Question 1

Why did John Woo have to re-edit Bullet in the Head multiple times before its release?

Accepted Answer

John Woo's original cut was over three hours long, and after a 2-hour-35-minute version premiered, it was deemed too long, requiring all prints to be re-edited and delivered back to cinemas overnight.

Question 2

How did John Woo get a strong emotional reaction from Tony Leung Chiu-wai during a POW scene?

Accepted Answer

Woo dressed as an American soldier and had a stuntman shoot him with blanks at close range, causing severe pain and burns, to surprise Leung and elicit tears.

Question 3

What personal experiences influenced the setting of Bullet in the Head?

Accepted Answer

John Woo based much of the film, especially the first act, on his childhood in Hong Kong slums, where his family was poor and he witnessed drug use and violence.

Question 4

Which major film festivals featured Bullet in the Head?

Accepted Answer

It was shown at the Golden Horse Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival in 1990, and later at International Film Festival Rotterdam in 1991 and Locarno International Film Festival in 2001.

Question 5

What happened to Simon Yam during the filming of a key sequence?

Accepted Answer

Simon Yam was actually burnt in the face during the POW camp sequence.

Question 6

Why was John Woo's original cut of Bullet in the Head drastically shortened before release?

Accepted Answer

John Woo's original cut was over three hours long, but he reluctantly re-cut it to just over two hours. Even after a 2-hour-35-minute version premiered, it was deemed too long, so all prints were re-edited overnight for Hong Kong cinemas.

Question 7

What extreme method did John Woo use to get a genuine emotional reaction from Tony Leung Chiu-wai during a POW scene?

Accepted Answer

To get tears from Tony Leung, Woo had a stuntman shoot him with an AK-47 loaded with blanks at close range while Woo was in costume. Woo suffered severe pain, burns, and torn clothes from the blanks.

Question 8

How did John Woo finance Bullet in the Head amid industry challenges?

Accepted Answer

After his partnership with Hark Tsui ended, Woo faced difficulty finding backing due to rumors Tsui called him hard to work with. Woo financed almost the entire film out of his own pocket.

Question 9

What personal experiences from John Woo's childhood influenced the film's setting?

Accepted Answer

Woo based much of the film, especially the first act, on growing up in Hong Kong slums: poverty, scavenging restaurant leftovers, alleys filled with junkies and violence, and a bleak environment with no trees or sunshine.

Question 10

Which international film festivals featured Bullet in the Head?

Accepted Answer

The film was featured at the Golden Horse Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival in 1990, International Film Festival Rotterdam in 1991, and Locarno International Film Festival in 2001.

Bullet in the Head

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