After 56 years in the industry, starring in more than 200 films and breaking so many bones, Jackie Chan has finally received an Oscar Award. The 62-year-old Chinese actor received his honorary award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Nov. 12, 2016.
Jackie Chan is the first Chinese actor who has received an Oscar Award. His journey to Hollywood fame has not been an easy one.
At the age of 22, he went to Hollywood with a dream of becoming an international star. However, America did not initially like his Hong Kong-style fighting moves. No one listened to his suggestions.
"When I began shooting movies in America, Americans didn't care about my ideas, and no one listened to my opinion,” Chan recalled.
In addition, during that time, many Hollywood directors seemed to neglect the importance of the Chinese film industry and market.
“At that time, I thought, you cannot look down on the Chinese even if China is not your targeted market," he added.
Chan noted that this is probably due to the difference between the preferences of the American and Chinese markets.
"Their comedies are hilarious; there is no such thing as action comedy. It's like two different worlds," he explained.
However, as China emerges as a superpower, it is now being recognized by the global movie industry as a big market.
"Today, they ask me what Chinese people like to see. They need to consider every aspect of China because China has gotten strong, and China's film industry has gotten strong," Chan stated.
"The Chinese market has become a big contributor to the global box office. I am really proud of this. The days when no one listened to Chinese people have gone."
With a deep understanding of movies in both the U.S. and China, Chan shared his thoughts on the globalization of Chinese film.
"We need to create works that will withstand the test of time, which is what I am doing. A hundred years later, I hope people will say China has Bruce Lee, as well as Jackie Chan. That is enough," he said.