Friday, April 28, 2017

Jackie Chan causes stir at press conference

Smart grab:
Hollywood movie star, Mr. Jackie Chan whose real name is Chan Kong-sang, on Tuesday addressed journalists as a Standing Committee Member of the 12th China People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, on “Consolidating confidence in Chinese culture and telling stories of China and its people.”

By Edmund Smith-Asante, BEIJING

Jackie Chan (2nd right) with the other panel members. PICTURE BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE
Celebrated Chinese born American film star, Jackie Chan, last Tuesday caused a stir at a press conference called by the China People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to address issues about Chinese culture development.

Mr. Chan, 62, was part of a panel of five members of the CPPCC who addressed the second in the series of press conferences scheduled as part of the Fifth Session of the 12th CPPCC on “Consolidating confidence in Chinese culture and telling stories of China and its people.”

But already privy to the participation of the film star, the journalists and their cameramen showcasing different types and sizes of cameras could not resist the urge to surge forward to take pictures of the star when the CPPCC members finally arrived at 2.30 Eastern Time (06:30 hours GMT), thus causing a little commotion in the front.
Aware that he had become the cynosure he waved to the excited journalists who eagerly took more motion and still pictures amidst a flurry of flash lights and rattling sounds from the shutters of the numerous cameras as if it were rain falling on an aluminum roofing sheet.

African journalists on a 10-month training programme in China organised by the China Africa Press Centre (CAPC) with the support of the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), who also covered the press conference carried their excitement from the previous night when they were informed of the star’s presence at the press conference the next day.
Some even doubted he was going to be there in person and could not hide their excitement on seeing the Hollywood star who many said they had identified with right from their infancy and revered him.

Honorary award
Jackie Chan leaving after the press conference. PICTURE BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE
Responding to a question on how he felt when he won an Honorary Oscar award last November after five decades in the film industry, he said “It was really an honour for me to receive the award. I could not believe it when I was given the prize.”

Mr. Chan who is the Vice Chairman of the China Film Association said when asked which country he came from he insisted he was proud to be Chinese and went to America to learn English.
“My goal is to become a super international star,” he stated, saying he loved to produce movies no matter how little the gains were and that attitude had won him a prize after 56 years and over 200 movies in the film industry.

He said as he had become a role model who was imitated by children everywhere including Africa, he needed to behave correctly at all times.
Mr. Chan urged the youth to pursue their dreams and not give up, so that they become successful.

Jackie Chan (middle) waving as he left the press conference. PICTURE BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE
He said that because he had been dedicated to what he did, he had gained the respect of many people who listened to his advice on the film industry and always called him to speak at conferences on the film industry.
Touching on the impact of allowing more Hollywood films into China he said “it will bring more pressure but it will also give more motivation to our filmmakers. Without competition there will be no progress.”

Other issues
Other issues addressed by the five-man panel included new media and its impact, the internet, the preservation and protection of traditional villages which were disappearing each year because the youth were living to work in the big towns, and the need for local government to see to the need of those villages.

Also tackled were issues on corruption in the sector and measures to curb them, focus on folklore, the storage and preservation of works of art and the training of calligraphers with hundreds of schools offering the course.
The journalists were excited on seeing the film star. PICTURE BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE
Speaking to the issue of the disappearing villages, a Standing Committee Member of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, Mr. Feng Jicai said “We should have a plan to protect the villages because they are the instruments that will enable us save Chinese culture.”

The other members of the panel were all Standing Committee members of the 12th CPPCC National Committee; Mr. Liu Changle, Mr. Su Shisu and Ms. Hai Xia.

The Deputy Secretary General of the CPPCC, Mr Zhang Qiujian, chaired the press conference.
Writer’s email: edmund.asante@graphic.com.gh


This story was written on March 7, 2017         

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