Stanley Tong's Unlikely Journey to Rewriting 'Supercop' and Earning Jackie Chan's Trust
In a candid conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival, Hong Kong director and producer Stanley Tong shared the remarkable story of how he transitioned from stunt work to one of his most consequential collaborations with action icon Jackie Chan. Tong's journey began when, as a child, he met Bruce Lee through his brother-in-law, an actor, which led him to pursue martial arts and gymnastics before becoming a stuntman in 1980.
Tong's early career was marked by numerous injuries, including broken shoulders, ribs, and a kneecap. Despite the risks, he continued to work as a stuntman until his mother encouraged him to leave the industry after a severe shoulder injury. Instead of giving up on filmmaking, Tong shifted into production roles, starting as a script supervisor, where he gained hands-on experience in the film's development.
Through various departments, including assistant director, screenwriter, production manager, and camera operator, Tong continued to progress his skills while supporting himself by still working on stunt projects. He even trained Michelle Yeoh, who would later become an action star in her own right.
Tong's ambitions took a surprising turn when he realized that directing was the key to shaping a film. However, he soon learned that as a stunt coordinator, he was more powerful than directors were at the time. This revelation led him to accept his first major collaboration with Jackie Chan, who had just handed him the script for "Police Story 3: Supercop."
The initial meeting between Tong and Chan was overwhelming, but the director's experience told him that this was a pivotal moment. Recognizing the fundamental problem with the existing script, which involved a gun-heavy robbery on Hong Kong streets, Tong proposed relocating the film to a location where authorities would allow helicopters and large-scale stunts. This bold move ultimately led to a rewritten script featuring Michelle Yeoh as an action co-lead.
Tong's innovative approach to directing earned him significant acclaim, including Jackie Chan's first Hong Kong Film Award for best actor. Looking back, Tong emphasized the importance of perseverance and creative problem-solving in filmmaking. "As a filmmaker, you want to make dreams come true," he said. "But you have to think about how to get through all these hurdles."
Tong's journey serves as a testament to his dedication to filmmaking and his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. By rewriting "Supercop" and collaborating with Chan, Tong not only created a groundbreaking action film but also cemented their enduring partnership in the industry.
In a candid conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival, Hong Kong director and producer Stanley Tong shared the remarkable story of how he transitioned from stunt work to one of his most consequential collaborations with action icon Jackie Chan. Tong's journey began when, as a child, he met Bruce Lee through his brother-in-law, an actor, which led him to pursue martial arts and gymnastics before becoming a stuntman in 1980.
Tong's early career was marked by numerous injuries, including broken shoulders, ribs, and a kneecap. Despite the risks, he continued to work as a stuntman until his mother encouraged him to leave the industry after a severe shoulder injury. Instead of giving up on filmmaking, Tong shifted into production roles, starting as a script supervisor, where he gained hands-on experience in the film's development.
Through various departments, including assistant director, screenwriter, production manager, and camera operator, Tong continued to progress his skills while supporting himself by still working on stunt projects. He even trained Michelle Yeoh, who would later become an action star in her own right.
Tong's ambitions took a surprising turn when he realized that directing was the key to shaping a film. However, he soon learned that as a stunt coordinator, he was more powerful than directors were at the time. This revelation led him to accept his first major collaboration with Jackie Chan, who had just handed him the script for "Police Story 3: Supercop."
The initial meeting between Tong and Chan was overwhelming, but the director's experience told him that this was a pivotal moment. Recognizing the fundamental problem with the existing script, which involved a gun-heavy robbery on Hong Kong streets, Tong proposed relocating the film to a location where authorities would allow helicopters and large-scale stunts. This bold move ultimately led to a rewritten script featuring Michelle Yeoh as an action co-lead.
Tong's innovative approach to directing earned him significant acclaim, including Jackie Chan's first Hong Kong Film Award for best actor. Looking back, Tong emphasized the importance of perseverance and creative problem-solving in filmmaking. "As a filmmaker, you want to make dreams come true," he said. "But you have to think about how to get through all these hurdles."
Tong's journey serves as a testament to his dedication to filmmaking and his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. By rewriting "Supercop" and collaborating with Chan, Tong not only created a groundbreaking action film but also cemented their enduring partnership in the industry.
I mean, can you imagine meeting Bruce Lee when you're just a kid and it sets you on this whole career path? And the injuries he had to deal with are insane! 
I love that his mom was like 'get out of stunt work' but Tong was all about filmmaking. It's awesome that he kept grinding through different departments until he finally got to direct. And rewriting Supercop is such a bold move - I can see why it earned him Jackie Chan's trust! 
but then Tong proposes changing the location to make it more practical for stunts... meanwhile, I was reading how Tong used to be a stuntman himself 
and you think about how crazy that must've been 
... anyway, what really impresses me is how Tong didn't let injuries hold him back 
...
I'm so inspired by Stanley Tong's story! He went from being a stuntman (which is already crazy enough) to directing one of Jackie Chan's biggest films. I mean, can you imagine facing all those injuries and still pushing through? It's like he was meant to tell that story. 
And the fact that he worked his way up from script supervisor to production manager, then screenwriter... it's a testament to his perseverance. 
I love how he took risks and challenged conventional wisdom in filmmaking. It's so important for creatives to be bold and willing to try new things! 
What can we learn from Stanley Tong's journey is that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. 
So Jackie Chan finally found someone who could tell him what to do for once 
. But seriously, Stanley Tong's story is pretty inspiring - I mean, who wouldn't want to go from being a stuntman with a bunch of broken bones to becoming a successful director? 
i think it's awesome that he got jackie chan on board too, they seem like a great team 
.
the way he merged action w/ martial arts 2 create this iconic film is pure magic 
cant wait 2 c what he does next 
The thing that struck me about Stanley Tong's story is how he turned his weaknesses into strengths 
. I mean, who gets to say they've had broken shoulders and ribs and still managed to succeed? It shows us that sometimes it's not about being perfect or avoiding failure, but about learning from our mistakes and adapting.
. Sometimes you'll hit roadblocks and setbacks, but it's how you respond that matters. Do you let obstacles hold you back, or do you use them as opportunities to grow and learn? Tong's story is a reminder that perseverance and creative problem-solving are key to achieving our goals 
Like, what if he didn't have that shoulder injury? Would he still be where he is today? 
It's hard to say. One thing's for sure, though - Tong's collaboration with Jackie Chan sounds like an amazing experience! 
I'm just so impressed by his perseverance and creativity. Anyway, it's clear that Tong's journey is all about taking risks and thinking outside the box... kind of like when Bruce Lee started it all! 
But what really impressed me was his persistence. He didn't give up on filmmaking even after his injuries kept him grounded. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to work with Jackie Chan? 