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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
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Blessing
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More quotes by 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
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I think every actor wants to try out different things.
Donnie Yen
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The main reason I like UFC is not just the martial arts aspect, but it's about one person against the other person. It's about being able to test yourself with the truth.
Donnie Yen
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Like any other actor, I draw on life experience.
Donnie Yen
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I'm a very emotional guy.
Donnie Yen
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I always tell younger filmmakers, it's not just about the acting or the art itself. It's about how big of an audience watches your film.
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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As an action director I always try to bring something fresh and new.
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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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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For me, shooting, editing, and scoring rely on rhythm.
Donnie Yen
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When you watch my films, you're feeling my heart.
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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I've always been in a rebel.
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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In Hollywood, I'm lucky, I only do big movies like 'Blade.' It's much more comfortable: you have a trailer.
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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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.
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