Chan Tells Aspiring Actors to Be Natural

Jackie Chan to aspiring action stars: Don't bow to me. Chan said in a blog entry on his Web site Sunday that he's not a fan of the way disciples greet their masters in kung fu movies by grasping a clenched fist in a prayer-like gesture, then bowing their heads.

The veteran actor said he had noticed the move in audition video clips for his Chinese talent show "The Disciple"

"Some preliminary competitors would introduce themselves the old-period kung fu way: the fist of one hand clenched firmly, the palm of the other wrapped on top, head slightly bowed, then saying, 'All the heroes here today, please advise and correct my wrongdoings,'" Chan wrote.

He called the greeting "old-fashioned and definitely not what I'm looking for."

"I think actors of today should adapt to situations appropriately, like using old-fashioned terms for old-fashioned movies or using modern-day speech for modern-day films. Actors shouldn't mix old-fashioned speech with modern-day films. It just doesn't fit," Chan said.

He said actors who adapt to the times will enjoy a wider range of roles.

Chan also said he didn't launch "The Disciple" jointly produced by Chan and a Beijing TV Station called BTV to scout for the next kung fu superstar, but rather to spot people with talent to become genuinely skilled "action artists."

Source: www.cinema-pedia.com