Quick Snaps: Flashback to 'True Legend' at Fantastic Fest

Watching True Legend for a second time last week brought back memories of my favorite red carpet event of 2010, when director Yuen Woo-ping was in Austin for the world premiere at Fantastic Fest. After the screening, Yuen was awarded a Fantastic Fest Lifetime Achievement Sword -- yes, a sword -- which was presented by artist RZA (pictured above).

Master Yuen and RZA worked together on the Kill Bill movies. RZA spoke about how Yuen's work influenced his music as well as his first venture into filmmaking directorial debut with The Man with the Iron Fist, co-produced by Eli Roth. See more photos of RZA with Yuen Woo-ping event after the jump.

With the aid of an interpreter, I was able to ask a few questions of Master Yuen (seen above). He had a short break before beginning work on his latest movie, The Hands of Shang-Chi, and wanted to experience the Austin audience reaction to True Legend -- read my review.

Master Yuen stated that he is very excited whenever he films as he puts all his mind and heart into the movie, wanting the audience to enjoy his work. When asked whether he derives influence from the American film industry, he commented on how the visual effects are very good. He wants to bring those elements to his films as well.

RZA has been to Austin a few times, but not just on tour with his hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. As a film fan, RZA has been to the Alamo Drafthouse on more than one occasion for QT Fest, when Quentin Tarantino screens selections of favorite movies from his own private collection. RZA also enjoys hanging out with Austin filmmaker Robert Rodriguez while in town. I'd not realized until recently that RZA had played a small role in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, but all the more reason to watch my favorite Jim Jarmusch film.

My conversation with RZA was a highlight of the year as I found him to be quite humble with a refreshing outlook on how audiences should approach watching a movie -- that rather than interpret a film differently than it was intended, step in with an open mind and not block what could be funny or serious in our own minds.

For more photos from the True Legend event at Fantastic Fest, including the actual sword presentation, check out Fantastic Fest's Flickr set from the evening.

[Photo credit: All photos by Debbie Cerda, on Flickr]