Jackie Chan at the Far East Festival
Far East Festival Jackie Chan at the Far East Festival
How do you feel about the Americanization of Chinese culture? For how long do you think it would be possible for China to preserve its unique Ancient culture?
A long time ago, I tried to bring the Chinese culture to America but that wasn't a success. I mean, at that time there was "Cannonball Run," "The Protector." And I used Chinese action and Chinese culture but it just didn't work. I think it was the wrong timing but now, over thirty years later, I went to America because America invited me. So, when I go to America, I still do the same kind of action, the same kind of comedy and it's the right timing, the right moment and the right mood. But, I think America is a free country; they like everything but when you bring something in, are you bringing it at the right time, at the right moment? That's all. And, right now, China is probably – I don't know yet – the biggest market in the world. I think it's time to bring not only American culture to China, but whole Asia. Everything in China should be like a collaboration movie with Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia. Film is the international language and we should combine everything together.
How do you feel about the fact that Wuxia and the tradition on martial arts you were raised on have become the predominant style of action across global cinema?
Of course, I am very happy! Because, we're talking about a long, long time ago, about Wong Yue, Bruce Lee, and so many who have followed in their footsteps and continued to promote our culture throughout the world and I believe that after me, there will still be a few more people who will continue in my footsteps. And, just like there are so many American directors and actors who promote American culture to the world, it's the same thing; we accept our culture, we learn it and we try to return something to it. If everybody knows everybody's culture, there would be no more wars and no more misunderstandings. I think culture, film and music are very important.
My impression, and you have confirmed it, is that Hollywood is producing less films involving real martial artists than in the past. What, in your opinion, has changed in the world of action films?
Because martial arts films are difficult to shoot, it's not easy, you know. You have to have an actor who can really fight and then you can do "Papapapapammm" [Chan shows a move] and use a sword for everything. But, honestly, in Hollywood, not many actors know martial arts! Maybe they know action like Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone – they like boxing, that's a different kind. So, if they use a special effect, like in Batman or Superman, good, they can use a special effect to do all kinds of action.
Sometimes, the action is even better than my action! Like in "300," I was like "Wow! That's so good!" So, they spend a lot of money to create this kind of action and I think it's ten times better than mine but they don't really use the action. Liam Neeson, for instance, is not an action star, but they can use a small shot and make him become an action star. There's actor action star and there's action star. It's different. Now, Liam Neeson is an actor action star. First, he can act and his action is easy. There's easy action and difficult action and easy action is just like Matt Damon and "Bourne Identity." They can use a camera and "Papapapapammm" [Chan shows a move] and, it's so good! And, even I see it and I'm like, "Wow! Matt Damon can fight that good!" My kind of action is the difficult action. But, the audience doesn't know that. They just want to see good or bad, that's all!
In "Shanghai Noon," for instance, the two tomahawks were real tomahawks! Eeeeyyyuuuuu! [Chan does the motion of throwing a tomahawk in the air] When I use explosions, I want to use a real explosion behind me. Sometimes, when I make a Hollywood film, they say "Jackie! Action! Act scared!" And there's nothing behind me! They just use pretend scare… When you see the Asian films that I make, I am really scared! You can tell from the face! Maybe I like the excitement! I'm stupid, that's all. But, sometimes I like stupid and also the audience, they like to see Jackie stupid!
Jackie Chan at the Far East Festival
Far East Festival Jackie Chan at the Far East Festival
Nowadays, the success of a film is measured by the success of its box office results. There are some films that have had a poor result at the box office but have nonetheless greatly influenced pop culture and filmmaking. How do you measure the success of a film?
For me, when I was young, a long, long time ago, the box office result was very important because if there were no box office, nobody would invite me. And, making money came first, and then the quality because I had to feed my family and myself. And, slowly, when my movies were successful, then I would think about being an actor, a producer, a director. We do have the responsibility towards society, towards the world and this is why, for example, when I made "Drunken Master," it was only drinking, fighting, drinking, fighting -- and when I got older, I realized it was the wrong message! So, I made "Drunken Master II" and the message was: don't drink, don't fight.
"Today, I don't need money. I have enough money already." Jackie Chan
I had to correct myself and now, when I am making a movie, it's about not the box office anymore. I want to make the movie I want to make. I want to speak out the things in the movie. I want every movie to have a message, just like "Dragon Blade." Of course, if the box office is good and the credit is good, it all makes me happy and if the box office is not good, it still makes me happy, mostly because I speak out my message. Today, I don't need money. I have enough money already. I want to do something right for when I pass away, for when, in a hundred years, your grandchildren and my grandchildren can say, "That's some movie! It's very good!" and they can forget "Drunken Master" and talk about who I am or "Dragon Blade." That would make me happy. Some movies made a lot of money and people, boom, they forget… but some movies don't make any money but people, 20 or 50 years later are still talking about it and that's what I want!
You once said that you love action but that you hate violence. This is kind of a conflict of interest, isn't it? How do you deal with it?
It's a very big dilemma indeed! People always think that action is violence so it's quite a dilemma! Yes, you're right! I just do the best I can to show the whole world, you know, that violence is wrong.
What are your next projects? There are a lot of rumors about a sequel to "The Karate Kid." Can you talk about that?
I think that, in a way, I have already planned the next eight years of my life, almost. Next month, I will start a film called "Railroad Tiger" or something like that. Later on, the title might change... I just translated literally "Railroad Tiger"... Then, I'm doing a Kung Fu yoga film in India, and after that, "Civilian" and the director will probably be Peter Segal and then probably something with Michael Campbell and then again something with Daniel Lee; then "Chinese Zodiac 2" with myself directing again and after that, "Police Story 2."
There are just so many things going on! I think that I just like the challenge! Every movie is different! I want the audience to see every year a different Jackie Chan. This year, at Christmas, "Skiptrace" will be released. It's an action comedy with Johnny Knoxville. And, for "The Karate Kid 2," right now, it's almost the third or fourth draft and Will Smith is concentrating very seriously on it. Every time he gives me a call and says that the script is almost ready, I tell him, "Hurry up! Otherwise, your young son will be taller than me!" Also, there's probably a "Shanghai Dawn" coming to and "Rush Hour 4" -- no, I'm just joking!