Bruce Lee’s 80th Birthday Blitz Recap
By “We Are Bruce Lee” staff
Last Friday (Nov 27th, 2020), the “We Are Bruce Lee” team and fans celebrated Bruce Lee’s 80th birthday with a day-long social media campaign blitz with posts and stories from special guests and contributors, including a special birthday raffle of a limited edition Bruce Lee FiGPiN.
Your donations today will go toward creating an experiential exhibit that honors Bruce Lee's legacy and brings his story to a new generation.
In case you missed it, blitz highlights:
“Bruce Lee Collectors” trailer
From Kato action figures to autographed photos, Perry Lee and Jeff Chinn, two of the world's top collectors of Bruce Lee merchandise, talk about their collections and what the icon personally means to them. Watch the full film at the We Are Bruce Lee exhibit, scheduled to open Fall 2021 in San Francisco Chinatown.
Documentarian Kenneth Eng, director of the Collectors documentary, talks about the importance of telling Bruce Lee’s story.
Videos from Special Guests
Daniel Wu, the star of AMC's Into the Badlands, is so obsessed with Bruce Lee that he named his dog after the martial arts legend. As a kid, Wu would secretly watch Enter the Dragon in his closet with the sound off because his mother didn't approve of the movie because of the violence.
"He taught me how to stand up for myself. He taught me to fight for the underdog. He taught me that if you worked hard enough and was your biggest cheerleader and harshest critic, you could accomplish things that you never dreamed of." – W. Kamau Bell, comedian and host of CNN's United Shades of America
Allen Joe was a champion Asian American body builder in Oakland. He also taught Bruce Lee how to weight train, resulting in Lee transforming his once scrawny frame into a physical marvel. Learn about Joe's fascinating life in this documentary by Rick Quan.
Despite Bruce Lee's fame as a Hong Kong movie star, people often don't know he was actually born in San Francisco. Writer Charles Russo, the author of Striking Distance, thinks it's time for the city to properly recognize one of its most famous sons.
Did you know that Bruce Lee actually failed his physical when he was drafted into the U.S. Army? Learn more fascinating trivia about Lee and his time in San Francisco from top collector Jeff Chinn.
TV host Toan Lam and San Francisco Chronicle arts and culture columnist Tony Bravo discuss Bruce Lee's sense of fashion and style. More than just his iconic yellow jumpsuit, Bruce Lee pioneered what Bravo calls "martial arts chic," suits that were a little more open and relaxed than the traditional English ensembles that inspired him.
Chinatown has long served as the culture and economic epicenter of Chinese American life in the United States. But the global pandemic has hit the community hard. Help bring Chinatown back to life by supporting the We Are Bruce Lee exhibit by becoming a donor or sponsor. Go to WeAreBruceLee.org/support for more information.
Dan Inosanto, a student of Bruce Lee, said the martial arts legend believed in experimentation and research. At a time when people tended to practice one form of martial arts, Lee researched many types, in order to find what worked for him.
Alexandra Nguy said Bruce Lee's kung fu made her a better dancer because of its emphasis on movement and power.
Official Exhibit Magazine
Bruce Lee:
An American Icon
The Chinese Historical Society of America partnered with Bauer Publishing to produce a special collectors magazine to honor the life of Bruce Lee. Copies can be found at major retailers throughout North America, including CVS and Target.
Bruce Lee-related Posts
Shannon Lee and The Bruce Lee Family Company posted a video of many Bruce Lee celebrity friends wishing him a Happy 80th birthday:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Commemorate Bruce Lee's 80th Birthday With New Stories About The Legend (Hollywood Reporter)
'Doctor Strange' Star Benedict Wong Celebrates Bruce Lee's 80th (Guest Column) (Hollywood Reporter)
The Bruce Lee Statue That Sought to Unify a Divided City (Cinema Escapist)
5 Inspiring Bruce Lee Philosophies Applied on Entrepreneurship (Medium)
Bruce Lee’s fitness regime and diet made him a pioneer among athletes and martial artists alike (South China Morning Post)
Conor McGregor Claimed Bruce Lee Could Have Been A 'World Champion In MMA' (Sport Bible)
Jackie Chan on working for Bruce Lee: ‘Everyone thought he was a god’ (South China Morning Post)
Time Magazine’s 1999 article on Bruce Lee:
"He is the patron saint of the cult of the body: the almost mystical belief that we have the power to overcome adversity if only we submit to the right combinations of exercise, diet, meditation and weight training; that by force of will, we can sculpt ourselves into demigods."
We Are Bruce Lee FigPin Raffle
The winner is…
Kendyl & Michael
from White City, Or
Thank you to all donors who entered the We Are Bruce Lee/CHSA FiGPiN raffle during the Birthday Blitz. FiGPiNs are available here for sponsors. Subscribe to our newsletter (below) and follow us on social media for the latest news about merchandise and the exhibit.
