John Woo at Virgin Megastore with Seven Brothers Comic
Jan 3 2007
Legendary movie director John Woo, arrived to meet a group of eager fans for the signing of his Virgin Comics Seven Brothers.
Many fans arrived en masse via bus from Golden Apple Comics, at Virgin Megastore on Sunset in Los Angeles .
Woo, a man of presence and respect, smiled and spoke with fans, many in awe and tongue tied to say much. Fans of Woos were many, some relating to martial arts, others working on a movie with him, or just fans of his comics and movies.
While John Woo was busy signing comic book covers, MBN had the chance to chat about him and Virgin Comics.
MBN with Stephanie Brown, Marketing Coordinator for Virgin Comics
MBN: Virgin Comics is new, relatively new with the Director’s Cut comics.
SB: Virgin Comics is only about a year old. They’re doing things with Directors such as John Woo, Guy Ritchie and Nicolas Cage…that one is soon to come. I don’t even know if there’s an actual release date yet
This is a new direction for comics.
Virgin wanted to do something different. Besides the Directors’ Cut, which John Woo’s included in, they have an Indian mythology line. That’s our Devi, Snake Woman, Sadhu that explores those mythologies.
Why did Virgin Comics decide to do these (Directors Cut)?
There are relationships that have been formed in the past with Directors and it was just an idea to see how these would go. Gotham Chopra is one of the creators as well.
He knows a lot of people that get in contact. These people have these ideas and they turned them in to these stories.
These Directors, do they draw themselves?
All of our art in all of our comics comes from our studios in India .
They come up with the idea?
The creator and then you partner them with a comic book writer, for instance he’s partnered with Garth Ennis, and they create the story together. They have the idea, the director, partners with the writer to create the story.
One of the ideas I had read about was that this was looked at which storylines were popular in hopes of making a movie?
Yes, not in hopes. We hope for these stories…they were written differently so they can actually turn into movies.
Does that mean, Virgin’s going to get into movies?
We’re hopeful they can turn in to a screenplay, which can turn into a movie.
Is there anything people (the general public) should know that they don’t know about Virgin comics?
They have a modern take on comic books. I feel like the ordinary fan thinks of Superman and Batman…This has an edgier, more modern take. For instance 7 Brothers is very mystical at the beginning and then turns into downtown LA, 21st century. It’s very relatable.
Whereas Superman is more fantasy.
More Superhero, we don’t have any Superheroes.
MBN with Larry Lieberman, Chief Marketing Officer for Virgin Comics
MBN: How are these Director’s Cuts (comic book series) going?
LL: Really, really well. There are essentially two different types of stories that we’re publishing, half are loosely based on Indian mythology, the other half are celebrity created. The Director’s Cuts fall within the Celebrity created stories. We’re doing stories with musicians, with authors, with film directors.
So tell me who you’re doing stories with.
We have a story that’s out now with Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics. It’s very cool, it’s called “Walk In”. And Dave loves it because it’s set in a strip club, and Stewart calls from all over the world saying he’s doing research.
Are they (the comic books) going to be at NAMM?
Absolutely, so they will be there. In turns of Indian directors, Shekhar Kapur, has written a story for us called “Devi”, it’s in stores right now.
Coming up early this year we have Guy Ritchie with an author named Andy Digel, the two are collaborating on something called “Gamekeeper.” It’s a very cool sort-of Anti-Bond, hunter becomes assassin. It’s about someone that’s hunted every animal.
Similar to Snatch?
It’s like Snatch in a lot of interesting ways. Guy Ritchie’s really scary.
Is he? I heard he’s really talented.
Enormously talented, but the ideas that come out of him are, like when you sit down with John, the story, it all sort of makes perfect sense. John began explaining how when he grew up in China, no one knew who Christopher Columbus was, because he was
taught in school that Chinese explorers were the first non-natives to land on North and South America
Marco Polo?
The whole treasure fleets of the early 1400s…but when you get John going, he’s like “Yeah, where do you think Columbus got his maps from? The Chinese explorers that were there first.”
Are there any inside secrets about John we should know?
There are great inside secrets, like he really is leavingon a flight tonight for China tonight. Where he’s in the midst of pre-production for a film (“The Battle of Red Cliff”)…They don’t start filming until March and he’s already behind.
What is John like is as a person?
A lovely, lovely gentleman. What you see here is what you get. You get someone who is softspoken, and is very warm and loving to people coming to meet him. Quick with the grin, quick with the joke. He’s a good ice-breaker, where normally we’re accustomed to breaking the ice for others. So it’s a smooth path for John.
I’m watching to see how he’s interacting with his fans that are standing by.
I think these are the most wonderful people for him to meet. These are people he’s willing to spend time with. He’s pretty much a quiet home kind of guy. He jokes that he wouldn’t leave the house, the only reason he’s out of the house tonight is to do this. These are the people he’s happy to talk with because they ask him the most interesting questions. People who know the stories.
John’s approach was, I don’t want to speak to everybody but I will speak to anybody. He didn’t want to perform and parade around have to feel like he needed to make some presentation. He wanted to talk to everyone, whatever way they wanted to talk to him.
Especially in comic books, a 5 issue comic book is like a film in 5 hours. When he talks to people about the story, and what he’s signing right now is #3, so some guy’s walking up saying this is the one I’m touched by. This is my issue, tell me about why this character is doing this. Wherever they are in the story.
(C) MBN 2007
Due to the excitement surrounding John Woo's Seven Brothers, Virgin Comics announces alternate covers for the first five issues of the series. Seven Brothers is written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Jeevan Kang.
“The response to Seven Brothers has been incredible,” said Virgin Comics CEO Sharad Devarajan. “When two creative titans like John Woo and Garth Ennis are working together it is always a special event.”
John Woo's Seven Brothers #1 hit comic shops October 18 th 2006. The eagerly anticipated series features two standard editions. Edition “A” showcases a fully painted cover by world famous artist Yoshitaka Amano, while cover “B” features the work of fan favorite Greg Horn. Amano will provide a cover for every issue while different artists will provide the alternate covers.
- The Battle of Red Cliff (2008) (pre-production)
- Stranglehold (2007) (VG) (completed)
... aka John Woo Presents Stranglehold (USA: complete title) - All the Invisible Children (2005) (segment "Song Song and Little Cat")
... aka Enfants invisibles, Les (France) - The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004) (TV)
- Paycheck (2003)
- Hostage (2002)
... aka The Hire: Hostage (USA: series title) - Windtalkers (2002)
- Mission: Impossible II (2000)
... aka M:I-2 (USA: DVD box title (promotional abbreviation))
... aka Mission: Impossible II (Germany) - Blackjack (1998) (TV)
... aka John Woo's Blackjack (USA: complete title) - Face/Off (1997)
... aka Face Off - Once a Thief (1996) (TV)
... aka John Woo's Once a Thief (USA: complete title)
... aka John Woo's Violent Tradition (video title) - Broken Arrow (1996)
- Hard Target (1993)
- Laat sau sen taan (1992)
... aka God of Guns
... aka Hard-Boiled (International: English title)
... aka Hot-Handed God of Cops (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Lashou shentan (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Ruthless Super-Cop - Zong heng si hai (1991)
... aka Criss-Cross Over Four Seas (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Once a Thief - Die xue jie tou (1990)
... aka Bloodshed in the Streets (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Bullet in the Head - Yi dan qun ying (1989)
... aka Just Heroes (UK: video title)
... aka Tragic Heroes - Dip hyut shueng hung (1989)
... aka Bloodshed of Two Heroes (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Die xue shuang xiong (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Just Heroes (Australia: video title)
... aka The Killer (USA) - Ying hung boon sik II (1987)
... aka A Better Tomorrow II (USA)
... aka Better Tomorrow: Rapid Fire II (Philippines: English title)
... aka The Color of a Hero II
... aka Ying xiong ben se xu ji (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) - Ying hung boon sik (1986)
... aka A Better Tomorrow
... aka Gangland Boss
... aka Rapid Fire (Philippines: English title)
... aka The Color of a Hero
... aka The Essence of Heroes (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka True Colors of a Hero (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Ying xiong ben se (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) - Ying xiong wei lei (1986)
... aka Heroes Shed No Tears
... aka The Sunset Warrior - Liang zhi lao hu (1985)
... aka Leung chek liu foo (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Run Tiger Run - Xiao jiang (1984)
... aka Siu cheung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Time You Need a Friend (International: English title) - Ba cai Lin Ya Zhen (1982)
... aka Lam Au Chun No. 3
... aka Plain Jane to the Rescue - Hua ji shi dai (1981) (as Wu Hsiang-fei)
... aka Laughing Times - Mo deng tian shi (1981)
... aka To Hell with the Devil - Qian zuo guai (1980)
... aka From Riches to Rags
... aka Money Talk - Da sha xing yu xiao mei tou (1978)
... aka Follow the Star - Ha luo, ye gui ren (1978)
... aka Hello, Late Homecomers - Hao xia (1978)
... aka Ho hap (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Last Hurrah for Chivalry
... aka Last Hurray for Chivalry - The Brave Lion (1977) (as Ng Yu Chen)
- Fa qian han (1977)
... aka Money Crazy
... aka The Pilferer's Progress - Shao Lin men (1976)
... aka Countdown in Kung Fu
... aka Hand of Death (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Shaolin Men
... aka Strike of Death - Dinü hua (1975) (as Yusen Wu)
... aka Di lui fa (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Princess Chang Ping - Nu zi tai quan qun ying hui (1974)
... aka Belles of Taekwondo
... aka The Dragon Tamers - Tie han rou qing (1974)
... aka Ninja Kids
... aka The Young Dragons (Philippines: English title) - Chu ba (1973)
... aka Chue ba (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Fist to Fist (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Fists of the Double K (International: English title)
... aka Hong Kong Face-Off - Ouran (1968)
... aka Accidentaly (USA) - Sijie (1968) (co-director)
... aka Dead Knot (Hong Kong: English title)
Filmography as: Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Editor, Self
Producer - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s)
- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2008) (announced) (executive producer)
- Rainbow Six (2008) (announced) (producer)
- Christmas Cargo (2007) (announced) (executive producer)
- Bloody Numbers (2007) (announced) (producer)
- Tian tang kou (2007) (filming) (producer)
... aka Blood Brothers (International: English title) - Stranglehold (2007) (VG) (completed) (producer)
... aka John Woo Presents Stranglehold (USA: complete title) - The Glass Beads (2005) (producer)
- The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004) (TV) (executive producer)
- Paycheck (2003) (producer)
- Bulletproof Monk (2003) (producer)
- Red Skies (2002) (TV) (executive producer)
- Windtalkers (2002) (producer)
- Blackjack (1998) (TV) (executive producer)
... aka John Woo's Blackjack (USA: complete title) - The Big Hit (1998) (executive producer)
- The Replacement Killers (1998) (executive producer)
- "Once a Thief" (1997) TV Series (executive producer) (unknown episodes, 1997-1998)
... aka John Woo's Once a Thief (Canada: English title) (USA: complete title) - Once a Thief (1996) (TV) (executive producer)
... aka John Woo's Once a Thief (USA: complete title)
... aka John Woo's Violent Tradition (video title) - Lang man feng bao (1996) (executive producer) (producer)
... aka Somebody Up There Likes Me - Woh ping faan dim (1995) (producer)
... aka Heping fandian (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka The Peace Hotel - Die xue jie tou (1990) (producer)
... aka Bloodshed in the Streets (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Bullet in the Head - Ying hung boon sik III (1989) (producer)
... aka A Better Tomorrow 3 (Australia)
... aka A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon (USA)
... aka Ying xiong ben se III xi yang zhi ge (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) - Ying hung boon sik (1986) (producer)
... aka A Better Tomorrow
... aka Gangland Boss
... aka Rapid Fire (Philippines: English title)
... aka The Color of a Hero
... aka The Essence of Heroes (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka True Colors of a Hero (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Ying xiong ben se (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) - Ying xiong wei lei (1986) (producer)
... aka Heroes Shed No Tears
... aka The Sunset Warrior - Liang zhi lao hu (1985) (producer)
... aka Leung chek liu foo (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Run Tiger Run - Xiao jiang (1984) (producer)
... aka Siu cheung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Time You Need a Friend (International: English title) - Ha luo, ye gui ren (1978) (co-producer)
... aka Hello, Late Homecomers
Filmography as: Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Editor, Self
Writer - filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)
- Laat sau sen taan (1992) (story)
... aka God of Guns
... aka Hard-Boiled (International: English title)
... aka Hot-Handed God of Cops (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Lashou shentan (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Ruthless Super-Cop - Zong heng si hai (1991) (also story)
... aka Criss-Cross Over Four Seas (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Once a Thief - Die xue jie tou (1990)
... aka Bloodshed in the Streets (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Bullet in the Head - Dip hyut shueng hung (1989) (written by)
... aka Bloodshed of Two Heroes (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Die xue shuang xiong (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Just Heroes (Australia: video title)
... aka The Killer (USA) - Ying hung boon sik II (1987)
... aka A Better Tomorrow II (USA)
... aka Better Tomorrow: Rapid Fire II (Philippines: English title)
... aka The Color of a Hero II
... aka Ying xiong ben se xu ji (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) - Ying hung boon sik (1986) (written by)
... aka A Better Tomorrow
... aka Gangland Boss
... aka Rapid Fire (Philippines: English title)
... aka The Color of a Hero
... aka The Essence of Heroes (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka True Colors of a Hero (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Ying xiong ben se (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) - Ying xiong wei lei (1986)
... aka Heroes Shed No Tears
... aka The Sunset Warrior - Xiao jiang (1984)
... aka Siu cheung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Time You Need a Friend (International: English title) - Ba cai Lin Ya Zhen (1982) (also story)
... aka Lam Au Chun No. 3
... aka Plain Jane to the Rescue - Hua ji shi dai (1981)
... aka Laughing Times - Mo deng tian shi (1981)
... aka To Hell with the Devil - Qian zuo guai (1980) (also story)
... aka From Riches to Rags
... aka Money Talk - Da sha xing yu xiao mei tou (1978)
... aka Follow the Star - Ha luo, ye gui ren (1978)
... aka Hello, Late Homecomers - Hao xia (1978)
... aka Ho hap (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Last Hurrah for Chivalry
... aka Last Hurray for Chivalry - Fa qian han (1977)
... aka Money Crazy
... aka The Pilferer's Progress - Shao Lin men (1976)
... aka Countdown in Kung Fu
... aka Hand of Death (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Shaolin Men
... aka Strike of Death - Dinü hua (1975) (as Yusen Wu)
... aka Di lui fa (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Princess Chang Ping - Nu zi tai quan qun ying hui (1974)
... aka Belles of Taekwondo
... aka The Dragon Tamers - Tie han rou qing (1974)
... aka Ninja Kids
... aka The Young Dragons (Philippines: English title) - Sijie (1968) (as Ng Yu Chen)
... aka Dead Knot (Hong Kong: English title)
Filmography as: Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Editor, Self
Actor - filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)
- Yit huet jui keung (1997) .... Police Chief
... aka Hot Blood Is the Strongest (literal English title)
... aka Re xue zui qiang (China: Mandarin title)
... aka Task Force - Laat sau sen taan (1992) .... Mr. Woo (night club owner)
... aka God of Guns
... aka Hard-Boiled (International: English title)
... aka Hot-Handed God of Cops (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Lashou shentan (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Ruthless Super-Cop - Shuang long hui (1992) (as John Wu) .... Priest
... aka Brother vs. Brother
... aka Double Dragon
... aka Duel of Dragons
... aka Seung lung kooi (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Twin Dragons
... aka When Dragons Collide - Zong heng si hai (1991) (uncredited) .... Stanley Wu
... aka Criss-Cross Over Four Seas (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Once a Thief - Haomen yeyan (1991) .... Man on Stairs
... aka Ho moon ye yin (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Party of a Wealthy Family (USA)
... aka The Banquet - Yong chuang tian xia (1990) .... Kwong
... aka Rebel from China - Die xue jie tou (1990) .... Police inspector
... aka Bloodshed in the Streets (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Bullet in the Head - Gam ye sing gwong chaan laan (1988) .... Father Fan
... aka Jin ye xing guang can lan (China: Mandarin title)
... aka Starry Is the Night
... aka Tonight's Starlight Is Splendid (literal English title) - Ying hung boon sik (1986) .... Inspector Wu
... aka A Better Tomorrow
... aka Gangland Boss
... aka Rapid Fire (Philippines: English title)
... aka The Color of a Hero
... aka The Essence of Heroes (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka True Colors of a Hero (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Ying xiong ben se (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) - Heng cai san qian wan (1985) .... Man in Bed
... aka The Thirty Million Rush
... aka Thirty Million Dollar Rush - Ba cai Lin Ya Zhen (1982) .... John Wu
... aka Lam Au Chun No. 3
... aka Plain Jane to the Rescue - Da sha xing yu xiao mei tou (1978) .... Miss Chen's father
... aka Follow the Star - Shao Lin men (1976) .... Scholar Cheng
... aka Countdown in Kung Fu
... aka Hand of Death (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Shaolin Men
... aka Strike of Death - Tie han rou qing (1974)
... aka Ninja Kids
... aka The Young Dragons (Philippines: English title) - Ouran (1968) .... Young Man
... aka Accidentaly (USA) - Sijie (1968) .... Young Artist
... aka Dead Knot (Hong Kong: English title)
Filmography as: Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Editor, Self
Miscellaneous Crew - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s)
- Ten Dead Men (2007) (filming) (inspiration, thanks and love to the works of)
- Street of Pain (2003) (special thanks)
- Chow Yun-Fat Goes Hollywood (2001) (V) (special thanks)
- Psycho (1998) (special thanks)
- The Replacement Killers (1998) (advisor) (uncredited) (technical consultant) (uncredited)
- Diablo (1996) (VG) (thanks)
- "American Cinema" (1995) TV Series (title designer) (unknown episodes)
Filmography as: Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Editor, Self
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director - filmography
- Chu ba (1973) (assistant director) (as Wu Yu Shen)
... aka Chue ba (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Fist to Fist (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Fists of the Double K (International: English title)
... aka Hong Kong Face-Off - Ci ma (1973) (assistant director)
... aka Assassinating Ma (International: English title: literal title)
... aka Blood Brothers (Hong Kong: English title: original subtitled version)
... aka Chinese Vengeance (Australia)
... aka Dynasty of Blood (USA) - Nian qing ren (1972) (assistant director)
... aka Nin heng yan (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Young People - Shui hu zhuan (1972) (assistant director)
... aka Seven Blows of the Dragon (USA)
... aka Sui woo juen (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Water Margin (Hong Kong: English title: original subtitled version)
... aka Waterside Story (literal English title) - Ma yong zhen (1972) (assistant director)
... aka Boxer from Shantung
... aka Killer from Shantung
... aka Ma wing ching (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Shantung Boxer
Filmography as: Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Editor, Self
Editor - filmography
(1990s) (1980s)
- Laat sau sen taan (1992)
... aka God of Guns
... aka Hard-Boiled (International: English title)
... aka Hot-Handed God of Cops (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Lashou shentan (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Ruthless Super-Cop - Die xue jie tou (1990)
... aka Bloodshed in the Streets (Hong Kong: English title: literal title)
... aka Bullet in the Head - Mo deng tian shi (1981)
... aka To Hell with the Devil
Filmography as: Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Editor, Self
Self - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)
- Chang Cheh & le sabreur manchot (2005) (V) .... Himself
- From Hong Kong to Hollywood: The Making of John Woo (2004) (TV) .... Himself
- Remembering the Future: Paycheck & the Worlds of Philip K. Dick (2004) (TV) .... Himself
- Art de la guerre, L' (2004) (V) .... Himself
- "Tinseltown TV" .... Himself (1 episode, 2003)
- Episode dated 13 December 2003 (2003) TV Episode .... Himself - The Code Talkers: A Secret Code of Honor (2003) (V) .... Himself
- "Biography" .... Himself (1 episode, 2003)
- John Travolta (2003) TV Episode .... Himself - Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu (2003) (TV) .... Himself
... aka Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong (USA) - Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia (2003) (TV) .... Himself
... aka Cinema Hong Kong: Swordfighting (Hong Kong: English title: DVD box title) - The Art of Action: Martial Arts in Motion Picture (2002) (TV) .... Himself - Interviewee
- 2001 ABC World Stunt Awards (2001) (TV) .... Himself
- Behind the Mission: The Making of 'M:I-2' (2000) (V) .... Himself
... aka Behind the Mission: The Making of 'Mission: Impossible II' (USA: DVD title) - 2000 MTV Movie Awards (2000) (TV) .... Himself
- Mission: Improbable (2000) (TV) .... Himself
... aka Being Tom Cruise - Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (1999) .... Himself
- Jackie Chan: My Story (1998) (V) .... Himself
- Making of 'Blackjack' (1998) (V) .... Himself
- Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema (1996)
- Cinema of Vengeance (1994)
