Our latest podcast featured aznheartthrob from BicoastalBitchin, myself, and Eric Jacobus and Ed Kahana from the Stunt People. Download the podcast here, or listen to it here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The podcast is about 55 minutes long and 50.5 mbs. For the tech-philes among you, I’ve given up on trying to get GarageBand to export large files as mp3s. Until Steve Jobs gives me a free patch to fix the software, it looks like we’re stuck with the super large files. I’m too cheap to buy real podcasting software, so I sure as hell am not going to spend money to fix a product that was supposed to work out of the box.
This podcast was divided into three parts:
1. In the first part (0-19:00), azn and I shot the breeze about his recent travel. We then talked about Contour, which was the Stunt People’s major movie. We brought up some points about racial stereotyping, and we talked about the creation process. Eric and Ed then responded.
2. In the second part (19:00-39:08), we focused on Eric and Ed, and we talked about their careers. We asked Eric about how the Stunt People got started, and we talked to Ed about his martial arts–both Azn and I were highly, highly, highly impressed by Ed Kahana’s martial arts abilities. I also gave props to Eric for his leadership abilities in assembling the Stunt People. I know how hard it is to assemble people and get people to work together. The fact that he’s completing movies is laudable.
3. In the last part (39:09-end), Eric and Ed share news about their upcoming projects. Ed also talks a bit about what Asian Americans need to do in order to succeed in the show business.
This was a very interesting podcast for me. We touched on a lot of the important issues for Asian American creative people and activists. I’ll let you listen and decide what you all think, but just a few notes:
1. Remind me not to do podcasts at 10 am in the morning. Even though I woke up at 5:30 am because of a crying baby, I was still out of it.
2. At around 23 minutes, I said that the famous martial artists from Hong Kong were Jackie, Jet, and Bruce. As most of you know, Jet is not from Hong Kong.
3. At 25 minutes, Ed mentions racial kinship and how it may affect the audience’s appraisal of a character’s skill set. Azn had a chance to disagree, but I didn’t have an opportunity to do so–there was just too much to cover.
So let me just say this–I completely disagree with what Ed said about racial kinship as it related to his own martial arts. He’s underassessing himself. Were it a racial kinship thing, I would’ve been raving about Andy Leung or Tyler Wang, who are both Chinese like me (although my family is from the South, and I’m probably darker than both of them…but that’s a different issue). I thought both Andy and Tyler were good, but I agreed with Azn–Ed’s got a certain skill set that seemed to set him apart from everyone else. As azn mentioned, that roof scene was about as good as I’ve seen at any level.
4. Eric makes some good points throughout the podcast about doing and learning. I agree with him. Nobody expects everyone to get everything right the first time, and mistakes are cool, as long as we learn from them (And yes, some people don’t…). I might argue that progress is impossible without trying and making mistakes. Even on this blog, I sometimes need corrections.
5. At 29 minutes, I stumbled to ask a difficult question.
6. At 46 minutes, Ed made what I thought were some very good points about Asian Americans getting into film. I especially liked the fact that he had a communal answer, encouraging people to encourage others. He also advises people to just do it, which is excellent advice.
7. Jet vs. Jackie vs. Bruce: I agree with what azn says about Jet being the man people like. Jackie is a clown, both onscreen and off. Even though he’s probably the world’s greatest movie stuntman, he’s the comic relief. Part of it is his demeanor, part of it is the stuff that comes out of his mouth. Jet is the silent, serious one.
Still, I think Jet also lacks the Bruce charisma from the racial angle. I’ve seen Lethal Weapon with Jet, as well as Romeo Must Die, and I get the feeling that the American movie industry finds it easy to stuff him in a box. I remember reading something about Jet hating the Hollywood film stereotypes, but there was something about Bruce that transcended film. It was an in-your-face kind of rebelliousness, something that may have been helped by the fact that he died early (I think the philosophical types can refer to the German Superman–was it Nietzsche?), but something that was nonetheless real.
Anyway, enjoy the podcast. Sound off below!
Related posts:
.
Just wanted to first off say thanks to Byron for putting together these podcasts and for Vu participating. The opportunity to discuss some issues that were both interesting for the blog and important to myself and Eric made the process pretty smooth.
3) I thought it was a good point to bring up; I still see that racial kinship is a factor although not necessarily a deciding factor; but, I will admit that I personally do have a habit of “underassessment”. Where I got that attitude, I’m not sure. Neither of my parents were braggers, and both did much to encourage me to go out and do things and be proud, etc. All I can say is that I knew I had an early disdain for braggers and so perhaps that contributed to this complex of being “modest”. I will say that “underassessment” has been both a positive and a negative force in many of my endeavors. At times it motivates me and also prevents me from taking necessary risks.
Also, I didn’t get a chance to mention that particular fight in question was choreographed and performed between Eric and myself. Anytime he and I are matched up in an onscreen fight (Stunt Blade Alpha, Contour, Snake’s Victim, etc.) we display a lot of great chemistry which contributes to the scene.
6) That note was very personal. What I notice in most creative types is that motivation to do something occurs not in reaction to a problem but more out of inspiration. You hear alot of creative people struggling with deadlines, but somehow magically burning midnight oil working hours with eating or sleeping when inspired. It’s a positive thing that can’t do any harm and so I definitely encourage more of that than anything else.
7) I have to wonder if the fascination with Jet, aside from his undoubtely awesomely slick movements, is the embodiment of the “badass”. Guys love to be the badass. And if you’re an Asian guy looking for some Asian-badass male representation in the media Jet fits the bill (although not always entirely).
Byron, you bring up an interesting point about Bruce. What was it about him that made him such a phenom? Was it the timing of his arrival into the mainstream consciousness? Was it just something that his stare, etc. embodied?
Well, looking forward to answering any follow up questions people might have and responding to comments, etc. Thanks again Byron and Vu!
Ed,
I listened to it again. Great stuff.
You’re definitely underassessing. Hey, related to what we talked about at 29 minutes, maybe you should put that roof scene on youtube, if it’s okay with Eric or whoever owns the movie. That scene was awesome. Snake’s Victim was okay, but that roof scene really showed your stuff. It could help you land some good gigs. (Plus, it would allow those here to see what we’re talking about!)
Thanks also for making such great points about Asian Americans and film. If anyone here is inspired by that, I hope they let you know.
As for Bruce vs. Jet…I’ve got a LOT to say. There’s not enough time in a day to blog about everything that I want to, but that one deserves its own blog post. I think some of it is relevant to some of the topics in the early blog discussions between you and me. When it comes up (this week? next week?), I hope you’ll share your thoughts.
B.
Here’s the rooftop fight from Contour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nquH79229nA
Hey Eric,
Thanks for posting that! That fight was insane. I agree that you guys have chemistry.
I did notice something that I hadn’t before. The first few times I watched the fight, I thought Ed was landing lots of blows. But this time around, I noticed that he wasn’t landing blows; it was the blocking that looked cool. It was cool watching him blocking or ducking, and he did so with style.
No wonder I’m a Machida fan.
Pingback: The Difference Between Bruce and Jet (and Jackie) | big WOWO