[KFCC] The John Woo Interview

[J. D.]: It's quite evident in your Hong Kong pictures that you loved using many of the same actors in your films. One obvious example was Chow Yun-Fat. In your previous and new Hollywood films, you continue this tradition with actors such as Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. Has this always been a coincidence or do you just admire and enjoy working with these actors?

[John]: They are internal actors and are very easy to work with. We respect each other a lot. Of course, they have great qualities, both actors. John Travolta is really funny and really easy going and he loves to work with anybody. He's such a great man and very humble, concerned with everybody on the set. There are no egos. Same as Nick cage, very humble and very friendly towards the others. I think they both have great instincts and have always given me a lot of surprises. It's as if we've known each other for so long you know? And we find we have a lot of things in common. So, on the set we don't need to talk much.

[J. D.]: You guys have that great understanding.

[John]: Yeah, yeah. I know what they want and they know what I want, knowing that I'll make them look great. Of course, they have seen my movies and they know my style, so they have so much confidence in me and we work together as a great team. The other thing, they are both creative as well. They usually come up with some good ideas to improve the characters and also like to improvise their dialogue. I like to give them a lot of creative freedom. We work well together because I always believe the first 2 takes and especially the first take, always is the best take. So I never like to take, I mean for a drama, more than 3 or 5 takes.

[J. D.]: (He gives out a great big laugh, remembering the fond experience)

[John]: The first time I worked together with them in FACE OFF, I said to John, "One take, okay?" And he was surprised. They said, "John, we don't mind if you to do 20 more," or you know, 30 or 40 takes since they are professional actors, they never mind to do more. And I said, "No, no, no… one is enough," because I always believe the first one is the most natural and the most original. If you do more, it will become mechanic and you will lose the feeling. They were very happy and so they called me "One Take John." That's how we work because I believe in my actors, I respect them and I know how to take good care of them.

[J. D.]: What other actors would you want to work with in the future?

[John]: I would love to work with everyone. I like Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, there are just so many, always so many. But I love working with Nick Cage and John Travolta because they are just so friendly. Really nice guys.

[J. D.]: Most of your films tend to have strong male characters that are multifaceted and complex, dealing with the ideas of friendship, loyalty and honor. Do you plan on making any films in the near future with female characters as dynamic as your previous male leads? What are some actresses do you look forward in working with?

[John]: I would love to make a film with strong female characters, but the problem is just finding the right scripts. It would be challenging and definitely enriching to try and express the same themes of friendship and dignity that I used through Chow Yun Fat in other actresses.

[J. D.]: Any particular Hollywood actresses you have in mind?

[John]: Jodie Foster, I like her a lot. She is one of my favorites, maybe Jennifer Lopez, I like her, too. I was going to do a movie with Sharon Stone a long time ago, but it didn't happen. So many I would love to work with.

[J. D.]: There have been a few films that have been reported that you were attached to. There was a Roger Avary script for you to direct, a film called FULL CIRCLE with DEER HUNTER director, Michael Cimino and even a CGI animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. Are any of those still in consideration?

[John]: A few of those scripts fell through and never got made because of different reasons, but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is still in the works. I have a CGI Studio with my producer, Terence Cheng, called DIGITAL RIM that will be working on the Ninja Turtles animation along with some other projects in the future. I always wanted to do something special for the general public and I was fortunate enough to be attached to this project.

[J. D.]: With Asian cinema being an influential force on the US Shores these last few years, do you have any comments on the treatment that they are having when Hollywood distributes them in theaters or in the DVD home market in America? Most of the last few Hong Kong blockbusters have been edited, dubbed and culturally changed in the subtitle translations, while films from other countries such as France and Italy remain intact and have perfect translations.

[John]: I've been so busy with my films and my work that I hadn't noticed a lot of what was happening with the movies. A couple of fans contacted me and told me about the change on the A BETTER TOMORROW DVD. There is a small scene with a change in music, before it had a Chinese score and now it was changed into something else. I really believe in the original art. I felt very sad that I didn't know about the change, but it wasn't until afterwards I had heard about it. I would like to have a say in how they change it next time.

[J. D.]: To wrap this up, is there any advice you might like to offer for aspiring filmmakers out there?

[John]: Keep up the dream and keep learning. Be open up to anything, you'll never know what you can do.

[J. D.]: Thanks again, John, I can't wait to see you at the American Cinematheque Tribute. We'll take pictures together, alright?

[John]: (Laughing) Okay. See you then.

John Woo

April 8th, 2002

SPECIAL THANKS:
Margot Gerber (American Cinematheque)
and Brittany Philion (John Woo's Office)