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JACKIE
CHAN
 
Actor
Jackie Chan during a press conference announcing the opening of Jackie's
Kitchen, his first restaurant endeavor in the United States, Wednesday, June
9, 2004. (AP/Ronen Zilberman)
Action film star Jackie
Chan wants to be taken seriously as actor
HONOLULU (AP) - Jackie Chan
is attempting his most daring stunt ever: becoming what he calls a
"true actor." Chan says he wants to shed his action star image in
favour of meatier roles that require dialogue and emotion instead of punches
and kicks.
"I want to change. I want to be like Robert
DeNiro. I want to be Dustin Hoffman," said the big-screen star from
Hong Kong. "I don't always want it to be like the old days. . . . I
want to change my image. I want to become an actor who can fight - not an
action star."
At 50, the high-flying martial arts master says
he'll probably do his own stunts for another five years. But a more serious
image could provide some job security, he said.
"Even though I'm pretty good, how long can I
keep fighting?" he said. "Look at Robert DeNiro. Look at Clint
Eastwood. They still can act."
Chan was in Hawaii promoting his latest film,
Around the World in 80 Days, which opens Wednesday. - CANADIAN
PRESS VANCOUVER
SUN
HONG KONG
(Reuters) - Martial arts star Jackie Chan says instead
of coming out swinging, he wants to come out singing in an upcoming film.
Chan, who is world renowned for his
action films, told reporters on Monday he was already planning his musical
debut and forays into non-action flicks.
"I want to do a musical. In fact I'm
in talks about a script for a musical, or semi-musical. There will be
singing and a little action," said the Asian superstar, who was in Hong
Kong to promote his new movie "The Tuxedo",
"I'll also do a romance drama
without action. It'll co-star a famous Hollywood actress," he said,
without elaborating.
The Hong Kong kung fu star, who has been
talking about moving away from his trademark death-defying stunts for the
past year, will also act in a remake of the classic film "Around the
World in Eighty Days", based on Jules Verne's famous novel.
He will play Passepartout, a wily thief
who is taken in by English nobleman and inventor Phileas Fogg.
"A lot of big stars will make a
guest appearance in this film," Chan said, who was wearing a black
traditional Chinese outfit.
Together with a number of other Hollywood
and Hong Kong projects, Chan said he had enough movie projects on his plate
to keep him busy until 2005.
Chan's latest film combines martial arts
fighting, computer effects, comic sidekick and romance.
The movie, which debuted in the United
States recently and opens in Hong Kong on Thursday, features Chan as a
secret agent's chauffeur who dons his boss's gadget-filled tuxedo.
A veteran of well over 100 films,
mostly made in Hong Kong, Chan made a major inroad into Hollywood movies in
the 1990s. - 7 Sept 2002
Yahoo!
Asia Reuters
Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan gets
star on Hollywood walk of
fame
LOS ANGELES (AFP)
- Hong Kong action film hero Jackie Chan took his
place among Tinseltown's most legendary celebrities when he received a
prized star on the Hollywood walk of fame.
Chan, 48, who is Asia's top box office
attraction in the United States, unveiled his permanent imprint in the heart
of the spiritual home of cinema near the spot where the annual Academy
Awards are held on Friday.
"I remember coming to Hollywood and
seeing the stars and I wanted one," Chan said. "To show my
appreciation, I will make better films."
Asia's biggest movie box office star for
more than 20 years, Chan was asked what's next in his career and he said:
"The Oscar."
The high-kicking leading man in dozens of
often tongue-in-cheek action pictures made both in Hong Kong and Hollywood
was awarded the 2,205th star on the Walk of Fame which adorns the pavements
of Hollywood and Vine Boulevards.
Some 500 guests were present for the
unveiling of the gold-trimmed star, including actor Owen Wilson, who
appeared with Chan in "Shanghai Noon."
Martial arts expert Chan has starred in
Hollywood box office hits such as "Rush Hour" and "Rush Hour
2," while his latest picture "The Tuxedo" opened a week ago
in North America and took 15.1 million dollars in its first weekend.
Chan is currently preparing to star in a
remake of the classic globe-trotting adventure "Around he World in
Eighty Days." - 5 October 2002 Yahoo!
Asia AFP
NEW YORK
(Variety) - Jackie Chan will star in a remake of "Around the World in
Eighty Days," which could begin shooting in the fall after he completes
"Shanghai Knights" with Owen Wilson.
Like the 1956 original, which starred David Niven
and was based on Jules Verne's novel, the picture will be set during the
Industrial Revolution, a time of great intellectual restlessness and
advancement throughout the world. But the script has been significantly
revised.
The new version will focus on Passepartout (Chan),
who after stealing a valuable jade Buddha, seeks refuge with London
gentleman inventor Phileas Fogg. The role of Fogg, made famous by Niven, has
yet to be cast.
As in the original, the crux of the story is
Fogg's bet with members of his club that a man can traverse the globe in 80
days. The revision has Passepartout teaching Fogg to open his mind to the
different cultures he encounters en route to winning his bet. Passepartout
guides and defends Fogg on his journey -- an area in which Chan no doubt
will exploit his athleticism.
The project is being financed by Denver
billionaire Philip Anschutz' Walden Media, which declined comment. Frank
Coraci ("The Wedding Singer," "The Waterboy.") will
direct. - Reuters
By Charles Lyons and Cathy Dunkley
Endorsement: The
action/comedy star grew up beside David Ho, who is CEO of HMY Airways and
giving Chan free flights for his pitch
HMY Airways has landed its own celebrity
pitchman -- international action star Jackie Chan, in his new role as
honorary captain.
What's even sweeter for the
Vancouver-based charter airline is that, at a time when the likes of Michael
Jordan and Anna Kournikova can rake in millions of dollars shilling for
products ranging from Nike shoes to Berlei sports bras, Chan isn't charging
for his endorsement.
"I am promoting this airline company
for free as a favour to my friend [HMY owner David
Ho]," Chan said from Berlin, where he is currently filming his
latest movie, Around the World in 80 Days.
"To thank me for my help, [Ho] has
made me an honorary captain, allowing me to fly free and not have to wait in
any lines.
"By [starting] this company, he's
saving a lot of [airline] jobs."
Ho, chairman and CEO of David T.K. Ho
Enterprises Ltd., and Chan go way back, partially growing up together as
neighbours in Hong Kong's exclusive Repulse Bay district of
multi-million-dollar waterfront homes.
"I've known him very well for over
20 years," said Ho, heir to the Hong Kong Tobacco fortune whose other
major Vancouver enterprises include MCL Motor Cars and the University Golf
Club.
"[Chan] wasn't as famous then, but
he was getting up there. He's never changed his nice-guy character."
A kung fu actor for decades in Asia, Chan
exploded on international screens in more recent years starring in Hollywood
productions that combined slapstick humour and high-energy martial arts,
with Chan performing his own stunts.
Those film credits include Tuxedo,
Shanghai Knights, Shanghai Noon, Rush Hour 1 & 2, and Rumble in the
Bronx, the last shot in Vancouver in the mid-1990s.
Rush Hour 3 is currently in production
stages. Chan now commands $20 million US or more per movie.
Ho said he contacted Chan on location in
Berlin to pitch the actor the idea of lending his name to HMY, an airline Ho
launched in late 2002 with charter flights from Vancouver to Mexican
sunspots and to Las Vegas.
"He agreed right away and gave us
his only day of free time [June 1]," Ho recalled. "So we sent over
seven people: two photographers, three flight attendants, an art director
and a company executive [senior vice-president Jeffrey Chu]."
After the photo session, Chan hosted a
dinner at a Chinese restaurant for the HMY group, which included flight
attendants Kim Owen, Kylie Wilson and Lisa King.
"I ordered tripe, pig's ears and
other Chinese delicacies," Chan said. "The HMY Airways flight
attendants had never eaten these dishes. We waited until they tried the food
before telling them what they ate.
"I think the only thing they really
enjoyed about the meal was the dessert: ice cream."
In his new capacity with HMY, Ho said
Chan -- his schedule permitting -- is to become actively involved in various
non-profit charity events to benefit sick and underprivileged children in
B.C.
Donations of air tickets and hotel
accommodations will be among the contributions that will be made available
to families of these children, as well as to hospices, Ho added.
Starting Monday as part of its summer
schedule, HMY plans to offer two round-trips six days a week between
Vancouver and Toronto. On Saturday, there would be only one return flight.
On June 27, the carrier is introducing
daily -- except Sunday -- service between Vancouver and Los Angeles, with
frequency increasing to a total of nine flights weekly on Aug. 1.
Meanwhile, HMY will maintain its
year-round service from Vancouver to Las Vegas on Thursdays and Sundays.
Operating at present with 160 employees
and two Boeing 757s, Ho is in the process of acquiring new aircraft, aimed
at expanding his fleet over the next several years to seven planes,
including Boeing 767s, 777s and an executive business jet.
Ho ultimately intends to establish
regular air routes to Hawaii, Europe and Asia.
Using the slogan, "Commitment.
Excellence. A perfect match," Chan is the latest celebrity to promote
an airline.
Among others, actor John Travolta
shills for Qantas Airways, Australia's flag carrier, while Hong Kong singer
Frances Yip previously served as a goodwill ambassador for Cathay Pacific
Airways - Wyng
Chow Vancouver
Sun 21 June 2003
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