Donnie Yen Shows Fiery Temper

In a behind-the-scenes featurette for the legal thriller The Prosecutor <誤判>, which Donnie Yen (甄子丹) stars, directs and produces in, audiences catch an unfiltered glimpse of his intense dedication and fiery temperament on set.

Delays in the production process quickly trigger his frustration. Scene after scene, Yen’s stern expressions dominate the set, creating tension and urgency on set.

“It’s already 3 a.m. (early morning). Can you hurry up? If we can’t finish filming today, you’re in deep s***!” he snaps.

“If I say we’re doing another take, there’s no need to watch the playback again. You’re wasting too much time right now,”

“Simple tasks are being overcomplicated. I’ve explained this dozens of times, and now we have to redo everything!”

Tense Exchange with Francis Ng

One particularly heated moment arises during a scene between Donnie Yen and co-star Francis Ng. The scene is meant to ignite Ng’s character’s fury, but the script initially lacked sufficient dramatic tension. The two actors improvised on the spot, eventually crafting a confrontation where Ng’s character challenges Yen’s iconic martial artist persona.

“The highlight is when Francis suddenly comes up to me, yelling, ‘Fxxx you! You think you’re such a great fighter? Let’s see then!’ The audience will find it amusing because he’s directly provoking me,” Yen recounted.

No Special Treatment for Friends

Even guest stars, veteran actors Ray Lui (呂良偉) and Mark Cheng (鄭浩南) weren’t spared from Yen’s high expectations. In one scene when their performances failed to deliver the desired impact, Yen expressed his disappointment candidly:

“What’s Ray going to bring to this role? It’s only a one- or two-day cameo, but it needs to surprise the audience! And you too (pointing at Michael Chan) — how are you going to wow the viewers? I don’t want this to feel like you’re just here to hang out. I brought you in because I wanted you to stand out!”

A Plea to Cherish Opportunities

In a heartfelt moment, Donnie addressed the crew, reflecting on his journey from earning HK$3,000 a month to becoming a global action star. Pointing out the rarity of large-scale productions in Hong Kong’s declining film industry, he urged them to make the most of the opportunity.

Admitting that he does not lose his temper that much these days, he said, “I’ve mellowed with age and don’t want to stress myself out… But Hong Kong cinema is in decline, and there are so few chances to work on a big production. This is a rare opportunity to learn and grow, and it’s frustrating to see it wasted.” Sharing his final message with the crew, Donnie acknowledged how challenging it can be to work with his demanding style.

“I know my strictness has made things tough for everyone, and you probably curse me every day, looking back and recall how Donnie was ‘cursing every day’. But I hope amidst those bad memories, you’ll also remember that I wanted everyone to succeed..I believe (all of you) will come away with a deeper perspective and greater creative freedom.”

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