Martial arts legend Sammo Hung discusses his career and the differences between acting in the US and Hong Kong

When asked if he preferred to direct or act in a movie, Hong Kong martial arts film icon Sammo Hung said: “Morally speaking, I like both.” 

However, the 72-year-old film veteran admitted that he preferred directing. 

“(That’s) because directors aren’t ‘humans’, they’re gods! Everyone on set listens to the director,” he said in Mandarin.

Hung is currently in Singapore for the Asian Film Awards Academy’s masterclass series, where he will share his experiences during a two-hour-long session held at LASALLE College of the Arts on Saturday (May 4). 

CNA Lifestyle sat down with Hung – who last visited Singapore seven years ago – on Friday for a quick catch-up.

With more than 200 films under his belt, Hung has worked as an action choreographer, actor, director, and producer in his illustrious decades-long career in the Hong Kong film industry. 

At a young age, Hung studied under Peking Opera master Yu Jim-yuen, and was known as the “big brother” of the famous Seven Little Fortunes – a troupe of child entertainers that included Hong Kong action titans Jackie Chan and Yuen Wah in its ranks. 

“Singapore has changed a lot since, but I can’t quite pinpoint the exact changes because the country has already transformed significantly when we last visited,” he said.

However, the people in Singapore have not changed much, said Hung, describing them as “very cordial, amicable, and polite”. 

Hung shared how he “wasn’t used to Singapore” back when he was filming a movie in the country 30 to 40 years ago.

“But (Singapore) has gone through a lot of changes...It’s very clean and it’s full of greenery, there are even trees growing on the buildings!” 

TIRING BUT FULFILLING

With a film career spanning decades that involves a lot of stunt choreographing like Hung’s, it can be tiring. But Hung said his heart “feels fulfilled”. 

“Because you are achieving everything you’ve always wanted to do.” 

For Hung, he shared that from the day he became a stuntman, he “began loving everything” that went into filmmaking. 

“If I don’t have any films to shoot, I wouldn’t be happy. I’m happy when that are films (to shoot).” 

And Hung sees no plans for retirement in the future. Instead, he plans to be “retired from work but not from society”. 

“When God has granted you this opportunity and aspiration, you can still act, dream, and ‘scold people’, why would you want to retire?

“Unless you have really (ran) out of ideas, and you have no more energy left, and it feels like you don’t know anything anymore, then yes, (you should) retire,” he said. 

Hung’s love for the craft can also be seen in the high standards that he sets for himself, sharing an anecdote where he once had to retake a scene 108 times for a film he was shooting. 

“When you’re shooting a film, you have a vision of how you want the framing to look...It’s only right that you have an idea and principle, you can’t just be satisfied with any level of standards.” 

When asked what is one piece of advice he would give to young filmmakers, Hung said: “Perseverance.” 

He explained that the current environment for filmmaking is not the same as in the past, and that it has become more difficult for filmmakers to shoot a film. 

“If you love movies, you must have perseverance,” he said during the 20-minute Q&A session with the media. “Be patient, put in your best effort, and learn. This is most important.” 

Besides working in the Hong Kong film industry, Hung has also ventured into acting in the United States. Hung had starred as the lead in CBS’s Martial Law in the late 90s, where he plays Sammo Law, a Chinese detective in Los Angeles. 

Other than not being able to speak English, Hung did not encounter any difficulties when filming in Hollywood. 

Compared to filming in Hong Kong where the hours can be long, time management is crucial when filming in Hollywood, he said. 

“If they say (they’re) filming for nine hours, that means filming for nine hours...They really respect the actor’s mental health.” 

Yet, despite the more relaxed conditions in Hollywood, Hung said he has no more plans to film in Hollywood again. 

“My proficiency in English has declined and I prefer to avoid additional stress,” he said.

However, if he was asked to deliver his lines in Mandarin or Cantonese, then it’s “no problem”. 

AGEISM AGAINST OLDER ACTORS

Last month, Hung had defended fellow action movie star Jackie Chan from online comments disparaging the latter’s “old” appearance. Chan, who turned 70 in April, had sported a head of white hair and white facial hair while attending an event in China. 

When asked if there was an issue of ageism in the Hong Kong entertainment industry, Hung said it doesn’t come from within the circle, but rather from the “outsiders”. 

“I was very puzzled (by this), have they not seen old people before? Is it that strange for people to age?

“I feel that those people who write such comments do not respect others,” Hung said. “It’s as if (to them) people do not age. 

“So I’m guessing these people aren’t old or they haven’t had the chance to feel what it’s like to be old yet.” 

When asked what genre of movie he would want to be involved in, he said he would be happy to film “any kind of movie”, even romance or horror flicks. 

“I definitely enjoy comedy, because I feel that everyone likes to laugh. I think it’s most important to feel happy when you’re watching a movie.”