Bruce Lee’s story next for us, says Ip Man 4 producer, as Donnie Yen calls film ‘a very good ending’ to his kung fu acting career
- After four films about the teacher it’s time for his pupil – Ip Man disciple Bruce Lee will be focus of future films, Ip Man 4 co-producer says
- Ip Man 4 was chosen to open kung fu film festival this week in Foshan, southern Chinese birthplace of martial arts masters Ip, Lee and Wong Fei-hung
Foshan, one of the birthplaces of martial arts in China, which has nurtured kung fu masters such as Bruce Lee, Ip Man and Wong Fei-hung, is in the limelight this week for its hosting of a festival of kung fu films, now in its third year.
The week-long festival in Guangdong opened on Tuesday and will feature screenings of more than 40 films, including Ip Man 4: The Finale , which goes on general release in China on Friday and which was shown as the opening film of the festival.
As he has done on separate occasions in recent days, Ip Man 4 star Donnie Yen Ji-dan reaffirmed at the China (Foshan) Greater Bay Area Kung Fu Film Festival that it will be his last kung fu movie, citing his injury wracked body and the difficulty in attaining further breakthroughs in the martial arts film genre.
“I have starred in 78 movies in total. I did my best every time as I love movies … People might view actors as filled with glory, but we, especially those of us who make action and kung fu movies, have a very harsh life. Our bodies are filled with injuries and pain.
“I love each [of my] movies, but [I feel] I have already made [all the] breakthroughs [I can] in the kung fu movie genre. For Ip Man 4 to be my swansong work, it’s a very good ending.”
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Lee was Ip’s disciple. In Ip Man 4, Lee is played by Hong Kong actor Danny Chan Kwok-kwan, who was initially scouted by comedian Stephen Chow Sing-chi to star in 2001’s Shaolin Soccer because of his resemblance to Bruce Lee.
Raymond Wong Bak-ming, producer of Ip Man 4, said at the festival that the Ip Man movies have turned the wing chun master into a household name globally.
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“Before the advent of the Ip Man movies, no one in China knew about Ip Man. In 2007 when we were preparing to make the first of the Ip Man films, we came to Foshan. We talked to more than 10 old people who had seen Ip.
“At that time, even people in Guangzhou didn’t know about Ip, let alone people in the north of China … Now, Ip Man enjoys global popularity. Hollywood gets Iron Man and China has Ip Man. That proves the attraction of martial arts movies.”
Although Ip Man 4 will be his last kung fu movie, Yen said he would still be making action movies, including police dramas and comedies.
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The actor will next be seen in the action comedy Enter the Fat Dragon, to be released on January 23, and Disney’s live-action Mulan adaptation, opening in March.
“I didn’t say I’m retiring. I still have lots of passion. For kung fu movies, I will participate as a director or producer. I hope my movies will make the audience more passionate about kung fu culture,” says Yen.
The mayor of Foshan, Zhu Wei, said at the festival that Foshan, with a 1,400-year history, is the only martial arts city in China.
“The southern school of martial arts mostly originates from Foshan. Such widely known martial arts as hong quan and wing chun originate from Foshan. They have over 20 million overseas disciples.
“Wong Fei-hung, Ip Man and Bruce Lee are Foshan’s famous martial arts masters. Their lively images portrayed on movie screens help people [across the globe know about Chinese martial arts and Foshan kung fu].”
Donnie Yen confirms Ip Man 4 will be his final kung fu film
As a base for more than 1,200 film- and TV-related companies and as host of Nanhai Movie and TV Town and Xiqiao National Arts Studio, Foshan has spared no effort in turning itself into an entertainment production hub.
The municipal government launched its Gollywood (Guangdong’s Hollywood) or Guanglaiwu project three years ago to boost Foshan’s status as a hub for film and television production.
The government and China Construction Bank jointly launched a special investment fund worth five billion yuan (US$713 million) to support the project, which includes developing talent and locations for filming.
