His latest film ‘Skiptrace‘ is released in the US this week, but before the year is up, Jackie Chan – the veteran actor and martial-arts ambassador – will receive an honorary Oscar!
The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that they had voted to present Honorary Awards to four key industry figures. Alongside the likes of British-born film editor Anne V. Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman is the one and only… Jackie Chan.
Though the presentations will take place at the Academy’s 8th Annual Governors Awards on 12th November – rather than in the massive ceremony in February – the honour is a significant one with only a select few being presented with such awards over the years. The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given ‘…to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.‘
“The Honorary Award was created for artists like Jackie Chan, Anne Coates, Lynn Stalmaster and Frederick Wiseman – true pioneers and legends in their crafts,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “The Board is proud to honor their extraordinary achievements, and we look forward to celebrating with them at the Governors Awards in November.”
In deciding to give Chan the statuette, the Academy noted his prolific contribution and distinctive career… from his debut in films at the age of eight, his training at the Peking Opera and the massive amount of films he has made both in Hong Kong and internationally – his presence and success being an early indicator of interest in eastern action movies.
Though there’s been talk for years about Chan (now 62) retiring, he’s still going strong in many projects – both on and off-screen. In that sense, an Oscar is long overdue but is not going to mark the end of that career, merely a milestone.
It’s also been announced today that Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired Railroad Tigers – due to be released before Christmas – for distribution in North America, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. The film is set in 1941 and has Chan playing a railroad worker teaming up to defeat the Japanese war effort and to help rebels’ plans by using his knowledge of the local train system.
