- Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: JACKIE CHAN FILMS "SHANGHAI KNIGHTS" ON LOCATION IN PRAGUE.
- Date: 16th May 2002
- Summary: TUCHOMERICE, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (MAY 26, 2002) (REUTERS) JACKIE CHAN SEQUENCE ON SET OF SHANGHAI KNIGHTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JACKIE CHAN SAYING "A few years ago I decided whatever movie I make, I collect all my costumes and all my props, the props I use. And at that time we never know we make part two. Then I collect them, the day after they said they're going to make a part two, then the costume company - Hong Kong and also Bangkok - then want to redo the things. They said, oh very difficult to find the material. I say you don't have to. I have all the costumes from part one! And they said oh ok!" VARIOUS OF EXTRAS ON 'COVENT GARDEN' SET AARON JOHNSON PUTS ON HAT, PREPARING FOR SCENE WITH OWEN WILSON OWEN WILSON (SOUNDBITE) (English) OWEN WILSON SAYING "Well Prague is doubling for turn of the century London and in this scene we've just arrived and a little kind of street urchin - kind of Oliver Twist type character has stolen my watch and I'm chasing him through a kind of London market. So yeah, I'm not quite catching him." VARIOUS OF OWEN WILSON/AARON JOHNSON SEQUENCE ON SET OF SHANGHAI KNIGHTS DIRECTOR DAVID DOBKIN TALKS THROUGH SCENE WITH OWEN WILSON OWEN WILSON/AARON SEQUENCE ON SET OF SHANGHAI KNIGHTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JACKIE CHAN SAYING "Yes I think Owen, after Part One, right now he's getting more confident and we're becoming from good friends now becoming good buddy! So it's automatic now really. When we're on the set we already know what we're doing... HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE IT TO RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH CHRIS TUCKER (WHO JACKIE APPEARS WITH IN RUSH HOUR) ? "Owen is more inside, whatever he think - it's dialogue - you have to think first, think a little bit, then you get a smile. Chris Tucker immediately gives you a smile and Owen is more quiet and more human. And Chris is like a joke, everything is a joke, and I have two good buddies, yes, Chris and Owen."
- Embargoed: 31st May 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TUCHOMERICE, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
- Country: Czech Republic
- Topics: Entertainment,General
- Reuters ID: LVA6M5FVGXXRNNHILMASS96YTNCJ
- Story Text: Following the success of Shanghai Noon, Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson are back in action, this time in nineteenth century London, for the sequel Shanghai Knights. The film is currently in production in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague.
It may look like Covent Garden in nineteenth century London but this is actually Prague and oldie England is simply being recreated here for Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson to run riot in.
Last time this unlikely pair were teamed up it was in Calgary, for an action/ spoof western comedy called Shanghai Noon. The film was a huge hit at the box office, enough to prompt producers to make a sequel.
Shooting on Shanghai Knights is now well underway.
Establishing shots were done in London at the end of last year, then the crew moved and set up shop in Prague. Director David Dobkin and his team have been living in the Czech Republic for the past seven months, filming on more than 70 different locations under the guiding hand of production designer Allan Cameron.
Creating turn-of-the-century in London was cheaper and easier than creating it in London itself. Filming at Buckingham Palace, the House of Lords, Madame Tussauds... is almost impossible to set up. So with the exception of exterior and establishing shots, the interiors of these great British institutions are being recreated in Prague.
Covent Garden is the scene of much of the action. This is where Chan gets to perform his famous stunts and Wilson - who was recently nominated for an Oscar for his and Wes Andersons' screenplay to Royal Tenenbaums - gets to perform his non-stunts! "Yes, he's sort of carved out that niche for himself - as the guy who does all his own stunts - and I saw an opportunity to be an actor who's known for never doing any of this own stunts so that's the niche I'm trying to carve out for myself." (Wilson) Carving it out in the heyday of the Victorian Age, when Chinese Imperial guard-turned Western sheriff Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) and loveable rogue Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) journey to London to capture the men who killed Wang's father during a theft of the Chinese Imperial Seal. There a sinister member of the House of Lords and a dangerous band of Chinese Bozer warriors threaten them. As the duo's risky investigation brings them into contact with several soon-to-be famous figures of the era, Wang gets closer to uncovering a conspiracy to overthrown the monarchy - while Roy tries to get closer to Wong's beautiful and fiercely loyal sister, Chon Lin (Fann Wong).
Chan once again is doing what he does best - making the audience smile with his uniquely choreographed martial arts stunts. Although what Asia's biggest box office star for more than twenty years really craves is the chance to star in a straight drama.
"I want to be an actor, I hope one day without all action, without all comedy, just like Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, yes acting! Then the audience still like it, yes, that's my goal, but I don't know. Can I really do that? Would I really like to do that? I don't know... Do the audience really like Jackie slow motion on the beach, kissing with the girl, and sing a song, just the whole team song... I don't know. I hope one day that a director will have a great script, yes Jackie, that's a romance story, you can do it. Yes I hope one day I can do it." But considering Chan doesn't have a break in his schedule until 2008 audiences will have to wait a while to see the new Chan in action, or rather inaction.
As for Texan heartthrob Owen Wilson, the Hollywood offers must now be flying in. Proven not only in his quirky, witty writing but also in his acting, Wilson is pondering over future projects. Collaboration with writer/director and best friend Wes Anderson has begun on another film. Anderson is also considering treading the boards: "I saw Ben Stiller when I was in Los Angeles and he said that he's going to be in Glen Geary Glen Ross in the fall and that got me thinking gosh, I'd like to be in a play, I've never done that but I love that play and I love the movie that they made out of it and, who knows, maybe I'll end up in that!"
Meanwhile director David Dobkin is hoping Wilson and Chan will team up again for a Shanghai 3. He's had so much fun he wants to do it all over again! -- - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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