The legendary action star returns with a new secret weapon: comedy. We talk to the Brussels muscleman about his new show on Amazon and why he's willing to make you laugh.
Today, thanks to stuntmen and green screens, probably any actor can become a blockbuster superhero in a tight suit. All he needs is an easy-to-pronounce name - like Chris - and a personal trainer who can turn his flabby abs into six-pack abs for his naked torso on screen. But before CGI and other technical tricks ruled the box office, there were action stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme.
In the early '90s, Van Damme, with his signature roundhouse kicks and acrobatic spins, was one of the biggest stars in the world. Being an experienced fighter, he performed his own stunts in films such as "Bloody sport" и "Time Patrol", and charmed spectators - especially female spectators - with his velvety French accent and flirtatious manners. In subsequent years, when Hollywood's interest in traditional action actors noticeably waned and comic book franchises took a leading position, stars like Van Damme smoothly migrated to the niche of DTV films.
Despite his demotion, Van Damme was supported by a devoted fanbase, and over the past decade the actor's cult status has reignited interest in his career. First There Was, a 2008 Belgian crime drama "ZhKVD", where Van Damme played a fictional version of himself. His performance was so sincere and vulnerable that Time magazine named it the second best acting performance of the year after Heath Ledger, who played the role of the Joker in "The Dark Knight". Then in 2013 Van Damme starred in a commercial Volvo, where he slowly performs the "most epic split" between two moving trucks. This video has been viewed on YouTube more than 86 million times.
Now, four years later, Van Damme, 57, is promoting his latest project to date. "Jean-Claude Van Johnson", a new comedy series on Amazon. Once again he plays a version of himself, this time an aging action star who comes out of retirement to work as an undercover private agent. As Van Damme explains in our interview, his comic alter ego seems to be much more in line with how he sees himself today.
The Red Bulletin: In your new series, Jean-Claude Van Johnson, you demonstrate impressive comedic skills. What was it like showing a different side of your talents?
Jean-Claude Van Damme: It was liberation. I was really excited about the opportunity to open up and do something more. When I worked with directors John Woo, and especially Ringo Lam, I learned a lot about acting. They made me believe that I was capable of more. Many years ago, my father told me that someday I could become like the French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. In his films, he could be a tough guy, but also funny, like Robin Williams. But it's also scary.
TRB: What's scary?
JCVD: It's scary to show this other side because I don't know how the audience will perceive it. People know me as an action actor, but will they accept me in a comedic role? Can I combine both?
TRB: The response to the pilot, which is now available on Amazon, has been very positive.
JCVD: Well, we have a great team with a good writer, David Callaham [The Expendables, Godzilla (2014)], who, by the way, loves me.
TRB: How is that?
JCVD: This is because his mother loved martial arts and practiced judo. When he was growing up, she made him watch my films. Back then it was something of a ritual. You went to the video store, bought a VHS tape, then sat next to your mom and watched all these fights. A moment of love between mother and son. I'm part of this cult of action stars like Arnold, who inspired people like David, who gave me a great script.
The script gives you the opportunity to laugh at yourself a little, which can be a healthy approach. Have your perspectives changed over the years?
JCVD: Yes. As you get older, you don't have many chances. You tend to move in one direction, always trying to be the same, but I try to avoid that. It's great when you can try something different, like this show, because then I become more like myself in real life. I joke and fool around all the time. Of course, sometimes I have dark streaks. But mostly I am cheerful and smiling. I'm old-fashioned. And... already old, alas. [laughs]
Age is relative, isn't it?
JCVD: Phew!
This is the second time you've played a fictional version of yourself, your first being the 2008 crime drama ZhKVD. Both of these acting jobs are very self-aware, but also very different. Which version of Jean-Claude Van Damme do you find most authentic?
JCVD: What a good question. I think that in real life I am very responsible from a family point of view. I want everyone to feel comfortable. But I'm still a big baby when it comes to talking to people. I love to have fun and I have the same attitude towards life. I like to learn everything new and generally develop comprehensively.
What have you been studying lately?
JCVD: The golden ratio in mathematics and how it relates to art and nature. For example, Mona Lisa's face has a golden ratio. This is the ideal measurement. So I studied it and I tried to divide the golden ratio by the years of existence.
This is all somehow complicated, Jean-Claude.
JCVD: No, no, I'm not that into it. I am now very concerned about the future of this planet. I've been traveling the world for 30 years now and have seen a lot of changes. I have enough money, so I spend my time educating myself.
You are a public person and therefore spend a lot of time in public, does this depress you or does it make you happy?
JCVD: This makes me happy. You know, when people want an autograph or a photo while I'm eating, I'll just move my burger to the side and take a photo. Because without fans, I wouldn't be able to travel, have nice clothes and a nice house, or be able to provide food for my family. Because to be honest, hand on heart, without them I am nothing. I like people. And I also love animals. Very much.
You support a number of animal rights organizations. Why is this so important to you? What do you get from this?
JCVD: This gives me nothing other than the understanding that it is our responsibility to help animals and protect them. Our job is to educate people about what they can do to help them. I think it's hard to stop the system, and I don't want to get discouraged in this interview. But I think each of us can make an effort, whether it's helping animals or switching to renewable energy or whatever else is important to you. There are still more good people in this world than bad ones.
Let's talk about your early years. When you were 20, you left a successful gym in Belgium to head to America. What made you take the risk and come to Hollywood?
JCVD: It wasn't very risky. I had money in the bank and knew I could always go back to Belgium and open another gym. I was young, so I gave myself a couple of years to try to make it happen. In the end, two years became almost five years, but I continued to communicate and ask people for business cards, ask for meetings. And one of those people was Kirk Douglas, who invited me to his home. When I got there, he was sitting at the dinner table with his wife, eating carrots and drinking orange juice. He shook my hand and said, “I like what you do.” And I said, “Thank you, Mr. Douglas. Thank you very much". And then I left. This meeting did not affect my career in any way, but I was able to shake hands with Spartak!
I read that you put photos of yourself on the windshields of expensive cars parked near film studios.
JCVD: Yes. I was looking for Rolls Royces, Ferraris or Porsches because I thought they might belong to big stars or big producers. On the back of the photo I wrote something like “If you need an actor who can kick, jump and have a French accent, please call me. Here is my number". So I received an invitation to the film “Predator” and also to “No Retreat, No Surrender.”
Well, it really worked! And where did such persistence come from?
JCVD: I think I wanted to prove my love to my parents in this way. Because with love in your heart you can do anything. When I was a child, I was very skinny and frail. At school I was the guy they said would never amount to anything - an idiot, a loser, an outcast. I escaped from it all by immersing myself in the world of comics. My father had a newsstand, and every week there were new comics, such as The Adventures of Tintin. With Tintin I could travel the world. I could go to Russia, Africa, America with him and his dog Snowball. They were my best friends. But then my parents sent me to the martial arts section, and I changed. It changed me.
It has turned you into Brussels muscle. By the way, what does your typical workout look like today?
JCVD: The most important thing is to remain flexible. If I make a video lesson, it will be for people with injuries: for those who have problems with their backs, knees, and so on. To be in great shape, you first need to learn how to keep yourself in a good position. You must know how to walk and bend properly before attempting to lift anything. Otherwise it will turn into: “Oh! My back"!
It is important to develop both physically and mentally.
JCVD: As a human being, you can use both your body and your mind. Your physical form pays the bills, takes care of your family, your children, your friends. But with the power of your mind, with your thoughts, you can create your own story. And sometimes when you actually decide to do something, it comes true. And then people begin to reach out to you.
The original text of the interview was taken from jcvdworld.com
Published: November 17, 2017
Translation: Black Dragon
Excellent translation, thanks for your efforts.
Thank you so much for the interview! I really want such materials to appear on the site as often as possible. There are many interviews with many different interesting people, but, unfortunately, there is no one to translate them.
Danil Chupakhin,
Glad you liked it. ) There is another very interesting interview coming up. True, I don’t know yet when I’ll finish the translation... this month, or at the beginning of next. The material is quite voluminous.
Black Dragon,
We will be glad to see the material!
Thanks for the interview )
Denis Letov,
Please. By the way, if anyone hasn’t seen it yet, there is an interesting documentary series about it. "Jean-Claude Van Damme: Behind Closed Doors" (2011). I just watched it myself recently. )