Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen, also known as Yen Ji-dan, is a Hong Kong actor, Chinese martial artist, film director and producer, action choreographer, and multiple-time world wushu tournament champion...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth27 July 1963
CityYuexiu District, China
CountryChina
art team directors
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.
vision stories want
When you direct a movie, you're basically looking at a story, the way you want to look at it. You bring that director's vision, and I'm totally open for that.
couple icons balance
I did a couple comedies to balance myself as an actor and balance how audiences see Donnie Yen as an actor, and I would even say as a celebrity or icon, to some fans. I want to show that I'm not Terminator.
art drama the-end-of-the-day
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.
waiting-around actors wonder
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.
fighting actors bows
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.
couple years film
I spent a couple of years doing American films. I did a few.
thinking trying want
I think every actor wants to try out different things.
moving character talking
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.
motivational time men
Bruce is the man. He was definitely ahead of his time.
art strong easter
There is also a strong following among the urbanites on the East Coast when it comes to martial arts films.
actors elements dynamics
From my experience as an actor, choreographer, action director, and producer, I understand the elements and the dynamics of being a film maker.
baseball football teenager
My mum lives in Boston; she's famous for teaching wushu and t'ai chi. So from when I was young, my mum and aunt were like: 'You're training; you're not playing baseball or football.' Training every day was normal. Later, when I was almost a teenager, Bruce Lee became my idol.
japan festivals aikido
I got nominated for my second film as best young director in the Aikido Film Festival in Japan.