'The 9 Principles of Action Comedy' - Here's What Makes Jackie Chan An Absolute Master

Tony Zhou's Every Frame a Painting is back with another excellent film lesson—the series previously covered Edgar Wright, Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, and plenty more.

In this seriously cool video Zhou looks at the martial art legend that is Jackie Chan.

Jackie Chan is an absolute master of action-comedy and Zhou breaks down the various aspects that make him such a doyen of the genre. "Some filmmakers can do action. Others can do comedy.

But for 40 years, the master of combining them has been Jackie Chan. Let’s see how he does it." notes Zhou.

Zhou talks about Chan's rhythm and timing and how editing is key to what he does. Something American editors don't understand as well as their Hong Kong counterparts, according to Chan.

Zhou also lays down "The 9 Principles of Action Comedy" which are:

1. Start with a DISADVANTAGE
2. Use the ENVIRONMENT
3. Be CLEAR in your shots
4. Action & Reaction in the SAME frame
5. Do as many TAKES as necessary
6. Let the audience feel the RHYTHM
7. In editing, TWO good hits = ONE great hit
8. PAIN is humanizing
9. Earn your FINISH

But be warned, if you watch this video and get what Tony Zhou is saying then you'll never watch and enjoy a Hollywood action movie in the same way as you used to. Ever again.

Below are some GIFs of those principles in action.