In a compelling conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, acclaimed Hong Kong director and producer Stanley Tong, known for films like “Rumble in the Bronx,” shared the extraordinary and often perilous journey that transformed him from a stuntman into a pivotal collaborator in Jackie Chan’s career. Tong recounted his entry into the film industry not through directing, but through direct involvement in action sequences.

His path began at age 11 when he met Bruce Lee through his actor brother-in-law, initiating his training in martial arts and gymnastics. By 1980, Tong had become a stuntman, a role that brought with it numerous severe injuries, including broken shoulders, ribs, his back, and a kneecap, along with many stitches and twisted ankles. The physical toll was so immense that his mother urged him to abandon stunt work entirely, suggesting he find a new profession.

Instead of quitting the industry, Tong heeded advice to transition into production roles as a means to thoroughly learn filmmaking. He started as a script supervisor, a position he credits with allowing him to meticulously observe "every shot, every scene, every dialogue" and witness firsthand how directors interacted with actors. While progressing through various departments—including assistant director, screenwriter, production manager, and camera operator—Tong secretly continued doing stunt work to support himself. By 1986, he had advanced to stunt coordinator, a year that also saw him train Michelle Yeoh.

Initially, directing was not Tong's primary ambition; in Hong Kong at the time, a stunt coordinator often wielded more influence than a director. However, upon reaching this position, he realized that directing and eventually producing were the only avenues to fully realize his creative vision for a film. This realization culminated in a defining moment: being offered the script for “Police Story 3: Supercop,” starring Jackie Chan.

Tong recalled the day he met Chan, studio executives, and the film distributor in a single meeting, after which he was handed the script. The prospect of directing Chan was daunting, especially when he was told he would direct without Chan's established team. This news prompted a five-day period of intense trepidation before Tong accepted the challenge. He began by deeply studying Chan’s previous works and quickly identified a critical flaw in the existing "Police Story 3" script: it featured a gun-heavy robbery on Hong Kong streets, an impossibility given strict local regulations against shooting guns and blocking roads, which could even lead to legal repercussions for the production team.

Recognizing the iconic status of the first two "Police Story" films, Tong believed that simply repeating the same formula would be futile. He bravely approached his superiors, requesting to change the script. His vision involved relocating the film to a setting where authorities would permit the expansive stunts, helicopter usage, and weaponry that Jackie Chan deserved for "the biggest story." Furthermore, Tong championed the casting of Michelle Yeoh as a genuine action co-lead, a groundbreaking idea for Chan’s films where female characters typically didn't engage in extensive combat. Both Jackie Chan and the studio boss embraced this innovative concept.

From that point, “Police Story 3: Supercop” was entirely reimagined and rebuilt. The rewritten film became a monumental success, earning Jackie Chan his first Hong Kong Film Award for best actor and significantly opening doors for him internationally. Reflecting on the film's lasting impact, Tong emphasized that its success stemmed not merely from its scale, but from the creative ingenuity employed in navigating and overcoming various production hurdles and constraints. He highlighted the essence of filmmaking as striving to make dreams a reality while cleverly surmounting obstacles.