[APPLAUSE]
[LAUGHTER]
JACKIE CHAN: Who said that?
[LAUGHTER]
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
INTERVIEWER: Hello, everyone.
Welcome to Talks at Google.
It is my pleasure today
to welcome Jackie Chan.
[CHEERING]
JACKIE CHAN: Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
INTERVIEWER: Welcome to Google.
JACKIE CHAN: Thank you.
INTERVIEWER: Thanks
for being here.
We're here to talk
about "The Foreigner."
JACKIE CHAN: Yes.
INTERVIEWER: Which is a
very exciting and dark
and kind of intense new
movie that you're in.
What's it like?
JACKIE CHAN: I just
want to change something
that the audience knows, not
like a usual Jackie Chan.
It's different.
There's no comedy,
action, it's serious.
I wanted to show the
audience I'm an actor.
INTERVIEWER: Yeah.
[APPLAUSE]
JACKIE CHAN: Have you
seen the movie yet?
AUDIENCE: No.
INTERVIEWER: They
haven't seen it.
I've seen it, and
my note to myself
was like, you've
never made me so sad.
JACKIE CHAN: Thank you.
INTERVIEWER: You are so, so sad.
I was like, Jackie
Chan's really upsetting.
JACKIE CHAN: I've been
doing action-comedy
for more than 50 years.
And for the last
10 years, I tried
to change to let the audience
know I'm the actor, not
the actual star.
So I tried very hard to make
"Karate Kid," and "Dragon
Blade," and slowly sort of
let the audience know, ah,
he's not the action star.
He's an actor, but know
how to fight, is all.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: And
also, your costar's
Pierce Brosnan, who is
also a very intense actor.
And we're also used to seeing
him in a very super suave spy
way.
And I feel like your guys'
roles were a little reversed.
We actually have a clip of it.
PIERCE BROSNAN: I
haven't been affiliated
with the IRA for 30 years.
When I was, I fought hard
against the violence.
I went to prison for what
I did and paid my debt.
Now I serve the
politics of both sides,
trying to heal the wounds
and bridge the divide.
Again, my sincere condolences.
But there's nothing I can do.
JACKIE CHAN: What if
your wife and daughter
were killed by a bomb?
PIERCE BROSNAN:
I'd do everything
in my power to get justice.
JACKIE CHAN: So I have
chosen you, Mr. Hennessy.
You will tell me
who killed my child.
PIERCE BROSNAN:
Again, I don't know.
JACKIE CHAN: You will
change your mind.
Thank you for seeing me
personally, Mr. Hennessy.
INTERVIEWER: I think we
can all agree, [INAUDIBLE]
[APPLAUSE]
JACKIE CHAN: [INAUDIBLE]
in China, my friends
tell me they usually watch my
movie, everybody's just ahh!
[LAUGHTER]
This time, the whole
theater was packed--
quiet.
Everybody just--
[LAUGHTER]
Just like that.
INTERVIEWER: You didn't
tell them to bring tissues?
JACKIE CHAN: No.
INTERVIEWER: No?
[LAUGHTER]
JACKIE CHAN: Bring some tissues.
INTERVIEWER: Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
So what was your first reaction
upon reading the script?
JACKIE CHAN: That was
seven years ago now.
Yeah, seven years ago,
I read the script.
I like it very much.
And also, the writer
said, Jackie, only you
can do that character.
Because you should
really buy the book.
It's called "The Chinaman."
Then I loved so much.
And the writer, [INAUDIBLE],,
he want to be a director.
And so a lot of studios
said, no, you're too new.
We'll not risk this kind
of budget to let you.
They're looking for a director.
And later on, there's so
many politics, you know?
Just I said, OK, forget it.
Then I go back to China
to make my own film.
Later on, then STX [INAUDIBLE],,
he want to work with me.
Then I said, why don't you
start with "Foreigner?"
Then they solve all of the
politics, and the deals,
and everybody gets a
little bit of money.
And OK, let's make the film.
INTERVIEWER: It certainly
smooths things over.
But Martin Campbell ended up
directing it, who's great.
And he did "Goldeneye,"
with Pierce Brosnan.
JACKIE CHAN: At first, I
want to be a director myself.
And if I'm director, I'm
not that old, I'm younger.
[LAUGHTER]
Probably, a lot of big
action, jumping around.
I was 40-something years old.
And later on, there's
too many English.
And they're filming in London.
I think, am I not
understanding a lot of English?
Why don't I find a director?
So we find a director, and they
introduced Martin Campbell.
And of course, I know him.
And I said yeah, he's good.
We hire him, then
we do the casting.
We do the makeup.
Then it takes me
one-and-a-half-hour makeup.
Jackie, you're not old enough.
[LAUGHTER]
No, you have to be older.
INTERVIEWER: That's a
good problem to have.
JACKIE CHAN: Older!
Older!
No, how old you want me to be?
[LAUGHTER]
I time on the set, I move--
Jackie, you are not
Jackie Chan You are Quan.
I said, OK.
Sometimes then, when I move--
no, no, no, this is
not Jackie Chain.
I said, OK.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: It is interesting,
because you are playing
a slightly older character.
And you're such a versatile
choreographer and action
star, that how do you
approach choreographing
for a character who is
supposed to be older?
JACKIE CHAN: Yes, we have to.
Because my character is
like a Special Force,
like a Navy Seal.
Know a lot of skill.
And all those kind
of action sequence,
it's not like it used to be--
Jackie, buh, buh, buh, buh.
It's fast.
It's more like [INAUDIBLE]
things, shshhoom, pow!
And also, you have
to watch my age.
And I have to use my trick and
technique to win the battle.
INTERVIEWER: Speaking of,
we have one of your battles.
[LAUGHTER]
We're just running with this.
[LAUGHTER]
[GROANING]
[SCREAMING]
[GROANING]
[YELLING]
[GRUNTING]
[SCREAMING]
[GROANING]
[SCREAMING]
[APPLAUSE]
JACKIE CHAN: [INAUDIBLE]
used to be I can jump over.
I had to pretend boom,
uh, and breathe--
[LAUGHTER]
--after.
I had to pretend old.
[LAUGHTER]
And every time I
pass the camera,
I do a pretend [GASPING].
[LAUGHTER]
And I have to do
these kind of things.
Make the audience
believe I'm old.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: I mean
this as a compliment,
you did a great job acting it.
Because you've been hurt.
You've seemed to be hurt in
stunts and choreography before.
But this time I
was like, is he OK?
You really took a
beating in this one,
or your character takes
a beating in this one.
JACKIE CHAN: And
it's very difficult,
even a very simple action
sequence is so difficult
to fight.
Why?
Because the director hire
the actor really know to act,
but they don't
know how to fight.
That's the problem.
When they grab you,
they really grab you.
Then you just-- you
cannot [INAUDIBLE]
[LAUGHTER]
I just always tell
them, relax, relax.
[LAUGHTER]
I always tell them--
pop pom, pop pom.
Again, pop pom, pop pom, rhythm.
Pop pom.
OK, roll, action.
I have to on the set, teach
them how to be in action.
Sometimes, you
know how to fight.
But you do this kind
of fight, you get hurt,
and it doesn't look good, yeah.
You have to know the
rhythm, the timing.
It's very important.
INTERVIEWER: So
what's your process
like when you are trying to
choreograph a new scene out?
Do you start with the script?
Do you--
JACKIE CHAN: Script.
INTERVIEWER: --on the beats?
JACKIE CHAN: Script,
character, what kind?
Like, "Rush Hour," OK,
then we know it's a comedy.
You ba, ba, ba, happy go lucky.
And this kind of fighting
is tough and serious.
And it's not like "Rush
Hour" righting, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: It's very much
not a "Rush Hour" [INAUDIBLE]..
[LAUGHTER]
Well, how do you kind
of continue to innovate?
Because you've been on screen
for such an amazing amount
of time.
But you always seem to bring
something new to the table.
Where do you get
your ideas from?
JACKIE CHAN: I'm just
thinking every day.
Even I drive here, it's 45
minutes, I'm in the car,
I just think about
some idea, really.
When you go to a location
or vacation, you go to the--
whatever, you take a photo.
I always-- can I jump from here?
Can I crash--
[LAUGHTER]
And when I here, I just--
where I can shoot scenes?
[LAUGHTER]
I don't know why,
it's just everything
for me is the movies, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: That's awesome.
I think that's probably
why you continue
to push the boundaries
of what we watch.
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah,
I don't know why.
All my mind is scripts, scripts,
scripts, action, action, stunt.
[LAUGHTER]
How can you use those kind
of chair becoming a weapon?
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: Everyone
watch out now.
[LAUGHTER]
JACKIE CHAN: [INAUDIBLE] I
never saw those kind of ashtray.
Well, what can we do with
these kind of things?
See this [INAUDIBLE] the guy
will grab me, then I push back.
Boom, the two hands going down.
[LAUGHTER]
You pick up well
these kind of things.
I've been looking.
Everything in my head
is an action sequence.
INTERVIEWER: So you have
all these amazing ideas
in your head.
But then you also are working
with a team of people,
and you have to collaborate.
So how did you
Martin work together?
How did that kind
of come together?
Were you on the
same page to start?
Or were your styles
different, and you
kind of met in the middle?
JACKIE CHAN: I just asked
Martin, how long is the fight?
Then [INAUDIBLE] yeah.
Sometimes you know, my movies
have a 20-minute, half hour--
keep fighting.
[LAUGHTER]
I never die.
[LAUGHTER]
Then when I come to US, I
learn this timing speed.
Sometimes, you fight
five minute, 30 seconds,
for 10 minutes, something like.
Then we decide all the
sequence, show Martin.
Then too long, too short.
And show the cameraman,
show the props.
Then we just for
us, it's so easy.
I mean, we've been filming
all my life, action film,
action sequence.
INTERVIEWER: When you
say you show them,
does that mean you
actually block it out,
and then you'll show--
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah,
with my stunt team.
INTERVIEWER: --and then show it?
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah.
I have 17, yeah.
Each team, some team in
China, some team in London,
some team in Hong Kong.
We choreography all
the things, then
we put it together
to show Martin.
INTERVIEWER: So we
have one more fight.
This is our last clip--
JACKIE CHAN: Oh that--
INTERVIEWER: It's
a really good one.
[GRUNTING]
[SCREAMING]
[GROANING]
[SCREAMING]
[GROANING]
[SCREAMING]
INTERVIEWER: What was the
most challenging scene
to film for this one?
JACKIE CHAN: I think every
time making an American film,
most challenges are endless.
So difficult. Action
acting, for me, easy.
On the set, the English is
so difficult, especially
when sometimes, you have
to speak English English.
Cup of tea?
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: Seems
perfect to me.
[LAUGHTER]
JACKIE CHAN: All right,
all right, but of course.
[LAUGHTER]
Yes.
That I think is difficult. And
also, making an American film,
the challenge is the timing,
the budget, and the schedule.
Not making my own film--
when I'm making my own film,
I cannot finish today,
I finish another day.
We cannot finish another
day, then another day.
Make sure the scenes are good.
But making an American film,
you've got to finish today,
otherwise the bomb coming.
And the insurance coming.
And that drives me crazy.
So that's why, sometime, I--
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: But I mean--
JACKIE CHAN: Sometimes,
I just ask the director,
you want to make a film, or
you want to make a good film?
I want to make a good film.
I see some people, they
just want it on schedule,
on budget, make the film, done.
No, that's wrong.
That's wrong.
INTERVIEWER: Do you think
when you work with directors
that you kind of bring
your work ethic and style
and that they adopt that?
Because I feel like you're
such a professional, that
working with you, you'd kind
of have to learn to do that.
JACKIE CHAN: That's the problem.
When I'm making a film in
the US, you're on the set,
you can do nothing.
Move the chair, stop.
Don't do it.
Props guys?
[LAUGHTER]
We have 20 people surrounded,
you just move the--
no, you have to wait for
the prop guy 20 miles.
[LAUGHTER]
Go and bring the water away.
There's too many rules.
But sometimes, you have
to follow the rules.
And myself, we don't
have rules on the set.
I'm the cameraman, I'm the
lighting guy, I'm the prop guy,
I'm the director,
I'm the writer,
I'm the stunt coordinator,
I do anything, everything.
Even my stunt team, we
do everything on the set.
We are included.
But in US, you have to
follow American rules.
So this why when I'm
making American film,
some time on the set, I--
[SIGHING]
[LAUGHTER]
It just--
INTERVIEWER: Bottled up?
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Yeah.
I mean, I think for a
character like this,
does that actually play into
your character here, right?
Because you're frustrated
as a character.
JACKIE CHAN: Yes.
INTERVIEWER: You're
building all this tension.
His character is in
a terrible position,
and no one's helping him.
Do you kind of channel into
that for your acting in this?
JACKIE CHAN: Exactly same.
[LAUGHTER]
Exactly the same.
And I just follow the actor.
So this why in a movie, from no
tear until the tear comes up,
I have to speak English.
It's not my mother language.
And I have to
remember the dialogue.
And I remember the actor, what
he's saying, when it's my turn.
And after acting,
my tears coming up,
then I pretend crying.
Then I'm pretty good actor.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: Very good!
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: The thing that
was the most interesting to me
about this one is
that I don't think
there was a fight till
about 30 minutes in.
And I think we're so used to
seeing you jump into action,
it was such an interesting
and kind of unexpected thing
to see you build to this fight.
When the first
fight does come on,
it's so much more
intense because of it.
JACKIE CHAN: This kind of
movie cannot fight too much.
Otherwise, the audience
believe, oh, I can jump.
If you see my character jump
this guy-- boom, boom, boom,
boom, 370 pounds, they say, oh.
No, you have to--
exactly my character.
I get hit.
And even I beat somebody,
I get beat more.
Then I lie down like
a (PANTING) but I just
use my tricks, my experience
to win the fighting.
Exactly the character.
Then you look [INAUDIBLE]----
ah, that's the real movie,
the real things.
Otherwise, if I can somersault,
do the somersault-- no,
it's not like this
kind, the choreography.
INTERVIEWER: What do you think
you admired most about Quan?
JACKIE CHAN: Humble.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: He's humble?
JACKIE CHAN: It's me.
It's just me.
[LAUGHTER]
It's just like me.
Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Seems a
little quieter than you.
JACKIE CHAN: Mostly
I'm quiet, yeah.
On the set, I'm quiet.
And when I'm filming, I'm on
the set, I'm helping everybody.
I'm helping the new talent,
helping my stunt team,
and helping the whole, whole,
whole, whole movie, everything.
Except in front of the audience,
I know you want to say,
listen to a lot of things.
I try to bring up the
things you like to hear.
Everything I speak is true.
I never make up the
things all those years.
And that's me.
Exactly like Quan, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: You
also produced this.
So when you aren't
producing a film,
do you get as involved
in every step of it?
Or is that just kind
of built into who
you are, and you just--
JACKIE CHAN: Long story.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: We've got time.
JACKIE CHAN: Because
when I'm making a film,
sometimes I know the
editing is wrong.
And I've been editing
myself 40 years.
And I do everything.
It's not like American--
they have a director, editing
director, camera director,
art director.
There's so many directors.
When I'm making a film, I'm the
director, and the art director.
I'm the editing director.
And I do everything.
We don't have the money.
[LAUGHTER]
We cannot hire people.
I have to do my own things.
So that's why you see the Jackie
Chan own film, terrible art
director.
Terrible camera movement--
we don't have the money
to buy a crane and dolly.
We use a wheel chair.
[LAUGHTER]
We use a ladder.
But I learned so many things.
After, when I come to US--
wow, I see all the
camera equipment.
Then I learn more.
So that's why sometimes,
the old movies.
Like "Drunken Master," or
"Police Story," whenever
they bought and come
to US, they have
to recut, redub
sound, everything.
I say why?
I do the best I can.
Why you have to recut?
Terrible editing.
[LAUGHTER]
It's terrible.
You can compare
it to my editing,
and well, OK, I believe
that's American thought.
OK, I trust the editing guy.
I trust the sound guy.
Because that's the way
American people like it.
Well, sometimes, I
ask American fans--
no, we don't like
American version.
We like Chinese
version, my own version.
So later on, I find out,
oh, they need a job.
They cannot--
[LAUGHTER]
They cannot bring "Police
Story" come to US.
They're oh, good.
No, they're no,
editing is wrong.
OK, you need a editing guy.
Music's all wrong.
So you need so many people.
Then you ruin my movie.
So now I want to be a producer.
Then I say, the editing
wrong, at least I
can say something to tell the
director to do this, do that.
Otherwise, as an
actor, you just say it.
You have no say.
I want to do this.
No, you don't worry [INAUDIBLE].
If I am the producer, again,
I want to change this,
I want to do this.
Because I'm not the master, but
I've been in the movie industry
57 years.
All my life, every single
day, in the film set.
And if I'm not home,
I'm in editing room.
If I'm not in the editing room,
I'm in the script meeting.
All the time.
INTERVIEWER: Do you sleep?
[LAUGHTER]
Not enough?
JACKIE CHAN: I only sleep
four hours from Anchorage.
I just arrive 4:00 from
China this morning.
And I fly back to LA.
INTERVIEWER: Thanks
for being here.
We appreciate the extra journey.
[APPLAUSE]
And the technology
has evolved so much.
And you touched back to it.
Like, look, you guys used--
I don't want to say rudimentary,
but you used the techniques
available to you.
Has technology
impacted you at all?
JACKIE CHAN: So good!
[LAUGHTER]
Technology is so good.
[LAUGHTER]
Really.
In the old day, I
risked my life because I
don't know technology.
I don't know green screen, blue.
Those kind of computer
graphics, I don't know.
I have to risk my
life, do all the stunt.
When I watch
American movie-- wow!
And everybody can be a
super man, super girl, wow!
[LAUGHTER]
Even now, they do the action
sequence better than ours,
because they use special
effects through blue screen,
green screen, computer graphic.
Break dance--
[LAUGHTER]
Yes, right?
Break dance, and martial
art, all kind of martial art
with all the new technology.
So that's why you see, right
now, American action movie
is so good.
And of course, I want to show
the audience the one shot.
Just like this, you see the
whole thing, what I'm doing.
But American film, they clever.
They can use the camera angle.
If some people, they don't
know how to fight, they just--
then the audience--
wow, so good.
[LAUGHTER]
With all the sound effects--
[MAKES FIGHTING NOISES]
[LAUGHTER]
Because I know how to fight, I
don't need this kind of thing.
I want the 40 angle, or
35, or pull out the 50.
I show you the whole thing.
[MAKES FIGHTING NOISES] Boom!
The whole shot.
Difficult, very hard to shoot.
Like "Young Master,"
one shot, two days.
Bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, cut.
One more, one more time.
[LAUGHTER]
If I use the American
things, so easy.
One day, I can do 20 shots.
[MAKES FIGHTING NOISES]
Boom, cut!
[MAKES FIGHTING NOISES] So easy!
[LAUGHTER]
But I think American,
the audience, they
like this kind of sound effect
with the camera angle is--
[MAKES FIGHTING NOISES]
this kind of thing.
So, wow, just so good.
But now I know these
kind of things.
But the audience,
they don't like
to see Jackie Chan doing
these kind of things.
They watch American, a
lot of action star, OK,
they can do it.
They know--
[MAKES FIGHTING NOISES] But
if I do this kind
of thing-- why?
[LAUGHTER]
What are you doing?
I have to show the
audience the whole thing.
Jump, [INAUDIBLE] boom, I get
hurt, pow, umm, go to hospital.
[LAUGHTER]
OK, this is Jackie Chan.
[LAUGHTER]
Poor me!
[LAUGHTER]
Yes!
When I was young,
we don't have money.
We cannot buy a machine,
do this kind of thing.
Today we have a lot of money,
but still do the stupid way.
Because the audience, they
like to see [INAUDIBLE] things.
And I don't think
the audience like
to see Jackie becoming
a Spider-Man, right?
[LAUGHTER]
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
I want to be Spider-Man!
[LAUGHTER]
Cut!
Cartoon!
[LAUGHTER]
Hey, come back!
Boom!
[LAUGHTER]
[INAUDIBLE] wow,
this so good, shoo--
I am fighting.
I can use all [INAUDIBLE]
then come back.
[LAUGHTER]
But poor me.
They want to see--
no matter how old I
am they still see me
doing the action sequence.
INTERVIEWER: Well, you
hadn't done a ton--
JACKIE CHAN: But
I like to do it.
INTERVIEWER: Yeah,
you haven't had
to set up super
serious ones before,
and this turned out great.
So you could try for
the next Spider-Man.
JACKIE CHAN: Nobody hire me!
[LAUGHTER]
I want director hire me
to be Batman, Spider-Man.
Every time I see those
superhero, I should in there.
[LAUGHTER]
Nobody hire me.
INTERVIEWER: I mean, you
are your own super hero.
That's not a terrible thing--
JACKIE CHAN: They only hire me--
OK, "Rush Hour."
[LAUGHTER]
"Shanghai Dawn,"
"Shanghai Noon."
INTERVIEWER: Now
"The Foreigner."
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah, I
pick up the script.
Otherwise, they still going on
like a "Shanghai Dawn," a "Rush
Hour," and super
police from China,
super police from Hong
Kong, just all police.
I want to do
something different.
But in China, I can
do a lot of things,
because I produce it myself.
So this why you can see I do all
kinds of different character.
But in US, so
difficult. I receive
a lot of scripts,
police, police, CIA, CIA.
I want to change.
INTERVIEWER: What do you think
you want to do next, if you
had your pick of any project?
JACKIE CHAN: "La La Land."
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: [INAUDIBLE]
[APPLAUSE]
I don't know if
Western audiences know,
but he is such a good singer.
Like, it's not funny.
[LAUGHTER]
JACKIE CHAN: I think--
INTERVIEWER: I would absolutely
cast you in "La La Land."
JACKIE CHAN: In US, the
[INAUDIBLE] song is my song.
Yes?
INTERVIEWER: Yes.
JACKIE CHAN: Yes.
And if you have time to
translate the lyrics, so good.
The lyric is so good.
INTERVIEWER: I think the
video is actually already out,
the music video for it.
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah.
And with out, in
China, number one.
Yes.
Not [INAUDIBLE] probably,
my voice is sexy.
[LAUGHTER]
And also, the lyric is
good, the music is good.
It's so good.
INTERVIEWER: It's a good song.
JACKIE CHAN: I love it.
INTERVIEWER: It's a great song.
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: We have time
for a few audience questions.
If folks want to
line up at the back.
I would love to see
you in a "La La Land."
AUDIENCE: Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: I really would.
Like, I hope you make
a Chinese "La La Land."
[LAUGHTER]
AUDIENCE: Oh, hey, Jackie.
I'm a huge fan of yours.
And "Police Story" was one of
my favorite movies of all time.
JACKIE CHAN: What movie?
AUDIENCE: "Police Story."
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, "Police
Story," thank you.
AUDIENCE: And my favorite
part of your movies
are when you show the
bloopers at the end,
and it shows all the different
outtakes, and all the stunts
that went wrong.
And like in "Project A," you
fell from the clock tower
two or three times.
So I was wondering, is it hard
for you to get the courage
to do the stunts
over and over again,
even after you've been hurt?
JACKIE CHAN: Doing a stunt--
I actually, when I'm
doing a stunt, I'm scared.
I'm not a super man.
Every time, when
I'm doing a stunt,
my heart's beating,
boom, boom, boom, boom.
But I just want to do it.
I want to challenge myself.
And strange, any time, when
there's the camera rolling--
speed--
then I just, boom!
I just-- wow.
In that time and that
moment, I become a super man.
Boom, I do it.
I never thought.
Then I think probably,
I know I'm going to die.
I probably hurt myself.
I don't care at that time.
So that's why jump
building, and helicopter.
Every time, just like
saying death penalty.
Yes.
Like "Supercop," we
jumped at the helicopter.
Nothing, there's no wire.
We just watched the
helicopter, I'm going to do it.
Yes.
Then I watched
across the street,
there's so many paparazzi
with the lenses.
[LAUGHTER]
And I said, I got to jump.
OK, they will watch
when I'm dying.
OK, go.
[LAUGHTER]
Then oh, OK, I survived!
[LAUGHTER]
Then next shot.
Yeah.
But I'm so happy.
I'm glad when I was young,
I had so many energy,
I do so many stunts.
And I'm so happy.
But this day, probably, I
cannot do anymore, yeah.
Jump off the table, yes.
But jump-- no.
[LAUGHTER]
I might use special effects.
So this is why I say
technology's so good now.
[LAUGHTER]
I can jump from here to here,
it's like a 20-story building.
[LAUGHTER]
I don't have to jump.
In the old day, I really jump!
[LAUGHTER]
AUDIENCE: Thank you.
JACKIE CHAN: Thank you.
AUDIENCE: Ever since I was a
kid, I always looked up to you.
I always imagined training under
you, and learning from you.
And because of that, I trained
kung fu ever since I was four.
Now I teach line
dancing to kids.
I teach at three
different places.
And I have two other
kung fu brothers,
and we collaborate together,
and we do a lot of things.
And we come up with different
tricks for line dance,
and we do all these
stunts similar to you,
but not as amazing
as yours, though.
[LAUGHTER]
What I want to get to is working
with your kung fu brothers,
Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao--
all three of you are amazing.
And I'm wondering
what that dynamic was
like when you guys
were doing your stunts
and your choreography together?
JACKIE CHAN: When Sammo Hung
and me and Yuan Biao together,
we just like magic things.
Yeah, on the set,
when we choreograph,
we don't even train.
We just put the hand, then
they just give me a punch.
Then we just-- those kind of
things just come from very
natural--
[MAKES FIGHTING NOISES]
Oh, good!
OK, let's shoot.
Yeah, that's all.
You don't have to like,
pom, pom, pom, bom.
Some other people, we have to--
OK, watch.
Watch our punch.
OK, OK, again.
You forget.
But with Yuen Biao and
Sammo, we just very natural.
You put the hand--
[MAKES FIGHTING NOISES]
so good, yeah.
I miss the old days, really.
INTERVIEWER: Do you
spend a lot of time
actively training and
learning new things?
Or do you spend
more time teaching?
JACKIE CHAN: Teaching.
INTERVIEWER: Teaching?
JACKIE CHAN: Teaching.
When you're teaching, you have
so many new things coming up.
And also, when I
teaching, I also
learn something
from the students.
Because some other martial
they want to learn the movies.
Then I can learn.
Actually, I didn't say it.
In my heart, wow, I
learned something from him.
And I use these things,
and change other things.
And actually, right now, when
you look at Jackie Chan movie,
it's not just one style.
We have a like, wing chun,
hapkido, jiu jitsu, judo.
We have all kind, kind
of like a chop suey.
[LAUGHTER]
There's all kinds of things.
So it's not like a tai
chi, just one style.
I have so many styles.
So actually, when you
watch "Drunken Master,"
or you watch "Police Story,"
there's so many styles inside.
AUDIENCE: Hello, Jackie Chan.
My name is [? Winnie ?]
[? Lam. ?] And what this
audience may not know is that
besides you being a famous
movie star, that you're
a passionate advocate
for wildlife conservation.
You've done commercials to
save tigers, to save elephants,
to save rhinos and
things like that.
What I'm curious,
is what inspires
you to take such passionate
action to save animals?
And what is your vision for what
you would like to see happen?
JACKIE CHAN: Doing a
charity, save an animal,
it's that people
teach me how to do it.
I never go to school
when I was young,
I just do the martial arts
school when I was growing up.
When I was 16 or 15,
then all my mind,
it's a daytime karate,
afternoon hapkido,
at night, boxing, middle
of the night, and gym room.
Nonstop.
When I becoming a movie
star, I want to make money,
I wanted famous, that's all.
Later and later, because
the movie success,
I'm becoming a famous people,
just tell me do a charity.
I don't like to do charity.
I don't have time to do charity.
I like to play, I want to
drink, I'll go to a disco.
[LAUGHTER]
When I was 19, 20, I'm
a millionaire already.
Every day I just--
if you watch my biography,
I speak the truth.
I was kind of like just--
not Playboy, just kind of.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER: You were young.
[INAUDIBLE]
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah, young.
INTERVIEWER: Everyone
goes through it.
You just had more fun
than the rest of us.
[LAUGHTER]
JACKIE CHAN: Somehow, one
day, I involve one charity.
And then a young kid--
are you coming back next year?
Then wow, it really hurts me.
And also, the organizer--
ah, Jackie, he
didn't sleep the whole night.
Actually, I've been
playing the whole night.
They [INAUDIBLE] asked, Jackie,
working the whole night,
now come to see you,
buy so many presents.
Then all the young kids asked
me, what kind of present?
I don't know.
I didn't buy it, they buy
everything, they just organize.
Then I bring up.
I just so shamed.
I go back, and never,
never, forget the hope
that I see all the children.
The children ask me,
are you coming back
next year at Christmas?
Then I said, yes.
Then that day, every day,
just yes, yes, yes, next year.
Next year [SPEAKING CHINESE]
Redeemed [INAUDIBLE],, right?
Redeemed [INAUDIBLE]
Next Christmas,
I really buy the
presents, go back.
Then I said, ah,
last year was bad.
This year, I really is come.
Kept doing charity
like a snowball.
And you do this
[INAUDIBLE] somebody.
Then does charity
teaching me to become
a good boy, a good
person, good to respect.
The later on, OK, animals.
Then slowly, slowly, I
moved so many things.
Now I'm good boy now.
[LAUGHTER]
I was a wild boy
when I was young.
[LAUGHTER]
You can imagine a stunt guy.
Every day, risk our life.
Am I going die today?
I don't know.
We'll do it in the morning.
In the old day, you
get hurt, you done.
So we just risked our
life, then you get money.
Otherwise, tomorrow
you don't have food.
Then we just-- that's my life.
So suddenly, we have
a million cash a day.
Wow, spend, every day, wow.
I don't know where
I'm going to die.
And it's that kind of thought.
But now, because charity
teach me to become a person.
Thank you, charity.
Thank you, all the fans
donate a lot of money
to me to helping me the charity.
Thank you to the [INAUDIBLE].
[APPLAUSE]
INTERVIEWER: [INAUDIBLE] If you
could go back and give yourself
a piece of advice, would you?
Or do you think you had to go
on a journey no matter what?
If you could go back
and tell a young Jackie
Chan a piece of advice?
JACKIE CHAN: I want
to go to school, yes.
A lot of young kid, I believe.
When I was--
I have a plan.
I said, two years,
I have to study
Chinese and piano, and English.
That's what I'm doing.
Every day, I was training.
Because I didn't
ever go to school.
Even Chinese, I don't
know how to read.
So I hired a teacher to teach me
how to read Chinese two hours.
After that, at night,
running, jogging.
I see people drunken
on the street,
come out with all
the girl, drunk.
And then I watch
these kind of people.
[LAUGHTER]
How do you say, just--
I said, look.
INTERVIEWER: Yeah.
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah, useless.
Don't look at these
kind of people.
I have to work hard
for next few years,
I want to speak good Chinese.
I want to speak good English.
I want to know how to play
piano, and work very hard.
They're starting in one year.
In just one movie, I
becoming a millionaire.
Then I becoming
them with a girl.
[LAUGHTER]
Yes!
And you never thought
it's that important.
These days-- I'm talking
about 20 years ago,
I already know if I can go back,
I really want to learn again.
Go to school, play piano, speak
good English, read Chinese.
That's what I'm doing.
But you never return.
So that's why in China, I
build 26 schools already.
I just tell the
children, look, don't
learn from me when you young.
But children, if they
don't have an experience,
they don't believe you.
No matter how you tell
them go to school,
going to play piano-- no, no.
When they're growing up, oh,
I regret, I should play piano.
But the time will tell.
I try to tell the children
cut out the [INAUDIBLE],,
the bad things what I'm
doing, I would tell them,
that's be doing this, bad.
I want you to directly
jump to the good things.
So that's why I open the school,
and teach children school
very important, education.
AUDIENCE: Hi Jackie, my
name is [? Jaganish. ?]
I'm from India [INAUDIBLE].
You're our superstar, our super
hero back in India as well.
JACKIE CHAN: Namaste.
[LAUGHTER]
AUDIENCE: Namaste.
I watched your movies
when I was young.
JACKIE CHAN: Everybody
watch my movies.
[LAUGHTER]
I'm still young!
[LAUGHTER]
OK.
AUDIENCE: So at that time,
there was not much pocket money
for me to go watch your movies.
But I had my brother,
who used to take me.
The few movies
which I watched was
"Armor of God," "Police Story."
There was an incident
in "Armor of God"
where you fell down,
had a big accident.
You have overcome that
particular phase of life.
How did you work on that
particular challenge?
It goes back to the
first question as well.
The fear in anybody's
self to overcome, and do
these stunts which you do--
how did you overcome
that particular fear
is what is the question.
JACKIE CHAN: I don't
know, I just do it.
[LAUGHTER]
And every time when
I design a stunt--
you know when you sit down
with all my stunt team--
ah, that sequence, we
still have a stunt.
The stunt, jump off
the tree, go, oh, good!
So exciting!
But one year later, but
the time it's coming,
you're just like,
wow, death penalty.
[LAUGHTER]
But I'm going to really do this?
I'm so stupid.
[LAUGHTER]
And there's no such
clever way to do it.
The only way, just
risk your life
to do these kind of things.
Like "Armor of God," I
really jump once, it's OK.
But I think it's
not good enough.
I do it one more
time, and the tree
break, I falling down there.
Yugoslavia cameraman look at me.
Suppose he put down the
camera, push me, I'm safe.
Then he look at me, he get
the camera, and run away.
[LAUGHTER]
Boom!
You Did you see the outtake?
AUDIENCE: Yeah.
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah, you see
the outtake, I grab the--
I'm falling, falling.
I grab the-- every tree,
break, break, break, boom.
I just fall down.
Then I get up, nothing happened.
I get up, I feel
my back's got hurt.
Then I get up, and
everybody pushing me back.
I don't know what happened.
Then later on,
suddenly, I [HUMMING]
Then I hear my ear, the blood
[HISSING] it coming on my ears.
Then Yugoslavia, at that
time, 12:00, they sent me
to the hospital at night.
Eight hours, 8:00,
almost eight hours.
And I was waiting.
Not like today.
Everybody can pick phone call.
We sit there to call Hong Kong.
An hour later, then
come call back.
So that's why, in the room, I
asked myself what I'm doing?
I'm going to die, yeah.
Because all my stunt
team, everybody,
they opened the door like this.
[LAUGHTER]
And you just see--
are you dying?
[LAUGHTER]
I just am by myself.
Then I asked myself,
I'm going to die, yeah.
It's so easy.
What I'm doing for this world?
What I'm doing for myself?
Nothing.
Everything, every day,
just making a movie
and fooling around.
No, if I can survive, I
should do more things.
So that's why right after
in Yugoslavia, I go back.
Then I start Jackie
Chan Foundation.
So that's why I start.
I think that's--
INTERVIEWER: It's
a wake-up call.
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah,
a wake-up call.
INTERVIEWER: Do you think from
a purely stunt perspective,
if it wasn't a little
bit scary for you--
between a little
bit to a lot scary--
as an audience, we need that?
Like, we need to have that fear?
Because with CG stuff, there's
no stakes sometimes, right?
It's just like, yeah, pow, pow,
like, they're going to survive.
But for you as a
choreographer, is it ever--
are you like, yeah, I know, it
needs to be a little bit scary?
JACKIE CHAN: And also, I like
to challenge myself every movie.
That's the problem.
Every movie, I want
to do something
more dangerous than this one.
And when I'm in the theater,
when I look at the audience,
because when audience watch this
side, I all watch this side.
Look at all the
audience, the reaction.
Because I hear the sound.
I know what you're seeing.
Because I've been
editing like, six months.
Every sound, yeah, I was
just look at the audience.
If I see the audience-- oh--
ah, yeah!
Makes me happy.
[LAUGHTER]
Then, yes, yes!
If I can make
audience happy, that
makes me happy, even if I
broke my finger, I broke--
it worth, yeah.
I just want to make a good
action movie, good Jackie Chan
movie.
INTERVIEWER: Art.
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: You're making art.
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah.
We'll do quickly, last few.
AUDIENCE: Jackie,
my name is Ahmed.
Big-time fan of yours.
And I really want to
say thanks for you
to come here and give
me an opportunity
to see you in person.
One of my dreams just came true.
Thank you very much.
My question to you is
your recent experience
of being part of
Bollywood, which
is Indian version of Hollywood.
If you can talk about
that a little bit,
share that experience
with me and all of us,
that'll be great.
JACKIE CHAN: I know
Bollywood also is very big.
I been trying to
make a Bollywood
movie for a long time.
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah, since [INAUDIBLE]
AUDIENCE: "The Myth."
JACKIE CHAN: "The Myth."
That was-- the actor,
what's the name?
AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]
JACKIE CHAN: The Indian actress?
Then I asked her--
AUDIENCE: Mallika.
JACKIE CHAN: Mallika.
Mallika, I said, can
I make two versions?
One version is somehow
before we fight, we dance.
[LAUGHTER]
After that.
I really want to do that.
But it doesn't work.
And last year, we make
the "Kung Fu Yoga."
AUDIENCE: Yeah.
JACKIE CHAN: Then I said,
I cannot do the Bollywood.
So I'm dancing the whole thing.
Everybody have a dream.
You have to make
my dream come true.
I want to do this.
So when I was young,
I want to be a police.
Because I didn't go to
school, I cannot go to police.
When I becoming a director,
I write my own script,
I'm becoming a police.
Then become CIA.
I becoming like a
treasure hunter.
Bollywood-- then I write
a script, Bollywood,
and then I sing a song.
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah, it's fun.
Yeah, I'm still looking for
some other script with a stunt
Indian actor together.
AUDIENCE: Thank you sir.
JACKIE CHAN: Thank you.
INTERVIEWER: All right,
our last audience question.
AUDIENCE: Thank you very much,
Mr. Chan, for being here today.
And my name is [? John ?]
[? Paulie. ?] You talked about
briefly, your frustration with
being offered a role as police,
and these several
types of character.
So I'm wondering what are
your thoughts in making
the American film industry a
better place for foreign actors
to collaborate in
different types of roles?
And what do you see
yourself doing in making
this environment better?
JACKIE CHAN: Well, I think
it depends the script.
It depends the script.
INTERVIEWER: I think this
movie's a good example--
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: --of yes, it had
to be an Asian character, pretty
much.
But it's not what defines you.
It could have been any race.
JACKIE CHAN: I think when
you find a good script,
then you find a-- so this
why, in America, they
have a casting director.
We don't.
So when in my movie, if I know
the villain have to fight,
then I find a villain
who really can fight.
But they don't know to act.
They just the fighting skills.
Acting no good.
So later on, you see like
"Police Story," is so minimal.
I just find a
villain who no act.
But the people surround
him all bad guy.
So I fight with all the bad
guy, the villain at the end, one
punch, that's all.
[LAUGHTER]
I think, find out a good
script, we will introduce
more American actors to China,
and Chinese actor to America,
and not just like introduce
one shot for the [INAUDIBLE]..
It's not like this.
Just like "Dragon Blade."
You find the right script, then
Adrian Brody and John Cusack.
I mean, everybody the
[INAUDIBLE] is same.
How do you say [INAUDIBLE]?
AUDIENCE: The scene.
JACKIE CHAN: The
scene, it will balance.
It's not just one shot.
It's not like this, yeah.
AUDIENCE: Thank you very much.
INTERVIEWER: So I think my
last question is, what do you
wish you had more time for?
Because it sounds like
you're doing so much.
JACKIE CHAN: I don't know.
I mean, this year,
what I'm doing,
I've been doing my own record.
I've been three years now.
And last night, I
still recording.
Right after recording,
then I go to the airport.
Yeah, come here.
Release this year, then
I dubbing "Ninjabo,"
and "Nut Job," and
[? "Wish ?] Dragon," and--
AUDIENCE: BBC.
JACKIE CHAN: BBC,
"One World a Day?"
AUDIENCE: "One Day."
JACKIE CHAN: "One
Day of the World."
And two producer, and
four scripts going on.
INTERVIEWER: So what
do you do for fun?
Or is this fun? (LAUGHING)
How do you blow off steam?
JACKIE CHAN: Like,
meeting the fans,
and conversation is fun, yes.
Otherwise, every day
is script, script.
Sometimes, you just sit there,
just like this a half hour.
You just stop.
Boom, you don't know just like
[INAUDIBLE] supposed to have
a--
I suppose I already
start the movie already.
But the script is wrong.
Two American film, is
"Five Against Bullet,"
and another one with--
don't mention the name, right?
[LAUGHTER]
Because the script is wrong.
Because I'm the
producer, so I can stop.
I said, no, I'm no going to.
Because as soon as you start the
movie, the money just doo, doo,
doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.
It's like water.
If you stop, make sure
the script is right.
It's not like old days.
I don't know.
They just stop the movie.
You know on the set, this--
make the phone call.
Then the fax coming,
the script, OK.
Do this scene first.
They haven't read it yet,
they start the movie.
Because they want
to start the movie.
They just want to make movie.
I want to make a good movie.
It's different.
Yeah, if I cannot
finish today, tomorrow.
If I spend another--
no, I put my own money to
make sure the movies are good.
So that's why right now, I'm
doing [INAUDIBLE] good things.
Otherwise, I read they
start the movie already.
Then on the set, you will--
oh, why did you start the movie?
They have to finish.
Two days?
You have to finish in two days.
That's the American
rule, the schedule.
Sometime, makes you
angry, they just
make movie for
schedule, budget, day.
30 days finish.
The day finish, they
go, ah, so good!
We're finished on
budget, on day 30.
And then everybody celebration.
I turn around, I just
go back to my hotel.
I know what's going on.
It's not like that.
If in 30 day, cannot
finish, 60 days.
60 days cannot finish, then
two years, make one movie.
Because the movie
live forever, yeah.
So that's why I still was
standing here, because I
want to make a good movie.
There's so many movies--
boom, gone.
People cannot remember.
So when you do good
things, stay, do the best.
Not for today, for future.
Sometimes you want to
make quick money today.
Then gone.
It doesn't make any
money, you could have
put result, good something--
I don't know how to say.
And when you get old, you
get everything, [INAUDIBLE]..
INTERVIEWER: Yeah.
I think that's great
advice, not just for movies.
I think it's just a
great life approach--
JACKIE CHAN: Yeah, everything.
INTERVIEWER: --right?
Yeah.
JACKIE CHAN: I tell
all my students,
when you make a movie,
I want to get an Oscar.
I want to make money.
I want to do this.
You get nothing.
If you stop the thought,
I want to get an Oscar,
I want to make this, I
want to make a drama,
I want to get an Emmy.
No, you get nothing.
If I just want to make a
good movie, that's all,
you get everything.
Yeah, I never thought
I could get an Oscar.
A cheap action
comedy kung fu star.
They would never give
me an Oscar, right?
INTERVIEWER: You
proved them wrong.
JACKIE CHAN: Those kind of
Oscar, only give to, what?
"Kramer vs. Kramer,"
and those kind
of drama scene [INAUDIBLE].
I never thought--
all those years,
I just want to make a
good movie, good person.
When I have time, do more
charity, help more people.
That's all.
Then suddenly, I never one
thought, Oscar come to find me.
I'm not going to find Oscar.
Yeah, everything,
the money come to me.
I pushed the money.
In the old day, I want
money, and no money.
And now, I just want
the good things,
then the money come, Oscar
come, good people come,
fans come, the whole
world has come, yeah.
So you have a dream, do the
good things, everything's come.
INTERVIEWER: Well, thank
you so much for joining us.
JACKIE CHAN: Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
