In a recent interview, producer and director Vuong Tinh shared about Thanh Long's dedication to the role of actor.
Vuong Tinh expressed his admiration for Thanh Long and frankly said that the actor born in 1954 "used his scars to enhance the position of the Chinese in the world film industry".
Vuong Tinh revealed that Thanh Long suffered multiple injuries after many years of acting. Even when in a VIP room in a hotel, he often sleeps on the floor because the soft bed will aggravate back pain. Thanh Long can only sleep on a hard wooden plank or right on the floor.
During filming, Thanh Long was seriously injured in a martial arts match with another actor. After a move, he discovered a deviation of his nose, but he only used his hand to straighten his nose and continued filming, not going to the hospital until the scene ended.
In a classic scene in the movie "Challenge of the Police" (1985), to achieve a realistic effect, Thanh Long refused to tie a rope and slid down from the lamp post. His hands were scratched and bleeding, but he was determined to complete the fighting scene after receiving the land.
"This scene is so classic, it will be difficult to recreate it in the future," Vuong Tinh exclaimed.
Notably, Vuong Tinh recalled the incident where Thanh Long almost lost his life while filming "Long Parents of a tiger" (1986). At that time, Thanh Long had to jump down from above and use tree branches as a cushion. This move was not difficult for him, but when he tried again, the tree branch that had been under too much pressure for a long time suddenly broke.
Thanh Long fell to the ground with the branches, hit his head on a rock and bled a lot. The film crew immediately contacted a leading Swiss neurologist for help, but at the time the film was filming in Croatia, and the doctor was not present in the area.
In a dangerous situation, fortunately, the doctor arrived in time and successfully operated, saving Thanh Long's life. However, filming of "Long Tu Long De" has been suspended for a long time.
Regarding Thanh Long being often compared to Ly Tieu Long, producer Vuong Tinh shared: I think Ly Tieu Long is a martial artist, and Thanh Long is an excellent action superstar. The two are in two different fields, uncomparable.
He has really elevated the position of Chinese people in the global film industry. Ly Tieu Long was the initiator, Thanh Long was the one who continued, promoted and brought it to new heights".
Thanh Long is making an impressive comeback with the action film "Chang gio chieu photo" (English title: The Shadow's Edge) co-starring with Luong Gia Huy.
As of September 3, "Chang the Gio Chua Truong" has earned 930 million yuan, becoming one of the most popular films at the Chinese box office in the summer of 2025.
During the film promotion in Guangzhou, Thanh Long shared that he had been preparing for a change for more than a decade when he realized that the life expectancy of action actors was not long. The 71-year-old actor hopes that the audience will not only recognize him as a "werving star", but also an actor with acting ability.
In May, Thanh Long was honored with the lifetime achievement award at the 78th Locarno International Film Festival.
