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It's a blessing to be given a variety of roles to what I call an iconic action actor like myself.

Donnie Yen

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Donnie Yen
Age: 61
Born: 1963
Born: July 27
Actor
Choreographer
Film Actor
Film Director
Film Producer
Judoka
Karateka
Martial Artist
Producer
Taekwondo Athlete
Television Actor
Canton
Donnie Yen Ji-dan
Blessing
Actor
Roles
Call
Actors
Action
Given
Iconic
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Variety

More quotes by Donnie Yen

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My action follows my characters. If a character is a cop, you cannot be posing all the time, you cannot fly off the roof because it doesn't make any sense - it's not practical.
Donnie Yen
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I act according to the requirements of the character, and if I try to play the role, then I play it truthfully. In my daily life, I'm a laid-back, peaceful guy. I'm just doing my job to act.
Donnie Yen
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I gained a lot of confidence after 'IP Man' as being a true actor. I went on to tackle what it is an actor is supposed to do before a film. Do a lot of research, get into the character. That's what I did with 'Dragon.'
Donnie Yen
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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.
Donnie Yen
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A lot of people don't realize, when you are acting in a martial arts film, you're not just performing martial arts. You're not just performing martial arts. You're actually acting as much as any other actor.
Donnie Yen
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Better to be called something positive and inspirational than something negative.
Donnie Yen
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Martial art is a form of expression, an expression from your inner self to your hands and legs.
Donnie Yen
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I spent a couple of years doing American films. I did a few.
Donnie Yen
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Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong. There's a lot of restriction for contemporary films simply because of subject matter.
Donnie Yen
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When audiences look at an action actor like myself, sometimes we are very easily stereotyped or characterized as one type. They forget that we are actors, too.
Donnie Yen
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I think a lot of people don't realize that martial arts are just an expression like anything else. It's just that most people are not trained to punch or kick, but you can walk or run or dance, which is also part of expression.
Donnie Yen
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Like any other actor, I draw on life experience.
Donnie Yen
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An action choreographer is kind of like a dance choreographer. You choreograph the moves and you let the director, cinematographer take into positioning their cameras.
Donnie Yen
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I love working with older actors because number one, I can learn so much from them because they have so much experience. And it's fun to hear their stories from their era, some of the jokes.
Donnie Yen
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Bruce is the man. He was definitely ahead of his time.
Donnie Yen
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When you watch my films, you're feeling my heart.
Donnie Yen
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As an action director I always try to bring something fresh and new.
Donnie Yen
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I think action movies bring more excitement than tears, but I always want to take it to another level. I mean I think if one appreciates anything in life to a certain degree, it could possibly bring tears to your eyes.
Donnie Yen
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I like to stay within the context of the character's background. If he's a cop, I have to make sure the audience is convinced that this person, a cop, can do only so much without a gun.
Donnie Yen
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For me, the challenge of a period film is that, unlike a contemporary film where the character can be very free-form when it comes to the acting, there's a burden to acting in a period film because you have to stay within the character's historical background and the gestures of certain periods.
Donnie Yen