The people who knew more than I did introduced certain movies to me; we made experimental films together. This really helped me to learn about movies. I still keep in touch with some of these people. When I started in the film business, when I became a pretty strong comedy film director, I also helped a lot of young filmmakers, to help them get jobs, find movies to work on. And before "A Better Tomorrow," when some of my movies flopped and I was at a low point, one of those young directors helped me out. Without people's help, I couldn't have made it. Everything in my movies, about friendships, family -- it all comes from real life. Of course, not the stuff about gangster wars; actually, I don't know much about gangsters. .
As is evidenced by this quote the themes of friendship, loyalty and honor are the basic touchstones of Woo's outlook on life and they have become the primary themes that we associate with the power of his films. .
John Woo's entry into the film industry did not follow the same path as that of his contemporaries. Unlike many of the Hong Kong directors of his generation he did not attend film school. While some Chinese directors who are his contemporaries studied at film schools in the West and others acquired their formal film education in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, John Woo learned his craft on the job in the factory like system of the Hong Kong studios. He started his career working as a production assistant at Cathay and then moved to Shaw Brothers in 1971. At Shaw Studios John Woo worked with director Zhang Che as an assistant director. Woo attributes Zhang with teaching him how to manage action sequences. It is from Zhang that he learned the art of directing violent swordplay and kung-fu scenes. Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979), can be recognized as an homage by Woo to Zhang's style and influence. .
Young Dragons (1973) was the first film that Woo directed.
