Willie Chan
Encyclopedia
Willie Chan Chi-Keung is a Hong Kong
film producer
and talent manager
. He is best known for helping to establish the career of Jackie Chan
, serving as his manager and later as the actor’s producing partner in both Asia and North America.
in Hawaii in 1966 with a masters degree in marketing. He later moved to Hong Kong from his native Malaysia in 1970 to pursue a career in the film industry
. He was a film producer in the mid-1970s when he met Jackie Chan
, who was, at the time, a stuntman in Lo Wei
's New Fist of Fury
, which was released during the "Bruceploitation
" era, and was hailed as a "follow-up" to Bruce Lee
's Fist of Fury
. Willie had shown a keen interest in Jackie's willingness and ability to perform dangerous stunts.
After Jackie, fed up with a staggering career, moved to Australia for a few months to work as a cook, Willie brought him back to work as a leading actor for Lo's production company, "Lo Wei Motion Picture Company", a subsidiary of Golden Harvest
. The films, which included Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin
, were not financially successful, and both Jackie and Willie left the company to join Golden Harvest, with Willie serving as Chan's personal manager.
After Raymond Chow
launched Jackie's career with films such as Fearless Hyena
and Dragon Fist
, Jackie Chan went to the United States
, attempting to make a career move in the American film market
, while studying English at the Berlitz Language School with Willie Chan.
After Jackie’s unsuccessful career in the United States, Willie returned to Hong Kong with an interest in artist management
. In 1985, he formed The JC Group, and at its peak of success, the company had 43 actors on its books. In the 1990s the triads began to gain a strong influence in the Hong Kong film industry, forcing Willie to join marches against gang
sterism in the industry.
. He continues to work alongside Jackie in his career in both Asia and North America.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and talent manager
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
. He is best known for helping to establish the career of Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
, serving as his manager and later as the actor’s producing partner in both Asia and North America.
Career
Chan graduated from the East-West CenterEast-West Center
The East–West Center , headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific and the United States....
in Hawaii in 1966 with a masters degree in marketing. He later moved to Hong Kong from his native Malaysia in 1970 to pursue a career in the film industry
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
. He was a film producer in the mid-1970s when he met Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
, who was, at the time, a stuntman in Lo Wei
Lo Wei
Lo Wei was a famous Hong Kong film director and film actor best known for launching the martial arts film careers of both Bruce Lee, in The Big Boss and Fist of Fury, and Jackie Chan, in New Fist of Fury....
's New Fist of Fury
New Fist of Fury
New Fist of Fury is a 1976 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei and starring Jackie Chan. It is the first of several films that Lo directed Chan in, and the first using Chan's stage name Sing Lung...
, which was released during the "Bruceploitation
Bruceploitation
Bruceploitation is a cultural phenomenon mostly seen in the 1970s after the 1973 death of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. Movie makers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan hired a great number of Bruce Lee look-alike actors to star in many cheap knock-off martial arts movies to cash in on...
" era, and was hailed as a "follow-up" to Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
's Fist of Fury
Fist of Fury
Fist of Fury, formerly known as The Chinese Connection and The Iron Hand in the United States, is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei. It starred Bruce Lee in his second major film after The Big Boss...
. Willie had shown a keen interest in Jackie's willingness and ability to perform dangerous stunts.
After Jackie, fed up with a staggering career, moved to Australia for a few months to work as a cook, Willie brought him back to work as a leading actor for Lo's production company, "Lo Wei Motion Picture Company", a subsidiary of Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest is a film production, distribution, and exhibition company based in Hong Kong. It played a major role in becoming the first Chinese film company to successfully enter the western market for an extended period of time, especially with the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan...
. The films, which included Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin
Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin
Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin is a 1978 Hong Kong action film directed by Chen Chi Hwa and starring Jackie Chan. It was released by the Lo Wei Motion Picture Company, a subsidiary of Golden Harvest...
, were not financially successful, and both Jackie and Willie left the company to join Golden Harvest, with Willie serving as Chan's personal manager.
After Raymond Chow
Raymond Chow
Raymond Chow Man-Wai is a Hong Kong film producer, and presenter and was responsible for successfully launching martial arts and the Hong Kong cinema onto the international stage...
launched Jackie's career with films such as Fearless Hyena
Fearless Hyena
The Fearless Hyena is a 1979 Hong Kong kung fu film directed by and starring Jackie Chan. The film was co-directed by Kenneth Tsang.The film has been released on several alternative titles internationally, including:...
and Dragon Fist
Dragon Fist
Dragon Fist aka Dragon Hero is a 1979 Hong Kong action film diercted by Lo Wei. The star and stunt coordinator of the film is Jackie Chan....
, Jackie Chan went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, attempting to make a career move in the American film market
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
, while studying English at the Berlitz Language School with Willie Chan.
After Jackie’s unsuccessful career in the United States, Willie returned to Hong Kong with an interest in artist management
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
. In 1985, he formed The JC Group, and at its peak of success, the company had 43 actors on its books. In the 1990s the triads began to gain a strong influence in the Hong Kong film industry, forcing Willie to join marches against gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
sterism in the industry.
Recent years
In more recent years, Chan has served as a producing partner for Jackie Chan’s JCE Movies LimitedJCE Movies Limited
JCE Movies Limited is a film distribution and production company based in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. It was founded in 2004 and is a division of Emperor Motion Picture Group, which is part of the Emperor Multimedia Group ....
. He continues to work alongside Jackie in his career in both Asia and North America.