Donnie Yen Quotes
-
From my experience as an actor, choreographer, action director, and producer, I understand the elements and the dynamics of being a film maker.
-
As an action director, I always try to bring something fresh and new.
-
When you watch my films, you're feeling my heart.
-
I try to update my arsenal constantly. Learning different martial arts since childhood. To understand what's out there. To really be in tune.
-
Still, as much as I wish Ballistic Kiss could be a better film, the recognition it gained from critics and at festivals speaks for itself.
-
I think every actor wants to try out different things.
-
It takes years of building that experience as a filmmaker, as well as physically. You have to have a high level understanding of martial arts.
-
I always tell younger filmmakers, it's not just about the acting or the art itself. It's about how big of an audience watches your film.
-
A lot of people don't realize, when you are acting in a martial arts film, you're not just performing martial arts. You're not just performing martial arts. You're actually acting as much as any other actor.
-
Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong. There's a lot of restriction for contemporary films simply because of subject matter.
-
There is also a strong following among the urbanites on the East Coast when it comes to martial arts films.
-
It's a blessing to be given a variety of roles to what I call an iconic action actor like myself.
-
In Hong Kong, particularly, we craft this art for decades. The action choreographer actually is the action director. He takes over and he choreographs with - by himself or with his team, and place the camera where he feels cinematic effect to bring out that choreography.
-
I've always been in a rebel.
-
I like to stay within the context of the character's background. If he's a cop, I have to make sure the audience is convinced that this person, a cop, can do only so much without a gun.
-
A lot of Chinese martial arts films were based on Chinese martial arts novels. And these novels created a world of putting history, calligraphy, and martial arts into one.
-
I love working with older actors because number one, I can learn so much from them because they have so much experience. And it's fun to hear their stories from their era, some of the jokes.
-
For me, shooting, editing, and scoring rely on rhythm.
-
Action choreographer is like talking. When you talk, you have a rhythm. When you act, you have a rhythm. When you're moving your body, you have a rhythm. So as an actor, as a choreographer, the objective is trying to blend everything in - into - ultimately back into that character.
-
I think film, to me, as a director, is about telling a story.
-
Martial art is a form of expression, an expression from your inner self to your hands and legs.
-
I'm a very emotional guy.
-
I have always been a great fan of Peter Chan and many other great directors who specialize in anything outside of action.
-
In Hollywood, I'm lucky, I only do big movies like 'Blade.' It's much more comfortable: you have a trailer.