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Hello Magzine
11/91

Hello Magazine - 11/91

Interview - Victoria De Alcahud

Article Text: Bruce Lee's Son Brandon - An Action Man Like His Father

Brandon was eight-and-a-half when his father died in Hong Kong. At such a tender age, the loss of someone as vital as a father can deeply scar a boy for the rest of his life; nevertheless, at 26 Brandon is a young man with his feet firmly on the ground who knows exactly what he wants. And he's fighting to get it: "I always knew I wanted to be an actor, since I was four years old," he says. "It was just a matter of time before I got there." And got there he has - he recently finished work on his latest film, an action film called Rapid Fire which is due to be released in Britain next June. We spoke to him at his home in Los Angeles.

Brandon, did you decide to take up acting because of your father?

Not al all. No one in my family pushed me. What's more, I'd say my mother didn't like the idea of me going into this business but it was there inside of me. Not long ago, she sent me an old family Super 8 film, taped on to video. I was around five, so that this my first go at acting. My grandmother and sister were also in the film, but they didn't take it as seriously.

You must have realized that being the son of Bruce Lee and doing action films as you do everyone would compare you to your father. 

People will always compare me to my father, even if I were a dentist.

It has to be a heavy load being the son of a world-famous actor who wants to work in films.

I think there is a positive and a negative side to being the child of a personality. I try to concentrate only on the positive side because I believe that that's what my father would have wanted me to do. If he were alive it would break his heart to think that his life, his achievements were nothing but burdens for me.

You seem so sensible - a person who appears to have spent a lot of time meditating over his life and what you want from it.

It is not as was as it might seem. I have deep psychological problems with respect to my father's death, but I don't let them affect my life.

You’re an expert in orient philosophy and martial arts- is that also part of your father's legacy?

As soon as I learned how to walk my father began teaching me, and I had very good schooling while we lived in Hong Kong. When he died, I dropped everything. Some five years later, in California, Danny Inosanto, who was an old disciple of my father, became my teacher. Actually I'm still with him, learning every week.

And what is it that you do?

It's best not to give it a name. It's a way of living and includes a certain physical and mental fitness, Of course, it also helps me out in the movies I make. But anyone can learn this discipline. It's good for everyone.

When you were 20, you made your first film, with David Carradine. You played the role of his unknown son in Kung Fu: The Movie.

Yes, a son nobody knew existed. It was also the first job I'd ever had in my whole life and I just couldn't believe it. The first morning I showed up on the set and saw my name written on a sheet of paper with my arrival time and all the details, it seemed incredible. I was so excited that the first week I couldn't sleep one single night. It was marvelous!

Do you still feel the same excitement when you get a new job now or has it become a way of life for you?

I get to sleep now, but it is still just as exciting. The only noticeable difference is that I'm much more responsible.

What do you mean?

From the moment I realized that, with a bit of luck, I could earn my living in films, I started taking acting lessons in the Strasberg Academy and in many more. And, of course between films I still study. I do action movies but it's not always going to be that way.

Why not? Isn't the shooting, the chasing interesting enough for you?

The public love it, but for an actor it's boring to always do the same kind of role. I want to do drama, comedy, farce…everything!

You can't complain; at 26 and with three films behind you, you've signed two big contracts with 20th Century Fox and another with Carolco - who produce Stallone's films

Don't be fooled. Those are nothing more than pieces of paper.

That's true, but it does show a certain degree of interest, which is something. After Showdown in Little Tokyo, you made Rapid Fire, which is scheduled to come out next Spring.

This time I play a young witness a murder who is forced to testify by law. The federal agents who are protecting me turn out to be these really bad guys who want to kill me.

And naturally, you're not going to let them?

I take care of a couple of them, and liquidate a couple of others! But, seriously, one of the things I like most about this film is that I was in charge of staging the martial arts scenes.

Tell us about your mother Linda, and your sister Shannon?

My mother worked for some time in a kindergarten and now she's fly-fishing.

For a living?

No, just because she liked to…it's a joke really - that's what she was doing last week when I called her! Shannon has just finished college and sings opera. She's a soprano with a marvelous voice. You'll be hearing about her soon.

Transcribed by Samantha/BLM