by Katharine Schroeder

Although Jackie is fluent in English, when it comes time for making a film in which he is required to speak his dialogue in English, he uses a coach to help him learn and deliver his lines. For the past nine years, he has worked with California native Diana Weng, who landed this unique job purely by chance. Diana, who is an actress, had auditioned for the role of Counsel Han’s wife in the first Rush Hour film. As it turned out, the role was written out of the script, but Diana learned that the production was looking for a dialogue coach, so she applied for the job. After meeting with Jackie, his managers, and the producers, Diana was offered the job and she accepted.  She has been Jackie’s dialogue coach ever since, working on all of Jackie’s English language films (Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, Rush Hour 2, Shanghai Knights, The Medallion, The Tuxedo, Around the World in 80 Days, Rush Hour 3).

Diana with Jackie on the set of Shanghai Knights.

Just what does a dialogue coach do? Well, the job description varies depending on the person being coached as well as the demands of the director and the script itself. The dialogue coach must make sure that the actor is properly delivering his lines (using correct pronunciation, emphasis, and tone, for example). Normally, Diana will receive the script and after reading through it, she will begin preparing sections for Jackie. She prints each line in block letters, highlighting words that might need emphasis or are particularly difficult. Using a system of circles, arrows, and dots, Diana marks the lines to help Jackie know, for example, where to put the inflection or to remind him not to drop the ending on a word. She rehearses with him before filming and is always on the set when the cameras are rolling. Over the years, Diana’s job has grown to include recording and transcribing Jackie’s diaries and assisting him personally on the set.

Working on the Rush Hour 3 set diaries.

Rehearsing dialogue for Rush Hour 3.

If you watch the extras on the Rush Hour DVD you will see Diana pop up and surprise Jackie during the scene where he has to say “...priceless pieces of Chinese culture.” When Jackie is struggling with a line, Diana is right there to lend support.

You may be thinking “What a cool job!” and surely it is, but before you start envying Diana, consider that there are good things and bad things about any job– even that of dialogue coach to Jackie Chan. Diana never complains about any aspect of her job, but after seeing her in action, it becomes clear that this is very hard work. As long as Jackie is on the set, Diana is there too. This can mean days up to 19 hours long! There is Jackie’s occasional frustration with the dialogue; even good-natured Jackie gets angry or upset sometimes. You need to have endurance and patience to work under tense and sometimes harsh conditions. Diana has both and a whole lot more.

Jackie and Diana in Pasadena during the filming of Rush Hour 3.

Diana's job is very important to her, but she is just as devoted to her family. During the filming of Around the World in 80 Days, Diana brought her newborn son Aaren along and took care of him while attending to her duties as dialogue coach. For the Rush Hour 3 production, she brought along her second son Christien (and a nanny, her friend Saisie) and she regularly flies or drives back and forth from Los Angeles to San Francisco to be with her family.

Jackie plants a kiss on Diana's son Christien.

Jackie and Diana on the Around the World in 80 Days set. Diana had just become a new mother.

No education could properly prepare anyone for a job as dialogue coach to Jackie Chan, but Diana’s background certainly lends itself to the position. She studied English Literature and Acting at Berkley and was very involved in the Asian-American Theater Company in her hometown of San Francisco, California. If you’ve seen Jackie’s movies, you will surely recognize her from small roles she’s had in Rush Hour, The Tuxedo, and The Medallion.

Diana in her role as an undercover officer in The Tuxedo.

She has also appeared in the Keanu Reeve film Sweet November, episodes of the American television shows Dharma & Greg and Becker, and has even done reenactments for reality television and some voice over work as well. Add to these achievements her work in commercials, print ads, and a very popular McDonald’s television spot in Hong Kong and you see that Diana has plenty of experience in the industry.

As well as doing the on-set dialogue coaching, Diana assists Jackie when he has to dub a film into English. In 2005 she was right beside Jackie for dubbing New Police Story and more recently she worked with him to dub The Myth.

Dubbing New Police Story, 2005.

Dubbing The Myth, 2006.

There is one qualification that Diana has which you won’t find listed on any resume and that is her unique personality. She's steady, strong, and intelligent and she has endless patience and energy. On the set, she's someone that you would seek out for advice or just a sympathetic ear and she's got a terrific sense of humor. She's an important part of the team that works so hard to help Jackie be the best that he can be.   

A few more photos:

Working on the Rush Hour 3 set diaries with Jackie.

Dozing on the set of Rush Hour 3. It is very rare to see Diana sitting still!

Dinner with JC Stunt Team members on Shanghai Knights set.

Text and photos ©2007 The JC Group. All Rights Reserved.

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