Yuen Woo-ping expresses concern for HK stunt future

When Yuen Woo-ping talks you better damn listen. Not simply because the man knows how to beat you down with his pinky seven different ways but because the man is held in such high regard in the HK film community and around the world. If there was ever a bigger buzz word for HK stunt work in this new millenium clearly that person doesn't have a good enough press agent. Or, they suck.

And yet, Yuen Woo-ping is a troubled soul. Yuen is concerned about the future of HK stuntwork. The HK stuntman/woman is a dying breed with fewer young people seriously training in any martial art [Jet Li] or chinese opera [Jackie Chan] in Hong Kong. This isn't a new concern either. Over the years as actors like Li and Chan have been aging and slowing [don't HATE] there hasn't been much of a sign of someone to hand the mantle over to. With more roles being handed over to canto-pop stars with three months training the role of the stuntman is being relegated to the backdrop once again.

The creator of the stunning martial arts scenes in "The Matrix'' and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' worries that Hong Kong may not produce another Jackie Chan or Jet Li. Hong Kongers now shy away from the hard work that martial arts training entails, action director Yuen Wo-ping said Monday at a tribute to action choreographers organized by the Hong Kong International Film Festival. "More people learn martial arts in China. Hong Kong doesn't have another generation of action stars. Many people don't want to learn martial arts because it's too hard,'' Yuen said.

Yuen, whose Hollywood credits also include "Kill Bill,'' said U.S. filmmakers were drawn to Hong Kong action style because they can't reproduce the same moves. "Their action sequences aren't as diverse as ours,'' he said. Yuen said he is currently working on two U.S. projects, one set in modern day and the other revolving around Snow White. He did not give further details.

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For a lighter read please read Grady Hendrix's account of the ceremony at last night's HKIFF gala banquet over at Kaiju Shakedown. TIFF Midnight Madness programmer and friend of the site, Colin Geddes, geeked out and talked to the legend. And the legend yearned for more.

See more photos from the event over at Kung Fu Fridays.