• Rush Hour 3 - trailer [YouTube]
• Rush Hour 3 [rushhourmovie.com]

Chan is currently filming the third instalment of the "Rush Hour" action-comedy series, and co-ordinates the action sequences. He said he appreciates director Brett Ratner's input during action-scene filming.

"Even though Brett doesn't know much about directing action, he does notice details that help us improve the scene. I appreciate his attentiveness when we shoot action scenes and his feedback," Chan said.

While it was certainly considerate of him to offer some token, kind words about Ratner's cinematic gifts, we wouldn't be surprised to hear that Chan quickly loses his conveniently tenuous grasp on English the moment the director tries to offer a suggestion any more significant than one concerning the conspicuous placement of a hot extra he's promised some camera time in exchange for her number. [Ed.note—Jesus, the guy's in one Page Six item about having his assistant help him try to boink extras, and you never let him live it down!]

Bonus! A reader shares a recent chance encounter with the Rush Hour collaborators, which may or may not shed additional light on their creative dynamic:

I work at The Culver Studios, home to the highly anticipated (by who, I'm not sure) production of Rush Hour 3. [Monday], on my way to the other end of the lot, I had the pleasure of walking behind Jackie Chan and Brett Ratner most of the way. Jackie was in one of the edit bays probably watching himself flip off a ladder or attempting to speak English, Brett was waiting for him outside. Mr. Ratner was dressed in a full, green track suit...it looked like it was made of velvet or velour, must have been his formal track suit. He was looking pudgier and greasier than ever. Jackie was wearing a dress shirt and tie, looking very professional.

All I could really get from their conversation was Brett explaining to Jackie about how the scene he just watched was incomplete and needed some visual effects work. The most notable part of the encounter was watching Brett walk next to Jackie, basically shoulder to shoulder. I've never seen two people walk so close to each other. On more than one occasion Brett wrapped his arm around the inside of Jackie's and grabbed onto his arm, prom date style. It was very awkward.

In light of Chan's aforementioned appraisal of Ratner's action-directing ability, maybe what our operative witnessed was Ratner dropping by to see how his actor's rough cut of the movie was coming along, and, after tricking Chan into briefly stepping away from an edit bay with the mention of an "emergency," finally found a chance to pepper him with notes about how much better the scene will play if Chan would just let him have some exploding CGI French cops added in during post-production.

[Photo: Getty Images]

• Jackie Chan has newfound respect for dramatic directors doing action films [Breitbart]

On the same set, horndog director Brett Ratner "sends an assistant named Scott around to every female extra, collecting phone numbers in a too obvious, not-so-suave way," the source said. "Scott commands these $150-a-day actress-hopefuls to give him their phone numbers simply because 'the director wants it.' "

A rep for Ratner, who has dated Rebecca Gayheart and Serena Williams, said, "That's ridiculous. If Brett wants a phone number, he'll get it himself."

It's always nice when a flack's denial demonstrates that he or she really "gets" their client; rather than dismiss the story with something in the vein of, "Mr. Ratner is a consummate professional who treats a movie set as a temple, and would never desecrate it by sending an assistant to accost extras on his behalf," we're offered a defiant, "If Brett sees an extra he thinks he can talk into his trailer with an upgrade to 'featured' status, he'll stop in the middle of a scene, instruct the nearest AD, 'Hey, blow this shit up for me, daddy's gotta go to work,' then go sexually harass the young lady all by himself. He's always been a very hands-on director."

• STARS' EGO TRIPS TRIP UP FLICKS [Page Six]
• Defamer Casting: Be Brett Ratner's Favorite Showgirl [Defamer]

"Rush Hour 3" is looking for the Hottest, Sexiest, most drop dead The Feature Film "Rush Hour 3", Starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, is now accepting picture submissions of beautiful model and dancer type females (all natural) for an upscale French Club scene. Due to the original look of this scene, if selected, you will be wardrobed in "showgirl/burlesque" type costumes. Director Brett Ratner is personally hand selecting his favorites for an interview this up coming Monday (January 22, 2007). If selected, you will be booked on the "Follies" club scene with tentative work date of Tuesday January 30. The pay rate is $500 for 10 hours. Please e-mail a current headshot(s) and contact info to xxxx@gmail.com . Submissions should be received no later than 8:00 P.M on Sunday January 21.

We apologize for spotlighting this casting call after the stated submission deadline, but we imagine that anyone who's truly committed to succeeding in this town won't be deterred by such a piddling obstacle. Right now, Ratner's probably deep in the process of "personally hand-selecting his favorites" at the Rat Entertainment offices in West Hollywood, so there's probably still plenty of time to rent a burlesque costume and crash the session, proving by your trespassing moxie your total commitment to helping him advance his hacky, slutty French showgirl-exploiting vision.

• "Rush Hour 3" is looking for the Hottest, Sexiest, most drop dead [Craigslist]

• New Line will rush 'Hour 3' [Variety]
• "Rush Hour" Dream Team Reassembled For Inevitable Sequel [Defamer]