Help Kickstart Leonardo Corbucci's Martial Arts Drama, THE ART OF FIGHTING

Actor and martial artist Jin Kelley is currently in the midst of a month-long crowdfunding campaign to help raise money for the post-production of a new proof-of-concept shortfilm. The Art Of Fighting is the name of the project from director Leonardo Corbucci and is just about halfway toward its current goal in the hopes of guaranteeing a fully-fledged feature, and not for nothing either - especially with backing by BJJ Master Rigan Machado, Hollywood stuntman and actor Jon Komp Shin and action legend, actor James Lew also on board.

The Art of Fighting is a story about a humble guy named Daniel.  Daniel is in the beginning stages of a relationship with his girlfriend Rosie.  Rosie wants Daniel to learn to fight until she realizes that not only does he know how to fight, but is an accomplished martial artist with a dark past.  

Through this journey Rosie learns from Daniel that winning isn't always everything. The journey is always about the fight, and has no base in emotions. Rage, fear, discomfort nor excitement shall control him, even for a single second.  

He can endure the bitterest cold or the fiercest heat. When faced with death itself, his mind is perfectly still. The odds, the dangers, and the opponents may be massively against him and yet his concentration, steady and sharp as a sword, may cut through them all. 

Yes, he is a spiritual being indeed – but his spirit is the distilled essence of violence in his art, .........the art of fighting! 

Looking at recent films like Phillip Rhee's Underdog Kids and Michael Baumgarten's upcoming drama, The Martial Arts Kid, it'll be nice to see another contemplative film that goes right to the heart of a positive message. I like this trend as it provides just a great balance to a lot of other films out there and I look forward to seeing what comes of this one.

Of course, that can't be done without your help. And as such, there are plenty of perks to check out now at the official Kickstarter page where you may also meet the cast and crew in their campaign video, as well as learn how to donate and what you'll earn in return.

Casper Van Dien Hates Bugs, So Help Him Kill Them In Mark Steven Grove's STAR RAIDERS: THE ADVENTURES OF SABER RAINE!

Director Mark Steven Grove's love for independent, low-budget filmlore and all things action and sci-fi has since led him to his latest labor, Star Raiders: The Adventures Of Saber Raine. It boasts a main cast consisting of actor Casper Van Dien and action legends Cynthia Rothrock and James Lew, with actress Sara Salazar also serving as unit production manager and Adam Lispus producing and many of the people on set wore multiple hats throughout its principal photography prior to its completion. That said, Grove's new film needs your help now that it's in post production and a Kickstarter campaign is already underway to help accomplish just that.

SYNOPSIS:

Rocket ships, Rayguns, and Robots abound in this heart-pounding tale where the stellar adventurer Saber Raine is hired to guide three elite soldiers on a rescue mission to recover a prince and princess who have been abducted from their home world.   

The trail leads Saber and his allies to a planet deep within uncharted space inhabited by strange mutated creatures, leech-like desert marauders, renegade mercenaries, alien outcasts, and cybernetically enhanced soldiers that guard mysterious ruins of a long forgotten empire. 

Deep within the ruins, Sinjin, a sinister overlord freed from a cryogenic chamber that has been his prison for many centuries, is now in league with the Quintari, a malevolent insectoid race known throughout the galaxy as the scourge. 

In possession of a powerful new energy source, Sinjin plots his revenge on the descendants of those who betrayed him in the past. 

Can our heroes complete their rescue mission and stop Sinjin from unleashing his fury on the universe? Find out in Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine!

The campaign video at the Kickstarter page is up and running with speaking segments from Grove and Van Dien, in addition to a slew of footage from the film to help lend an idea on what Grove has in store for this latest intergalactic swashbuckler. He's got quite a diverse resumé with one particular shortfilm I had the opportunity to recently sample called Blue Hope in which he coordinated stunts for actress Marina Voruz's action and directing debut, and there's even a small clip for it available online as of this write-up which offers a somewhat promising testament to the kind of work Grove loves doing for filmgoers.

So if you want to see something on a slightly bigger scale with greater star power, Star Raiders: The Adventures Of Saber Raine appears to be that film, although it can't be done without your help, and as per its crowdfunding status, there are perks indeed!

Watch the campaign video and learn all you need about what you can give and get back in return.

Phillip Rhee's Martial Arts Family Drama, UNDERDOG KIDS, Gets A New Trailer!

Actor and martial artist Phillip Rhee is finally returning to the screen this summer for the release of his long-awaited martial arts family drama, Underdog Kids. It will be seventeen years since Rhee's previous movie career left off with the popular Best Of The Best franchise in the 1990's, and for many fans it will be a celebration to see him back in his cinematic element with a young and vibrant cast amomg several of whom are talented martial artists, a crew accompanied by brother, Master Simon Rhee, and James Lew and Marc Canonizado designing the action, and a handful of legendary faces to appear as well, no less.

For these and all other matters of releavance, we now have a proper trailer going viral since the film's acquisition by Anchor Bay and STARZ Media last month. The film may also be getting a limited theatrical release by then as well, so check your local listings and let's hope this one delivers the 3D action and thrills it promises. Otherwise, read the official information below for a cast, dates and detailed synopsis, and then check out the trailer!

An inspiring, action-packed comedy for the whole family, Underdog Kids, written and directed by and starring Phillip Rhee, creator of the popular Best of the Best film franchise, arrives July 7 on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment and on Digital HD June 26 and On Demand July 7 from Starz Digital. The fun and uplifting film also stars Adam Irigoyen (Disney’s “Shake It Up!” and “Wizards of Waverly Place”), Ryan Potter (Big Hero 6, Nickelodeon’s “Supah Ninjas”), Cade Sutton (Disney’s “Kirby Buckets”), Mirelly Taylor (“Lost”), Patrick Fabian (“Better Call Saul”), Tom Arnold (Shelby, “Sons of Anarchy”) and Beau Bridges (“The Millers,” “White Collar,” The Descendants). 

When the struggling Mid-City Community Center’s karate team loses their instructor a week before the big tournament, former MMA champ Jimmy “The Lightning Bolt” (Rhee) returns to his old neighborhood and reluctantly agrees to train the misfit bunch. Despite the struggles they face, the washed-up fighter and group of urban underdogs bravely take on the undefeated Beverly Hills Junior National Karate Team in the ultimate karate showdown at Nationals, and learn confidence, courage and honor along the way.

H/T: The Shock! Chamber

Justin Hires Joins RUSH HOUR TV Series, Stuntman James Lew Coordinating Action

In the wake of all the news surrounding the hopeful likelihood of a forth installment of the Rush Hour film series starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, announcements have been building up through the new year with CBS moving forward on bringing the film's concept to television. With this in mind, a new report from Variety now states that actor and comedian Justin Hires has been attached to star in the series, inheriting the role played by Tucker.

Also within social media, it's been revealed that James Lew, whose expansive resumé in stuntwork and action includes having performed stunts in all three Rush Hour movies, will be serving as stunt coordinator. The series reunites Lew with Foo following their previous work together on director Tony Giglio's 2013 Crackle exclusive feature, Extraction.

The Pink script! New pages New shooting schedule...and the fun part of doing a stunt budget revision! #lovepaperwork #rushhourTVseries

A photo posted by James Lew (@dragonmasterjames) on Mar 9, 2015 at 9:52am PDT

Based on the current trilogy directed by Brett Ratner, Hires joins actor and martial artist Jon Foo in a story of a cocky maverick LAPD detective who reluctantly partners with a stoic, Hong Kong detective to solve cases. Hires is best known for his recent appearances in Christopher Miller and Phil Lord's 21 Jumpstreet (2012) and in Comedy Central's Key And Peele.

Executive producers and showrunners Bill Lawrence and Blake McCormick will be joined by Ratner, as well as producer Arthur Sarkissian. National Treasure franchise helmer Jon Turtletaub tapped to direct the pilot of the hour-long series with which was ordered back in January.