Archive: An Actor's Odyssey

John Woo is just the most obvious example of someone making the journey from the Hong Kong action movie industry to Hollywood. Our own Mark Houghton, actor/choreographer to the stars, is currently finishing his work on Jackie Chan's Drunken Master 2 before embarking on his first American production, while battling British bird Sophia Crawford is already ensconced in Tinseltown. The first China Beat veteran to send us a report from the front line is actor/martial artist/ stuntman/ action choreographer John-Paul Salvitti. Fans of Far Eastern flicks will remember John from his blistering battles with Chinese star Donnie Yen in In The Line Of Duty, Tiger Cage and Crystal Hunt. The first two of these have been released on video in the UK by Imperial, and Salvitti's debut American vehicle Private Wars is set to appear in November courtesy of the same company. Salvitti's story will be of interest to the many action actor/stuntman wannabes out there, and to anyone following the increasing number of crossovers between Hong Kong and American films.

I've been a martial artist since I was eight years old. When I started training at the popular East Coast Fighting Academy in the town of Lynn, Massachusetts, I was determined to become the best I could be. However, I never imagined that my training would lead to the travels and adventures I've experienced since. I had a pretty successful career as a martial arts tournament competitor, but I guess my life started on its present course when I recognised Donnie Yen, then Wu Shu Performer of the Year, on the cover of Inside Kung Fu magazine. Donnie is the son of famous martial arts master Madame Bow Sinn Mark. I was inspired by him to enrol at her Chinese Wu Shu Institute in Boston. This was in 1982. I dedicated myself to my training, and Donnie and I became good friends. Like brothers, almost. After a trip to Beijing, Donnie was given the opportunity to make films with veteran Hong Kong director Yuen Woo Ping. Yuen had directed such martial arts movie classics as Jackie Chan's Snake In The Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master. I guess it was out of loyalty, and because he believed I could do it, that Donnie persuaded director Yuen to cast me in the film In The Line Of Duty. I flew to Hong Kong for my first taste of Chinese action movie-making, and I've been addicted ever since!

In The Line Of Duty was hard work, but a lot of fun to make. As those of you who have seen it will know, it's a Chinese version of Lethal Weapon, with some of the best action sequences ever, even by Hong Kong standards. It wasn't all easy going, I had to deal with a lot on my first trip to Hong Kong; contract problems, food, time, living quarters... Movie-making in Hong Kong can be tough in every way imaginable, and I sometimes found myself caught in the crossfire. The experience made my second movie in the territory, Tiger Cage, a lot easier to handle. I'm really proud of the sword-fight that Donnie and I perform in that movie. In fact, it was that sequence that got me my first job with PM Entertainment when I made the move to LA. I consider myself really lucky that my first two films were with Donnie and The Yuen Clan. Yuen Woo Ping has a 'family' of stuntmen who work on each of his films, and several of them ARE his actual relatives! I learned a lot, and this stood me in good stead for my later career. I made a third film in Hong Kong. It was entitled Crystal Hunt and was made by a small independent company. Working in Hong Kong has jumpstarted the careers of many of today's top martial arts/action stars, including Chuck Norris, Van Damme, Mark Houghton, Gary Daniels, Billy Blanks and Michael Woods, with whom I appeared in each of my Chinese films. I consider my time in the Far East an invaluable education, but in 1991 decided it was time to pursue a different direction. I relocated to LA, along with my brother Thomas, who was set to launch his acting and writing careers. For someone looking for a break into the American action film industry, PM Entertainment is an obvious choice. The company plan to make a film a month, while preparing for their NEXT project.

To read the rest of this article and gain access to all previous articles you need to have a subscription to Impact Extra. Sign up to Impact extra now and get a one month free trial.