As Sony Pictures Entertainment announces an incredible opportunity to act alongside the legendary Kung Fu action star Jackie Chan in his upcoming movie, exciting news awaits aspiring actors in Singapore.
The studio is explicitly searching for a male actor who can bring to life the character of Li Fong, a 17-year-old Chinese protagonist.
This leading role offers a unique opportunity for actors to star alongside Jackie Chan in a major motion picture.
The casting call specifies that only actors based in Canada and Asia are eligible to apply.
Successful candidates will have the honour of working on a martial arts-based film alongside the iconic Jackie Chan.
To meet the studio’s requirements, aspiring actors must be fluent in American English, have conversational or fluent Mandarin skills, and possess martial arts abilities.
Open Casting Call for Jackie Chan’s Upcoming Movie
According to reports, Jackie Chan’s upcoming movie will be directed by Jonathan Entwhistle, known for his work on the black comedy-drama television shows The End Of The F***ing World and I Am Not Okay With This.
Both shows focus on teenagers grappling with their identities, hinting at an intriguing thematic direction for Jackie Chan’s upcoming movie.
Karen Rosenfelt, renowned for her involvement in successful fantasy franchises like Twilight and Percy Jackson, will be producing the film.
Nonetheless, the inclusion of casting director Poping Auyeung solidifies the excitement for the casting call.
Poping Auyeung has previously worked on high-profile blockbusters such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Meg, and Marvel’s groundbreaking Asian-led superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which grossed an impressive $432.2 million at the box office.
Given Poping Auyeung’s involvement, it is no surprise that candidates applying for the open casting call are expected to have a martial arts training foundation.
While the character they would be portraying is a 17-year-old, applicants must be above 18 years old while still having the appearance of a “convincing teenager.”
Perhaps Chuando Tan could consider applying if he shaves his beard?
Selected candidates must be available for full-time training in action moves and martial arts starting from July 2023.
Additionally, they should be prepared to allocate more time between September and December 2023 for the movie’s shoots in Canada.
Open Casting Calls
The dream of acting in Hollywood is not as distant as it may seem, as local actors like the talented Pierre Png have already made their mark.
In 2018, he portrayed Michael Teo in the groundbreaking Asian-led film Crazy Rich Asians, where he acted as Astrid Leong’s unfaithful husband and Gemma Chan’s partner.
Furthermore, Poping Auyeung has collaborated with Sony Entertainment before to organise open casting calls aimed at fostering diversity and inclusivity within the industry.
Just last month, in April 2023, Auyeung’s casting group announced an open casting call for an upcoming feature film based on the New York Times best-selling novel by the same author as Crazy Rich Asians, called Sex and Vanity.
Similar to the criteria set for Jackie Chan’s casting call, Poping Auyeung’s team assures that candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of disability, race, age, colour, or national or ethnic origin, will be considered for the respective roles as long as they embody the character.
Meanwhile, our local movie producer, Jack Neo, has also conducted open casting calls in the past.
Recently, in May 2023, he called for candidates between the ages of eight and 14 to submit video auditions for his upcoming film, I Not Stupid 3, a sequel to his successful films of the same name, released in 2002 and 2006.
While Jack Neo’s casting call only limits candidates to a specific age range, candidates older than 14 can now stand a chance to realise their acting dreams through Jackie Chan’s upcoming film.
Those eager to star in their first Hollywood movie or share the screen with the legendary martial arts action star can apply for casting auditions through a Google form or by emailing Poping Auyeung’s casting group if the form link is unavailable.
Applicants must provide their personal details, along with an audition tape showcasing their martial arts skills and an introduction video demonstrating their bilingual abilities while explaining their suitability for the role.
Local talents aspiring to kickstart their Hollywood careers should act quickly, as applications will close on 26 May 2023.
