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Statistics :
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Interview Collin Chou
His work with the greatest ones 1/1 - Page 2
Info
Author(s) : Arnaud Lanuque
Date : 19/1/2003
Type(s) : Interview
 
 Intext Links  
People :
Jackie Chan
Tony Ching Siu Tung
Billy Chow Bei Lei
Sammo Hung Kam Bo
Jet Li
Ken Lo Hui Kwong
Donnie Yen Chi Tan
Michelle Yeoh
Corey Yuen Kwai
Yuen Tak
Yuen Woo Ping
Movies :
Thunderbolt
 
< Previous
Page 1 : His career
 
 Notes  
Our warmest thanks go to Collin Chou for answering our questions with much kindness and patience.

Interview by Arnaud Lanuque for HK Cinemagic, January 2003.


his work with the greatest ones

HKCineMagic.com : It happened that you even had to double some of the best martial artists from HK. You were a double for Jackie Chan in Thunderbolt, for instance. Can you confirm this?

Collin Chou : Sammo Hung was the director of Thunderbolt and I was there to help him co-ordinate the stunts. Jackie was still recovering from his leg injury so I did some double work for him - mostly close up of some kicks. Jackie did as much as he could himself and I only doubled for him in a few scenes. Jackie is a very hard working actor. He always tries to do all his stunts by himself.

HKCM : You've worked with some of the best martial artists from Hong Kong. I'm thinking about people like Ken Lo, Jet Li, Donnie Yen and Billy Chow. What memories do you keep from these collaborations?

I have been very luck to have had the opportunity to work with all these top martial arts actors. They all have different martial art background including Wu-Shu, kickboxing and Thai boxing. Since I started my career as a stuntman and had to learn many different styles of martial arts, I found that I had no difficulties in working with them.

 

HKCM : You have worked under some of the top action directors in the world. They are for instance people like Yuen Woo-ping and Sammo Hung of course but also Yuen Tak, Corey Yuen and Tony Ching Siu-tung. Can you tell us what you think of their own way of working and their action choreographer skills?

I have worked mostly with Sammo Hung during my years in Hong Kong and have already mentioned his abilities as a director previously.
The other directors that you have mentioned are all great directors and have their own styles. I have only worked with them briefly years ago and their skills have broaden since then. Therefore, I feel I am not at a level to comment on their abilities until I work with them again.

 

when east meets west

 

HKCM : What do you think of the use of westerners in the Hong Kong cinema? Do you think they are able to do a good work and to adapt themselves to the HK cinema environment?

n the 80s and early 90s, action movies were a big draw at the box office. Some westerners who knew martial arts worked well in the Hong Kong movie industry. However, in the mid to late 90s most westerners only got trivial roles, such as 'bad guys' or henchmen. Perhaps that was due to the 1997 change over situation and the Hong Kong movie industry wanted to show its patriotic side.


With Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh doing Hollywood movies, and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 's success in the west, the Hong Kong movie industry seems to be incorporating more global ideas to expand their market. The prospect for westerners in the Hong Kong movie industry seems to be looking good once more. Dubbing is no longer popular and the industry recognises that multi-lingual movies are beginning to be accepted.

 

Bodyguard from Beijing
Dr Wai

 

HKCM : What does the poor situation of current HK action cinema inspire you? Is it one of the reasons why you left for the USA?

Matrix 2 Having left for the US in 1999, I am not very up on the Hong Kong action cinema today. From what I hear though, the movie industry has started to pick up again and that more time and thought are being put into the preparation and production.


During 1997-1999, the movie industry was not doing so well with all the pirate copies and poor box office revenue and reviews. There were few jobs available, so I went to America in 1999 because I wanted to learn English. I never had the chance to go to school and decided that this would be a good time to improve myself.
I had decided to give myself 5 years in American to try and get into an A-movie in Hollywood. I am happy to say that my hard work has given me a good start, because in 2000 I got my first Hollywood movie: The Matrix 2 &3.

 

HKCM : What do you think about the working conditions in the USA? Do you feel satisfied about your first steps there?

Collin Chou aka Ngai Sing (photo courtesy www.collinchou.com) Since my first Hollywood experience is working on Matrix 2 and 3, it is impossible to compare the working conditions to those of any Hong Kong movies I've done so far.


Of course I am extremely satisfied with the working conditions and general atmosphere on the set of the Matrix . During the shooting, I was told by other members of the cast and crew that this is the ultimate working condition that only happens once in about 10 or even more years.

 

HKCM : To conclude, would you say a word to your fans?
First let me thank them for their support. I hope that they will continue to watch my movies and give me some time to build up my career in the US. I also hope that they will like my future role selections. They are welcome to visit my website www.collinchou.com .
 
 
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