I can't put into perspective what this tour meant to me without giving a bit of history so here goes. The first time I actually found myself a real hobby was when I was 5 years old. I was with my parents visiting an Aunt and Uncle in Melbourne Australia - the year 1982 - this was a turning point in my life which I can navigate to where my interest started. My uncle was watching a video at the time - I didn't know what it was called all I knew it was the most entertaining movie I had seen up to that point in my life - "The Fearless Hyena." - my newly found hobby watching movies. I am now 29. Jackie Chan got me into movies.From this came a demand of more of this type of entertainment from part 2 then onto all of Jackie's movies I could find. My father decided to start a collection for me of Jackie Chan movies - I have, to this day seen every one - I own all of his movies on DVD (I also own most of them on VCR & video CD but I upgraded to DVD).
Over the years and into my university days I learned Jackie was in Melbourne filming Mr. Nice Guy. I skipped all my lectures and some of my classes just to make my and see Jackie in action, I tried meeting him several times but failed every time - but I did get to see him doing something that I admired him most for getting in front of the camera.
After University came marriage, work, travel (I had been to Hong Kong 4 times & the JC offices on every occasion) hoping that maybe luck would swing my way and I could say - "I met Jackie" - the man who started me on my path to my passion. I was close on meeting him on 2 occasions once while in Melbourne, I missed out in Hong Kong by a day. Since the last time we were in Hong Kong, my wife and I had a child, Amelie. When she was born I would sit her with me to watch my favorite movies - Police Story, Project A etc.
I did my share of surfing the web looking for a fan site here and there, and then luck would have it one night on my laptop I was getting ready for bed and as luck would have it, the official site posted "Jackie's Friendship Tour 2006" - I checked out what it was - I never dreamed it was to meet Jackie in the flesh - IN THE FLESH!
I didn't care if we had the money - I was going to be there no matter what and with the patience and support of my wife we went. I was off to my Graceland.
I do watch cinema from all over the world, such as Spain, France, Germany, India, USA etc, my collection grew and to this day I own 3,764 DVDs. But Jackie's movies have a special place in my cinema room. I had met many actors and directors over the years, including Steven Spielberg, Nicolas Cage, Geoffrey Rush, Harrison Ford, George Lucas etc.
Carlos meets Willie Chan.
This trip for me was the icing on a very big cake. I finally got to meet the person behind the characters in all those movies. To be honest, I would have been happy with a photo and a hand shake, but to actually meet his Stunt men! To meet Willie! To spend most of the day surrounded by all that is Jackie Chan! To get photos in all his cars he get from some of his movies! I pointed them all out to my wife and some of the other guys on my bus who had no idea 2 of those vehicles were from Who Am I? and the racing car from Thunderbolt and the bike from Police Story!!! From Police Story!!!! Oh geez!
Carlos on Jackie's Police Story motorcycle.
With the Thunderbolt car.
Carlos is chosen to have his wish granted by Jackie.
Carlos holding a prop from Rob-B-Hood!
When they called out my name for the wish competition, to be honest I couldn't believe it, (for those who were there, I was the one that took a really long time) I was so nervous, I didn't think I'd be selected, I was thinking to myself what am I going to wish for? I even asked for the plaque so I could see what I wrote. All this time I'm thinking Jackie is waiting - Hurry Up!! So I asked him for a prop from one of his movies ... he said he'd organize it for the next day. I was absolutely Stoked! he gave me a dinosaur from Rob-B-Hood!
I got to talk to Kath briefly later that day - she told me how lucky we were (my wife got called up to the stage also - yes she was the first one where my daughter started crying - she was so embarrassed).
I met many people during the tour, there was nobody on my bus from the [Kids Corner] forum which is where I met most of the people I exchanged e-mails with. But I guess that is what the beauty of this forum is and what this meeting was all about - everyone there had something in common - we had all been touched by Jackie in one way or another.
I can't thank Kath enough for organizing this for us. It was thanks to Kath this experience happened for me (you're the best Kath). All the JC staff - they were so friendly and so willing to have a chat. To Willie for spending a few moments with everyone and just being a really cool guy ... but most of all to Jackie for being there and allowing us to have access to his life for a day - he is the best!!!! Bring on the next friendship meeting!
Carlos
(aka auspider)
Melbourne Australia
With the legendary Ken Lo.
