- Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: JACKIE CHAN FILMS "SHANGHAI KNIGHTS" ON LOCATION IN PRAGUE.
- Date: 16th May 2002
- Summary: VARIOUS OF JACKIE CHAN SEQUENCE ON SET OF SHANGHAI KNIGHTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) OWEN WILSON SAYING "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... VARIOUS OF JACKIE CHAN SEQUENCE ON SET OF SHANGHAI KNIGHTS DIRECTOR DAVID DOBKIN WATCHES SCENE ON MONITOR AND SHOUTS 'CUT' (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR DAVID DOBKIN SAYING "Yeah, Jackie is just a legend and he's phenomenal. And as a kid I was a fan of his. I remember watching Kung Fu Action Theatre after school, and seeing Drunken Master the first time - actually it was Drunken Master 2, I didn't know it was - and I was a Bruce Lee fan and I was a Buster Keaton fan. I didn't; understand when I first saw Jackie whether the tone of seeing a martial arts movie with comedy to it - it was so unusual and me and my friends would laugh and laugh and watch it. But working with him is really incredible because Jackie's process as an action star and a comedian is absolutely unique, I don't think there is anyone in the world that does what he does. And they certainly don't do it in his way. No one does what he does, really. And when he comes on set it's like watching a painter push the paint around the canvas OVER VISION ILLUSTRATING WORDS until a picture starts to form and then he gets more and more excited, he starts to know where it's going and before you know it you get this beautiful painting. And that's just how the physical action works for him, that's just how the comedy comes alive for him in these sequences that he does." VARIOUS OF JACKIE CHAN SEQUENCE ON SET OF SHANGHAI KNIGHTS
- Embargoed: 31st May 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TUCHOMERICE, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
- Country: Czech Republic
- Topics: Entertainment,General
- Reuters ID: LVAC58KGFZP3HOACEZS56URWCB40
- 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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