When I found out a couple months ago that Donnie Yen was coming to New Zealand to film Crouching tiger hidden dragon 2 I was excited. I'm not going to lie, my mind ran wild, I wanted to do all I could to be apart of it, I asked my agency if they had any parts going but unfortunately they were only looking for Chinese or asian/polynesian extras. Unfortunately I'm as white as a ghost so I couldn't really apply, I wouldn't fit in ancient china lol A friend of mine did audition though and got picked as a stand in and ended up being a PA to one of the stuntguys so that was as close as I could get to getting to meet my hero, was so happy for him lol.
Donnie Yen is The Bruce Lee of today, his technique is awesome, he does everything! act/direct/ dude even plays piano awesome. and he's just so cool in his movies. He's a huge inspiration to me when I'm trying to make my own films and start my own career. Him and Bruce Lee are even in terms of pushing me forward.
Anyway, Months passed, he kept posting teasing photos of shots around Auckland. It was so frustrating knowing he was in the same city as me and I'd never get to meet him. But then as a fan on Donnie yen's facebook page I saw he was going to try meet his NZ fans. all we had to do was download the app to stay in touch. I've always had a block phone, the oldschool phones that just text and call, no cameras etc. But this was a sign, give in! Get a smart phone! So I did. I got a cheap phone and tried to download the app but it wasn't compatible, I sweated for a week or so then he posted a link for those without the app to register. I registered my wife and I and waited for the confirmation email.
I received it, yes! It was the 5th of Oct- now I get every 5th weekend off and just so happened I had this one off, I was stoked! God works in mysterious ways :) My prayers were heard haha :) (thanks)
It was at the Pullman hotel, in the ballroom lounge. It was really nice, flash. After waiting for everyone to arrived, the man himself arrived.
Bey Logan (for those that follow HK movies will know he tends to produce and comment on these films and has been a big part of bringing it out to western channels) was emceeing the event, a Q and A for Donnie with the fans before a signing session. (I also talked to bey after the event about he managed to round up funding for the films and he told me just make the film, in today's age its so much easier to make a film, just get it out there and the right people will eventually seek you out, just find someone who directs, someone who likes sound, someone who likes acting etc and put ti together. Food for thought, I'm procrastinating to much, so next year (lol) I will do that and do the feature I always talk about. I talked about my plans of being an actor/director and how NZ's small so I'll try here first then build myself up. He kept calling me 'the screenwriter' cos of my question but we'll get to that later...nice guy, I can see his passion for kung fu films...
So we all clapped as Donnie Yen walked in smiling and then people started asking questions. Donnie yen answered them humbly and with grace and was so cool. Definitely can learn from this. I told the wife If I don't ask a question I'd kick myself the rest of my life, so I stuck up my hand- confident as (fake it til you make it :D) Bey was like, you there, in the white, and I stood up making eye contact with Donnie like "Hi, I'm Matt," and he's like "Hi'. wow. I'm talking to a guy I've watched destroy so many people on films late at night on hard to get dvds I've had to order in, or at the cinema with only a few people. This man who seems so big and fantastic on screen is sitting in front of me, and we're having a conversation :)
"You must receive tons and tons of scripts everyday, I was wondering what do you look for in a script when choosing a part and why?" He talked about how since making a film can take months and is such a big commitment that he only likes to take positive roles, ones that will challenge his acting or give a positive message to people, he quoted alot of reviews from everyday people about his success in Ipman, and about how he doesn't want to have to explain to his kids (if he played a bad guy) why he killed that guy for no reason. He stressed the point about having positive impact on people since he cant change the world by himself but maybe his films can inspire the right people to make the right choices. Was really cool.
He answered other questions, like he was offered Expendables twice but the parts were small and again he wanted to do something positive but he was open to do one if it was right (similar to Jackie Chan I think, where you don't want little cameo's if you have fans lining up to see it). Someone asked who of all the onscreen fighters hes worked with was the hardest, he said it was like music and everyone brings something differently, but Jet Li in his opinion was one of the hardest as Jet Li was so quick and in Once upon a time in china he was so quick with the pole, he said Jackie brought something interesting and yeah, there were a lot of laughs through out the session. One man asked in Chinese to show us some moves so Donnie did a little something which was fun. After that we wrapped up and the signing/photo session started.
The line was huge but eventually we got our turn, I shook hands with him and told him thanks for his films as they've been a huge inspiration to me, he said thanks for my support, I got him to sign the slip and he also signed my flashpoint cover which was awesome!
This was the first film I had seen of his on the plane ride to Philippines maybe 7-8 years ago before being hooked and seeking everything the guy had made. Then I asked him if we could do a fighting pose and he smiled and said sure, I got the guy to take our photo with my phone then I shook Donnie's hand and said thanks again and that was that. I was so pumped. Wow. what a year, seen my hero growing up Eminem live in concert and now I've shook hands and struck a fighting pose with my hero leading me into adulthood and this acting path I've chosen. I'll never forget this day. And Now I have a photo to prove it :)
A big shoutout and thanks to Donnie for visiting Auckland and meeting your fans here! :)
(I was going to be serious in this pic but I was so happy I couldn't, awesome day)
and Donnie with melody :)
Great photo they took with Donnie+fans :) Me and Melody in Middle at back, I'm in a white hoodie lol,
