The Paper Tigers

Last updated

The Paper Tigers
The Paper Tigers (poster).jpg
Directed byBao Tran (Tran Quoc Bao)
Written byBao Tran (Tran Quoc Bao)
Produced byAl'n Duong
Dan Gildark
Yuji Okumoto
Tran Quoc Bao
Michael Velasquez
StarringAlain Uy
Ron Yuan
Mykel Shannon Jenkins
CinematographyShaun Mayor
Edited byKris Kristensen
Music byDaniel L.K. Caldwell
Production
companies
Beimo Films
Persistence of Vision Films
Distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment
Release dates
  • August 2020 (2020-08)(Fantasia)
  • May 7, 2021 (2021-05-07)(United States)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$118,351 [1] [2]

The Paper Tigers is a 2020 American martial arts action comedy film written and directed by Bao Tran in his feature film directorial debut. [3] It stars Alain Uy, Ron Yuan and Mykel Shannon Jenkins as three middle-aged former kung fu prodigies who set out to avenge the murder of their master. [4] Yuji Okumoto, an actor on the film The Karate Kid Part II and the series Cobra Kai, served as a producer for the film. [5]

Contents

Premise

Three childhood kung fu prodigies have grown into washed-up, middle-aged men—now one kick away from pulling their hamstrings. But when their master is murdered, they must juggle their dead-end jobs and dad duties, and overcome old grudges to avenge his death.

Cast

Production

Development

The film was created due to director and producers' strong admiration of martial arts and old school, fun martial art films. The director Bao Tran began writing the film treatment for this concept in 2011. [6] [7] [8] The inspiration for the movie came from his classmates and friendships when he studied martial arts. [8]

Pre-production

Tran had a male Asian-American main character in mind with a minority leading cast. The Paper Tigers team knew that it would be challenging to find studio support for the film as they wanted to cast people of color (POC) and diverse actors in the project as opposed to fall to the trend of whitewashing in film. [9] When the film project was pitched to Hollywood producers, they were offered $4 million with a caveat that there would be no Asian lead character and suggested a white lead character to be played by Bruce Willis instead. [6] [10] They were also asked to write a role for Nicolas Cage. [11] The team declined the offer and request. [5] Tran mentioned that Hollywood usually sent their mid-level executives who were also POC to be the messengers of whitewashing. [11] [12]

The team also had resistance from some other Asian Americans when seeking funding outside of major studios. Those who opposed wanted to advocate for different stories for Asian Americans instead of a martial arts film, which is often considered a stereotype. While Tran is aware of the history of Asian caricatures in the U.S., this story was based on his and the producers' personal experiences growing up as well as their love for martial arts. Tran emphasized having more representation and nuances, implying that there can be different perspectives of Asian-American storytelling. In addition, there can be developed Asian-American characters in a martial arts film, which is not typically seen in American media. He also mentioned that, "at the end of the day, we wanted to tell a fun, entertaining story that depicted our experience honestly." [3] [6] [13] Tran included both experiences in his director's statement as part of the movie's press kit, which can be found on the slider on Well Go USA's website. [14]

The team wanted to keep their vision without changing the cast or story. Tran said, "It is important because I think it’s ultimately being able to have your voice, and as a storyteller, be able to express your story and your history to the world." [15] A short concept video was created and crowdfunded over $124,000 on Kickstarter in 2018. [3] [16] The concept video featured the teen versions of the main cast that would be later put into the film two years later. [17] They were also able to draw interest from local investors, including a donor who studied under Bruce Lee, and were able to secure about $1 million for their shooting budget. This allowed the team more freedom in casting the main characters and other roles for their independent film. [17] [18]

Filming

Filming took place in Seattle, Washington, which is a tribute to Bruce Lee's legacy and residency there. [13] Many of the scenes were in Chinatown–International District. Several local businesses were very supportive and that was a community endeavor. [3] [19] Tran said, "Jade Garden provided the crew with food. The Dynasty Room let us shoot there, and the Nisei Vets Hall let us use their space." China Harbor's dining area was also featured in the movie. [18] In addition, the City of Shoreline's film office provided locations for the crew to film like Richmond Beach and Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center. [20]

The director allowed actors to improvise in some of the scenes. [15] [21] [22]

The main cast Alain Uy, Ron Yuan and Mykel Shannon Jenkins became friends while filming. [23] [24] [25] [26] Ron Yuan had to gain 68 pounds (31 kg) for his role as Hing. [27]

On September 7, 2019, the crew planned to shoot the final fight on a rooftop at night, but a large thunderstorm delayed five hours of filming. About 2,200 lightning strikes were recorded that night, which averaged about eight strikes per second. [20] [21] They were able film the scene after the storm cleared, finishing their final day of shooting. [17]

It took about 34–35 days to shoot all footage. [28]

Release

The film premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival in August 2020. [29]

In September 2020, Well Go USA Entertainment acquired North American distribution rights to the film. [30] Release date was on May 7, 2021 in select theaters and video on demand. [31]

Home media

The Paper Tigers was released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 22, 2021, from Well Go USA. The releases contain behind-the-scenes material, deleted scenes and bloopers and trailers. [32] Currently, it is available to stream on Tubi [33] and video on demand.

Previously, Netflix US released the movie in August 2021. [34]

Reception

Critical response

The film has received generally positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes surveyed 61 critics and, categorizing the reviews as positive or negative, assessed 63 as positive and one as negative for a 98% rating. Among the reviews, it determined an average rating of 7.1/10. The critics consensus reads: "The Paper Tigers blends action, comedy, and heart to produce a fresh martial arts movie with plenty of throwback charm." [35] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 68 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [36]

Alan Ng of Film Threat gave the film a score of eight out of ten. [37] Haleigh Foutch of Collider awarded it a grade of "B+". [38] In a review of the film for Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine , Marc Zirogiannis called it "a testament to the creative vision of its creator and the clear 'Buy In' of the cast and crew. This is one of the best films I have seen in years." [39] Jessica Kiang of Variety stated in a review that "Tran's irresistibly good-humored debut is a diverting blend of Hong Kong and Hollywood that delivers, on a slender, Kickstarter-enhanced budget, a rousing roundhouse hug to both traditions." [40]

In December 2021, Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine named The Paper Tigers the best martial arts film of 2021. [41]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martial arts film</span> Film genre

Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often are a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently featured in training scenes and other sequences in addition to fights. Martial arts films commonly include hand-to-hand combat along with other types of action, such as stuntwork, chases, and gunfights. Sub-genres of martial arts films include kung fu films, wuxia, karate films, and martial arts action comedy films, while related genres include gun fu, jidaigeki and samurai films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action film</span> Film genre

The action film is a film genre which predominantly features chase sequences, fights, shootouts, explosions, and stunt work. The specifics of what constitutes an action film has been in scholarly debate since the 1980s. While some scholars such as David Bordwell suggested they were films that favor spectacle to storytelling, others such as Goeff King stated they allow the scenes of spectacle to be attuned to story telling. Action films are often hybrid with other genres, mixing into various forms ranging to comedies, science fiction films, and horror films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Chan</span> Hong Kong actor and martial artist (born 1954)

Chan Kong-sang, known professionally as Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong actor, director, writer, producer, martial artist, and stuntman known for his slapstick acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts, which he typically performs himself. Before entering the film industry, he was one of the Seven Little Fortunes from the China Drama Academy at the Peking Opera School, where he studied acrobatics, martial arts, and acting. Chan has been acting since the 1960s, performing in more than 150 films. He is one of the most influential action film stars of all time.

Kung Fu is an American action-adventure martial arts Western drama television series starring David Carradine. The series follows the adventures of Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin monk who travels through the American Old West, armed only with his spiritual training and his skill in martial arts, as he seeks Danny Caine, his half-brother.

<i>Snake in the Eagles Shadow</i> 1978 Hong Kong film

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film directed by Yuen Woo-ping in his directorial debut. It stars Jackie Chan, Hwang Jang-lee, and Yuen Woo-ping's real life father, Yuen Siu-tien. The film's plot is about Chien Fu, an orphan who is bullied at a kung fu school, meeting an old beggar, Pai Cheng-tien, who becomes his sifu (teacher) and trains him in Snake Kung Fu.

<i>Half a Loaf of Kung Fu</i> 1978 film

Half a Loaf of Kung Fu is a 1978 Hong Kong action comedy martial arts film directed by Chen Chi-hwa and written by Jackie Chan, who also starred in the lead role. The film co-stars Dean Shek and James Tien. The film was released in Hong Kong on 1 July 1978. Chan plays a bumbling kung fu student who becomes involved in a series of adventures in one of his first forays into the kung fu acrobatic slapstick comedy style that would become his signature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuen Woo-ping</span> Hong Kong film director

Yuen Woo-ping is a Hong Kong martial arts choreographer and film director who worked in Hong Kong action cinema and later Hollywood films. He is one of the inductees on the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong. Yuen is also a son of Yuen Siu-tien, a martial arts film actor. He attended the China Drama Academy for one year as a day student of Master Yu Jim-yuen as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donnie Yen</span> Chinese actor and martial artist

Donnie Yen Ji-dan is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and action director. He is regarded as one of Hong Kong's top action stars.

<i>Kung Fu Hustle</i> 2004 film by Stephen Chow

Kung Fu Hustle is a 2004 martial arts action comedy film directed, produced and co-written by Stephen Chow, who also stars in the leading role, alongside Huang Shengyi, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan and Leung Siu-lung in prominent roles. The story revolves around a murderous neighbourhood gang, a poor village with unlikely heroes and an aspiring gangster's fierce journey to find his true self. The martial arts choreography is supervised by Yuen Woo-ping.

Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. Action films from Hong Kong have roots in Chinese and Hong Kong cultures including Chinese opera, storytelling and aesthetic traditions, which Hong Kong filmmakers combined with elements from Hollywood and Japanese cinema along with new action choreography and filmmaking techniques, to create a culturally distinctive form that went on to have wide transcultural appeal. In turn, Hollywood action films have been heavily influenced by Hong Kong genre conventions, from the 1970s onwards.

Mykel Shannon Jenkins is an American actor and filmmaker whose professional career started when he became winner of the first season of the SOAPnet series I Wanna Be a Soap Star. Jenkin's career spans across numerous film and television productions, from soaps to network television to independent and studio films.

<i>Kung Fu Panda</i> (film) 2008 DreamWorks Animation film

Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American animated martial arts comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The first installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, it was directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne, from a screenplay and story respectively written by the writing teams of Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, and Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris. The film stars the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, Dan Fogler, Michael Clarke Duncan and Jackie Chan. The film, set in a version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic animals, centers on a bumbling panda named Po (Black), a kung-fu enthusiast living in the Valley of Peace. When the savage snow leopard Tai Lung (McShane) is foretold to escape imprisonment and attack the Valley, Po is unwittingly named the "Dragon Warrior", a prophesied hero worthy of reading a scroll that has been intended to grant its reader limitless power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lo Wei</span> Chinese film director (1918–1996)

Lo Wei was a Hong Kong film director and film actor best known for launching the martial arts film careers of both Bruce Lee, in The Big Boss and Fist of Fury, and Jackie Chan, in New Fist of Fury.

Kung fu film is a subgenre of martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema set in the contemporary period and featuring realistic martial arts. It lacks the fantasy elements seen in wuxia, a related martial arts genre that uses historical settings based on ancient China. Swordplay is also less common in kung-fu films than in wuxia and fighting is done through unarmed combat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Chan filmography</span>

Jackie Chan began his film career as an extra child actor in the 1962 film Big and Little Wong Tin Bar. Ten years later, he was a stuntman opposite Bruce Lee in 1972's Fist of Fury and 1973's Enter the Dragon. He then had starring roles in several kung fu films, such as 1973's Little Tiger of Canton and 1976's New Fist of Fury. His first major breakthrough was the 1978 kung fu action comedy film Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, which was shot while he was loaned to Seasonal Film Corporation under a two-picture deal. He then enjoyed huge success with similar kung fu action comedy films such as 1978's Drunken Master and 1980's The Young Master. Jackie Chan began experimenting with elaborate stunt action sequences in The Young Master and especially Dragon Lord (1982).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuji Okumoto</span> American actor (born 1959)

Yuji Don Okumoto is an American actor of Japanese descent. He is best known for his role as Chozen Toguchi in The Karate Kid franchise. He has also appeared in such films as Better Off Dead,Real Genius, True Believer (1989), American Yakuza (1993), Contact (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Pearl Harbor (2001), Only the Brave (2006), Inception (2010) and Driven (2018).

<i>Kung Fu Panda 2</i> 2011 DreamWorks Animation film

Kung Fu Panda 2 is a 2011 American animated martial arts comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and written by the writing team of Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, the film is the sequel to Kung Fu Panda, and the second installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. It stars Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong and Jackie Chan reprising their character roles from the first film, with Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Victor Garber voicing new characters. In the film, Po and his Furious Five allies travel to Gongmen City to stop the evil peacock, Lord Shen, from conquering China, while also rediscovering Po's forgotten past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitewashing in film</span> Controversial casting practice in the film industry

Whitewashing is a casting practice in the film industry in which white actors are cast in non-white roles. As defined by Merriam-Webster, to whitewash is "to alter...in a way that favors, features, or caters to white people: such as...casting a white performer in a role based on a nonwhite person or fictional character." According to the BBC, films in which white actors have played other races include all genres. African-American roles and roles of Asian descent have been whitewashed, as well as characters from the ancient world in the genre of classical and mythological films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Tran</span> Vietnamese-Australian actress (born 1985)

Maria Tran is a Vietnamese-Australian actress, martial artist, producer, and director based in between Sydney, Australia & Las Vegas, Nevada. She is known as a trailblazer in developing the martial arts action film genre in Australia via the Asian diaspora communities of Western Sydney through her shorts such as Hit Girls, Gaffa, Enter The Dojo, Operation Kung Flu; her contributions on Australian television; Maximum Choppage and movies outside of Australia; Roger Corman's Fist of the Dragon, Death Mist, Vietnamese action blockbuster Tracer and action movie trilogy Echo 8. Tran stars as "Madame Tien" in the Last King of the Cross TV series on Paramount+.

<i>Kung Fu Ghost</i> 2022 film by Jennifer N. Linch

Kung Fu Ghost is a 2022 action comedy film directed by Jennifer N. Linch in her feature directorial debut and written by Ivan White. The film stars Linch, Noah Sargent, Mark Atkinson, Amber Grayson and David S. Dawson. Kung Fu Ghost was released on August 2, 2022 by Vision Films.

References

  1. ↑ "The Paper Tigers (2021) - Financial Information". The Numbers . Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  2. ↑ "The Paper Tigers (2021)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Macdonald, Moira (May 5, 2021). "Seattle-based kung fu movie 'The Paper Tigers' debuts this week after a long, winding 10-year production journey". The Seattle Times.
  4. ↑ Mack, Andrew (August 30, 2020). "Fantasia 2020 Review: The Paper Tigers, Feel-Good Martial Arts Comedy Favorably Chooses Story And Character Over Action". Screen Anarchy . Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Belle, Rachel (May 4, 2021). "'Seattle filmmaker says Hollywood wouldn't make his film unless he replaced his POC cast with white actors". MyNorthwest. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 "Kung fu meets soccer dads in Bao Tran's feature film "The Paper Tigers" | seattlechannel.org". www.seattlechannel.org. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Kung Fu Movie Guide" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Ching, Gene (May 7, 2021). "YUJI OKUMOTO AND QUOC BAO TRAN ON THE PAPER TIGERS". Kung Fu Magazine.
  9. ↑ Sigler, Gabriel (August 31, 2020). ""We don't need Hollywood": How 'The Paper Tigers' filmmaker Bao Tran defied whitewashing pressure and went DIY for his heartwarming kung fu comedy [Fantasia]". Bad Feeling Magazine. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ "In Netflix's 'Cobra Kai,' Seattle restaurateur Yuji Okumoto reprises a role — and a life — he thought he'd left behind". The Seattle Times. January 4, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  11. 1 2 Tran, Bao (May 7, 2021). "Hollywood Wanted Me to Make My Martial Arts Characters White". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Story behind The Paper Tigers". NW Vietnamese News. May 16, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "'The Paper Tigers' Plays with Seattle's Martial Arts Lore". Seattle Met. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  14. ↑ "The Paper Tigers". Well Go USA Entertainment. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  15. 1 2 "The Paper Tigers: A vision worth fighting for". Cold Tea Collective. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  16. ↑ "This indie Kung Fu movie is shot entirely in the Seattle area". king5.com. August 27, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  17. 1 2 3 "Check Out Tons of Tips and Tricks from the Crew Behind 'The Paper Tigers'". No Film School. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Davis, Brangien; McKnight, Matt M. "Hollywood wanted 'fewer Asians' in a new kung fu film. This Seattle director stuck to his script | Crosscut". crosscut.com. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Filmed in Seattle, 'The Paper Tigers' premieres worldwide". Northwest Asian Weekly. November 5, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  20. 1 2 Lee, Jennifer (January 12, 2020). "Film director and writer Bao Tran sets his sights on the 2020 film festival circuit with his film "The Paper Tigers"". International Examiner. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  21. 1 2 "Bao Tran on Finding His Footing with "The Paper Tigers"". The Moveable Fest. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  22. ↑ Director Bao Tran "Aims For The Stars" With 'The Paper Tigers' Experience , retrieved September 8, 2021
  23. ↑ THE PAPER TIGERS Stars Ron Yuan, Alain Uy & Mykel Shannon Jenkins Talk Martial Arts and Friendship , retrieved April 13, 2022
  24. ↑ Bao Tran, Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, and Mykel Shannon Jenkins // Special Ep // The Paper Tigers , retrieved April 13, 2022
  25. ↑ SUN Spotlight with Kharisma McIlwaine , retrieved November 20, 2022
  26. ↑ "Paper Tigers- Actor Alain Uy". Asian American Film. November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  27. ↑ "A review of 'The Paper Tigers'". The Philadelphia Sunday Sun. May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  28. ↑ Mecca, Dan (May 6, 2021). "The Paper Tigers Team on Hong Kong vs. American Filmmaking, Sculpting a Fight Scene, and Kindness in Cinema". The Film Stage. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  29. ↑ Macdonald, Moira (October 12, 2020). "Get an early peek at made-in-Seattle kung fu comedy 'The Paper Tigers' online starting Oct. 23". The Seattle Times . Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  30. ↑ Ramos, Dino-Ray (September 30, 2020). "Well Go USA Acquires Bao Tran's Action Comedy 'The Paper Tigers'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Exclusive: 'The Paper Tigers' Trailer Reveals the Must-Watch Martial Arts Comedy of the Year". Collider. March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  32. ↑ The Paper Tigers Blu-ray , retrieved May 11, 2021
  33. ↑ The Paper Tigers (Español) (2020) , retrieved December 23, 2023
  34. ↑ "'The Paper Tigers' Making SVOD Debut on Netflix US in August 2021". What's on Netflix. July 14, 2021.
  35. ↑ "The Paper Tigers". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  36. ↑ "The Paper Tigers Reviews". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  37. ↑ Ng, Alan (October 6, 2020). "The Paper Tigers". Film Threat . Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  38. ↑ Foutch, Haleigh (September 5, 2020). "'The Paper Tigers' Is a Freakin' Delightful Feel-Good Martial Arts Movie; Fantasia Review". Collider . Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  39. ↑ Zirogiannis, Marc (April 26, 2021). "The Paper Tigers is a Winner!". Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  40. ↑ Kiang, Jessica (May 3, 2021). "'The Paper Tigers' Review: Delightful Middle-Aged-Manchild Martial Arts Comedy". Variety. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  41. ↑ Zirogiannis, Marc (December 6, 2021). "The Top 10 Martial Arts Films of 2021". Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine. KYPAUSA. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.