Xiong challenges ‘Chocolate’ with debut

Hong Kong Cinemagic recently interviewed stuntman extraordinaire and action director Xiong Xin-xin (Hung Yan-yan) to briefly discuss COWEB, his upcoming directorial debut and its female action lead.

According to Xiong, COWEB had been in planning stages for a long time until producer Joe Ma stepped in to greenlight the project while allowing Xiong to maintain the level of freedom that he needed to see his vision come to fruition.

Xiong insists that his leading lady, newcomer Jiang Lu-xia, is doing what virtually no other female stunt actress has done before, all her own stunts.

Stunt doubling is something Xiong knows quite a lot about. As he points out in the interview, he even doubled for “girls with guns” queen Moon Lee.

Today, Xiong is still best known for playing “Clubfoot” in Tsui Hark’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series. In 2000, he joined several of his peers in Hollywood where he provided action choreography for THE MUSKETEER and HALF PAST DEAD. He’s still in demand here in the West but he has his sights set on another goal.

COWEB marks a new chapter in Xiong’s career as he steps into the director’s role determined to bring back the authentic fighting action that he had once helped create in Hong Kong action films. It is a desire shared by many of the Hong Kong stuntmen and choreographers of his generation and Xiong is in the unique position of making it a reality in an era when audiences have begun looking elsewhere for impressive Asian action. Xiong is certainly in the fighting spirit when comparing his efforts to what Thailand action filmmakers have produced most recently.

“I saw CHOCOLATE while we were still shooting and there is nothing to compare. It’s only because they are both action girls,” said Xiong in reference to Prachya Pinkaew’s new martial arts actioner starring female newcomer JeeJa Yanin. “In CHOCOLATE you see a lot of double[s] and it’s always only one kick. It won’t be like that in mine!”

COWEB stars Jiang Lu-xia, Sam Lee, Kane Kosugi, and Eddie Cheung. Based off a screenplay by Chan Wing-sun, it’s produced by Joe Ma and Chan Shu-chi.

To read the complete interview with Xiong Xin-xin visit Hong Kong Cinemagic. For a detailed synopsis and stills see the official site. A teaser trailer is available on Youtube. See previous coverage in “Xiong makes directorial debut with COWEB.”

Tags: Chocolate (2008), Jiang Lu-xia, upcoming, Xiong Xin-xin