Source: Celestial Movies
FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE is slated to air on Celestial Movies (Starhub TV Cable ch 868 and SingTel mioTV ch 52) on Sunday 15 July, as the main show to kick start the Celestial Superstars Club, featuring the latest Chinese Blockbusters and Mega Superstars.
Thanks to Celestial Movies, we get to know Jet Li's take on Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate!
Q: What made you take up this role?
Li: I was originally cast for the 1992 New Dragon Gate Inn film, but had to back out due to other projects. This time I did not hesitate to accept Tsui's offer. Tsui brought me to Hong Kong to shoot films, providing me with a new platform and a new phase in my life. After so many years in the business, I feel like I have never left the world of wuxia.
Q: This is your first 3D wuxia movie, how do you feel about that?
Li: Despite acting for over 30 years, I never tried to work on a 3D movie. This is my first 3D film experience and it is the first wuxia film to be completely shot in 3D. I am eager to see what 3D technology will bring to wuxia films and fans.
Q: What are the differences between 2D and 3D wuxia movies?
Li: There are three major criteria pertaining to wuxia choreography: the exquisiteness and difficulty of the moves, the set up as a whole, and how film is used to show the characteristics and principles behind wuxia.
3D brings a whole new visual experience, and ultimately results in actions originally designed for 2D filming losing impact, so we can’t simply import these three points based on traditional filming. Instead we come up with actions that best showcase the unique capabilities of 3D.
(Find the biggest blockbusters to be shown on Celestial Superstar Club!)
Q: What are challenges of starring in a 3D wuxia movie?
Li: I am a newcomer when it comes to 3D movies. But it was exciting to film a 3D movie for the first time. I remember one particular scene where both Chen Kun and myself were supposed to be fighting with our weapons. Director Tsui told me that my left hand would also hold a long chain weapon, while Chen’s sword would change into two arrows. When we shot, there were no real weapons and we had to imagine their existence.
Since our production team was shooting in 3D for the first time as well, the process was rather slow initially, with only 6 shots completed each day. When things became smoother, we filmed about 20-30 shots per day.
Q: In this movie, you play a swordsman. Would you have been more interested in the role of Wuxia master?
Li: My character is quite self-centered and doesn’t care about normal moral standards – he serves his own interests. However, a Wuxia master has a sense of social responsibility and follows strict moral standards – definitely not as fun to play.
(Also see our InC-terview with Flying Swords and Director Tsui Hark!)
Q: What was it like working with Director Tsui?
Li: While I have worked with him for over 20 years, I don’t know him that well. Everyone knows that he is a strange man; his nickname is “Weird Tsui”. He doesn’t talk much, but he does everything for the sake of his movies. He’s always ahead of the wave, and is a leader in the evolution of the Wuxia film.
Q: What did you think about the other actors? Did you hang out with them during the production period?
Li: Due to the age difference, I rarely joined their activities. They had many birthday parties and dance parties. Even if I was the same age as them, I wouldn’t have join their parties due to my personal preferences. My nature is to relax and spend time on my own. On set, the rest of the cast would sometimes break into dance spontaneously. I felt happy too, but stood on the sidelines to watch them dance.
Catch Flying Swords of Dragon Gate on Celestial Movies (Starhub TV Cable ch 868) and SingTel mioTV ch 52) on 15 July 2012 at 9:00pm.
