Jiang Wen says compared with China, Hollywood’s capabilities are overhyped
Actor- director Jiang Wen has brushed off Hollywood’s capabilities by inferring that it has been overhyped.
Reckoned a dismissive Jiang: “I don’t see much difference between a big movie there and a big one here (China).”
Reflecting on what he has achieved, including in humdingers like The Bullet Vanishes, Jiang said: “The kind of movies I make in China are pretty big, too. With the money they spent, I can shoot a bigger movie here in China. In my movies, the director, the cinematographer and the actors have a lot of say, just like in Rogue One. It’s not just a business deal.”
On the chicken- and- egg situation when it comes to cinematic productions, he added: “Without money, you don’t have good quality; without quality, you cannot face the audience. Either you have lots of money or very little money because it’s painful to be stuck in the middle.”
But Jiang conceded that the use of English can partially explain the global appeal of some of the Hollywood fare. The surprising turn of Chinese superstar Jiang Wen in the latest Star Wars movie has sparked a lot of audience interest, and also some unintended controversy.
Most actors would jump at a chance to be in the Star Wars franchise. But not Jiang Wen.
He shrugged off the hype with the dismissive comment: “I’ve never seen a Star Wars movie, not a single one,” he said. “I don’t understand what it is about.”
“I told that to Gareth (director Gareth Edwards). I said I never saw Star Wars, but Gareth said ‘ that’s good, just keep it (that way). After we finish, you can see it.’”
Among audiences in China, unfamiliarity with the Star Wars series was apparently stronger than the presence of both Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen in the film.
A comparative chart made by a North American TV station shows that among the seven major global film markets, China showed the lowest boxoffice results for Rogue One. On Donnie’s role and his, Jiang said: “We are partners and he believe of course, believe in the Force. But my character doesn’t believe in the Force at that time.”