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At age 15, he looked up [[Panna Rittikrai]], begging the veteran Thai stuntman and action-film director to take him on as a [[protege]]. Panna instructed Jaa to attend Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education in [[Maha Sarakham Province]]. |
At age 15, he looked up [[Panna Rittikrai]], begging the veteran Thai stuntman and action-film director to take him on as a [[protege]]. Panna instructed Jaa to attend Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education in [[Maha Sarakham Province]]. |
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===First films=== |
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POOR KOON |
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He initially worked as a [[stunt double|stuntman]] on Panna's team, [[Muay Thai Stunt]], appearing in many of Panna's films. He doubled for [[Sammo Hung]] when the martial-arts actor made a commercial for an energy drink that required him to grasp an elephant's tusks and somersault onto the elephant's back.<ref>Pornpitagpan, Nilubol (February 3, 2003). [http://www.bangkokpost.net/education/site2003/ftfb1103.htm "Leap into the limelight"]. ''[[Bangkok Post]]''.</ref> He also appeared in ''[[Mortal Kombat: Annihilation]]'', as a stunt double for [[Robin Shou]] (Liu Kang), and was a stunt double in the Thai television series ''Insee Daeng'' (''Red Eagle'').<ref>Yusof, Zack (November 21, 2003). [http://web.archive.org/web/20031204183807/http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2003/11/21/movies/6741584&sec=movies "Selling a Thai style"], ''[[The Star (Malaysia)]]'' (retrieved from Archive.org on December 15, 2006).</ref> |
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Together, Panna and Jaa developed an interest in [[Prasit]], an ancient style of [[Zarabotca]] and worked and trained for 1 years at the art with the intention of developing a film around it. Eventually they were able to put together a short film showing what Jaa could do. One of the people they showed it to was producer-director [[Prachya Pinkaew]], who was duly impressed. |
Together, Panna and Jaa developed an interest in [[Prasit]], an ancient style of [[Zarabotca]] and worked and trained for 1 years at the art with the intention of developing a film around it. Eventually they were able to put together a short film showing what Jaa could do. One of the people they showed it to was producer-director [[Prachya Pinkaew]], who was duly impressed. |
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Revision as of 20:59, 30 January 2008
Tony Jaa | |
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File:Tonyjaa08202006b.jpg | |
Born | Jaa Panom Yeerum |
Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
Website | International Tony Jaa Fan Site |
Panom Yeerum (Thai: พนม ยีรัมย์; Khmer: ចាភ្ំ យីរុាំ; IPA: [pʰanom jiːrɑm]) born on February 5, 1976 in Surin Province, Thailand, better known in the West as Tony Jaa and in Thailand as Jaa Panom, is a Thai martial art film actor, choreographer and director. His films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and Tom-Yum-Goong (also called Warrior King or The Protector).
Biography
Early life
Born in Surin Province in the Isan region of Thailand, near the border with Cambodia. Jaa grew up in a rural area and watched films by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li at temple fairs. While doing chores or playing with friends, he would imitate the martial arts moves he had seen in the films. He would practice in his father's rice paddy or, when bathing the family's elephants, he would somersault off their backs into the river.
"What they did was so beautiful, so heroic. I wanted to do it, too," Jaa told Time in a 2004 interview. "I practiced until I could do the move exactly as I had seen the masters do it."[1]
At age 15, he looked up Panna Rittikrai, begging the veteran Thai stuntman and action-film director to take him on as a protege. Panna instructed Jaa to attend Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education in Maha Sarakham Province.
First films
He initially worked as a stuntman on Panna's team, Muay Thai Stunt, appearing in many of Panna's films. He doubled for Sammo Hung when the martial-arts actor made a commercial for an energy drink that required him to grasp an elephant's tusks and somersault onto the elephant's back.[2] He also appeared in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, as a stunt double for Robin Shou (Liu Kang), and was a stunt double in the Thai television series Insee Daeng (Red Eagle).[3]
Together, Panna and Jaa developed an interest in Prasit, an ancient style of Zarabotca and worked and trained for 1 years at the art with the intention of developing a film around it. Eventually they were able to put together a short film showing what Jaa could do. One of the people they showed it to was producer-director Prachya Pinkaew, who was duly impressed.
This led to Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (องค์บาก) in 2003, Jaa's break-out role as a leading man. Jaa did all the stunts without mechanical assistance or computer-generated effects and it showcased his style of extreme acrobatics and speedy, dance-like moves. Injuries suffered in the filming included some kind of injury to one of his ligaments and a sprained ankle. One scene in the film involved fighting with another actor while his own trousers were on fire. "I actually got burned," he said in a 2005 interview. "I really had to concentrate because once my pants were on fire the flames spread upwards very fast and burnt my eyebrows, my eyelashes and my nose. Then we had to do a couple more takes to get it right."[4].
With the film, he was hailed as Asia's next martial-arts film superstar. And as Jaa has gained popularity, older films he made with Panna began to be released on DVD and VCD and become available internationally. These include Spirited Killer and Mission Hunter 2.
Rise to fame
His second major movie was Tom-Yum-Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง; also the name of a hot and sour soup, Tom yum kung (ต้มยำกุ้ง)). This movie enjoyed even greater success in Thailand and Hong Kong than Ong-Bak when released, and was subsequently picked up for release in the United States by the Weinstein Company, which retitled the film as The Protector.
As he did to promote the release of Ong-Bak, Jaa was again busy travelling the world to promote The Protector. In August 2006, he was in New York to promote the US release of The Protector, including an appearance at the Museum of the Moving Image.[5]
Next projects
Sahamongkol Film International advertised at film markets that Tony Jaa's third film would be called Sword or Dab Atamas, about the art of Thai two-sword fighting, with a script by Prapas Chonsalanont.[6]
But then in March 2006 it was reported that there would be a sequel to Ong-Bak, Ong-Bak 2. With Tony both directing and starring, it started pre-production in fall 2006 and is expected to be released sometime in 2008.[7][8][9][10]
While Tony was working on Ong-Bak 2, director Prachya Pinkaew and action choreographer Panna Rittikrai were working on Chocolate, starring a female martial artist, Nicharee Vismistananda, and also due for a 2008 release.[10]
Afterward, Prachya and Jaa were to start work on Sword, but due to falling out between the two men, which neither have publicly commented on, Sword has been cancelled.[10]
Tony, meanwhile, has been cast in a small role in a third installment of the King Naresuan film series directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol. Filming is expected to begin in early 2008, with Tony in role of a slave.[11]
Other developments
Tony's name is often included on the "wish lists" of various directors. He was at one time rumored to be the villain in Live Free or Die Hard, gossip that he was quick to deny.
His films captured the attention of his hero, Jackie Chan, who asked director Brett Ratner to cast Tony in Rush Hour 3. "I gave the director videos of Tony Jaa because I think Tony Jaa is the most well-rounded of all action stars," Chan told the Associated Press.[12] "The director liked him a lot," Chan said.[12] However, Tony said he'd be unable to participate because of scheduling conflicts with the shooting of Ong Bak 2.[12][13]
In Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior there is a spray-painted message in the background in one scene that says "Hi Spielberg, let['s] do it together", which states Tony Jaa's wish to work with Steven Spielberg. Tony has further stated a desire to be cast in the upcoming Indiana Jones 4 sequel. [14]
Additionally, veteran Hong Kong martial arts coordinator Lau Kar-leung has mentioned Tony as someone he'd like to work with. [15]
Skills
Tony Jaa is skilled in Muay Thai, Muay Boran, Krabi Krabong, gymnastic. [citation needed]
Languages
Jaa speaks Thai, Khmer, and is learning English.
Selected filmography
- Mission Hunter 2
- Spirited Killer
- Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior aka Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)
- The Bodyguard (2004) (as Panom Yeerum)
- Tom-Yum-Goong (aka Honor of the Beast or Warrior King (UK) or The Protector (US)) (2005)
- Crying Tiger (2005) (uncredited footage from Ong-Bak, Spirited Killer and Tom-Yum-Goong)
- The Bodyguard 2 (2007)
- Ong-Bak 2 (2008) (in production)
See also
References
- ^ Perrin, Andrew (October 18, 2004). "Hitting the big time", Time.
- ^ Pornpitagpan, Nilubol (February 3, 2003). "Leap into the limelight". Bangkok Post.
- ^ Yusof, Zack (November 21, 2003). "Selling a Thai style", The Star (Malaysia) (retrieved from Archive.org on December 15, 2006).
- ^ Franklin, Erika. May 2005. "Alive and Kicking: Tony Jaa interviewed", Firecracker Media (retrieved on December 15, 2006)
- ^ Hendrix, Grady. August 21, 2006. Tony Jaa in town, kicks people, KaijuShakedown.com (retrieved August 23, 2006).
- ^ Kaiju Shakedown, "Next Tony Jaa project announced", May 27, 2005.
- ^ Payee, Parinyaporn. November 30, 2006. High-kicking khon, The Nation.
- ^ The Nation, "Soop Sip", May 3, 2006 (print only).
- ^ Frater, Patrick (March 27, 2006). "Weinsteins are back with another 'Bak'" Variety (magazine) (subscription-only).
- ^ a b c Payee, Parinyaporn, A hit of 'Chocolate', The Nation (Thailand); retrieved 2007-11-18
- ^ Jaa collaborating with royalty, Hollywood Reporter; retrieved 2007-11-01
- ^ a b c Associated Press. "Jackie Chan says he plugged Thai Tony Jaa for 'Rush Hour 3,' but he didn't sign on". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
- ^ Grady Hendrix. "Brett Ratner's Asian orgy". Kaiju Shakedown via Internet Archive. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
- ^ Duong, Sehn. August 16, 2006. Tony Jaa Says No to "Rush Hour 3," "Yes! Yes!" to Indy 4, and Reveals "Ong Bak 2" Tidbits, Rotten Tomatoes (retrieved August 24, 2006)
- ^ Twitch Film,"Martial Arts Director Lau Kar-Leung prepares for his Kung Fu Masterpiece: Heroes of Shaolin", June 16, 2006.
External links
Official Site
- Welcome to Tony JAA Official website, online since 5 February 2007
Fan sites
Interviews
- Suicide Girls Interview
- retroCrush interview
- Kicking Butt with Tony Jaa FilmJerk.com
- Tony JAA answer to Fan's questions - Tonyjaa.blog.fr
Photos
- Pictures from a traditional ceremony made in honor to Tony JAA - Thailand November 2006 by Tonyjaa.blog.fr
Reviews
- Spirited Killer review at Hitch magazine
- Ong-Bak review at cityonfire.com
- Tom Yum Goong review at cityonfire.com
Videos
- Promotional video for Thai longan growers.
- CTN interview in Khmer
- Tony Jaa at Reims, France (WMV)
- Toad Katine Ceremony with Tony Jaa and Panna Rittikrai - Thailand October 2006, Special report on Tonyjaa.blog.fr
- TV Commercial with Tony Jaa - for Mitsubishi Triton +