Donnie Yen Quotes
-
I think film, to me, as a director, is about telling a story.
→ -
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 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.
→ -
In Hollywood, I'm lucky, I only do big movies like 'Blade.' It's much more comfortable: you have a trailer.
→ -
Like any other actor, I draw on life experience.
→ -
For me, I like to have explosive moments, whether it is a particular movement itself in the whole sequence. I like to have shocking moments; for audiences to feel, like, 'Whoa!' It's always been my forte.
→ -
I'm a very emotional guy.
→ -
I got nominated for my second film as best young director in the Aikido Film Festival in Japan.
→ -
I try to update my arsenal constantly. Learning different martial arts since childhood. To understand what's out there. To really be in tune.
→ -
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.
→ -
I certainly hope 'Dragon' can leave some legacy behind.
→ -
As an action director I always try to bring something fresh and new.
→ -
Bruce is the man. He was definitely ahead of his time.
→ -
Whether I'm acting or making it, at the end of the day it's telling the story; action, drama. You want the audience to feel it - the story, the action, the scene, or a particular shot. I just keep working on crafting my art, on how to make action movies.
→ -
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.
→ -
I act according to the requirements of the character, and if I try to play the role, then I play it truthfully. In my daily life, I'm a laid-back, peaceful guy. I'm just doing my job to act.
→ -
Doing a movie is a stressful thing. You spend months of you life focusing into that one project, and I want to make sure I do something I really like or I'm really passionate about.
→ -
The main reason I like UFC is not just the martial arts aspect, but it's about one person against the other person. It's about being able to test yourself with the truth.
→ -
I guess I'm pretty lucky because in childhood I studied so many martial arts styles and I never stopped researching them, my body is very adjustable and I can turn into different expressions with my body.
→ -
I spent a couple of years doing American films. I did a few.
→ -
There are two types of Chinese growing up in America. One is the kind that does really well in school, with thick, thick glasses. And the other is involved with the gangs.
→ -
When you watch my films, you're feeling my heart.
→ -
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.
→ -
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 gained a lot of confidence after 'IP Man' as being a true actor. I went on to tackle what it is an actor is supposed to do before a film. Do a lot of research, get into the character. That's what I did with 'Dragon.'
→ -
When audiences look at an action actor like myself, sometimes we are very easily stereotyped or characterized as one type. They forget that we are actors, too.
→ -
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.
→ -
I always used to wonder why American actors were getting fat, then I made a U.S. movie. I'm seeing all the food every day, and there's lots of waiting around because making an American movie is very slow.
→ -
It's a blessing to be given a variety of roles to what I call an iconic action actor like myself.
→ -
If you're playing a cop in a modern film, you don't have to walk with your spine straight up and bow before a fight. There's a lot of free form of expressing yourself as an actor.
→
Related Authors
-
Michelle Yeoh Film actress -
Chow Yun-Fat Actor -
Jackie Chan Actor -
Tatchakorn Yeerum Martial Artist -
Andy Lau Singer -
Wesley Snipes Actor -
Bruce Willis Actor -
Chuck Norris Martial Artist -
Stephen Chow Actor -
Mike Tyson Professional Boxer -
Bruce Lee Martial Artist -
Sylvester Stallone Actor -
Ip Chun Martial Artist -
Yuen Woo-ping Choreographer -
Jason Statham Actor -
Arnold Schwarzenegger Former Governor of California -
Dolph Lundgren Actor -
Jet Li Film actor -
Yip Man Martial Artist -
Jean-Claude Van Damme Martial Artist