Locarno, Switzerland – Na today, Jackie Chan no dey hold back as he talk for one packed Q&A session for Locarno Film Festival. Dis veteran actor, wey don dey act since buhari still dey wear puffy pants, talk say big Hollywood studios dey kill contemporary filmmaking because dem too dey chase money.
“I think the old movies are better than today,” Chan yarn. E add say, “Right now, a lot of big studios, they’re not filmmakers, they’re business guys. Dem invest 40 million and dey think, ‘How can I get it back?’ And you can’t go over. E no too easy to make correct movie now.” (Wonder wetin dem go fit do with 40 million naira?)
For morning session, wey Locarno head, Giona Nazzaro, dey lead, Chan run through him career, share plenty stories wey go make you laugh die, from how e start for the industry to the crazy stunts wey him don pull off. Chan dey commit to film craft, teach wetin him sabi from stunt directing to acting and sound. E come dey joke say, in Asia, na only two people sabi do everything well: him and Sammo Hung. “Only two, me and Sammo, na we fit direct, write, act, and even do stunt fighting. And I sabi sing pass all of dem!”
Talk about talent, Chan no dey carry follow come small small level. E realize say e no fit just dey do stunt alone forever; so, e dey focus on longevity. One day, he just tell himself, “I wanna be the Asian Robert De Niro.” (Like say we no go like sabi him sing be that!)
But the story no be all sweet sweet things. For the early 2000s, Chan gree say Hollywood no dey work for am again because e no fit connect with American audience and the scripts dey weak like paper. E come decide say, “Last try, no more Hollywood if this no work.” Na so dem come give am Rush Hour, wey change e career. “Rush Hour? Na di last try. If e no succeed, I go close shop,” he add.
As e talk, Chan reflect say, “I think Rush Hour changed the culture.” E vision for Hollywood na to be like bridge between America and China, to show say we fit all join body and create better stories.
Locarno Film Festival go end for August 16, and I no go lie, Chan dey receive plenty respect as dem give am Pardo alla Carriera award for career achievement today. His early films like Project A and Police Story dey featured at the festival too. So, if you still dey reason whether to watch Rush Hour again, my guy, just relax and enjoy the show! E go sweet pass jollof rice for your belle.
