Like his predecessor, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan is also a visionary. The martial arts expert revolutionized the action comedy genre with his unique style. Besides acting, Chan, together with his stunt team, choreographed action sequences for numerous movies. However, Chan also did the stunts that he helped choreograph. From falling backward on burning coal in Drunken Master 2 (1994)?to getting hit by a helicopter in?Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992), Chan has often risked his life to achieve perfection on the silver screen.
In 2013, Chan’s film?Chinese Zodiac (2012)?won two awards for best action choreography. However, the martial arts master seized the opportunity and paid homage to fellow stunt people. The honorary Oscar winner also urged film industries and audiences to give recognition to stunt people.
Jackie Chan spoke for those who don’t share the limelight with actors
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The martial arts master recounted what he said onstage after receiving the award in his autobiography.?“Onstage, I said I wanted to share my award with all the stunt people across the world,”?wrote Chan. After suffering numerous injuries executing stunts, Chan knew how stunt people?“risk their lives behind the scenes every day.”
Chan said he was thankful for the recognition people gave him for his work. However, countless people perform death-defying stunts but don’t get the same recognition. “When I get injured, the whole world knows about it. Many stunt people break bones and even die, and no one knows or cares,” said Chan.
“How about Oscars for the Best Action Film, Best Movement Director, and Best Male, and Female Action Actors?”?proposed the global superstar. In his autobiography,?Jackie Chan: Never Grow Up,?he also recounted, reminding the audience that stunt people?“who risk their lives deserve a turn in the spotlight.”
His?“worst experience”?with animals while filming
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Chan recalled a horrific experience during the filming of?Chinese Zodiac.?During an action sequence, the martial arts master had to face two feral dogs inside a fort. While filming the scene, Chan recalled getting bitten by the two dogs multiple times.
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Despite receiving multiple bites, Chan remained unphased. However,?“for many days afterward, I needed rabies shots.”?While the action cinema pioneer scrapes off serious injuries, he is afraid of needles. In his autobiography, Chan wrote he would “rather break a leg,” than take injections.
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Watch this story | Arnold Schwarzenegger Bowed down to the Martial Arts Legend Jackie Chan During Their Iconic Reunion in 2019
The global action icon spoke for those who never appear in the spotlight. Tell us what you thought of Jackie Chan’s speech.