Jackie Chan seeking recognition for never-say-die stuntmen
BEIJING: He’s a mean stuntman himself, so it’s not surprising that Jackie Chan, 64, is campaigning for long- overdue recognition for stuntmen.
He knows how risky it can be. Recalling his stunts in the 1970s, Jackie said: “I did most of the death- defying stunts then, and the star just needed to turn his head to have his face recognised. No one knows what I did.”
Famously, Jackie had appeared as a sparring partner for the legendary Bruce Lee. He was the guy taking all the hits.
Describing stuntmen as “nameless heroes”, Jackie added: “Nowadays, I have some influence, which I wish to use to do something for stunt performers. They deserve the same recognition as actors in serious movies.”
Jackie was behind the move to establish the Annual International Jackie Chan Action Movie Week in 2015.
Its next annual event shall be hosted in Datong, Shanxi province, from July 18 to 22.
Noted Jackie: “The Academy Awards is 90 years old. The Hong Kong Film Award has been held for 37 years ... I hope my awards (for stunt performers) still exist after I pass away.”
During a briefing between the Datong government and Jackie’s firm, JC International, he introduced four members of his famous Jackie Chan Stunt Team, the group behind most of his mind-blowing acrobatics on the big screen. It was founded in 1976. One of the members is Paul Andreovski from Australia.
The stuntman began to learn martial arts when he was eight, and over the years has expanded his scope to more sports, including gymnastics, judo, boxing, Olympic wrestling and tae kwon do.
When Jackie was making the gangster comedy Mr Nice Guy in Melbourne in 1996, Andreovski attended an audition. And that launched his decades-long career as a stunt performer.
“A stuntman’s job is very dangerous and many injuries occur - even death on many occasions. I’ve never met a stuntman who hasn’t had a close call or a hospital visit,” said Andreovski. Andreovski says Jackie’s efforts will raise public awareness about what stunt performers strive and bleed for.
“Jackie Chan is loved and appreciated all over the world for all the films he has done, but also for all the risks he has taken. It would be wrong to acknowledge him only as an action actor. He is so much more,” reckoned Andreovski.