Tony Jaa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Jaa

Tony Jaa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tatchakorn Yeerum (Thai: ), formerly Panom Yeerum (Thai: [panom jiram]; born February 5, 1976 in Surin province, Isaan, Thailand), better known in the West as Tony Jaa, in Thailand as Jaa Panom, is a Thai martial artist, actor, choreographer, stuntman, director, and former monk.[1] His films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior , Tom-Yum-Goong (also called Warrior King or The Protector) Ong-Bak 2: The Beginning, and Ong Bak 3.

Tony Jaa

Contents
1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Stunt work 2.2 Acting 2.3 Next projects 2.4 Other developments 2.5 Monasticism 2.6 Return to Acting 3 Filmography 3.1 Early films 3.2 Non-leading films (Cameos) 3.3 Stunts 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 6.1 Interviews

Tony Jaa (in the middle) Born Jaa Panom Yeerum February 5, 1976 Surin province, Isaan, Thailand Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)

Early life
Tony Jaa was raised in a rural area, and as he grew up he watched films by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Vince Lam and Jet Li at temple fairs, which was his inspiration to learn martial arts. He was so inspired by them that while he was doing chores or playing with friends, he would imitate the martial arts moves that he had seen, practicing in his father's rice paddy. As a child, when he was 10 years old,he threaten his father that he would kill himself if he wasn't taught Muay Thai. "What they did was so beautiful, so heroic that 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."[2] At age 15 he requested to become a protege of stuntman and action-film director Panna Rittikrai. Panna had instructed Jaa to attend Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education in Maha Sarakham Province. He has trained for an unspecified time in Taekwondo although there are no details regarding if this was in ITF or WTF

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Tony Jaa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Jaa

style and if he has received formal Taekwondo training or as part of his stunt team member apprenticeship. Likewise, he is highly skilled in Muay Thai but there is no evidence at present to suggest a formal training history or competitive career.

Career
Stunt work
Tony 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.[3] He was also a stunt double in the Thai television series Insee Daeng (Red Eagle).[4]

Acting
Together, Panna and Jaa developed an interest in Muay Boran, an ancient style of Muay Thai and worked and trained for one 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 with the help of instructor Grandmaster Mark Harris. One of the people they showed it to was producer-director Prachya Pinkaew, who was duly impressed. This led to Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior in 2003, Jaa's break-out role as a leading man. Jaa did all the stunts without mechanical assistance and computer-generated effects and it showcased his style of extreme acrobatics and speedy, dance-like moves. Injuries suffered in the filming included a ligament injury 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.".[5] His second major movie was Tom-Yum-Goong ("The Protector" in the US), named after a type of Thai soup and including a style of Muay Thai that imitates elephants. 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.[6]

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.[7] But due to a falling out between Prachya and Jaa, which neither have publicly commented on, Sword has been cancelled.[8] On March 2006 it was reported that there would be a sequel to Ong-Bak, Ong-Bak 2. With Jaa both directing and starring, it started pre-production in fall 2006 and was released in December 2008.[8][9][10][11] While Jaa 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 released February 6, 2008.[8] Jaa had been cast in a small role in a third installment of the King Naresuan film series directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol, although the film was ultimately cancelled. "Ong Bak 3, The Battle to end all Battles" was released in 2010 and provides an explosive conclusion to this Thai trilogy.

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Tony Jaa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Jaa

Other developments
His films captured the attention of his hero, Jackie Chan, who asked director Brett Ratner to cast Jaa 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.[12] "The director liked him a lot," Chan said.[12] However, Jaa said he'd be unable to participate because of scheduling conflicts with the shooting of Ong Bak 2.[12][13] Additionally, veteran Hong Kong martial arts coordinator Lau Kar-leung has mentioned Jaa as someone he'd like to work with.[14] Tony Jaa also released Ong Bak 3, as a sequel to the prequel Ong Bak 2.

Monasticism
On May 28, 2010, Jaa became a Buddhist monk at a Buddhist temple in Surin, Thailand. However, as of 2011 he is no longer a monk.

Return to Acting
After leaving the monastery, it came as a surprise to all that Jaa accepted a deal with Sahamongkol film company. He is set to film Tom-Yum-Goong 2 in the near future, with "Chocolate" star Jija Yanin in a major role too, the first time Jaa has shared the big screen with another international martial arts star. Director Prachya Pinkaew and choreographer Panna Rittikrai are set to return for this film.[15]

Tony Jaa demonstrates martial arts at the American Museum of the Moving Image on August 20, 2006, during a promotional tour for The Protector.

Filmography
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003) Tom-Yum-Goong (aka Honor of the Beast or Warrior King (UK) or The Protector (US)) (2005) Ong Bak 2 (2008) Ong Bak 3 (2010) Tom-Yum-Goong 2 (aka The Protector 2 (US) Not yet released, 2012)[16]

Early films
Mission Hunter 2 (aka Battle Warrior (US)) Spirited Killer Hard Gun

Non-leading films (Cameos)

The Bodyguard (2004) (as Panom Yeerum) The Bodyguard 2 (2007)

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Tony Jaa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Jaa

Stunts
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1996) (double for Robin Shou) Ong Bak 2 (2008) (stunt coordinator)

See also
Panna Rittikrai Muay Thai Stunt

References
1. ^ Twitch Film,ONG BAK Star Tony Jaa Joins The Monkhood. (http://twitchfilm.net/news/2010/05/ong-bak-startony-jaa-joins-the-monkhood.php) May 28, 2010. 2. ^ Perrin, Andrew (October 18, 2004). "Hitting the big time" (http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article /0,13673,501041025-725168,00.html) , Time. 3. ^ Pornpitagpan, Nilubol (February 3, 2003). "Leap into the limelight" (http://www.bangkokpost.net/education /site2003/ftfb1103.htm) . Bangkok Post. 4. ^ Yusof, Zack (November 21, 2003). "Selling a Thai style" (http://web.archive.org/web/20031204183807/http: //www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2003/11/21/movies/6741584&sec=movies) , The Star (Malaysia) (retrieved from Archive.org on December 15, 2006). 5. ^ Franklin, Erika. May 2005. "Alive and Kicking: Tony Jaa interviewed" (http://www.firecracker-media.com /issue06/interview0601.shtml#top) , Firecracker Media (retrieved on December 15, 2006) 6. ^ Hendrix, Grady. August 21, 2006. Tony Jaa in town, kicks people (http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2006/08 /tony_jaa_in_tow.html) , KaijuShakedown.com (retrieved August 23, 2006). 7. ^ Kaiju Shakedown, "Next Tony Jaa project announced" (http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2005/05 /next_tony_jaa_p.html) , May 27, 2005. 8. ^ a b c Payee, Parinyaporn, A hit of 'Chocolate' (http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/15/lifestyle /lifestyle_30056086.php) , The Nation (Thailand); retrieved 2007-11-18 9. ^ Payee, Parinyaporn. November 30, 2006. High-kicking khon (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11 /30/entertainment/entertainment_30020339.php) , The Nation. 10. ^ The Nation, "Soop Sip", May 3, 2006 (print only). 11. ^ Frater, Patrick (March 27, 2006). "Weinsteins are back with another 'Bak'" (http://www.variety.com /index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117940367&categoryID=1442&cs=1) Variety (magazine) (subscription-only). 12. ^ a b c Associated Press. "Jackie Chan says he plugged Thai Tony Jaa for 'Rush Hour 3,' but he didn't sign on" (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/20/arts/AS_A-E_MOV_Jackie_Chan_Tony_Jaa.php#) . International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/20/arts/AS_A-E_MOV_Jackie_Chan_Tony_Jaa.php#. Retrieved 2007-08-13. 13. ^ Grady Hendrix. "Brett Ratner's Asian orgy" (http://web.archive.org/web/20070118074844/http: //www.kaijushakedown.com/2006/05/brett_ratners_a.html) . Kaiju Shakedown via Internet Archive. Archived from the original (http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2006/05/brett_ratners_a.html) on 2007-01-18. http://web.archive.org /web/20070118074844/http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2006/05/brett_ratners_a.html. Retrieved 2007-08-13. 14. ^ Twitch Film,"Martial Arts Director Lau Kar-Leung prepares for his Kung Fu Masterpiece: Heroes of Shaolin" (http://www.twitchfilm.net/archives/006573.html) , June 16, 2006. 15. ^ http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/04/tony-jaa-and-prachya-pinkaew-reunite-for-tom-yum-goong-2.php 16. ^ Tony Jaa returns in The Protector 2 (http://www.killerfilm.com/articles-2/read/tony-jaa-returns-in-the-protector2-71823)

External links

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Tony Jaa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Jaa

Tony Jaa (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1388074/) at the Internet Movie Database

Interviews
Suicide Girls Interview (http://suicidegirls.com/words/Ong-bak%20star%20Tony%20Jaa/) retroCrush interview (http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2006/jaa/index.html) Kicking Butt with Tony Jaa (http://www.filmjerk.com/interviews/article.php?id_int=20) FilmJerk.com Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Jaa" Categories: 1976 births | Thai actors | Stunt actors | Thai stunt performers | Thai martial artists | Isan | Living people | Thai Buddhists | Thai Muay Thai practitioners This page was last modified on 15 July 2011 at 16:27. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

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