs greatly from what we imagine in the movies," Lee explains.

Many people watch martial arts movies and dream of becoming a grand kungfu master. But the reality, as portrayed in The Real Shaolin, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last week, has little to do with flying fists and more with hard work and training.

There is a Shaolin saying, "In order to learn the martial arts, one must eat bitter". It resembles the American expression "No pain, no gain". Even though one can study Shaolin kungfu in America, it cannot measure up to real Shaolin training, which goes for eight hours per day, six days per week, for years on end.

The movie The Shaolin Temple shows Jet Li carrying pails of water up a mountain. Lee, after spending over a year with kungfu teachers and students at Shaolin Temple, thinks Jet Li's bitter training has been "romanticized".

"But when you train in Shaolin and attempt to do full splits, there is nothing romantic about excruciating groin pain," Lee says.

With all the pain and hardship, what purpose does kungfu serve anyway? Kungfu can be used for self-defense, to boost one's health, and for spiritual fulfillment.

Lee got his answer after experiencing the real Shaolin Temple. It helps to eliminate fear, he says. "If you are confident in yourself and not afraid of others, then you can put aside your ego and open your heart to others. That is one of the precepts in Buddhism, and a method to establish a universal brotherhood among men," he says.

However, the modern day Shaolin Temple at first glance is a tourism site and many Western visitors wonder, "Where are the old masters who practice endlessly in search of enlightenment, not wealth?"

Lee says he hopes the film can inspire viewers to explore the real Shaolin themselves. "As I spent more time living at Shaolin, I understood that the spirit of Shaolin lives on," he says.

[GeneChing]

Has anyone seen this yet?

The Real Shaolin: An Interview with Project Involve Fellow Alexander Sebastian Lee (http://filmindependent.org/filmmaker-blogs/836)
Jan 6, 2009

Q: What is your filmmaking background prior to making The Real Shaolin? What was your initial inspiration for the film?

I studied film production at USC and graduated at the end of 2002. Like many film students, I wasn’t sure what project I would make right after finishing school. I saw a documentary on TV about the Shaolin monks and their amazing Kung Fu. The name inspires images of a serene temple on a mountaintop with hundreds of monks being taught deadly secrets by an old monk with a long white beard. So I began researching about China and then packed and took off.

I trained in Kung Fu at Shaolin for almost 3 months. I used to train in a large hall with my school’s performance team, made up of mostly young boys who would perform Kung Fu shows for tourists. They were great subjects for a documentary that would show the lives of Kung Fu students at the modern day Shaolin Temple. The documentaries that I viewed before coming to Shaolin were not realistic at all, and only perpetuate the myth that we see in the movies. So I wanted to deconstruct the myth of Shaolin by putting a human face to the stories of the young boys who train there.

Q: Where did you shoot, when did production start, and how long was the shoot?

I began production at Shaolin in September 2003 and planned to stay for 6 months but ended up shooting for more than a year. It took time and effort to whittle down the story to only four characters that end up in the completed film.

Q: What format did you shoot on and how big was your crew?

I shot the film in 24p DV with the Panasonic DVX-100. The camera was pretty new at the time, which was exciting as I love cutting edge technology, but I felt like a guinea pig as most people did not have experience with that camera and its post-production workflow. The small form factor also allowed me to achieve an intimacy with my subjects that would be harder with a large shoulder mount camera. The DVX-100 was truly revolutionary. Because my film was low budget, I couldn’t afford to hire a cameraman so I ended up shooting the film myself.

Q: Were there any particularly challenging aspects to the shoot?

The most challenging part of filming was finding Chinese subjects who were comfortable with my camera. The Chinese generally are more reserved and not as talkative as Americans, so finding subjects who were not self-conscious while I filmed them was pretty difficult. Many Kung Fu students thought I would film some cool-looking forms like breaking bricks over their heads, as seen in majority of Shaolin documentaries. Instead, I would interview these kids and ask them very personal questions, like why their parents sent them to Shaolin. Most kids at Shaolin don’t want to admit that their parents are poor farmers who don’t want their kids to follow in their footsteps. I was lucky to find my two Chinese subjects, Zhu and Yuan Peng who were so open and graceful while filming.

Q: Did you have the bulk of your financing in place when you began, or were you piecing it together throughout the making of the film?

My film was financed through personal savings and the help of my family. I believe that documentaries can be shot cheaply, but post-production can become a very expensive process. As my film grew and the caliber of post-production technicians who worked on the film improved, I received funding from a Chinese production company, which helped a great deal. Funding a movie remains a mysterious process to me, but I’m glad that I didn’t wait two years searching for funding before going to China to shoot my movie. I would advise any young filmmaker if you’re hitting roadblocks with funding to just go out and shoot it, a la Robert Rodriguez. His book had a big influence on me.

Q: Did the film evolve a lot in the post-production process? Did the structure of the film change significantly from how you first envisioned it when you began the film?

While shooting the film, I had ideas for concepts and themes but did not have a concrete idea what the final film would turn out like. This was my first documentary, first feature, and I was improvising as I went along. Editing was the most difficult part of making this film as I had over 140 hours of footage, and there were so many ways to approach the story. I began working with an experienced editor who helped form the basic foundation of the four stories. I then worked with a young USC filmmaker named Michael Shu who did the bulk of the editing work. I have the deepest respect for Michael as he worked tirelessly on the film to realize my vision and did a fantastic job.

Q: The film premiered this past fall at the Toronto International Film Festival. What was that experience like for you?

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. After working on a film for five years, it’s the greatest high in the world when you have your world premiere in a 600 seat theater to loud applause. All three of our public screenings were completely sold out, and the audience reaction to the film was extremely positive. The Real to Reel Documentary Programmer Thom Powers arranged a Kung Fu performance at Yonge-Dundas Square, which is the Times Square of Toronto. Over 700 people showed up because of the buzz built around The Real Shaolin thanks to the TIFF programmers. I was thoroughly impressed by the kindness of the TIFF staff, the efficiency of the TIFF organization, and the passion for cinema by the Toronto audiences.

I’d like to also mention that without Project:Involve, I couldn't have taken The Real Shaolin to Toronto. Project:Involve provided me with an amazing mentor, Fenton Bailey, who is the president of World of Wonder Productions. I was fortunate that I was already in post-production on The Real Shaolin, so my monthly meetings with Fenton were very productive. Fenton liked my filmmaking so much that he hired me to direct an IFC program called Terror from Tokyo. I never expected to be hired by my mentor, but it definitely made my Project:Involve experience fulfilling!

Q: Are there release plans for the film now, or are you still working on the distribution front?

I’m currently taking The Real Shaolin on a worldwide film festival tour. My sales agent, Films Transit, has been handling the distribution end. Although no deals have been completed yet, I have faith as there is extreme interest in the martial arts and China. I’m very fortunate to have participated in TIFF, as being accepted into a top three film festival is the best calling card for a film. TIFF has given us the opportunity to be contacted by the top independent distributors out there.

Q: Now that you've been through production on your first feature, is there any advice you would give to a first time filmmaker just about to do his or her first feature?

Americans love catchphrases, so I would say you need the 3 P’s: Passion, Persistence, and People.

Passion: Filmmakers always talk about passion when making movies; so much that it’s become a cliché. In the end, once you’ve spent 5 years working on a film, do you still enjoy watching it? You want to make sure that the film you are about to embark on, you are ready to spend several years of your life working on.

Persistence: You cannot take “no” for an answer, as nothing is impossible. You also have to be tough enough to weather the storms of the critics and industry that might not like your film. Once you believe in yourself and your work, then other people will also believe in you.

People: You need good people to make good movies because film is a collaborative art. So being a good filmmaker also entails being a good leader who is determined enough to push forward with your vision, but sensitive enough to understand the human needs of cast and crew. I would tell an indie filmmaker who has trouble hiring “good” people because of money reasons to create a great script or documentary pitch, because these people are starving to find meaningful projects in this era of movie sequels and franchises.

Q: What else are you working on now? Do you have another film that you are planning to make in the near future?

I wrote a script while at USC called Paris Nights, a coming of age comedy about four exchange students in Paris who have a crazy night out on the town. I want to adapt the story to take place in Shanghai, as I love this city and feel that a part of my destiny lies in China. I’m looking for a talented writing partner to collaborate on the script.

Alexander Sebastien Lee is a 2006 Project:Involve alumnus. The Real Shaolin recently had its world premiere at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. Alexander continues to develop film and TV projects that focus on China and its growing presence on the world stage.

[burningmonk]

In my experience, those who are not concerened about lineage in martial arts generally don't have a lineage of their own to speak of.

For example, I've met some "kung fu" masters in my home town (London, Ontario) who taught himself off of videos. This worked in the 80's and 90's because the guy was Chinese and people didn't ask questions back then. To his credit, he learned some forms and taught himself enough kick boxing to get by. With lots of time on his hands and plenty of gym space, he also got himself nice and flexible, so he could get his leg up nice and high.

Of course without lineage or a authentic teacher to speak of, he could never know the application, and his forms were just dance, and his "kung fu fighting" was just kick boxing.


A wise person once told me that a dog can raise it's leg over a fire hydrant to take a leak, but that doesn't make him a martial artist.


After awhile, this fellow had to come up with a story to cover his lack of linneage, so he made up a story about his father being in the military and having taught him when he was a child (unless he's come up with something new in the meantime). Having seen this fellow in action (or inaction) I can say that whoever taught this guy, he has no lineage because he doesn't know kung fu.

As for transmitting the Dharma ... I've spent many years studying Asian philosophy and have taken several courses on the topic. Those people that I know that understand the true meaning of words like Dharma don't bother using them.

It is ironic that the meaning of Dharma in saskrit is most closely associated with religious duty (following the true path). In this case, wouldn't following the true path suggest following a lineage, not making it up as you go along?

I guess I would start philosophizing on the internet myself if I didn't have a teacher who had a lineage.

[Songshan]

Well....I guess there are far too many masters out there and not enough students......

[Shaolinlueb]

anyone calls themself a sifu these days. lol

so how is documentary, any good?

[uki]

Well....I guess there are far too many masters out there and not enough students......too many chiefs and not enough indians.


anyone calls themself a sifu these days.i call myself a student... a good student is his own master. :D

[David Jamieson]

Uki is correct. There is no real Shaolin left in China. Most of the temple priests had left China even before the communists took over. In 1933 the communists, though not in power yet, burned and looted the remaining temples. The remaining monks and priests scattered, some to Hong Kong, but most to North America.

Those who have been to Honan, including myself and distinguished masters such as Jon Funk can attest there is no evidence of a single genuine Kung Fu style being taught today. The communists replaced Kung Fu with Wu Shu, which de emphasizes the martial aspects. Wu Shu can best be described as a combination of dance and aerobics. It looks good, is difficult and can give you a real work out, but it is not Kung Fu. It is lacking in chi development among other things.

The communists have reinstituted many of the traditional temples, filling them with actors and aerobats in order to draw tourists and hard cash. They continue to suppress Buddhism - and remember Shaolin is a form of Chuan Buddhism sprinkled with Taoism. Don't believe me, then take a look at what's happening in Tibet to the Buddhist monks and priests. Or consider this. Would a true disciple of Shaolin, or Buddhism for that matter, perform for money? Monks are taught to divulge themselves from worldly possessions and to carry a begging bowl. Would they sell "Shaolin Cola" at a religious temple? Would you ever see a monk or priest at a traditional Shaolin Temple smoking a cigarette? You'll find all of this and more at the newly reconstituted Communist Tourist Trap at Honan that masks as a Shaolin temple.

Go in peace and stay true to the faith.

Bok

ok..well, meanwhile back in 1972...

You do realize that crap is taught in North America as well?

You do realize that there has been radical change at Shaolin in even the past 5 years?

You do realize that buddhism is a legitimate line of study in virtually any chinese university?

You do realize that it's unlikely you are a shaolin monk without a degree in buddhist studies?

You do realize that every temple has a collection plate and some will even do a service for that collection?

I think your prejudice outweighs your knowledge here and it sounds like you have a grudge, because the other thing you could realize is that change occurs everyday.

I understand what you are saying. I would have even agreed with you, a decade ago.

For the most part, it is the optics on this end that are screwed when it comes to what is and what isn't "real".

What the various monks do is beyond what many "masters" here are even capable of. For that, Shaolin deserves props. They got methods that would make average men run away fast from the training regimens.

Don't believe me? take another look. there is a lot of change.

Of course, there is still a lot of value in the tcma that has been out of the temple, but it is usually this that gets corrupted. Shaolin is making a real effort at returning and the masters there are clear evidence of strong training, strong discipline and the correct methods.

[Lucas]

anyone know what ever happened to that german guy who had been training traditionally in shaolin for a while? i remember reading that article on him in kfm, but now it just popped into my head. im simply curious.

[GeneChing]

The Foreigner in Shaolin Temple: A Story of sHan Li, the Longest Staying Foreigner in Shaolin in over 500 Years By Erik Nagelvoort, 2005 May/June (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=590).

Last I heard, he wrote a book on Shaolin legends titled The Discovery. It's on his website - see www.shanli.org (http://www.shanli.org/index.htm)

[Lucas]

The Foreigner in Shaolin Temple: A Story of sHan Li, the Longest Staying Foreigner in Shaolin in over 500 Years By Erik Nagelvoort, 2005 May/June (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=590).

Last I heard, he wrote a book on Shaolin legends titled The Discovery. It's on his website - see www.shanli.org (http://www.shanli.org/index.htm)

sweet, thanks for the link-fu master gene. ill be giving that a look over pretty soon.

[GeneChing]

And I still haven't seen this film... :(

SAT, MAY 02 - 05:00 PM | Laemmle's Sunset 5
THE REAL SHAOLIN (http://www.vconline.org/festival/program.cfm?program_id=16)

The path of a warrior monk is not an easy one, even if their jaw-dropping martial arts feats can appear effortless. THE REAL SHAOLIN follows two Chinese and two Western students of kung fu over months of difficult lessons and life-changing experiences, revealing just how much hard work goes into those dazzling moves.
The Shaolin Temple in Central China is the legendary birthplace of kung fu. Decades ago, it was destroyed and its practitioners reduced. But the rise of kung fu movies – and especially the release of The Shaolin Temple, starring Jet Li – inspired an effort to rebuild the temple, which led to a new surge of students. First-time director Alexander Sebastien Lee is a Korean-American who originally visited Shaolin to study kung fu himself. His insider's knowledge pays off immensely, and he gains incredible access to the different schools set up around Shaolin. Though we do not have to suffer their aches and pains, we get our own education by following the four students. From China, nine-year-old orphan Yuan Peng learns the mystical practice of “Iron Body Qigong,” and Zhu, a teenager from a poor rural family, trains in the kick-boxing sport of Sanda. From the West, a nineteen-year-old American named Orion aspires to become like his hero Bruce Lee, and Eric, a twenty-nine-year-old Frenchman, yearns to study with the Shaolin Grand Master Shi De Yang. The film skillfully weaves together their trials and tribulations as each strives to achieve their own goals.
(United States/Peoples Republic of China, 2008) Dir.: Alexander Lee

Video, 89 min., Color, Documentary, English, Mandarin and French w/ES

[Raipizo]

so i take it this is a new movie eh?

[Royal Dragon]

Uki is correct. There is no real Shaolin left in China. Most of the temple priests had left China even before the communists took over. In 1933 the communists, though not in power yet, burned and looted the remaining temples. The remaining monks and priests scattered, some to Hong Kong, but most to North America.

Those who have been to Honan, including myself and distinguished masters such as Jon Funk can attest there is no evidence of a single genuine Kung Fu style being taught today. The communists replaced Kung Fu with Wu Shu, which de emphasizes the martial aspects. Wu Shu can best be described as a combination of dance and aerobics. It looks good, is difficult and can give you a real work out, but it is not Kung Fu. It is lacking in chi development among other things.

The communists have reinstituted many of the traditional temples, filling them with actors and aerobats in order to draw tourists and hard cash. They continue to suppress Buddhism - and remember Shaolin is a form of Chuan Buddhism sprinkled with Taoism. Don't believe me, then take a look at what's happening in Tibet to the Buddhist monks and priests. Or consider this. Would a true disciple of Shaolin, or Buddhism for that matter, perform for money? Monks are taught to divulge themselves from worldly possessions and to carry a begging bowl. Would they sell "Shaolin Cola" at a religious temple? Would you ever see a monk or priest at a traditional Shaolin Temple smoking a cigarette? You'll find all of this and more at the newly reconstituted Communist Tourist Trap at Honan that masks as a Shaolin temple.

Go in peace and stay true to the faith.

Bok

Reply]
Actually, you are wrong. There ARE genuine Shaolin masters at, or around Shaolin. You just have to know where to look. You may not find them at the Shaolin Wushu Guan, but much of the true Shaolin was preserved in the surrounding villages. it's still alive and well there.

On the other hand, you are right that many true masters left. Many infact went to Malaysia, and Indonesia. Indonesia actually has some prime examples of authentic Old School Shaolin, sill in it's ancient and pure 100% functional form. If you are a well schooled Shaolin player, check out William De Thouars and his Kuntao Silat. You will find brilliant usage and application for even the most obscour and exotic Shaolin techniques. Most of it is done with such simple common sense you will be wondering why you never saw it before now.

The De Thouars Kuntao is a smorgst board of preserved Shaolin applications thought to be long lost in most Chinese schools.

[hanguolaohu]

Thanks for spreading the word Gene!

This coming Saturday, May 2nd at 5pm will be the USA premiere of CAPE member Alexander Lee's feature documentary The Real Shaolin, about 2 Westerners and 2 Chinese who study Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple in China. The VC festival's USA premiere follows Alexander's successful World Premiere at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, where all 3 screenings in a 600 seat theater sold out. This will be the only screening available during the entire festival. Tickets can be purchased here:

http://www.vconline.org/festival/program.cfm?program_id=16

VC Film Festival
Saturday May 2nd at 5pm
Laemmle Sunset 5 theater
8000 Sunset Blvd, LA, CA 90046

More information including trailer can be found here:
www.realshaolin.com

[GeneChing]

...anything for the ol' laowai club. ;)

I'll even cut&paste your facebook announcement: Radio Interview tonight around 7:20pm PST on KXLU radio 88.9FM. For non-LA residents, audio stream at: http://www.live365.com/stations/kxlu2?site=pro

[hanguolaohu]

Yes, the brotherhood lives strong and well! :-)

Thanks again Gene!

[GeneChing]

The Real Shaolin is the most provocative documentary to come out on Shaolin so far. Unlike countless other Shaolin documentaries, The Real Shaolin doesn't get bogged down in retelling of tired and refuted myths. Nor does it dwell on the performance shows that monks do for tourists. Lee focuses his lens on four contrasting Shaolin aspirants, meticulously capturing their dreams and delusions as they search for meaning in the complex world of martial arts that surrounds Shaolin. Using these four narrative threads, Lee weaves an intricate brocade that is both moving and profound. He honors the power that is Shaolin with honest portraits of the intensity and hardships that all serious Shaolin students face in their quest for mastery at this venerated temple in modern times.

I've seen almost every documentary listed on our Shaolin Documentaries thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36328). This is one of the best. I've also had my name attached to many Shaolin projects. I'm quite proud to be acknowledged in the credits of The Real Shaolin.

Excellent job, Alex! I wish you all the success with this film.

[Blacktiger]

Any idea if this will be on DVD and can we get this in Oz ?

[hanguolaohu]

Gene, I'm so humbled and thrilled by your review on the film! Thank you and Gigi and the rest of the Kungfu Qigong staff for providing in-depth knowledge into the secretive and complex world of traditional Chinese Kung Fu!

[hanguolaohu]

Blacktiger, The Real Shaolin is still doing its worldwide festival tour and DVD release has not yet been determined. Anyone interested in joining The Real Shaolin mailing list for periodic updates on the film's release can PM me. Thanks.

[Tensei85]

Awesome! I can't wait this documentary sounds amazing!

[GeneChing]

Congrats on The Real Shaolin winning the VC Film Festival Documentary Special Jury Prize!

I got to add that I had a lol moment while watching The Real Shaolin. There's a scene where one of the laowai is at a sword shop and I totally recognized the merchant behind the counter. That dude and I had this wicked haggling session which transformed into a tourist vs. local bout of street theater - all in good fun, mind you. Haggling can be quite the spectator sport for locals. I bought several pieces from him over the years and it was always a hagglefest. He used to have this shop in Shaolin village between the wushuguan and Taguo before the relocation. That dude was hilarious. Seeing his tiny cameo brought back this rush of fond memories of Shaolin village, back in the day.

Long live the laowai club!!!

[GeneChing]

Click the link - there's vid too.

LA Asian Pacific Film Festival 2009: an interview with The Real Shaolin director Alexander Lee (http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/090619/article.asp?parentID=109536)
By APA Staff

Alexander Lee follows four people's journies to the Shaolin Temple in his Special Jury Prize-winning documentary, The Real Shaolin.

When Bruce Lee kung fu-kicked his way into Hollywood, he probably never would have imagined the legions of followers his martial arts actions films would spring. In his debut film The Real Shaolin, director Alexander Lee takes this idol worship to a whole new level, by documenting four people's journeys to the Shaolin Temple in central Henan province in China. APA chats with the USC film school grad and former student of kung fu to get his thoughts on making the film and demystifying Shaolin for a wider audience.

Interview with Alexander Lee
May 1, 2009
Interviewed by Janice Jann
Transcribed by Timothy Natividad
Camera by Warren Kenji Berkey and Oliver Chien
Video by Warren Kenji Berkey

APA: How did you select the four subjects that you decided to follow and how were those four subjects cast?

Alexander Lee: In Shaolin, they have a Buddhist saying – yuan fen. It means "follow destiny." I guess that's a really simple answer, but basically, when I first went to Shaolin to learn kung fu, I trained in the same room as this performance team of mostly children. I was really inspired by the kids because they were so much braver than me, an adult male. And I thought that would make a really interesting story.

I was also intrigued by the foreigners, the Westerners, and their story – how they came to Shaolin, what motivated them to travel thousands of miles from the comfort of home and family to find this legendary place. So basically, I found my characters by going to the temple and asking if they knew any young boys who were training. They told me "Oh, there's this one master who has three young disciples." I went there, filmed for the first day, and out of the three kids I knew, this was the one who I wanted. I could see his demeanor and the purity in his eyes. No fear, no complaining. That was very inspiring to me.

The kickboxer, whose name is Zhu, was on the top kickboxing team in that region. I started filming that team, and he was the most comfortable being on camera. He's a photogenic guy and very likable. He was talented, and I could see that.

The American was the only American at the whole school that I went to visit. I literally told them that I was an American filming something, and they replied "Oh, we have an American! Come meet him!" So we met, and he was really cool, and I asked him if I could film him. It was that simple. He was very open and very disciplined. I would tell him to come out and have some fun, get a drink or something, but he was so focused on his kung fu like Bruce Lee. That was his dream.

And then there was the French guy who I had found, and he wanted to be a monk. The foreigners were so few and far between we all knew each other, so that's the long and short of it.

APA: There are a lot of males who are fascinated with kung fu and martial arts. What do you think is its appeal to guys, men in general?

AL: I think that every young boy at some point wants to be like Bruce Lee. I think that there is something about martial arts, being able to be so confident in yourself. I really feel that martial arts is about eliminating fear, and I think that makes a better world. Martial arts is a violent practice, no doubt. Let's not beat around the bush and say it's a peaceful thing. It is violent, but the purpose of the violence has this weird paradox – using violence to pacify. Basically, using martial arts to serve a just cause, kind of like the police. The police don't walk around with sticks anymore, or say "No you shouldn't do this." They walk around with guns because they have to. They have to use force sometimes to teach the evildoers what is wrong. So I think that it's a universal thing. Bruce Lee, for me, is the ultimate kung fu movie star because he has so much presence and was so fast. He was very dynamic on screen. I think until this day he remains the ultimate kung fu action star.

APA: Are there any other stars or movie actors that you think could replace him?

AL: I think people are very fond of making lists of who's the top, number one person. But they're all different. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Obviously Jet Li and Jackie Chan are two living legends that have done incredible things for kung fu cinema, for the face of Asians in world cinema. But they're different. Jet Li is sexy, confident kung fu [laughs]. Jackie Chan is more like relaxed, bumbling kung fu. The difference between them is so beautiful because kung fu can have all these different forms and interpretations.

APA: On the one hand, while it's great that they are out there giving kung fu a reputation and spotlight, but you mentioned in the film that the form tends to be romanticized.

AL: I think movies have to romanticize life because that's why we go to see movies. We don't want to see a film about people doing everyday boring 9 to 5 stuff. I think there's room for people like me to have those different approaches to Shaolin temple or to kung fu. For me personally, I really would've liked to see a film that showed what the living conditions would be like. I mean I heard there were squat toilets, but to actually do it is a whole different experience [laughs]. But I think that kung fu movies are great. History is what is written down by the victor or whatever, who knows what really happened back in the day. But what's great is the rich tradition in celebrating the art. I'm happy that I have an opportunity to show a film that can show some real nitty gritty stuff. Hopefully people can be attracted to that and have that affect them as well.

APA: Are you interested in following women that do kung fu?

AL: Actually I did follow them. There are actually quite a few girls who study at Shaolin as well. My film premiered at Toronto, and there were some audience members who asked me "Did you follow any women?" or "Why didn't you follow any women? Why just boys?" And I said that I did follow two or three girls. It was just kind of a circumstance thing where eventually they kind of got uncomfortable with me filming them. The culture there kind of promotes this shy introvertedness compared to Americans. Besides that, I don't think they really appreciated me going into girls' dormitories and filming them sleeping. So it wasn't really a boy/girl issue really. It was just that those individuals weren't comfortable anymore. That was the toughest challenge for me, finding people comfortable being filmed.

APA: I'm sure as foreigners going into China to learn martial arts, it's already hard for them to deal with this new aspect of life. But to also have cameras follow them as they experience must be double the pressure and intensity. You yourself went to China to study Shaolin. I feel like a lot of the film, as much as it has to do with martial arts, it also has a lot to do with being a foreigner in a country. What were your thoughts on China when you went there?

AL: I think as an American, we're raised to think that China is Communist, and it's really not. When you go there, its very Capitalist and everybody wants to get their piece of the pie. I wasn't really sure what to expect. I assumed it would be poor, but luckily when I arrived at Shaolin, it was somewhat developed because of the two million tourists who visit there every year. And the hundreds of kung fu schools are fed by these thousands of students who are in a search for this dream to become the next Jet Li. So I guess in terms of what the kung fu training would be, I thought I was going to be slapping water and lifting buckets of water, maybe breaking stones and walking on logs of wood. I thought there might have been some of that, but there really isn't any of that anymore. Its kind of like the mythology of it, and I guess that's why most people go there. Who knows, maybe its just in the movies.

APA: Was there any difficulty filming in China?

AL: There was actually filming at the Shaolin temple. Filming there was not as difficult as I had imagined because that area gets a lot of film crews already as well as a lot of tourism. They're trying to publicize the temple a lot, they're very open to that. So it wasn't actually that difficult to get the approvals from the local government. I know that's a very big issue in America. We talk about that a lot. People always ask me at every Q &A, "Was it difficult? Did the government watch you?" Yeah they did, but I think they began to realize I wasn't there trying to prove some point like the Chinese are poor and backwards, this and that. I was there really just to document the experience and I think that maybe as a half-Asian person, they had a little more trust in me. Maybe more so than a Western crew who couldn't speak the language and was there for a week or something.

APA: What message do you hope the film is going to speak?

AL: For me, I just hope that people can learn something about Shaolin that they didn't know before and that they can kind of open their minds and hearts towards China. I think there's a lot of negative media about China, and although no country is perfect, there are a lot of wonderful things in that country. There's a very rich culture and tradition. I hope that my film can expand and be able to be seen by people of all races, age, sex. Because from my experience in Toronto, it was very diverse in terms of race; it was about half men and half women, I saw kids and old people. Hopefully if the film gets to the right avenues then it can be seen. That would be my hope.

Date Posted: 6/19/2009

[GeneChing]

I just heard that The Real Shaolin will be showing at SDAFF (http://www.sdaff.org/features_view.php?news_id=422) this year. SDAFF starts in a few weeks so any of you in San Diego are advised to check it out.

Our film columnist, Dr. Craig Reid, will be speaking there this year too, on action films. Here is his past coverage of the the event (and he promises more for this year soon).
2007: SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL: The See-World of Festivals (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=731)
2008: 2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival: Break Out the Hersheys in Southern California
(http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=790)

[hanguolaohu]

Thanks Gene for spreading the word! Here's our official press release:

Dear friends,

After our sold-out world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, my feature documentary The Real Shaolin is about to premiere at 4 film festivals across the United States during the month of October. The Real Shaolin is an award winning documentary about four people inspired by Kung Fu movies who journey to the Shaolin Temple in China to fulfill their dreams. I will be flying in from Beijing, China to attend all of these festivals. I would appreciate if you could spread the word to any of your friends who would like to watch the film play on the big screen.

Movie trailer here:
http://www.realshaolin.com/trailer.html

Click on any of the blue links below for tickets and movie information:

NEW YORK CITY- Tuesday, 10/6 at 8pm
Stranger than Fiction
IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave, NY 10014. Near 3rd St.
http://stfdocs.com/films/the_real_shaolin1/


WASHINGTON DC- Wednesday, 10/7 at 8pm
DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival
Goethe Institut, 812 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
http://www.apafilm.org/festival-2009/real-shaolin/


HONOLULU, HAWAII- Fri. 10/16 and Tues. 10/20
Hawaii International Film Festival
Screening 1- Friday, 10/16 at 9pm
Screening 2- Tuesday, 10/20 at 8:45pm
Dole Cannery F, 735 Iwilei Rd, Honolulu, HI 96817
http://hawaii.bside.com/2009/films/realshaolinthe_hawaii2009


SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA- Sun. 10/18, Sat. 10/24 and Sat. 10/28
San Diego Asian Film Festival
Screening 1- Sunday, 10/18 at 9:15pm
Screening 2- Saturday, 10/24 at 2:50pm
Screening 3- Saturday, 10/28 at 9:45pm
Ultrastar Theater (Stella Artois), 7510 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92108. Located off Friars Road at 163.
http://sdaff.bside.com/2009/films/therealshaolin_sdaff2009


Best,
Alexander Lee
www.realshaolin.com

[GeneChing]

An interview on Alex

EOE Interviews Filmmakers Alexander Sebastian Lee, Mikyung Kim and Jason Hoffman at the 2009 San Diego Asian Film Festival (http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?StoryID=132951)

Dawna Lee Heising and John Alsedek Film Eye on Entertainment on Time Warner Cable Segment with “The Real Shaolin” and “Going Home” Filmmakers

October 24, 2009 10/26/2009 01:14 AM GMT (TransWorldNews)

Dawna Lee Heising and John Alsedek of Eye on Entertainment on Time Warner Cable interviewed filmmakers Alexander Sebastian Lee, Mikyung Kim and Jason Hoffman at the UltraStar Theatre at the San Diego Asian Film Festival on Saturday, October 24, 2009.

The Real Shaolin is a 2008 documentary film directed by Alexander Sebastien Lee. The Real Shaolin follows the story of two Chinese and two Westerners who journey to the Shaolin Temple in China, inspired by the legends portrayed in Kung Fu movies with Bruce Lee and Jet Li. In the course of excruciating martial arts training, their fantasies to become Kung Fu warriors collide with harsh reality, as the Shaolin Temple is the ultimate test for martial artists from all over the world. "Real Shaolin" follows two Chinese and two Westerners who journey to the Shaolin Temple in central Henan province, inspired by the mythical feats from film heroes Li and others.

A Korean-American graduate of USC’s famed film school, Lee decided to make his documentary after venturing to Shaolin to see if he could survive the excruciating training. Lee, 29, a black-belt in tae kwon do and a first-time director who wrote, produced and shot the film, spent about 18 months filming two Chinese, Yuan Peng and Zhu Hao Shan, American Orion Lee and Frenchman Eric Guillou, as they spent 8 to 10 hours-a-day kicking, punching stretching, and just as important praying and meditating.

Since hardly anyone actually studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple (it is mostly a tourist attraction now after surviving 1,500 years of wars and revolutions), Lee followed the four students in the nearby rural city of Dengfeng, dubbed "Kung Fu City" for its 40,000 students and 100 martial arts academies. “The Real Shaolin” has been screened at the Toronto Film Festival, in New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii and at SDAFF. “The Real Shaolin” won the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Documentary Special Jury Prize on May 8, 2008. Lee now lives in Beijing, China, and is excited about pursuing a successful film career there.
There's video...follow the link.

[hanguolaohu]

http://www.realshaolin.com/forums/Retail_DVD/Festival_Laurel_leaves/Top_3_Fest_Laurels-sm.png

I'm excited to announce that after the sold-out world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and a successful worldwide festival tour, THE REAL SHAOLIN is finally available for purchase on DVD!

The limited edition DVD is available for purchase online directly from my website at: www.realshaolin.com

Just in time for the holidays, I'm offering a special discounted price of $19.99 until 12/31, making it the perfect gift for martial arts enthusiasts, Kung Fu film fans, spirituality seekers, or anyone interested in Asian culture and China. Don't miss out on this chance to bring this riveting documentary home!

Thanks for all your support!
Alexander S. Lee
---

Recent praise for THE REAL SHAOLIN:

“An inside look at a hidden world, a look at the reality of a world shrouded in myth and legend… A fascinating view, a study of clashing cultures and the human spirit.”
Twitch.com - Todd Brown, Founder

“The most provocative documentary to come out on Shaolin… [The director] weaves an intricate brocade that is both moving and profound.”
Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine - Gene Ching, Associate Publisher

http://www.realshaolin.com/forums/Retail_DVD/DVD_cover/RS_DVD_Cover-Web-72dpi-7x10-cropped.jpg

[GeneChing]

Y'all heard it here (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showpost.php?p=933254&postcount=50)first!

Congrats on the DVD, Alex. I'm still hoping you get a theatrical showing in S.F. someday.

[Lucas]

lucas knows what hes buying himself for the holidays

[solo1]

Ordered "The Real Shaolin" last week.

First the photography is amazing it further pressed my need to see China before i die. You get very close to the 4 guys in the movie and you develop incredible empathy for what they are going thru and what their lives are like. You are rooting for them very early on and want them to succeed at all costs, then the depression sets in. Its is tough to watch a ten year old whose mother left him at the temples gates be treated so poorly, the conditions that these guys live in will make you appreciate the west a lot more then we do. Sanda is an unbelievably violent and unforgiving event. Get hurt and cant train? you have very little left to turn to. I loved the movie will watch it again and again but be prepared. Its a wake up call of massive proportions. Mr Lee has produced a masterpiece it is the best 20 bucks I ever spent. CMA guys owe it to themselves to see this movie.

[Shaolindynasty]

Before i went to shaolin I watched some of those other documentaries like "myth and logic of shaolin kungfu" etc. After having been there I can't really watch those anyore. "the Real Shaolin" is the only one that captures the experince of training in Dengfeng. Excellent film

[therealshaolin]

Thank you Solo1 and Shaolindynasty! Hearing praise such as this makes the 5 years I spent working on the film all worth it!

Best,
Alexander Lee

[solo1]

Thank you brother for making it.

[David Jamieson]

I haven;t seen it yet.

Is it anything like Leslie Woodheads 1999 film "Kung Fu Business" which follows a couple of people as they enter the shaolin school to train and their different reasons for doing so. One guy can't complete the program and in it a guy from a wu shu university program is trying to get a job as a body guard and he is confronted with teh superior ability of a security guard who came from teh shaolin school etc etc. Pretty cool film as well.

I wonder if they are similar in flavour, but I guess I won't know til I see this one. :)

[Shaolindynasty]

For me one of the most powerful moments is when the french guy is explaining how that they were building character for buddhism but in terms of martial arts they were wasting their time. you could see him realising the myths he was chasing weren't real

[GeneChing]

Our biweekly online sweepstakes is offering REAL SHAOLIN autographed by director Alex Sebastien Lee. Enter for your chance to win. (http://www.kungfumagazine.net/index.html) Contest ends 4/28/2010. Good luck everyone!

[GeneChing]

See our Real Shaolin DVD autographed by Alex Sebastien Lee Winners thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1011200).

Thanks again for the great prizes, Alex!

[therealshaolin]

Thank you again Gene and thank you to the winners!