APRIL 19, 2008

Promoting Chinese Culture

I’m back in Hong Kong to do the voiceover for Kung Fu Panda and today I finally finished recording for the movie. It’s very strange, a lot of people think that the amount an actor gets paid for every movie they make is very high, but do they know that there some jobs for which we don’t accept payment? For example, I’ve done the recording for Kung Fu Panda, and the voiceover for the Walt Disney production, Mulan free of charge.

Why have I done these projects free of charge? Well, let me explain as best I can. Over the years, China has produced quite a few fairy tale stories but hasn’t been able to break the Western market. Chinese societies have well known household stories, like Mulan and Journey to the West, but they were never able to make a break outside of Asia, only remaining famous within the Chinese community. In another example; well known Chinese director, Mr. Li Hanxiang has made many classic films based on Chinese history, like The Empress Dowager and Behind the Screen. These are very traditional movies based on true historical events, but they also only circulate and popularized within China.

However, when Bernado Bertolucci made the film, The Last Emperor, it was released worldwide, and then everyone discovered there was a place called The Forbidden City. Because of this movie, a lot of people began coming to China, touring the country, and visiting the historical Imperial Palace. Then afterwards, Walt Disney made the animated film, Mulan, and again, everyone around the world learned that China had a story about Fa Mulan. I don’t understand, why is it when a Chinese person makes a movie, it isn’t able to break outside the country, but when someone from overseas makes a movie, it is shown everywhere around the world? Whatever the reason might be, just as long as there is a way to let more people know about Chinese culture, spreading it to wider and further places, I am always happy to help make this happen. That’s why I do these kinds of projects for no payment.

Recently in the past few years, I’ve noticed a lot of overseas companies coming into China and investing in many different types of film productions, no matter if the topic of the story is the lives of Chinese people, an historical event, or a fairy tale character. It makes me feel very pleased because at the moment, we still temporarily need their help if we want to push these ideas outside of China. A reason why I recorded the voice over for Kung Fu Panda in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, is because I hope by doing this, it will help publicize even more movies based on Chinese ideas since Kung Fu Panda is a story that talks about Chinese culture. You never know, this animated movie might be a worldwide sellout and if that happens, maybe they’ll continue making animated films based on Chinese stories like Journey to the West, Water Margin, and Three Kingdoms. Then, more and more people will have a better understanding about Chinese history and not just know about Batman.

I think it’s quite strange how, for so many years, China has been closed off to the world and only just started to open up but when Batman was released, people in China knew. They even knew about the cartoon characters Popeye the Sailor Man and Mickey Mouse. However, not everyone might know when it comes to things about China. If you mentioned The Dream of the Red Chamber to someone from overseas, they might not know what you’re talking about. I hope in the future, with the help and support from everyone, Chinese culture can be spread and known around the world.

Exercise is Good for the Body

Apart from recording the voiceover for Kung Fu Panda, I also attended the opening ceremony of my sixth California Fitness Jackie Chan Sport in Hong Kong. This fitness center is the largest in Asia and it features a wide range of facilities like an indoor swimming pool, an outdoor area with treadmills, and the latest, most advanced gym equipment available. I think the young adults and children of our younger generation don’t do enough exercise. They can easily spend several hours sitting in front of the computer, frequently eating take-out or junk food. Actually, this is not good for the body. Not only that, it’s not very good for the eyes either. I think this is one of the reasons why many illnesses and health problems are starting to occur more frequently in young adults and children, for example; heart attacks, embolisms, obesity, and many others. What I recommend is that after sitting down for an hour, they should stand up, move around, and stretch the muscles in the body. I think doing exercise is very important for the body. You don’t have to come and exercise at my Jackie Chan Sports center. Just as long as you find an activity you enjoy that is suitable for your build, choose an exercise that is beneficial to your body, and find a place where you feel comfortable doing your exercises.

Since this year is the year of the Beijing Olympic Games and since I’m the Olympic ambassador (plus I like exercise) I want to say that my beliefs and ideas are the same as the spirit of the Olympics: to perform even faster, better, and stronger. I hope through doing exercise and sporting activities, everyone will live a better, healthier, and more energetic lifestyle.

After completing the event in Hong Kong, I will take a night flight to Beijing to attend an event organized by one of my good friends. It’s the Mitsubishi Motor Show opening ceremony. The day after tomorrow, I will fly to India via Singapore where I will represent an Indian film distributing company and present a check to a charity organization. After that, I will leave India, go to Beijing, then catch a connecting flight to Sanya and participate in the Olympic torch relay. So, my schedule for the next few days is pretty tight and I’m going to be quite busy for a while. Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll talk to you some more when I have time. Bye bye!

Text and photos ©2008 The JC Group. All Rights Reserved

April 19 (星期六)

宣揚中國文化：

          這一次回到香港，純粹為了《功夫Panda》配音，今天終於完成了錄音工作。好奇怪，很多人說我們藝人的片酬很高，但是為何有些工作，卻不收酬勞呢？例如：我替《功夫Panda》錄音，又免費為迪士尼出品的《花木蘭》配音。美國的文化實在太強，市場也很大，而中國這麼年來拍了多少部童話故事，就算在中國人的社會有多家傳戶曉，如花木蘭、西遊記，這些都是不能衝出亞洲的，只可以在中國人的圈子出名。又例如著名的中國導演李翰祥先生，他拍了很多經典的歷史電影，如：《傾國傾城》、《垂簾聽政》，這些電影既傳統，又有歷史根據，都是只能在中國盛行和流傳。

          可是，當貝托魯奇拍了一部《末代皇帝》就可以全球放映，所有人都知道有紫禁城這個地方，很多人因而到中國旅遊，參觀這個歷史攸久的宮殿。後來，迪士尼公司拍攝《花木蘭》動畫片，又是全球的人都知道中國有一個花木蘭的故事。我真的不明白，為什麼中國人拍就不能衝出去，外國拍就可以全球通行呢？無論是什麼原因，只要能夠令中國文化有更多人認識，推得更廣、更遠，我都樂意做的。

          最近幾年都見到很多外國公司來到中國投資拍不同種類的電影，不論是取材自中國的民間故事、歷史故事或是童話人物，我都感到很高興，因為目前來說，要把這些題材推出中國，暫時都需要他們的幫忙。所以，我為《功夫Panda》配音，包括英文、國語、粵語，都是希望這樣可以把更多的中國題材的電影推廣出去，因為《功夫Panda》的故事講及中國文化的，說不定這部動畫電影全球賣座，那會繼續拍一些中國題材的動畫電影，如：西遊記、水滸傳、三國誌。那麼，越來越多人了解中國歷史，不會只是知道蝙蝠俠。

          我覺得好奇怪，中國有很多年沒有開放，甫開放，放映蝙蝠俠，中國人都知道，又知道大力水手和米奇老鼠。然而，中國的東西卻不一定有人知道，你說紅樓夢，老外不一定知道。希望日後透過大家的努力，讓中國文化得以傳開去。

多做運動身體好：

          除了為《功夫Panda》配音，另一個工作就是為第六間California Fitness – Jackie Chan Sport開幕，這一間健身中心是亞洲最大的，設施有室內游泳池、露天緩跑徑，還有很多最新的健身器材。我覺得時下的年青人和小孩子缺少運動，他們可以花上好幾個小時在使用電腦，經常吃快餐或是垃圾食物，其實這樣對身體不好。除此之外，對眼睛也沒有好處。所以，幾近年，很多病年輕化了，如：心臟病、血管栓塞、肥胖症等等。他們應該坐一個小時，就站起來走動一下，伸展一下身體。我認為運動對身體是非常重要的，大家不一定要來Jackie Chan Sport鍛鍊，你們可以因應自己的喜好和體質，選擇一些對自己有好處的運動和做運動的場地。

          今年正藉是北京奧運年，我自己是奧林匹克大使，又很喜歡運動，我的理念跟奧林匹克的精神一樣，表現得更快、更高、更強，希望大家透過運動，活出精彩人生。

          完成今天這個活動，晚上我要趕飛機赴北京出席好朋友的汽車活動，就是三菱汽車的開幕禮。

          後天，我會去新加坡轉機去印度，代表印度的發行商捐贈一張支票予一個慈善機構。然後，我就會離開印度，前赴北京，轉機到三亞，參與奧運聖火傳遞。所以，這幾天的行程緊密，我有一陣子忙呢。好了，有空再跟大家聊，拜拜！