Yesterday there was a web-cast interview at Sohu.com with Donnie Yen. The interview can be found here in simplified Chinese (lots of neat photos of a lean and tan Donnie too): http://yule.sohu.com/20050630/n226145808.shtml

I've done a quick "eyeball" translation of some of the interesting bits. This is only 5% or so and there's a lot of neat material that I haven't covered.

Start here:

Q: Dan-gor looks terribly thin.

Donnie Yen: I've been particularly tired these past several days. Recently I flew from Canada to Hong Kong and stayed there for a day. Immediately rushed to Beijing and after a few days I had to go to England to shoot a movie. I've been very busy lately and don't sleep more than three or four hours a night.

[...]

Q: Do you have to learn martial arts starting from a young age? Do you need a certain level of ability?

Yen: It's best to learn early on; your fundamentals are a little bit better because of it. It depends on what your objectives are for studying martial arts, though. If you're training to become the greatest fighter at fighting competitions, starting earlier is better. However, if you're learning just because you simply enjoy martial arts--say, if you revere wushu culture and all--then age shouldn't be a limitation.

Q: When did you start studying?

Yen: At eight or nine years of age.

Q: Isn't that considered kind of late?

Yen: More or less. Starting earlier probably influences your body's development.

Q: What was your motivation at the time? To become a martial arts star?

Yen: Actually, I've never thought about it. Because my mom opened up at martial arts studio, I guess I kind of practiced martial arts at home growing up. Afterwards, I think I was influenced by some of the kung fu movies at the time.

Q: Whom was your idol growing up?

Yen: Bruce Lee.

[...]

Q: I've heard that you're in "Seven Swords" in order to "help out a friend." At first you didn't want to play the character Chu Shaonan?

Yen: That's right. When Tsui Hark first got a hold of me, I didn't have any interest. They eventually gave the role to a Korean actor but they came across some difficulties. Tsui Hark and his wife both got on the phone and called me up. They hoped I could come over and settle things down a bit. When I got over, I guess I became involved with the picture.

Q: So how long did you spend on set?

Yen: They started shooting on September 1. I got in on September 15. Before the fifteenth, I still had to finish some work on another movie. Like the other actors, I spent about two, three months in Xinjiang [Sinkiang].

Q: "Seven Swords" has Chinese, Japanese, and Korean performers...

Yen: For the post-production music they hired a famous Japanese producer--really prestigious back in Japan. Actually, I've worked with him in the past. Koreans, mainland Chinese, Hong Kongers... there're actors of several different nationalities in this movie.

[...]

Q: Dan-gor. How was actor Lu Yi? He hasn't done many period martial arts movies before.

Yen: Everyone was great. I'm not just saying that to be being polite, either. The script for "Seven Swords" was sensational. The director is Tsui Hark, whom everyone knows is the master of making martial arts movies...

Q: At the very least he used to be...

Yen: He still is. From personal experience, I've worked with lots of people. Tsui Hark is the one director among the many that I've seen that has such great feel for the genre.

Q: His "Once upon a Time in China" changed a generation. "Legend of Zu" introduced a lot of high-end special effects...

Yen: Not every master is always at the forefront of the field. There will be good and bad films. The thing about him, though, is that he hasn't stopped evolving. He has this ability to surpass himself. Among the folks in the entertainment circle, he's always working to exceed himself, to avoid being overtaken by somebody else.

Q: Does Tsui Hark think "Seven Swords" will start another wuxia craze?

Yen: It should. All those sensational ingredients put together--it ought to have the ability to. I believe "Seven Swords" will not disappoint the fans.

[...]

Q: Do you ever use martial arts in your own life?

Yen: When I was young, I did. When I was young, I was immature about a lot of things.

Q: What sort of person would challenge you? I mean, everyone knows you're quite powerful. Who in their right mind would want to fight you?

Yen: I'm not a violent person. I don't like getting into conflicts with people.

[...]

Q: Have you ever thought about the future... sort of like "big brother" Jackie Chan who says that he'd like to make a few art movies?

Yen: I've never thought about changing gears. I think this is great. My current professional responsibilities are to promote action movies and personnel like actors, fight choreographers, and filmmakers. I'm already very satisfied with my work and don't want to change. Besides, being an action star is a great job--there's no need to change.

Q: You've never thought about shooting art films?

Yen: A good action movie already has everything in it. That includes "art" too. Just because it's an action movie doesn't mean that it's limited to just the action scenes.

Q: You've often blasted "House of Flying Daggers"...

Yen: No, I haven't criticised the movie. Sometimes the media takes my words and twists them. It's not fair, really. I've never blasted "House of Flying Daggers." I really admire director Zhang Yimou and have great expectations for his work. After seeing the movie, though, from a martial arts performer's point of view I wasn't satisfied with the picture. This is the perspective that I'm coming from. I believe that none of the critical words that have left my mouth have ever been directed personally against Zhang. Like I said, I really respect him personally. The media always blows things out of proportion. For instance, a few days ago I said that I hoped the take for "Seven Swords" will surpass "Hero's" box office. And then they wrote: "Donnie Yen is certain that the box office for 'Seven Swords' will overtake 'Hero'." That's a big difference of meaning.

Q: Did this situation affect your relationship with director Zhang? After seeing the papers, how does he react to you?

Yen: From my experience with working with the director, Zhang Yimou is a really generous and fair person. He wouldn't dwell on such twisted news.

Q: Have you ever thought that the number of martial arts actors is decreasing?

Yen: Yes. There are fewer and fewer. This primarily has to do with the diminution of the market for kung fu movies. There aren't as many films as before. I hope that I can, within the full extent of my ability, make a few more kung fu and action movies and pass on them to the next generation.

Q: Every time that you've worked with Yuen Woo-ping, you two have gone on to make classics. When can we see you two working together again?

Yen: He's my revered teacher. He enlightened me on how to shoot martial arts for the movies. Because of this, I always look forward to working with him. Working together, however, involves a matter of fate or timing. He's very busy and I have a lot of projects lined up too.

Q: Who’s your favourite actress?

Yen: I like a lot of actresses. If I told you one or two names, though, wouldn't that be unfair to the rest of the bunch? I like any hard working actress who is dedicated to her profession.

Q: On the mainland, there's Zhang Ziyi. Recently, she was selected to take part in the Academy Award's voting process. How do you view Ms Zhang?

Yen: I think this is something for Chinese people to be very proud of. In the past few years from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" to this, the world has focused its attention on Chinese cinema. Every time I hear news like this, I'm both excited and proud. I hope other Chinese performers can succeed like her--to set their goals and work hard towards achieving their dreams. She makes a good role model for young Chinese actors and actresses.