From going bust to blockbuster: Donnie Yen’s failed film investments as soon as left him with lower than $20, Leisure Information

Martial arts film grasp Donnie Yen wasn’t all the time doling out blockbuster hits.

In a speech on the latest award ceremony for the 2022 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Better Bay Space Worldwide Movie Advertising and marketing Certificates course, Donnie revealed that failed film investments as soon as left him with only HK$100 (S$17.40) in his checking account.

The 59-year-old veteran has over 40 years of expertise underneath his belt and spent 17 years within the movie trade when back-to-back field workplace washouts left him deep within the purple, he shared.

Mentioned Donnie: “At the moment, I solely had HK$100 in my checking account, which dealt a giant blow to me. I could not make any cash and I used to be so annoyed. I requested myself if I entered the fallacious enterprise and thought of quitting.”

“Happily, I did not go away the trade and persevered in pursuing my goals,” he mentioned, including that he was saved by the bell when the fitting alternatives got here his approach. 

For the aspiring filmmakers current on the ceremony, Donnie additionally gave a couple of phrases of recommendation: “Irrespective of how a lot you get pleasure from filming, you possibly can’t do it with out funds and market demand, so it is proper to check this course.”

In keeping with Donnie, funding for the movies he is produced since then have all come from the pockets of different folks, not him.

So what precisely had been the field workplace flops that left Donnie on the ropes?

Hong Kong media outlet HK01 reported that Donnie set up his own film company Bullet Movies in 1997 and produced two movies, Legend of the Wolf (1997) and Ballistic Kiss (1998).

Each movies carried out poorly on the field workplace regardless of being directed by and starring Donnie.

Reportedly, these movies solely netted HK$800,000 every on the field workplace.

Donnie later recovered from his losses, choreographing fights for iconic martial arts movies each in Hong Kong and overseas, notably Blade II (2002) and Shanghai Knights (2003). 

In 2008, he then took on the position of Ip Man within the titular movie sequence and has turn into a family title since.

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khooyihang@asiaone.com