PROJECT: Meals on Wheels with Adrian Castro


I get all sorts of emails lately branded with "Quest for Jackie Chan is dead". But wait on a sec, just because I haven't met Jackie Chan doesn't mean the whole quest world has collapsed. Everything I do is purposeful and I don't believe in failure, just obstacles that tests our capabilities.

So the "Quest" has veered its directions to the making of a quality movie of my journeys (as well as many others) on the "Quest". This Sunday, i spenT a solid 3 hours with film buddy Adrian Castro who is committed in recreating the Meals on Wheels Benny The Jet vs Jackie Chan notorious fight scene.

I was lucky enough to meet Benny The Jet last year (through Misha & Warren Coulton) and ever have been inspired to pay homage to the meet up.

So in the month of April, myself and Mr Castro will be dedicating our 10 solid hours a week in full exploration of fight choreography, training, costume design and location scouting all in the lead up to a full 2 day shoot of one of Jackie's best fight scenes of all time. I will be playing "Jackie" (girl version but with the same hairstyle) while Adrian will be donning "Benny". I look forward to working with Adrian because I know his level of pedanticness and "go hard or go home" attitude will surely push this clip (which will be a part of the "Quest") to the best it can possibly be.


MEDIA: The big boss says get Chan on the case

Thanks to facebooker Gary Phuong, he's quick media scan has brought to my attention of Jackie Chan news that is much closer to home. Looks like Multicultural community-liaison officer Imanuel Choyce has beaten me to it in meeting Jackie Chan. But I'm pretty proud to see a local Cabramatta-based person connecting to the Chan man himself and the news that "if" Jackie was coming to Australia, he'll be sure to visit Sydney's Asian hotspot. Next week I'm scheduled to have a meet with Mr Choyce and get some advice on what he thinks are ways we can connect and make it even a bigger reason for Jackie to come to the Western burbs. I mean, we got parkour, our own Cabramatta made "Maximum Choppage" Kung Fu movie, and now in development "Quest for Jackie Chan!" to ride this wave.
Cabramatta Kid: New Cabramatta crime-prevention ambassador Jackie Chan shows off his certificate of appreciation signed by local area commander Superintendent Ray King and (right) police and multicultural liaison officer Immanuel Choyce present the certificate.

The big boss says get Chan on the case

15 Mar, 2011 07:42 PM
HE FLIPS. He dives. He demolishes doors and climbs backwards down palm trees.

Brave — nay, foolish — is the acrobat who tries to outflip him.

And then he turns, he stares and he delivers the verbal kick in the stomach.

"Discretion is my middle name, sir," he says with a glint in his eye.

Jackie Chan might be discreet by name, certainly not by nature.

It's why the kung-fu king is the proud new ambassador for crime prevention in Cabramatta.

And get ready to flip out because the international superstar promised to visit next time he is in the country.

Cabramatta police officers approached Mr Chan — no doubt cautiously given his propensity to kick — to ask if he would like to accept the off-screen role.

Multicultural community-liaison officer Imanuel Choyce went to Hong Kong to chat with the star of the recent hit remake of The Karate Kid.

Mr Chan didn't toss and turn over his decision and was quick to accept the new mission.

He was presented with an appreciation certificate signed by local area-commander Superintendent Ray King.

Superintendent King said he hoped this appointment would strengthen the relationships between the local police and the community.

"Many residents are hesitant and fearful of talking to police about crime," he said.

"I think Jackie Chan is the perfect person to have as an ambassador. He's a good role model for people to look up to. We're always looking for new ways to build up relationships with the community."

As the face of crime prevention Mr Chan will be taking up a new kind of fight.

He will encourage Cabramatta residents to report crime and promote a safe and harmonious community.

Superintendent King said that the command would maintain regular correspondence.

Fairfield might have missed out on a visit from Oprah but Mr Chan promised Cabramatta will be on his list when he next heads down under.

Forget The Karate Kid. Now he's the Cabramatta kid.

PHASE: The Epic Writer's Block

I seriously hate the mocking blankness of the writer's block. Its like the mind is drawn towards a vacuum of nothingness and what is left is a dazed out stare at a black piece of paper or computer screen, with the tools (pen or keyboard) left untouched.

I've recently delved into writing for the sake of my long term project "Quest for Jackie!". I've been squirming away from it for a long time but my recent meet up of first film mentor, Fadia Abboud, who was outwardly shocked that I haven't even scripted it was evident.

Yes. I'm kind of backwards with this project and now have to pull my act together and set the record straight.

I must write!

But that was easily said than done. After 2 hours of desk cleaning, three large coffees, throwing pegs at the balcony pigeons and googling images of Takeshi Kaneshiro, my screen remains blank.

This happened for four days straight and I was becoming desperate. It was such an annoying experience, I knew the story, I knew what I want, but it didn't come out. Each time I'm about to commit to an action, a little gremlin inside would be snarling and hissing and telling me I don't know what I'm talking about.

So what’s with this W.B? How does it come about?

Here’s some of my discoveries. It can come about when you start writing. I guess if you are not intending to ever write, then you won’t get it.

But I’ve made a decision that writing it a very significant skill that I must develop now, and for the future.

It’s conditions does vary, from a trivial matter to one that would take years to get over.

The course may come from within, such as the creative running out of inspiration, or they may feel distracted like they have to do something beforehand.

External factors include those that impact on the creative’s life or career: illness, deaths, relationship breakdowns, financial crisis etc…

Then there’s the perception thing, writers may feel the pressures of writing “perfection” and are just waiting for the right moments to feel confident to begin.

So what are some if the remedies? I can’t pinpoint one as such, but recently, facebook friend Kevin Lai responded to my outward cries of “Writer’s block” with good link for people to check out. http://www.theartistsway.com/pdfs/basictools.pdf

Morning Pages: A daily exercise where you begin the day by writing 3 pages of nothing, something, and anything. It is a stream of consciousness that comes out onto your paper, regardless of how you feel and what you think. This exercise is suppose to be a creativity recovery and breaks down our internal censorship mechanisms so that we can think freely.

Our censorship centre is all that negative whingey, whining garble that makes us literally feel crap and deters us from our basic random fun instincts.

Unfortunately, the world encourages this mode of thinking because imposed fear on people allows them to be more easily controlled and society in one consensus way of thinking makes things run much smoother. Or so we think.

I’ve just recently started using this technique and already feeling the blocks moving and the words slowly flowing through. I taught it to the HSC high school kids today and they see the benefits in it as well.