KUCHING: Good news for fans of Ip Man film series as Donnie Yen, who played the lead role in the Ip Man series, has announced that Ip Man 4 is happening and filming will start early next year.
Yen made the announcement in front of 3,000 fans during his ‘meet and greet’ session at the Old Courthouse here, yesterday.
“Thank you for taking part of your time today to be here with me. This city (Kuching) is beautiful and so are the people.
“Today I am here as a guest and I wish to come back here to Sarawak as a tourist so that I can experience and explore more of this place,” he said.
Earlier at a press conference, Yen said he was interested to shoot a movie in Sarawak in upcoming projects.
“I do not mind working in a new environment and also to new talented movie producers, local or international. It’s a principle I stand for.
“These days, technology is very advanced. With your smartphone you could film and make movie yourself. Be the director, invoke your creative ideas.
“Use anything accessible and keep your passion driven as this is the main thing that will lead you to the next step in the industry,” said he advised.
This martial artist and Hong Kong action actor, who loves durian, also disclosed that there were no different between Asian and Hollywood movies, except the resources.
“Having more resources will mean that there will be better equipment or technology used to produce a movie. But what matters more is the spontaneity of directors and talents to see the creative flow of the movie and what are the emotions and intuitions that are needed to convey the movie accurately,” he said.
Currently, Yen is also coaching a few students in martial arts and stresses the importance of positive, instructive and productive messages to them that could help in their careers in the future.
“I still practise my martial arts from time to time. It is in my blood. I was a martial artist before I was involved with anything in the film industry.
“Having a strong foundation in martial arts has helped me to adapt to many styles of martial arts including Wing Chun. I did not know anything about it until Ip Man.
“I also want to note that being involved with ‘Star Wars: Rogue One’ is definitely one of the best experience I have had in my career and I thanked my children for it because they convinced me to be part of Star Wars.
“I asked them, which movie they want to see me in; Ip Man or Star Wars, and they excitedly answered Star Wars, so that was where everything started,” said Yen.
Accompanying Yen at the press conference were Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Datu Ik Pahon Joyik.
