A book in Japan said that I'm the last dragon coming out of Hong Kong.
A gesture, a smile, or just walking down the street is an expression.
After a week of reconstructing film, I realized I hit in the middle of Asian stock crisis. The money that was promised to back up my film was cut off so I had to put my own money. That was the biggest problem.
After making Legend, which is a period piece, set mainly in exteriors and with a lot of martial arts, I wanted to make a totally different kind of film for my second movie.
Bruce is the man. He was definitely ahead of his time.
But I'm trying to find a balance where I can maintain my identity and stay focused on not walking the wrong path.
Everything is meant to be for a reason.
For many years, I had difficulty trying to identify myself in Hong Kong.
For me, shooting, editing, and scoring rely on rhythm.
For the past couple of years, the industry was trying to pump out action flicks by using couple of youngsters but there aren't any real deal martial artists.
For the past four years, I wanted to move behind the camera so much that that I may have overlooked the actuality of martial arts films.
For years, I looked to Bruce Lee as a mentor as being a Chinese and Asian man living in this country.
From my experience as an actor, choreographer, action director, and producer, I understand the elements and the dynamics of being a film maker.
I also have a big following in Japan both as an actor and director.
I feel happy, but it's not like I'm so excited that I would take things for granted.
I got nominated for my second film as best young director in the Aikido Film Festival in Japan.
I guess I would feel more at home in Hong Kong. That's where I made my name and where I made all my connections.
I have been in many of these types of occasions in my life and a lot of times I just walk in with no expectations.
I have this dual identity. One is this person who has grown up in the States and the other is person that I truly am.
I look at women as a beautiful creation of God and I like beautiful things.
I mean if you watch Quentin Tarantino's films, you feel him, you feel the way he is.
I refused to do that because I always have certain beliefs and I will turn down certain projects if I don't believe in it.
I strongly felt that to distinguish ourselves we needed to emphasize the individual style and character of the martial artist.
I think I am a pretty romantic guy. You can see in my films the flow and pace, there is a great degree of rise and fall.
I think knowledge wise, as a director or actor; I am no different than 3 years ago.
I think that you can see that I am very emotional and very radical. I have always been that way.
I want to be addressed not as a good martial arts director or actor, but as a good director or actor with great martial arts.
I was having difficulty in Hong Kong trying to get a filmed produced and getting it off the ground.
I was in L.A. and you see a lot of beautiful women of all different races.
I'm a very emotional guy.
I'm sure you are aware that the Hong Kong film industry has been in a slump over the past couple of years because of various reasons.
I've always been in a rebel.
I've been involved with martial arts for so many years now, I don't really analyze them too much anymore.
In Hong Kong, if you are looking at traditional Chinese society dealing with film executives, you can't really handle it like a rebel.
It takes a certain kind of discipline to be an actor.
Martial art is a form of expression, an expression from your inner self to your hands and legs.
Martial arts films sort of died out.
Music and movement are both expressions of the same basic human energy. They are like paints used to color the screen.
My schedule is really, really tight. In this country, what I'm trying to do is to launch my career as an actor and let me become a commodity first in terms of as an on screen actor and at the same time, I do my thing as a director.
Now I can understand everyone's perspective: from the perspective of the distributor, investor, actor, producer, and writer. I know how to handle all of them.
Plus, I think the main factor that why I don't feel like this is my home, even though my family is here, is because I've been away for so long in Hong Kong for so many years and I've been traveling.
Sometimes you have all your expectations in one thing, and they don't come out the way you want it. Sometimes in the worst situations things turn out to be a whole lot better than you expect.
Still, as much as I wish Ballistic Kiss could be a better film, the recognition it gained from critics and at festivals speaks for itself.
Technically, I direct myself as a character.
The action just comes natural. I could do that with my eyes closed.
The only thing that I knew was that they were going to screen my film in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and then I jumped on the plane.
There are a lot beautiful women and I've dated many of them.
There are two types of Chinese growing up in America. One is the kind that does really well in school, with thick, thick glasses. And the other is involved with the gangs.
There is also a strong following among the urbanites on the East Coast when it comes to martial arts films.
There were certain beliefs, expectations, and a certain standard of quality that I wanted to have in my films.
When I look at my fellow men like Jackie (Chan). I wouldn't put myself in that category. He's already way beyond that stage.
When you watch my films, you're feeling my heart.
Women are the most beautiful creation in this world and I'm not going to deny that I like looking at beautiful women and say that I don't love women.
Grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Has a daughter named Jasmine.
Billed as Michael Ryan in his earlier films (until _Gao ya xian (1998)_ ) released in the Philippines.
Can speak fluent Cantonese, English and Mandarin. Can also speak casual Korean, since he learned it as a requirement for his character during the filming of Chat Gim (Seven Swords).
Brother of Chris Yen
Current wife Cissy Wang was the winner of the Miss Chinese Toronto Pageant 2000. She also represented Toronto in 2001 for the Miss Chinese International Pageant.
Current wife Cissy Wang is nearly 18 years his junior.
Has a son from a previous marriage.
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