Jackie Chan - Never Grow Up

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Copyright 2015, 2018 by Jackie Chan

Oscar statuette: Copyright Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuette is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Gallery Books hardcover edition December 2018

Originally published in China in 2015 by Jiangsu Literature and Art Publishing House as Never Grow Up, Only Get Older

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Interior design by Davina Mock-Maniscalco

Jacket design by Emma A. Van Deun

Jacket photograph Feng Yu

Back jacket photograph Wuming

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-9821-0721-5

ISBN 978-1-9821-0723-9 (ebook)

To my parents

I n 2016, I received an honorary Academy Award for my lifetime achievement in film. After fifty-six years, making over two hundred films, and breaking many bones, I never thought Id win one, so getting the call was like a dream come true.

At the time, I was filming in Taiwan. My manager, Joe Tam, called and said that the Motion Picture Academys president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, would love to talk to me. Cheryl and I got on the phone and she shared the incredible news.

When I say incredible, its because I didnt quite believe it. I asked, Are you sure you want me ?

The night of the Governors Awards was pure Hollywood magic. I sat at the award ceremony next to my old friend and costar Arnold Schwarzenegger. I had no idea what was going to happen, and was surprised by the three presenters who introduced me.

First, Tom Hanks Tom Hanks! whom Ive never worked with but feel like I know well, called me Chan-Tastic three times: Jackie Chan, the man who puts the Chan in Chan-Tastic, because he has worked mostly in martial arts films and action comedies, two genres that have been, for some reason, shall we say, historically underrepresented at the Oscars. A fact that would change if I have any pull on the board of governors, he said. It is especially gratifying to be able to acknowledge Jackies enormous creativity, his great gift for physical performance, and incredible dedication to his work with this Governors Award tonight.

Great acting comes in many different forms, but if youre an actor you always know it when you see it. Now, Jackie Chans films have been incredibly serious, sometimes gruesomely so, as well as incredibly hilarious to the point of delighting millions of peoples around the globe. On one hand, you could say, out of China came another version of John Waynethe serious filmsand out of China came Buster Keatonthe comedic films. How is this possible out of one man? His talents must be truly Chan-Tastic. But Jackie does something that neither of those screen legends was ever able to do. Neither of those great, great artists of the cinema ever put the bloopers on during the closing credits, and those outtakes never showed John Wayne or Buster Keaton fracturing his elbow or tearing his plantar fascia. Thats just one of the main reasons why the actors branch is so pleased to be honoring Jackie the Chan-Tastic Chan.

Hes right about the outtakes. Starting with The Young Master in 1980, my films have always ended with a postcredits bloopers reel. Along with clips of me messing up my lines or making other mistakes, most of them have to do with stunts gone wrong, so I look ridiculous as I crash to the ground and the crew rushes over.

Then Michelle Yeoh, who is like a little sister to me, talked about our long friendship. As moviegoers around the world know, Jackie Chan has always been full of surprises, she said. He surprised me the very first time I met him thirty years ago. I had flown to Hong Kong to shoot a commercial with a superstar called Shing Lung. I hadnt heard of him, but as soon as he walked in I said, Thats Jackie Chan, thats not Shing Lung.... Of course I recognized him instantly, I knew him by his distinctive loping walk, his giant smile, and by the cloud of infectious exuberance that surrounds him wherever he goes. Jackie is a generous performer. He is as generous to his costars as he is to his audiences. But I would say hes also highly competitive. The problem is, so am I. When we were making Super Cop , we went toe to toe. If I did a stunt, then Jackie would have to do an even more amazing one. And I would have to beat that.... Jackie pulled me aside and said, We have to stop. You roll off the roof of a car, I have to roll off the roof of a building. You jump on the train in a motorcycle, I have to do it in a helicopter. If this keeps up, Im going to end up dead.

But you survived, like always, Michelle continued. Many show business veterans have received Governors Awards over the years, but tonight, Jackie Chan is the first little boy to win one. His friends and his fans know that Jackie has discovered the secret of eternal youth. He is actually the same as the day I met him. Honest, funny, kind, and, despite the years, still possesses an astonishing physical prowess.

They showed a montage video of some of my scenes, and finally, Chris Tucker, my dear friend and costar on the Rush Hour series, came onstage. The great Jackie Chan... he said. Working with a living legend was amazing. Every day, I couldnt wait to come on the set to see Jackie Chan. I was late most of the time, but when I got there, Jackie was waiting with his legs crossed, saying, Wheres Chris Tucker? We are late! But he didnt complain. He knew I was this young kid who, you know, didnt know his lines, but he went with the flow. Jackie, it was just an honor to work with you and I cant wait to work with you again.... You made a lot of people rich, Jackie. A lot of people rich. But honestly, working with Jackie got me global notoriety, too, from the Rush Hour movies... automatically, working with a global star like Jackie Chan. So I was blessed. I thank you for that, Jackie.... I love you, man, youre part of me... And congratulations! And Im so thrilled and honored to be a part of this, to present to you, my good friend, Jackie Chan!