Tony Jaa

Infobox actor
name = Tony Jaa

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imagesize = 200px
caption = Tony Jaa prepares for a martial arts demonstration at the American Museum of the Moving Image on August 20, 2006.
birthdate = birth date and age|1976|2|5
location = Surin province, Isaan, Thailand
height = 5' 6" (1.68 m)
deathdate =
birthname = Jaa Panom Yeerum
notable role = Ting in ' Kham"' in "Tom-Yum-Goong"

Panom Yeerum ( _th. พนม ยีรัมย์; IPA2|pʰanom jiːrɑm) born on February 5, 1976 in Surin province, Isaan, Thailand, better known in the West as Tony Jaa and in Thailand as Jaa Panom, is a Thai martial art film actor, choreographer and director. His films include "" and "Tom-Yum-Goong" (also called "Warrior King" or "The Protector").

Biography

Early life

Tony Jaa was born in the Isaan province of Surin, Thailand to a poor Thai family. Jaa grew up in a rural area and watched films by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li at temple fairs. He was inspired by them and whilst doing chores or playing with friends, he would imitate the martial arts moves he had seen in the films. He would practice in his father's rice paddy or, when bathing the family's elephants, he would somersault off their backs into the river.

"What they did was so beautiful, so heroic. I wanted to do it, too," Jaa told "Time" in a 2004 interview. "I practiced until I could do the move exactly as I had seen the masters do it." [Perrin, Andrew (October 18, 2004). [http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501041025-725168,00.html "Hitting the big time"] , "Time".]

At age 15, he looked up Panna Rittikrai, begging the veteran Thai stuntman and action-film director to take him on as a protege. Panna instructed Jaa to attend Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education in Maha Sarakham Province.

First films

He initially worked as a stuntman on Panna's team, Muay Thai Stunt, appearing in many of Panna's films. He doubled for Sammo Hung when the martial-arts actor made a commercial for an energy drink that required him to grasp an elephant's tusks and somersault onto the elephant's back. [Pornpitagpan, Nilubol (February 3, 2003). [http://www.bangkokpost.net/education/site2003/ftfb1103.htm "Leap into the limelight"] . "Bangkok Post".] He also appeared in "", as a stunt double for Robin Shou (Liu Kang), and was a stunt double in the Thai television series "Insee Daeng" ("Red Eagle"). [Yusof, Zack (November 21, 2003). [http://web.archive.org/web/20031204183807/http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2003/11/21/movies/6741584&sec=movies "Selling a Thai style"] , "The Star (Malaysia)" (retrieved from Archive.org on December 15, 2006).]

Together, Panna and Jaa developed an interest in Muay Boran, an ancient style of Muay Thai and worked and trained for 1 year at the art with the intention of developing a film around it. Eventually they were able to put together a short film showing what Jaa could do. One of the people they showed it to was producer-director Prachya Pinkaew, who was duly impressed.

This led to "" (องค์บาก) in 2003, Jaa's break-out role as a leading man. Jaa did all the stunts without mechanical assistance or computer-generated effects and it showcased his style of extreme acrobatics and speedy, dance-like moves. Injuries suffered in the filming included some kind of injury to one of his ligaments and a sprained ankle. One scene in the film involved fighting with another actor while his own trousers were on fire. "I actually got burned," he said in a 2005 interview. "I really had to concentrate because once my pants were on fire the flames spread upwards very fast and burnt my eyebrows, my eyelashes and my nose. Then we had to do a couple more takes to get it right." [Franklin, Erika. May 2005. [http://www.firecracker-media.com/issue06/interview0601.shtml#top "Alive and Kicking: Tony Jaa interviewed"] , "Firecracker Media" (retrieved on December 15, 2006)] .

With the film, he was hailed as Asia's next martial-arts film superstar. And as Jaa has gained popularity, older films he made with Panna began to be released on DVD and VCD and become available internationally. These include "Spirited Killer" and "Mission Hunter 2".

Rise to fame

His second major movie was "Tom-Yum-Goong" (ต้มยำกุ้ง; also the name of a hot and sour soup, "Tom yum kung" (ต้มยำกุ้ง)). This movie enjoyed even greater success in Thailand and Hong Kong than "Ong-Bak" when released.

As he did to promote the release of "Ong-Bak", Jaa was again busy travelling the world to promote "The Protector". In August 2006, he was in New York to promote the US release of "The Protector", including an appearance at the Museum of the Moving Image. [Hendrix, Grady. August 21, 2006. [http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2006/08/tony_jaa_in_tow.html Tony Jaa in town, kicks people] , KaijuShakedown.com (retrieved August 23, 2006).]

Next projects

Sahamongkol Film International advertised that Tony Jaa's third film would be called "Sword" or "Dab Atamas", about the art of Thai two-sword fighting, with a script by Prapas Chonsalanont. [Kaiju Shakedown, [http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2005/05/next_tony_jaa_p.html "Next Tony Jaa project announced"] , May 27, 2005.] But due to falling out between Prachya and Jaa, which neither have publicly commented on, "Sword" has been cancelled.

On March 2006 it was reported that there would be a sequel to "", "Ong-Bak 2". With Tony both directing and starring, it started pre-production in fall 2006 and is expected to be released sometime in 2008. [Payee, Parinyaporn. November 30, 2006. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/30/entertainment/entertainment_30020339.php High-kicking khon] , "The Nation".] ["The Nation", "Soop Sip", May 3, 2006 (print only).] [Frater, Patrick (March 27, 2006). [http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117940367&categoryID=1442&cs=1 "Weinsteins are back with another 'Bak'"] "Variety (magazine)" (subscription-only).] Payee, Parinyaporn, [http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/15/lifestyle/lifestyle_30056086.php A hit of 'Chocolate'] , The Nation (Thailand); retrieved 2007-11-18]

While Tony was working on "Ong-Bak 2", director Prachya Pinkaew and action choreographer Panna Rittikrai were working on "Chocolate", starring a female martial artist, Nicharee Vismistananda, and also due for a 2008 release. Tony, meanwhile, has been cast in a small role in a third installment of the "King Naresuan" film series directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol. Filming is expected to begin in early 2008, with Tony in role of a slave. [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/international/news/e3i749b0ca3471b8cfe87e332d69205180b Jaa collaborating with royalty] , "Hollywood Reporter"; retrieved 2007-11-01]

Other developments

His films captured the attention of his hero, Jackie Chan, who asked director Brett Ratner to cast Tony in "Rush Hour 3". "I gave the director videos of Tony Jaa because I think Tony Jaa is the most well-rounded of all action stars," Chan told the Associated Press.cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/20/arts/AS_A-E_MOV_Jackie_Chan_Tony_Jaa.php# |title= Jackie Chan says he plugged Thai Tony Jaa for 'Rush Hour 3,' but he didn't sign on|accessdate=2007-08-13 |author=Associated Press |publisher=International Herald Tribune] "The director liked him a lot," Chan said. However, Tony said he'd be unable to participate because of scheduling conflicts with the shooting of "Ong Bak 2".cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070118074844/http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2006/05/brett_ratners_a.html |title= Brett Ratner's Asian orgy | accessdate=2007-08-13 |author=Grady Hendrix |publisher=Kaiju Shakedown via Internet Archive]

In "" there is a spray-painted message in the background in one scene that says "Hi Spielberg, let ['s] do it together", which states Tony Jaa's wish to work with Steven Spielberg. Tony further stated a desire to be cast in the recent "Indiana Jones 4" sequel. [Duong, Sehn. August 16, 2006. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/journal_comments.php?journalid=100001395&entryid=354508 Tony Jaa Says No to "Rush Hour 3," "Yes! Yes!" to Indy 4, and Reveals "Ong Bak 2" Tidbits] , Rotten Tomatoes (retrieved August 24, 2006)]

Additionally, veteran Hong Kong martial arts coordinator Lau Kar-leung has mentioned Tony as someone he'd like to work with. [Twitch Film, [http://www.twitchfilm.net/archives/006573.html "Martial Arts Director Lau Kar-Leung prepares for his Kung Fu Masterpiece: Heroes of Shaolin"] , June 16, 2006.]

kills

Tony Jaa is skilled in Muay Thai, Muay Boran, Krabi Krabong, Taekwondo, and gymnastics. Fact|date=February 2007

Languages

Jaa speaks Thai, and is learning English.

elected filmography

*"Mission Hunter 2"
*"Spirited Killer"
*"" aka "Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior" (2003)
*"The Bodyguard" (2004) (as Panom Yeerum)
*"Tom-Yum-Goong" (aka "Honor of the Beast" or "Warrior King" (UK) or "The Protector" (US)) (2005)
*"Crying Tiger" (2005) (uncredited footage from "Ong-Bak", "Spirited Killer" and "Tom-Yum-Goong")
*"The Bodyguard 2" (2007)
*"Ong-Bak 2" (December 2008 in Thailand) (in production)Fact|date=August 2008

ee also

* Panna Rittikrai
* Muay Thai Stunt

References

External links

*

Fan sites

* [http://www.tonyjaa.org The International Tony Jaa Fansite]

Interviews

* [http://suicidegirls.com/words/Ong-bak%20star%20Tony%20Jaa/ Suicide Girls Interview]
* [http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2006/jaa/index.html retroCrush interview]
* [http://www.filmjerk.com/interviews/article.php?id_int=20 Kicking Butt with Tony Jaa] FilmJerk.com

Videos

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxpu4yTMM20 CTN interview in Khmer]
* [http://lesjeuneskhmers.free.fr/tonyjaa/tonyjaa_reims.WMV Tony Jaa] at Reims, France (WMV)

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