is directed by Donnie Yen , supervised by Donnie Yen, Wang Jing, Zhu Weijie serves as the chief producer, and Donnie Yen, Chen Yuqi , Liu Yase leads the show. Hui Yinghong special performance, Wu Yue special guest starring martial arts masterpiece " Dragon Ball: The Legend of Qiao Feng " was launched today (January 21) on the three major platforms of iQiyi, Tencent Video, and Youku, opening up another battlefield for the Spring Festival.
The film is based on Jin Yong 's classic martial arts novel "The Legend of the Dragon" and focuses on the personal growth and transformation of Qiao Feng (played by Donnie Yen). It tells the story of Qiao Feng, the leader of the Beggar Clan, facing the dilemma of fate and life experience. With his peerless martial arts and strong willpower, he gradually transformed into a hero who understands righteousness in the martial arts world of swords and swords.
It is reported that the movie "The Legend of Qiao Feng" is produced by Xiamen Zizai Interactive Entertainment Culture Media Co., Ltd., Fujian Quanzhou Infinite Zizai Culture Media Co., Ltd., Xiamen Co., Ltd., Western National Copyright Trading Center Co., Ltd., and Chengdu Tianfu Film Co., Ltd.
The following is an interview transcript with Donnie Yen:
About movie shooting
Working on the set three days a day using
In the past ten years, I have basically been making kung fu movies or fashion action movies. Two years ago, I made a cameo appearance in the movie "", which was my first exposure to Jin Yong's film and television works. Next up is "The Legend of Qiao Feng". I have watched "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" in the past, but I have never watched "Dragon". When many friends heard that I wanted to make this movie and play Qiao Feng, they reminded me, "There have been many remakes of such a classic work. This time it will be made into a movie, and there will be many challenges and discussions." But the real challenge for me is how to integrate my ideas and concepts into the story and recreate "Dragon" with Donnie Yen's personal characteristics.
"Dragon" is a novel that almost every Chinese has read, and it can be regarded as a childhood memory for everyone. There are also versions of remakes of film and television works in the past that left a deep impression on everyone. Because everyone loves the original work and has Jin Yong's feelings in their hearts, no matter which version of the work appears, it will cause everyone to discuss the plot, casting, or special effects and scenery. I have already given myself a "precautionary shot". Therefore, in every process of pre-preparation, shooting and post-production, I followed closely, hoping to present as much as possible a Jin Yong world that everyone would like and have the same feelings as the characters in two hours.
I play Qiao Feng, which is another big challenge. In the past remakes, there have been actors that everyone likes very much. Although I have played some heroic characters, my role as Qiao Feng this time should arouse everyone's curiosity even more. I started from "Why do people like Qiao Feng" and "What do audiences want to see most in Donnie Yen's movies?" and found one of the points of convergence between Qiao Feng and me - martial arts. For a long time in the past, costume films focused on a dreamy look, but lacked the exhilaration of martial arts masters in action, leaving only the wild imagination of the audience. This time, since I have this ability, I want to start from the action level and tell everyone why Qiao Feng can become the "Most Powerful Man".
Every day's shooting is very busy, and the time is very tight. On the set, one day is used as three days, and I wish I could have one day. 30 hours, especially the scene in Juxianzhuang. The entire crew spent several 30 hours together before finally achieving the desired effect. As the director, producer and star of the film, in addition to taking care of the operation of the entire crew, we also have to consider how to film the storyline and how to do it in between. All of this is very tiring, and I only have about 4-5 hours of sleep every day, but when I wake up the next day, I think about making a good movie, and I can continue to do it.
About the role
Donnie Yen's version of Qiao Feng must first be "strong" in martial arts
Everyone thinks that Qiao Feng is strong in martial arts, but the presentation of his martial arts has always been in the imagination stage. What I want to do this time is to tell everyone why Qiao Feng can be called the "most powerful hero".
Donnie Yen's version of Qiao Feng first needs to be "strong" in martial arts. Designing moves for him, including how to use internal strength and how to use light skills, is very particular. Another one is the escalation of force. The audience's impression of Donnie Yen has always been "I want to fight ten" in and Ip Man . This time Qiao Feng not only wants to fight ten, but also can "fight one against a hundred".
One of the most obvious changes for Qiao Feng this time is weapons. Qiao Feng mainly uses dog-beating sticks , but since the adaptation is not necessarily exactly the same as the original story, not to mention that a hero with unparalleled martial arts skills should be proficient in eighteen weapons . Therefore, in the play, after Qiao Feng leaves the Beggar Gang, he will use other weapons, including the sword that Ah Zi stole from Duan Zhengchun. Qiao Feng's most famous Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms will definitely be retained, and will be presented in conjunction with Zhen's martial arts style.
In addition to force, what is more important is that "Qiao Feng is so popular with everyone". What is his charm and what is his character like? How to portray Qiao Feng so that everyone feels that the Qiao Feng in the novel is real and that he is a heroic and dashing hero requires careful study and how to present it through details. Just like the horse riding scene, Qiao Feng is a person who can drink while riding a horse, so these settings must fit the character's personality.
After re-reading the novel, I feel that the character Qiao Feng is relatable to us today and is worth re-exploring. The reason why he can become a hero is not only because of his unparalleled martial arts, but also his persistence in benevolence, friendship, and family affection. I think everyone may be Qiao Feng, and we all hope that we can be such a person, or have such a person around us. Qiao Feng's experience of not being understood by others and being unable to argue is something that many people will encounter now. Qiao Feng has unparalleled martial arts skills and a great sense of justice. His experience can also reflect the social problems we are encountering now. But his "not being understood" also makes this character a very contradictory and dramatic character.
About being the chief director
I hope there will be an innovation in martial arts movies
If I say it directly, it may seem a bit greedy. This movie not only wants Jin Yong fans to feel "not bad" after watching it, but also wants people from other countries in the world to watch it and know that we in China also have our own heroes. I also want to create a new level of martial arts films.
Jin Yong's novels are everyone's memories. During the filming, because the film's duration was limited, we chose to retain the most important plots, story lines, and some classic lines in the novels. Let everyone find the familiar world of Jin Yong.
In the past few years, there have been hero series movies in other countries, which have set off a wave of craze in domestic movies, and audiences have begun to sigh and hope that there are such "beatable" movies in China. Our film "The Legend of Qiao Feng" was exposed internationally through "The Hollywood Reporter" and the American Film Market last year. I want to do my part to make this film go further and let audiences around the world see that China also has its own heroes.
The final and greedy thing is that this is a period martial arts film shot through the lens of director Donnie Yen. I hope to apply all the experience and ideas of the past forty years to this film and create an innovation in martial arts films. I actually had experience as a director before
. I had directed movies in the mid-1990s. In addition, I have been doing directing work in the past few years, so being the chief director this time is not stressful. The biggest pressure mainly comes from Jin Yong's IP, because this novel is so classic, so you must know enough about its background and story to inherit the spirit of the original work during filming. At the beginning of last year, after I decided to take on this movie, I started working on the novel. Later, I went to Yunnan with my family to experience the customs and people there, and to find some traces related to "Dragon Babu" in Yunnan.
About me
I will not live in Ip Man’s aura
I will not live in Ip Man’s aura. The four films in the "Ip Man" series spanned 12 years, and many people got to know Donnie Yen through them.After filming "Ip Man", I lacked the ability to find new and higher goals in kung fu movies, but I will not limit myself from trying more types of action movies because of this, and the public's evaluation will not limit me from trying more fresh creations. So this time I hope to recreate a martial arts film, not only for Chinese people to see it, but also for foreigners to see the depth of Chinese culture. It is very difficult to shoot martial arts action movies, which require a formalized carrier, such as martial arts, weapons, etc.
There are fewer and fewer martial arts films on the market now. I hope to try my best to produce some works so that the audience can watch this type of film. Over the past forty years, I have accumulated some experience in different types of films, and I also have some ideas. Whether it is film technology or shooting techniques, I have put them into "The Legend of Qiao Feng". I want to share my thoughts and concepts with the audience through this film.
Of course, in terms of mood, I am like everyone else. When I see negative comments, I will definitely feel angry, incomprehensible, and depressed at the beginning. I feel that I can’t explain why. This feeling is very similar to what Qiao Feng encountered when he was not understood by everyone. This is a situation that everyone often encounters in life.
Qiao Feng's movie, from the moment it was decided to be made, I had already guessed that there would be discussions. Some people might like it, and some people might not. Making this movie is like climbing a mountain. I know it is difficult, but the most important thing is that the spirit of positive challenge and wanting to be the best is the most important. I will also try my best to do my best.
I have been making movies in this industry for more than 40 years. If I cared so much about outside opinions, I would not be where I am today. I will read all comments about the works. Through evaluation, you can see what the audience's current preferences are and what the audience's interpretation of the same scene is. These accumulated experiences can help me move forward better and make good movies.
Red Star News reporter Zhang Shihao Editor Zhang Shihao
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