Donnie Yen Quotes

When audiences look at an action actor like myself, sometimes we are very easily stereotyped or characterized as one type. They forget that we are actors, too.

I spent a couple of years doing American films. I did a few.

I think a lot of people don't realize that martial arts are just an expression like anything else. It's just that most people are not trained to punch or kick, but you can walk or run or dance, which is also part of expression.

I think film, to me, as a director, is about telling a story.

I've always been in a rebel.

From my experience as an actor, choreographer, action director, and producer, I understand the elements and the dynamics of being a film maker.

An action choreographer is kind of like a dance choreographer. You choreograph the moves and you let the director, cinematographer take into positioning their cameras.

I always used to wonder why American actors were getting fat, then I made a U.S. movie. I'm seeing all the food every day, and there's lots of waiting around because making an American movie is very slow.

I love working with older actors because number one, I can learn so much from them because they have so much experience. And it's fun to hear their stories from their era, some of the jokes.

When you watch my films, you're feeling my heart.

Action choreographer is like talking. When you talk, you have a rhythm. When you act, you have a rhythm. When you're moving your body, you have a rhythm. So as an actor, as a choreographer, the objective is trying to blend everything in - into - ultimately back into that character.

A period film, where you, for example, where you have a traditional wardrobes, you are bound to act a certain way. But in a modern film, a lot of body gesture.

Many friends of mine told me that normally only guys like a kung fu movie and the girls would be turned off - they want to see a love story. But Ip Man is a family man, so the women see this and go: 'I want my husband to be like this man. He'll be a scholar, he'll be fighting, he'll care for the family.' So we had a bigger audience.

I certainly hope 'Dragon' can leave some legacy behind.

For years, I looked to Bruce Lee as a mentor as being a Chinese and Asian man living in this country.

When you direct a movie, you're basically looking at a story, the way you want to look at it. You bring that director's vision, and I'm totally open for that.

I got nominated for my second film as best young director in the Aikido Film Festival in Japan.

There is also a strong following among the urbanites on the East Coast when it comes to martial arts films.

I gained a lot of confidence after 'IP Man' as being a true actor. I went on to tackle what it is an actor is supposed to do before a film. Do a lot of research, get into the character. That's what I did with 'Dragon.'

The main reason I like UFC is not just the martial arts aspect, but it's about one person against the other person. It's about being able to test yourself with the truth.

Martial art is a form of expression, an expression from your inner self to your hands and legs.

I have always been a great fan of Peter Chan and many other great directors who specialize in anything outside of action.

A lot of Chinese martial arts films were based on Chinese martial arts novels. And these novels created a world of putting history, calligraphy, and martial arts into one.

Bruce is the man. He was definitely ahead of his time.

I act according to the requirements of the character, and if I try to play the role, then I play it truthfully. In my daily life, I'm a laid-back, peaceful guy. I'm just doing my job to act.

It takes years of building that experience as a filmmaker, as well as physically. You have to have a high level understanding of martial arts.

Doing a movie is a stressful thing. You spend months of you life focusing into that one project, and I want to make sure I do something I really like or I'm really passionate about.

I just like to choose projects that will allow me as an artist to make my art.

It's a blessing to be given a variety of roles to what I call an iconic action actor like myself.

As an action director, I always try to bring something fresh and new.

For me, shooting, editing, and scoring rely on rhythm.

My mum lives in Boston; she's famous for teaching wushu and t'ai chi. So from when I was young, my mum and aunt were like: 'You're training; you're not playing baseball or football.' Training every day was normal. Later, when I was almost a teenager, Bruce Lee became my idol.