I've wanted to retire for a long, long time! But people keep offering me good scripts although not for romance films and I think myself lucky as I am working. Jackie Chan reveals secrets from his new film
What was your first impression of your co-star Johnny KnoxvilleIJ
He's an extremely funny guy like a Chris Tucker mixed with Owen Wilson.
Can you talk about you and your co-star performing your own stuntsIJ
Johnny expressed to me that he wanted to perform his own stunts. I have to protect all the actors from getting injured. A small mishap and the whole production haults, so my major concern was protecting the actors and making sure they're safe. When I perform a stunt personally, I know even if I get hurt, I'll be okay. I've worked with many actresses and actors who prefer using a stunt double, which I do encourage in some cases. Johnny particularly was very adamant about doing the stunts himself and impressed me with his ability to bounce back after doing complicated setups. Very few actors can do that while having a smile on their face.
You worked with Fan Bingbing in Skiptrace, So how is to work with one of the most beautiful women for youIJ
I actually was very popular among girls ever since I was young. After I became a stuntman, I would go to nightclubs with my senior fellow apprentice. After becoming rich and famous, girls would come to me like butterflies. Actually, I've been numb after so many years. I have seen too many beautiful girls, from Chinese to foreigner that now I don't think anyone is particularly beautiful.
Describe your character's journey in the film.
I'm the uncle of Fan Bingbing's character, who is my niece. Johnny's character is a scumbag. He is always cheating people, hustling and gambling. He's on a blacklist around the world, except in Macau. I help Fan's character chase Johnny's character from Russia back to Hong Kong. During this chase, we're not able to travel the usual ways of trains, planes or cars. Our means of transportation including riding horses or donkeys, walking, taking boats down rivers, mountain climbing, and other unusual ways of getting from point A to point B. It’s crazy.
What are you hoping audiences take away from the filmIJ
A lot of time people ask me how good a movie is but I never will talk about a film in that way. In my opinion, you don't need to promote great movies. One should watch the movie and tell me if he/she likes it or not!
Your movies always have a moral to it in spite of being action packed movies, how soIJ
I love action, but I hate violence. There is so much violence in the world, from video games and from other movies. I want my movies to have a message of peace, and helping each other.
How is acting different from directing for youIJ
When I direct, the film is like my baby. I have to make sure that there is comedy but no dirty comedy, and a positive message. I like people to believe the stunts are real - it's not like Spider-Man or Iron Man where a 20-minute scene can be pure CGI. I only use a tiny bit of special effects. I want it to be believable, so where I used to do a triple kick, I now just do one. Eventually, there will be no kicks. There has to be plenty of action, but not violence.
Do you ever think of taking a break from the entertainment industryIJ
I've wanted to retire for a long, long time! But people keep offering me good scripts although not for romance films and I think myself lucky as I am working.