Eddie Tsai, an action director from Taiwan who broke into Hollywood. (Photo by reporter Lin Lianhua)
(Taiwan Daily Reporter Lin Lian hua/Los Angeles Report) The trailer for the blockbuster action comedy ”The Fall Guy“ was released at the end of November this year, depicting the hardships of stuntmen in the industry. Director David Leitch grew up as a well-known Hollywood stuntman, and later successfully transformed into a blockbuster director and producer. For Eddie Tsai, an action director and stuntman from Taiwan who broke into Hollywood, becoming an action film director is his ultimate dream. ”The Invisible Fight“ directed by Estonian director Rainer Sarnet will be released on December 8, 2023. Eddie Tsai serves as fight coordinator and stunt actor in the film. After four years in the United States, he bravely entered Hollywood to embark on the path of fulfilling his dream to become a director.
Eddie Tsai (right) participated in the film festival on behalf of Estonian director Rainer Sarnet of "The Invisible Fight". (Provided by Eddie Tsai)
For Hollywood action blockbusters to be popular all over the world, action directors must design thrilling, inventive scenes that make audiences sit on the edges of their seats, and stunt performers have to work hard to perform these difficult scenes. Behind the applause and glamour of Hollywood, there is infinite blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into every project.
Eddie Tsai starts from scratch in Hollywood. He encountered the 2020 pandemic and was shutdown, but he is still optimistic about moving forward and learning from experience. (Photo by reporter Lin Lianhua)
"I have been training martial arts for over 30 years, since I was 13 years old. I am skilled at different Traditional Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu styles such as lion dancing, northern style, southern style, straight swords, long and short weapons, boxing, taekwondo, close combat, Filipino martial arts, etc. I got into the film industry because I love action movies and want to make my own based on what I have learned. Before I decided to go to the United States in 2019, I had been an action director and stunt coordinator in Taiwan for many years. To make further breakthroughs, I decided to start from scratch, and move to Hollywood to immerse myself in American film culture. However, the 2020 pandemic caused a shutdown, and although it was very frustrating, I did not want to give up. It was not until the lockdown was lifted that my workload began to increase, and the successful release of ‘The Invisible Fight’ greatly encouraged me.”
Eddie Tsai (right) performed a fighting role in the movie "Paradox" with the lead Louis Koo. (Provided by Eddie Tsai)
At the age of 28, Eddie Tsai made his debut as a stuntman in the Taiwanese TV series “Black & White" (2009). For 15 years, he has been working his way to the top. Not only has he expanded into Asia, he also worked with Hong Kong director Sammo Hung on “My Beloved Bodyguard" (2016) and director Wilson Yip’s “Paradox" (2017), in which he performs as an action-actor. He is well-established in the Taiwanese film and television industry, and is acclaimed for the well-known movies "Starry Starry Night" (2011), "Lion Dancing 2" (2015), ”The Tag Along: Devil Fish" (2018), "Big Three Dragons" (2019), "The Ninth Precinct" (2019), and TV series ”Ring Ring Bell" (2011), ”KO One 3" (2013), and 30 more. For all of these projects, he has served as a stunt rigging designer, stunt coordinator, and action director.
In the Taiwanese film production environment, Eddie Tsai (center) honed the skill of the "one-man show"
(as provided by Eddie Tsai).
After moving to Hollywood in 2019, Eddie Tsai has established himself as a powerful force with films such as "Kung Fu Games", "End of Loyalty", "The Invisible Fight" and "Alpha of Aberdeen", serving as a stunt coordinator and stunt actor. Eddie traces the origins of his aspirations back to 1999, when he represented the Chinese National Martial Arts Troupe as part of a delegation visiting North America and Europe to entertain audiences overseas. His martial arts performances received high praise, and while performing in Southern California, he visited Hollywood, which significantly expanded his horizons and planted the seed for future studies in Hollywood.
In the Taiwanese film production environment, due to limited budgets, Eddie Tsai honed the skill of being versatile and taking on multiple roles, handling everything efficiently and effectively. While this "one-man show" approach is pragmatic, he is aware of the pitfall of spreading himself too thin. After a close call with wirework in 2017, Eddie Tsai made the firm decision to put his efforts into ensuring safe filming environments for stunt performers.
Eddie Tsai went to AP8 in Australia to learn the professional skills of Western style of wire stunts/stunt rigging. (Provided by Eddie Tsai)
He stated, "In addition to observing the Hong Kong style kung fu skills of the Sammo Hung Stunt Team, I also went to rope and rock climbing experts to learn various methods and uses of rescue rope knotting and mechanics. Later in 2018, I took a loan from bank in the amount of $500,000 TWD ($16,500 USD) and went to AP8 (an international stunt rigging academy) in Australia to learn the professional skills of Western style wire stunts/stunt rigging. After completion, wire design has become my unique area of expertise, and now I can assist actors and stunt performers who perform live on set to execute safe stunts.”
With the vast variety of genres in Hollywood, comes opportunities for people of all backgrounds. After the pandemic was lifted, Eddie Tsai received many production invitations. In September 2023, he worked as a wire action designer for a film in the United States, which allowed him to show off his talents, and in June, he served as the assistant stunt coordinator for a film in Mexico with funding from the United States, for which he was in charge for all action shot design and wire stunts.
Eddie Tsai's main expertise is motion picture action design. With more than 30 years of Kung Fu experience, he has gone from fighting in Taiwanese films and Hong Kong films to taking on European and American films. He is working towards adjusting to the Western filming style which includes understanding the script, adapting to the director’s style, and integrating past martial arts experience. He hopes to continue in his area of expertise, to pursue the vision of the production and director.
On December 8th, "The Invisible Fight" was released. Eddie Tsai participated showcasing his expertise in Wire Stunts and Kung Fu. (Provided by the film company)
"The Invisible Fight” premiered on the December 8, 2023. When it started filming in 2021, the director's goal was to create a "European version of the Kung Fu film." With themes of Catholicism, shooting took place from Estonia, Latvia and Greece, to Finland. Eddie Tsai designed martial arts scenes with a focus on fight choreography, fully integrating the essence of Eastern and Western martial arts. He even portrayed a role himself, delivering a remarkable performance.
Eddie Tsai, drawing inspiration from Hollywood, is honing his skills and aspiring to become a director in the action film genre someday. (Provided by Eddie Tsai)
Eddie’s expertise in many areas has made it possible for him to gain a foothold in Hollywood. In addition to wire stunts and action design for film and TV, he is also seasoned in stunts such as martial arts, film fighting and performing being hit by a car. He also specializes in choreographing and shooting "Action Previz,” which is the visualizing of scenes or sequences before a movie is shot. Shooting Previz prior to official on-location dates has become an integral Hollywood production tool. Through 3D simulation of scenes, it can save money, persuade investors, or give ideas to the director, so that modifications can be made early on.
Is being crowned in Hollywood the ultimate goal? Eddie Tsai said bluntly: “Not at all. I want to learn how to become a successful action film director. American films have a wide variety of genres, detailed division of team labor and many opportunities for international cooperation. They are full of creativity, and I feel deeply that there is a place for me to contribute to this industry.”
Eddie Tsai has already started writing a screenplay, and the actor he most wants to collaborate with Roy Chiu, with whom he previously worked on "The Ninth Precinct." (Provided by Eddie Tsai)
Currently, he is also teaching and training young individuals interested in trying out martial arts for film.
As for the future aspiration of becoming an action film director, he envisions creating a movie that combines realism, martial arts and showcases Taiwanese culture, with desired collaborator Roy Chiu. Currently, while working on film projects, he is developing a screenplay, with the hopes of a future collaboration of the Taiwan and U.S. film industries.
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