Aaron Kwok Defends Donnie Yen’s On-Set Tantrums
Although his co-star Chow Yun Fat (周潤發) had earlier teased Donnie Yen (甄子丹) about his on-set temper tantrums, Aaron Kwok (郭富城) feels that Donnie is justified in his actions considering the amount of effort he puts into his films.
Known as a perfectionist, Donnie often sets extremely high standards for himself and his peers. Wearing many hats as actor, action choreographer, producer, and sometimes director, his expectations rise with each production and his patience gradually wore thin. Donnie is sometimes depicted as a grumpy leader who drives talents away with his difficult work persona. While shooting action film Special ID <特殊身份> in 2012, Donnie allegedly got on unpleasant terms with actor Vincent Zhao (趙文卓). The latter ultimately withdrew from the project, calling Donnie too “domineering”.
While promoting their latest 3D film The Monkey King <西游記之大鬧天宮> on January 19, revered film star Chow Yun Fat poked fun at Donnie’s reputation and advised him to improve his temper. Aaron, who plays the Bull Demon King in the movie, played along with his senior, saying, “I do hope he can control his temper a bit!”
Although Donnie graciously brushed their comments off as a friendly tease, Aaron felt the need to clarify the matter at a film symposium on January 21. Fully supportive of his co-star, Aaron testifies that Donnie has never thrown a tantrum at the actors and that he only became frustrated when the crew was inefficient. “He has very high expectations for his crew. He wants them to cooperate with the shoot to make things easier for us actors. He only becomes angry when the crew causes inconvenience. It is understandable and reasonable.”
Their first collaboration, Aaron walked away with a positive experience and looks forward to working with Donnie again. When asked if he was ever angry during the more frustrating moments on set, Aaron quipped, “Donnie Yen was there, who dares to make a sound?”
Source: Ming Pao
This article is written by Katrine for JayneStars.com.
So the truth comes out. Donnie would only throw tandrums at the low grade staff…
Throw tandrums at the low grade staff if they cause trouble is fine.
no. its not
Low grade staff lack of responsibilities and lack in IQ department and therefore they lack the hard working ethnic and do tend to take short cuts.
comet ~ y not? does it means low grade staffs could cause troubles & escape & no one could angry at them? if u r a boss, see wut will u do to your staff who messing around.
I was hoping this didn’t happen. But fans and critics are blowing Donnie’s persona on set way out of per portion. It is not like he is being mean to be mean, which some directors, producers, can be. And some of the crew members are no stranger to Donnie’s expectations. They have worked on his team for years! Crew members who may not be use to his expectations and straight forwardness, would probably not like his style. He is very expressive and passionate about what he does. And I don’t blame him. You want to work with people who meet your energy level or above. Other wise, it’s not going to work and you are not going to get the best results.
I don’t see anything wrong with having a strict attitude on set, especially when you work as a director and action director. Donnie was brought up in the industry by Yuen Woo Ping, who was known to be very strict towards his actors. Same with all other veteran action directors such as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Ching Siu-Tung, Lau Kar-Leung etc. If it weren’t for their work ethics, all the classic HK action movies we all came to appreciate would have gone to waste.
I agree. It’s called professionalism. If someone’s off goofing around on set and not doing their job properly, they deserve to be yelled at. Disciplining them does not make him a dictator. He takes his work very seriously and works very hard and believes everyone else should too.
yelled at? haha, last time nobody say its bad parenting if a mom or dad hit their kids, nowadays, a parent yelling at a kid its abusive, wonder why the working life culture didn’t change, i was in a departmental store once, a sales manager yelled at her staff to attend to me when i was just lookind at the clothings, i find that uncomfortable, if you ask me, i would say that the manager did a lousy job
Will not discuss parenting matter because of sensitive issues. Department store workers tend to lack the knowledge and therefore need to be yelled at. People that uses company to buy time to pay for what ever they need (mortgages etc.)are usually don’t have the hard working ethnic. The manager could have handle the situation differently but he himself is the same or much worst from how the whole situation was handle. The apple don’t fall far from the tree.
anyone who watched special id will see that he is not a perfectionist that he claims to be. That movie should have never left the editing room.
Meh, the Mainland execs and censorship ruined the crew’s professionalism. This applies to arguably most recent HK/CH co-productions.
You obviously do not know that Donnie wanted to pull out of the movie. But if he had did so, the crew and cast, who had already committed to the project, passed up other work, would have been affected greatly. Shooting for the film had already started, so investors would not have taken too kindly to him backing out either. He didn’t have as much control over Special ID as he would have liked. If he would have had full reign, yes, the film would have definitely turned out differently.
I agree with EkinFan. The film was so boring and the plot was irrational. Donnie Yen has let fame get to him.
Donnie Yen acknowledged that there were problems with the production of Special ID, and actually wanted to pull out. He finished it because of the number of people whose livelihood it would affected had he done otherwise. I think it was an interview with Anita Bailey where he discussed this.
Much respects for such a hard-working guy. This is something neither Vincent Zhao or Tang Bing (a nobody) would’ve pulled off.
Donnie is no undercover cop because he himself is the man so no more undercover roles. Who is able to defeat him. Again because of the hard working ethnic a Donnie movie is a go for.
Special ID suck. But it was fun to watch that girl in there. How she shot the guy in the head to save Donnie and to the next scene she sat there and cry like a baby. Her fighting scenes with the guys I bet they enjoyed it. It was fun to watch her took so many beating in the car from Andy On and he yang her off in the end. The casting was all wrong but we get to watch the fighting.
Vincent Zhao made the right decision by jumbing off before it even started.
Donnie’s role was created by the script writers. While there was technically many faults, I still enjoyed his performance. And it’s a plus when he allows himself to get beat up in some fight scenes for a change. I’d say the flaws are compensated by Donnie’s devotion of trying to work things out.
The original script was actually much worse than how it eventually ended up. It was supposed to be a modern action movie filled with CGI (so wrong in all levels). While the final product has alot to be desired for, at least it has realistic-looking action and minimal visual effects. So I think they made the right choice of changing the story.
You’re definitely a Donnie fans me too.
One of my favorites and been enjoying his work for a long time now. Despite some people’s views on him, he’s come a long way and deserves respect and recognition for the hard working.
Yes. Woolly. Thank you for the reference. Fans and critics alike fail to realize that Donnie went through alot…alot of struggles filming Special ID. Yet, he was willing to rise to the occasion and give it his best. I actually enjoyed Special ID and it still did well at the box office. Alot was edited out of the film that took away from the original storyline, leaving you with the feeling that “something is missing here” Special ID is special to me simply because I know personally how Donnie persevered in making this film. Fans and critics need to give him credit for that alone and show some grace.
Professionalism, Donnie put all his efforts in Special ID. Good for Donnie. Donnie already has his answers to Special ID(one or two movies didn’t do well big deal). Donnie will learn from past mistakes and move on with lots of money. You liked the movie but their are some others that don’t and I didn’t think it was good either. If Donnie can’t take criticism than he isn’t worthy.
You are wrong, AK may be a lou yam chong but he is not pokkai 😛
I’m all for Donnie and Aaron. Looking from the photos above they don’t look like they have plastic surgery done to them. Man this Huang Xiaoming no longer look like Chinese. He look Japanese. The generation now calls it art.LOL.