The Essential Jackie Chan Source Book

Jackie Chan-mania swept America when Rumble in the Bronx gave movie audiences a thrilling look at the athletic actor known for performing his own jaw-dropping stunts. The Essential Jackie Chan Sourcebook reveals everything you want to know about the dare-devil dynamo who is part Buster Keaton, part Bruce Lee, and a truly unique performer in his own right -- and whose devoted cult following is exploding into international stardom. With straight talk about his rise from Hong Kong's hometown hero to Hollywood megastar, get to know the professional and persoanl Jackie Chan through • His revealing biography • A complete filmography -- from his early roles to the recent star vehicles Operation Condor and Thunderbolt • His peak performance workout • His "Catalogue of Pain" -- from concussions to broken bones -- and his many stunt work near misses • His awards and accolades • Up-to-the-minute internet news and fan club information • And much more! Forget Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Van Damme. There's only one Jackie Chan -- and only one complete guide to the ultimate action film phenomenon!

This official companion contains exclusive interviews with Chan and many of his co-stars and colleagues, scores of rare and previously unseen photos, behind the scenes reports, articles looking at the best of his films, and even an introduction from Jackie himself.

The Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography (1979-2015) provides a riveting new way to understand twenty-first-century China and a personal look at the changes that have taken place since the Reform and Opening Up era started in 1979. One hundred key individuals from this period were selected by an international group of experts, and the stories were written by more than 70 authors in 14 countries. The authors map the paths taken by these individuals-some rocky, some meandering, some fateful-and in telling their stories give contemporary Chinese history a human face. The editors have included-with the advice of myriad experts around the world-not only the life stories of politicians and government officials, who play a crucial role in the development of the country, but the stories of cultural figures including, film directors, activists, writers, and entrepreneurs from the mainland China, Hong Kong, and also from Taiwan. The "Greater China" that comes through in this volume has diverse ideas and identities. It is often contradictory, sometimes fractious, and always full of creative human complexity. Some of the lives rendered here are heroic. Some are tragic, and many are inspirational. Some figures come in for trenchant criticism, and others are celebrated with a sense of wonder and awe. Like previous volumes of the Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography, this volume includes a range of appendices, including a pronunciation guide, a bibliography, and a timeline of key events.

Martial Arts Biographies: An Annotated Bibliography lists hundreds of martial arts related biographies and autobiographies. Most of the entries are annotated, giving a synopsis of the relevant material in the book. Included are listings for martial artists of Karate, Kung Fu, Aikido, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Ninjutsu, Tai Chi, and many other styles. Appendices list productive sources for new and used books, and contact information for major publishers of martial arts books. Martial Arts Biographies: An Annotated Bibliography is a useful resource for martial arts researchers, readers, book collectors, and libraries.

The first biography of this international film star, "Jackie Chan: Inside the Dragon" is drawn from one-on-one interviews with Chan himself and other actors, directors, and stuntmen, providing readers with all the details behind Chan's life and films. 150 photos. color insert.

Jackie Chan is quite simply a movie legend, known around the world as the ultimate action hero.

Stunts, Scenes and Safety introduces readers to the concepts of stuntwork. The book builds a learning path for readers who are planning to create action scenes for their home videos featuring, for instance, skating, parkour, BMX biking, or similar activity. Practically anyone with a modern camera can learn the basic skills of creating action-packed movie scenes. The book explains the concepts of timing, camera awareness, shot size, rhythm and camera angles. When these elements are combined with aspiring stunt person’s own creativity, physical fitness, talent in front of the camera, and video editing competence, the results are ready for YouTube. The book describes how professional stuntmen prepare for action scenes, how they rehearse, what kind of technical equipment they use, and how they plan their performance before stepping in front of a movie camera. Anyone who is hoping to find a career in stunt business will get valuable tips from the book. Moviegoers can get unique behind-the-scenes insight on movie making and stunt work. Large selection of photographs, video segments, sample scripts, camera maps and other practical material make it easy to adapt the information into personal video projects. The book also features tips for experiental learning and adventure education practice sessions. The author, stuntman and stunt coordinator H-P Virkki, has performed in many movies and he has trained actors, athletes and stuntmen at dedicated courses, universities and theaters.

This volume examines Hong Kong cinema in transnational, historical, and artistic contexts.