[UPDATED] WB & Sony Currently Bidding For Rights To THE FOREVER WAR, Channing Tatum To Star

UPDATE: Looks like Warner Bros. gets it! (H/T: Deadline)

Being the fan that I am, my biggest concern is what lies ahead for actor Channing Tatum when he finally gets things rolling as Marvel mutant cardsharp and X-Men member, Remy LeBeau in a new Gambit film for Fox. Until then, there's plenty to talk about as the list of titles add up what with Sony moving forward with a batch of work as it continues its 21 Jumpstreet adventures with a possible Men In Black crossover.

Moreover, there's also a newly announced bidding war between Sony and Warner Bros. for the rights to author Joe Haldeman's 1974 book franchise, The Forever War, which later expanded to two sequel books and a graphic novel. The rights have been switching hands in the last couple of decades, including those of special effects pioneer and Star Wars franchise crew alum Richard Edlund, and director Ridley Scott who acquired the rights in 2008 with several screenwriters contributing drafts of their own.

THR describes the book as follows:

The 1974 novel of a young man conscripted into a military task force in a war against an alien species named the Taurans. Through many battles, the man rises up the ranks of the military but travelling through space has time-warping effects, causing him to age normally but Earth to spin centuries. 

The planet undergoes many changes, including the melding into one homogenous race, the elimination of heterosexuality, and the speaking of a new language.  At the same time, he tries to remain connected to his true love, a fellow (and female) soldier who also uses space-time to slow down her aging so she can be with him.

The novel itself is a prize pick for fans of sci-fi literature, and Warner and Sony are just two of several studios that have been after the rights to this property. That said, provided that the right script is at hand with the right director, this could be another hit. I still want my Gambit film though. Just sayin. Yes, I am biased here.

More to come!

Bruce Willis To Carry Max Adams's PRECIOUS CARGO

Actor Bruce Willis's career in action movies isn't ending anytime soon. Deadline reports his next film will be shooting in Biloxi, Mississippi titled Precious Cargo, the first in a ten-picture deal between Emmett/Furla/Oasis and Lionsgate which will be sold at Cannes through Highland Film Group.

Willis will star as a crime boss looking to score on another person's heist, with helmer Max Adams directing from a script he wrote based on a 2008 short. The film is the latest Willis is set to star in following completion on Steven C. Miller's Extraction which adams co-wrote, with Willis's departure accompanied by director John Pogue from the revenge pic, Wake when financing complications arose earlier this year.

Extraction is expected to arrive in 2016 with other titles pending. Check back for more info as it comes!

Tom Hardy Dons Two Faces In The New Trailer For Crime Thriller, LEGEND!

Acclaimed screenwriter Brian Helgeland has had masses of success with his written and directorial work in some capacity on numerous films like Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential, the 2000 Mel Gibson crime comedy Payback and actor Chadwick Boseman's 2013 hit, 42 to name a few. Not resting on his laurels though, he's back with actor Tom Hardy in a new flick that takes us back to the roaring 50's and 60's when a pair of twins ruled the town, based on Helgeland's adaptation of author John Pearson's 1972  novel.

SYNOPSIS:

From Academy Award® winner Brian Helgeland comes the true story of the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangsters, Reggie and Ron Kray, both portrayed by Tom Hardy in an amazing double performance. LEGEND is a classic crime thriller taking us into the secret history of the 1960s and the extraordinary events that secured the infamy of the Kray Twins.

Emily Browning and Colin Morgan also star. Catch the first trailer in the player below ahead of its September 11 UK release!

Watch The Trailer For Malay-Language Sports Dramedy, BANTING!

M. Raihan Halim's directorial debut, Banting, is finally getting its Malaysia premiere on May 7 after initially releasing to audiences in Singapore late last year. Judging by the trailers and the overall plot, you can definitely chalk this one up as another peeling-back of the layers on gender-based religious stereotypes that influences cultural growth and self-fulfillment, although Halim's offering here promises a few laughs to help sweeten the usual formulaic drama along the way.

SYNOPSIS:

Written and directed by award-winning writer/director, M.  Raihan Halim, Banting follows the story of Yasmin Muhammad (lzyan Mellyna Ishak), a 24-year-old young woman who is tired of being stereotyped because she wears a hijab. She wonders if a hijab girl can do everything that a normal girl can do. Things take an unexpected turn when Yasmin comes across a professional wrestling gym and decides to sign up to become a wrestler. Hiding this newfound passion from her strict Muslim mother, Yasmin revels spectators with her adeptness at the sport. Can Yasmin beat against the odds to become a professional wrestler?  Most importantly, can she hide this secret for long?

An advanced screening is being hosted on May 1 locally by film club, SCAPEMedia with Halim attending and you can learn more about it by clicking here. Beyond that, check out an English trailer below.

James Wan Is In Talks To Direct ROBOTECH For Sony

It wasn't until February this year, eight years after sitting in limbo, that Warner Bros. decided to pick up the base on adapting the 1985 Harmony Gold USA/Tatsunuko Productions hybrid animated series, Robotech, for a live-action production via their Hollywood Gang banner. While the production has since switched hands over to Sony Pictures last month, a director was still being sought for with Mama helmer Andy Muschietti in talks at the time, but the prospects have only been greater as at least one director has shot his way to several commercial and critical milestones in the last four weeks, ultimately getting the studio's attention.

With this, we now pan over to Furious Seven director James Wan, better known for his principle work on the horror genre with the 2004 thriller, Saw as well as Insidious 1 and 2, The Conjuring and its forthcoming sequel, with a noteworthy mention of his 2007 revenge pic, Death Sentence. Of course, its the former that has gotten Sony's attention making certain to bring Wan to the table now with the hopes that he'll take to task with Robotech, according to Deadline. Producers Mark Canton and Gianni Nunnari are on board with a script by 300 scribe Michael Gordon centered on two young pilots who, with the help of giant robots crafted from crash-landed alien technology, become Earth's last hope against waves of attacks from intergalactic warriors looking to retrieve their flagships energy source, "the protoculture". Sony Pictures Entertainment Group President Doug Belgrad, Columbia Pictures Production Chief Michael De Luca, and Sony Pictures Vice President of Creative Production Matthew Milam are overseeing.

Wan's success rides on a wave of support from fans this Spring with the turnout for Furious Seven to the tune of well-over a billion dollars, breaking box-office records in the U.S. and abroad, and even beating out Disney's animated feature, Frozen within its first few weeks, and for this, Wan has plenty of options on the table.

The director is currently attached to the development of a live-action graphic novel adaptation of Malignant Man for Fox as of last year, and as of earlier this month, is in the running for Warner Bros.'s DC property, Aquaman for which Jason Momoa is expected to star. Of course, another option is to return to Universal Pictures for the pending follow-up, the tentatively-titled Furious 8, which made headlines this month at CinemaCon where franchise star, actor Vin Diesel announced its release date for April 14, 2017.

Stay tuned for more info!

TO THE HASHI: What The Hell Was So Wrong With Man of Steel?!

So recently the Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice trailer was unleashed upon us, eagerly peaking out the Venetian blinds of pirated videos and then, grudgingly, released officially (in clear HD!) by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Everyone and their mother flocked to the internet, their critical eyes cast upon the screen. “What would Zack Snyder offer?” they wondered, many of them skeptical while others still awaited the reel with sober enthusiasm.

By the time it was done, polarizing opinions had been formed. All of which, in some way or the other, influenced by the film’s predecessor; the somewhat infamous Man of Steel. And though I am not a Superman fan, I find myself among the group recorded as favorable in their opinion of the film. A film, that while flawed, achieved its primary objective; to render Superman appealing to a modern audience as well as adherent fans of the comic, and to launch a DC cinematic universe with the film as its springboard.

Well. There have been complaints about Man of Steel. And they’ve been stretched to encompass the foundation of a negative reaction to the newly minted trailer for its sequel. In this article we will discuss that at length. And I’ll offer a counter-thesis beverage to the prevalent Haterade.
            
Before we talk about the Dawn Of Justice trailer, it behooves us to take a look back two years ago at Man of Steel and do some service to DC’s approach to world building. First, its clear from the very first reel that they aren’t doing it like Marvel, which is kinda good since, ya know, THEY’RE NOT MARVEL! And I promise you it’s important to scream that line, as well as repeat and perhaps chant it, in hopes that it will one day reach the Marvelites and DC Downers calling foul on every road not already tread by Captain America and Co.

Man of Steel had the tall task of rebooting Superman, a character that has, to an extent, diminished in relevance in the age of the anti-hero, and shortly after the failure of Superman Returns just a few years prior. For that film, Bryan Singer was criticized for presenting a Superman that went his entire film without throwing a single punch, who was transformed simultaneously into a deadbeat father and a creepy stalker who, it just so happens, can see through walls. His Superman was a toothless tiger, tied unwisely to a dated iteration. Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor was a waste, returning to the Gene Hackman interpretation complete with bumbling idiots for a crew and a Prometheus speech that only served to remind us all of what could have been.
           
For the reboot of the Superman mythology to succeed, it needed to distance itself from the past, and allow Christopher Reeve’s legacy to finally rest in peace. This meant that Superman would have to fight. And not only that. He would need to fight epically and on a grand stage. The film would also have to serve as a starter piece to the cultivation of a DC shared universe. It would need to be grounded in an atmosphere of sci-fi realism and human drama and yet set the stage for characters like Batman and Doomsday and Cyborg and Brainiac and Wonder Woman and Aquaman to eventually show up on the scene. A tall order indeed. And a serious undertaking, a party that characterizations drawn from the Super Friends model would not be invited to.
           
Snyder’s choice, a wise one, was to approach it as the set up to a classic mythology. George Lucas studied Joseph Campbell’s Hero With A Thousand Faces while developing his world for Star Wars. There is a preponderance on Classic Jungian archetypes scattered about, much like the way Snyder chose to approach the development of Superman’s Kryptonian underlying mythology. It’s the story of a lost savior archetype, a forlorn and orphaned hero being introduced into a world of other godlike heroes that will band together in the aftermath of his coming out party.

In the beginning, we are given the fall of Krypton. And with it, we are shown a great deal of exposition and world building. We see the scope and advanced nature of their technology, and so are allowed to comfortably believe the things that happen later in the film such as Jor-el’s projected consciousness holding conversations with Kal-el and Zod, as opposed to just a giant floating translucent ice head that could magically talk to Kal in the present tense. Speaking of which, the casting of these two bears mentioning. You got Russell “fucking Maximus” Crowe as Jor-el! And Michael “The Iceman” Shannon chewing the scenery as Zod, a great honor to Terence Stamp as well as the many comic book iterations of the character.

“Jor-el was right! You’re all a bunch of fools! Every last one of you!”

Their fight scene and Jor-el’s death were charged with drama, despite happening within the opening minutes of the movie. It was Cain and Abel battling over ideals. One noble and optimistic, the other self-righteous and admittedly cruel. We are familiar with the underlying archetype presented, and note that the ethos of it is faithful to the spirit of DC comics’ universal distinction; while Marvel comics, and likewise their films, draw from everyman drama, DC is different in that their characters are drawn from a pool of grand and operatic archetypical structures. So the exchange between Jor-el and Zod is built on this definitive foundation.  

On the portrayal of Jonathan Kent. Many have argued that Kevin Cosner’s work, as well as the script, was against type and betrayed the canon. There have been misgivings in regard to the expression of his fears in association to Clark’s upbringing, and his own ultimate death by hurricane. But his fears make sense in terms of realistic human drama. How, indeed, will people react to the knowledge of there being a person like Clark out there? In how many ways would it shatter the various worldviews that shape and engird modern society?
           
Though I am in agreement that the Johathan Kent death scene itself was a bit forced (seriously, Jonathan could have tended to the child while Clark could have safely and effectively went back for the dog without his powers being revealed), it did a serviceable job of dramatizing the ideal that shaped Jonathan Kent’s resolve. It harkened back to conflicted advice to young Clark after saving that bus full of kids. It proved that it wasn’t cruelty in the suggestion that maybe he should have let them die, but a believable fear in the world bending consequences of Clark’s secret coming out. A belief that, ultimately, was strong enough for Jonathan to sacrifice his own life in service to.  

Amy Adams is a believable Lois Lane. In a comic or cartoon version, it is relatively easy to present the character’s quirks and silly characteristics (the spelling thing comes to mind), and her penchant for falling into danger’s way. But in a film striving for realism, it is important to establish credibility in regard to the reality of Lois Lane being a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist working for a major newspaper in the 21st century. Adams is sarcastic and direct without being awkward, and smart enough to sell the idea of the character’s back-story. We don’t need to see another Lois clumsily misspelling simple words and carrying on like a catty idiot. We don’t need to see her over-sexualized or treated like a mere stage prop to be saved over and over again from her own exhausting clumsiness either. But we do welcome seeing her working competently in the field and in the office, her standing up to Perry and defending the integrity of a story. This is a respected news room, not a paparazzi rag, and Man of Steel gave me permission to believe that.

"So if we’re done measuring dicks…”

           

ON THE QUESTION OF LEX LUTHOR...

Much lip service over the web has been given in regard to speculations over Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor, though none have actually seen him in the role yet. Not even, physically, in the Dawn Of Justice trailer. This is important when you remember that Michael Rosenbaum looked like a horrible choice to play the same character before he achieved it with flying colors on Smallville. Nothing in his prior filmography even suggested he’d be good for the part. But shave his head and don the suits he did, leaving the rest, as they say, to history.
           
I remember seeing him in Urban Legends and saying to myself, “Well shit. This fucking guy was Lex Luthor!” And I’ll submit he was the best Lex Luthor, given the best material to work with and offering a welcome departure from Gene Hackman’s recorded work on the set during Donner’s Superman run. I say ‘best’, sure, as a matter of opinion. But it can be argued that the most quintessential version of the character portrayed in media has been the shrewd Machiavellian billionaire –the ‘prodigal son’, as he describes himself, that gains so much power in the world that he eventually becomes the president of the United States. Not the disowned fool who lived underground, surrounded by idiots, engaged in hatching one stupid world domination plot after the next like a typical mustache twisting caricature.

Well. I’ll leave it for you to decide, dear reader. But consider that Jesse Eisenberg has a better filmography than Michael Rosenbaum, has proven greater film presence, and has at least two roles under his belt that offer shades of a Lex in there; The Social Network and Now You See Me.

There is a thing that came up in a conversation I was having about the nitpicky haters of everything related to the DC cinematic universe. I posited that these people, skilled in their calisthenics for leaping long distances to find things to complain about, must have been track stars in high school –they must have excelled in the long jump, the triple jump, or, perhaps, the hurdles even. There’s not enough bright color in his suit (despite that the muted colors represent a beginning and a ‘coming of age’). Look at the destruction he caused (while saving the PLANET from the Kryptonian World Engine!). Look at his tactical flaws during not only his first battle as a superhero but the very first fucking fight of his entire life! Look at how he killed Zod! gasp! Superman doesn’t kill!... Only, he killed that exact character no less than three times in the comic, and also killed him in the beloved Richard Donner series that Bryan Singer took a chilli shit on.

All these complaints about the death toll in Metropolis, all the damage to the city. All this stuff they’re blaming Superman for, forgetting that they’re talking about a movie. A superhero movie. And as a rule, we allow for certain things to happen absent the scrutinizing eye of some armchair Neil deGrasse Tyson.

If Peter Parker can do super-heroic Spidermanning antics unmasked in a high school setting amid dozens of witnesses, in two separate incarnations!, and not be immediately outed as Spiderman in either, then Superman can have an epic godlike battle against Zod with a backdrop of fire, brimstone, and falling buildings. If the Avengers can have a battle with an alien army in fucking New York City without the goddamn US Military sending troops and tanks and jets to intervene (even Transformers didn’t fuck THAT up!), then shut up about the destruction of Metropolis in a Superman movie already.

And speaking of the Avengers!, if Tony Stark can out himself as Iron Man on national television at the end of his first movie and not get immediately gunned down or stabbed in the street when out of costume by some religious fanatic or a political lunatic at the beginning of his second movie, then maybe not give Clark such a hard time for not being picture perfect in the very first fight of his life (a point that cannot be overstressed) –against a trio of equally powered, thoroughbred and trained warriors no less, son!!!

And since we’re on the topic of destruction during Superman fights, lets celebrate the hypocrisy of the Man of Steel complaint with a series of panels from the comic..

DAWN OF JUSTICE...


Alas, a full trailer is expected on May 15 in front of Mad Max: Fury Road, but before then, we now arrive at the aforementioned first trailer. The hate troopers, true to form, have attacked the proceedings with zeal and panache. Many have argued that “it’s too dark”, failing to account for the fact that in the teaser Superman is seen in Gotham City, a place characterized by its darkness, and at night time, which, if my information is correct, can sometimes result in a not so bright sky. These same people complained about the muted colors of Superman’s suit in the first film but forgot to praise that his brighter hues are present this time around. Ben Affleck is still being mockingly called “Batfleck”, despite how on point the first look at his Bruce Wayne is, and how epic and jacked he is in his first appearance in the Batman costume. This is the most imposing Batman we’ve ever seen on film, presented by the first director with his hands on the character that has a proven history of being capable of shooting competent fight scenes. I won’t insult the process of filmmaking by even entertaining the “Affleck can’t act” complaints, but I will say that it looks a lot like this film is a natural and honest progression of its predecessor - not the Marvelific standalone Superman sequel that confused detractors wish it were, but a flowering outward of the mythology that gets the attention of other characters in the DC Comics universe, introducing them into a uniquely designed shared universe.

I am intrigued by the “false God” imagery - the world’s reaction to an alien presence, despite that alien’s part in saving said world. I am intrigued by the suggestion that there is a Superman cult in the movie, all this capitalizing on Jonathan Kent’s fears as well as a relatively realistic examination of how the real world would initially react to Superman’s presence, especially in the aftermath of the Metropolis battle. Plus we’re finally getting Wonder Woman, and a badass Aquaman to end the ignorant assumptions that a character who can cut Superman’s skin is a land-challenged joke.

There’s plenty to be hopeful for and enthusiastic about, in a marketplace already over-saturated with reboots, remakes, and copies of copies of copies. So let’s shut up and wait and see, folks. And let’s stop hating shit just because it’s new.

I’ll be the first to eat the humble pie if I’m wrong, and best believe I’ll be pissed off enough about it to write another TO THE HASHI!

KINGSMAN Is On Its Way To A Sequel At Fox

Director Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Secret Service had a phenomenal theatrical run overseas and here in the states. $400 million dollars at the box office sure says a lot as well, which is a one-up for folks in line for live-action comic book and graphic novel adaptations, and there's no question that comic-book creator Mark Millar is a happy man for that.

So, what next? Well, of course there will be a sequel! Word from The Wrap states that an official studio announcement wasn't made but the word is that a second offering of gentlemanly secret-agent espionage and buttkickery is in the works at Fox following the first film which arrived in February. Actor Colin Firth plays an elite member of a secret organization of well-suited spies who takes in a troubled youth with the strong potential to become an agent himself in lieu of an evil tech genius's plot, with Taron Egerton and Samuel L. Jackson also starring.

We'll be hearing more on this as this now seems to be a thing while our dear director moves ahead with plans to direct a reboot of Flash Gordon as of two weeks ago. Stick around!

Catch The New Teaser And Poster For THE LAST WITCH HUNTER!

With all of the hype surrounding the Fast And Furious franchise amid its global success, it's easy to forget that actor Vin Diesel is, all for intents and purposes, an actor with his hands in other various properties. Such is the case with his latest role as an immortal witch hunter battling his way through New York City's demonic throes in the new thriller, The Last Witch Hunter.

Suffice it to say that his screen personas in Dom Torretto, Riddick and even xXx aren't going away anytime soon as long as Diesel's career remains prominent, which isn't really that all hard any more. Nonetheless, it's great to see him pivot towards something different, and I can't imagine anyone by-and-large saying no to watching Diesel battle cinematic evil in all its forms.

Alas, the good and kind folks at MTV spent their Wednesday rolling out the fresh new poster and a brand new teaser for the film which releases on October 23 from Lionsgate/Summit. The Crazies helmer Breck Eisner directs from a script by Melisa Wallack with fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio designing the action, and you can read more about him in my latest interview by clicking here.

SYNOPSIS:

Tormented by the loss of his family and cursed with immortal life, the last witch hunter (Vin Diesel) is all that stands between humanity and the combined forces of the most horrifying witches in history.

The Last Witch Hunter

H/T: MTV

Choi's ASSASSINATION Takes Aim With A New Teaser!

Woochi and The Thieves helmer, director Choi Dong-hoon's new period thriller, Assassination is finally getting a release this July with a date pending, and a cast that assures our dear director in good company of great talent. This, on top of a vision with a production that takes place in China as well as South Korea, and we can pretty much get an idea of the immense scope and qualtiy Choi has crafted together for audiences.

SYNOPSIS:

Early 1900s Korea was under Japanese occupation and many Korean resistance activists were based in China, hiding from the Japanese authorities. The year 1933 in Shanghai, a command to covertly assassinate the Japanese Army’s commander is given to AHN Ok-yun, a top-notch sniper sentenced to death. For this task, YEM Sek-jin, an agent of the interim government extricates AHN Ok-yun and her comrades from the prison. But the grand plan is exposed to Japan by an internal spy and a hit man, Hawaii-Pistol is being hired to get rid of AHN. The assassination squad arrives in Korea without knowing hit-man's chase. Can she make the impossible mission completed?

Actress Gianna Jun leads the cast with fellow The Thieves co-stars Lee Jung-Jae and Oh Dal-su, along with Kundo stars Ha Jung-Woo, Cho Jin-woong and Lee Kyoung-young. And on that note, get a look at the spectacular teaser in the player below!

LA Coroner Confirms Darren Shahalvi's Death Was Not Drug Or Alcohol Related: Details Included

The pain and grief surrounding the sudden death of Ip Man 2 and Bloodmoon co-star action star and genre legend, actor, Darren Shahlavi, in January this year, still lingers for fans, and even moreso for close friends and relatives. Considering Shahlavi's undisputed health in a career resumé spanning well over twenty years, it was certainly a shock for the martial arts and film community as questions still remained how Shahlavi passed away in his Los Angeles home.

Of course, that didn't stop the salacious reporting from TMZ among other mediums and the trolls around the web from feeding the false narrative alleging drugs and alcohol were somehow involved in the action star's death while an official report from the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner remained pending. Well, the Shahlavi family finally got what they needed this week and have released an official statement with the specifics, stating no less what will be for many, the obvious, as this now closes one more chapter for the Shahlavi family in their enduring efforts to keep his legacy alive amid the ongoing healing process.

The late action star's further appearances include Jean-Claude Van Damme's new thriller, Pound Of Flesh next month, the live-action Zambo Dende short, and the forthcoming reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance with debut actor Alain Moussi.

Read the full statement below via Westender:

Darren's family recently received a Coroner’s report from the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner, and would like to share the results with his friends, colleagues and fans. 

Darren died on January 14, 2015 of natural causes: a sudden and fatal heart attack. He was found to have Atherosclerosis (also known as arteriosclerotic vascular disease or ASVD) His left anterior descending artery was 95% blocked, which must have been worsening for several years.   

Darren had no drugs or medications in his body, and only 0.02% BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration); to put this into context 0.08% is the BAC Driving Limit for both he US & UK. There are no other medical factors linked to his death.  

It seems unlikely that someone as fit as Darren – who was so dedicated to exercise and fitness and had such a healthy low fat/dairy diet – should have heart disease, but we have been told that a genetic predisposition resulted in the development of heart disease and is not uncommon in otherwise healthy young men, including athletes and other professional sportsmen and women*.  

Evidence for Darren’s level of physical fitness at the time of his death can be seen in his recent work. Darren had just finished filming Pound of Flesh and Kickboxer: Vengeance, both with Jean-Claude Van Damme – not to mention Tomorrowland with George Clooney. He was, as far as physical fitness goes, at the top of his game.   

Darren’s family are devastated that his underlying heart condition was never diagnosed to allow him the opportunity of treatment. Typically, Atherosclerosis begins in childhood, and Darren showed no apparent symptoms prior to death. Who would have thought that Darren who was regarded as very fit would die so suddenly as a result of this 'silent killer'!   

We have all been in shock for the past11 weeks with so many unanswered questions, but would now like to focus on the lessons that can be learned from Darren's untimely death. We do feel that Darren would be the first to join us in sending warnings and advice to the friends and colleagues that he loved that regular health screening can save lives.  

This is our message and we do hope that somehow positive publicity in Darren's name can be made available to other young men and women, that may help them to take seriously the possibility that their body holds terrible secrets that can be revealed if they are tested routinely throughout life.  

We hope that no other family has to go through the grief and pain that we are experiencing and that their loved ones get screening and subsequent treatment if necessary, that could prevent the tragic outcome that all who loved Darren are trying to come to terms with.  

The Shahlavi family is raising funds to build a permanent memorial to Darren in Hollywood. More information at https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/1zf7/darren-shahlavi-memorial-fund

Watch Amy Johnston Chew Bubblegum And Kick-Ass In The New Style Teaser For RAZOR SHARP: RENEGADE

Director Marcus Perry's visually ambitious sci-fi action feature, Razor Sharp: Renegade is well on it's way to production, with action actress Amy Johnston (Lady Bloodfight, Captain America: The Winter Soldier) taking the lead. It's a project nearly ten years in the making with its newest iteration finally coming into fruition, and alas, a new style teaser is now out and about and testing the masses following Johnston's announcement last week.

SYNOPSIS:

Impenetrable fortresses, SWAT-trained security forces, the occasional piece of malfunctioning gear; it's all in a night's work for quirky corporate thief, Veronica Sharpe.  

But when she breaks into the most high-tech weapons manufacturing facility in the world, her business turns anything but usual when the technology she's there to steal is revealed to be a brilliant little girl with a devastating secret.  

Set in a stylish near-future, and loaded with action and laughs, RAZOR SHARP is one thrill-ride that would be criminal to miss.

The style teaser has already picked up some traction through several outlets and you can now watch it below. The film is the latest endeavor for Johnston prior to her forthcoming appearance in her feature martial arts tourno debut lead role, Lady Bloodfight, from director Chris Nahon.

Share your thoughts in the comment section or on our Facebook fan page and tell us what you think!

Production On Pyun's THE KICKBOXER: CITY OF BLOOD Pushed Back Until The Fall

It's been a while since we last heard anything on director Albert Pyun's recent efforts pertaining to his upcoming franchise revival, The Kickboxer: City Of Blood. Last reported in January was addition of The Raid 2 co-star and actress Julie Estelle with returning lead, actor Sasha Mitchell for production to begin in Guangzhou, China with ACE Studios overseeing, although from the looks of things now, there appears to be a different story.

Casting difficulties and declining health are the summation here for the stagnant pacing of the film according to Pyun's Facebook post on Monday this week. As such, filming is being said to commence this Fall instead, whilst Pyun makes an effort to deal with his current situation; Pyun's health became an issue in recent years while battling Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that primarily affects the brain and spinal cord with a number of accompanying symptoms. It got so nearly bad that Pyun was ready to retire his career by August in 2013 before picking things back up over a year later with the help of treatment.

Not to be downtrodden too much by this, however, Pyun, is still letting the creative juices flow and is reportedly developing another project in the form of Cyborg Knight. Pyun and wife and partner Cynthia Curnan wrote this particular script which ultimately returns our director to the cyberpunk genre with a story that mainly circulates its theme on Pyun's condition.

Stay tuned for this and more on The Kickboxer: City Of Blood.

H/T: City On Fire

The New Trailer For MAD MAX: FURY ROAD Unleashes Its Final Fury!

Is it enough that several trailers are pillaging their way through the interwebs for the new death race roadkill adventure, Mad Max: Fury Road? Is it enough that franchise auteur and director George Miller has already won the hearts and minds of fans everywhere who've hung onto every spectacular piece footage to surface since last summer? Or is it enough that Miller and Warner Bros. are already looking toward three more movies in what could be a quadrilogy of epic proportions?

No, of course not. While there's only so much detail the footage rolling out can spare, we have some fresh new imagery of Miller's gritty, dirty and sizzling reboot in a final trailer for the film with actor Tom Hardy narrating his way through this scorching hot warzone alongside Charlize Theron. The production here is big and bold, and packing tons of gasoline to help light the way to a burning hot streak at the box office, and what with all the bloodshed and ashes these trailers keep leaving, you can all bet your wallets and your fandom there's plenty more where that came from when the film finally unleashes its 'Fury' on May 15.

Watch the shit out of this trailer below and count the days!

Sakaguchi Tak's Last Action Film, RE:BORN Wraps Principal Photography!

Well, as far as memories go, one certainly hopes that cult action star Sakaguchi Tak has made his time on the set of his final movie, Re:Born, worthwhile. Production kicked off for the film roughly two-and-a-half weeks ago with longtime friend and cohort, Shimomura Yuji directing and close-quarters combat expert Inagawa Yoshitaka coordinating, and thankfully, we've been graced with a fair bit of imagery via the film's official website and Facebook page.

It was sad as much as it was expected with Sakaguchi's own proclaimations of retirement from the industry in the last few years long after staking his claim in the throes of cult film fandom and the film festival circuit at large. Alas, fifteen years after making his feature debut in Kitamura Ryuhei's cult chambara action horror, Versus, sixteen months after announcing Re:Born and two-and-a-half weeks after rolling cameras, Sakaguchi's final theatrical bow has wrapped production with a new cast and crew photo shared above.

Japanese action and stunt company is backing the film with U'den Flame Works, and if you're at all familiar with their respective bodies of work in some capacity, add it to the imagery seen in some of the set photos and training reels in previous months and you can pretty much imagine what you're in for. Details about the film, its cast and overall look are slowly being revealed, so watch this space!

[UPDATED] Win Your Copy Of Mike Fury's New Book, LIFE OF ACTION!

UPDATE: The contest has expired as of 12:00pm, EST on 5/7

Three years in the making with a mild and growing career in filmwork under his belt, U.K. choreographer/actor Mike Fury is ready to add "author" to his list of accomplishment with an insightful new book dedicated to the film industry's leading action and stunt community. Life Of Action is the name of this, Fury's debut literary contribution for all who love action on film and want to learn more about their favorite stars and men behind the action on screen, and while all meant to help grant validity to such a dynamic profession and its cohorts, it has also lended our dear author a good serving of fulfillment and gratitude to boot.

"When you spend any long period of time on a passion project, it definitely becomes personal. I just hope that action fans enjoy the results!", Fury said in our recent inteview during the week of the cover unveiling. "As for my own film work, I can't put myself anywhere on the same level as the guys in the book but I've had the chance to work on a few films and I'm very grateful for that. It's definitely confirmed to me that their knowledge, experience and stories are very valid, not just for curious fans, but also those hoping to follow a career in this field."

DESCRIPTION:

Martial Arts and Action cinema fans can now get the inside track on their favourite stars and movies through this fascinating selection of candid interviews with top talent such as Scott Adkins (Undisputed II & III, The Expendables 2), Donnie Yen (Ip Man, Special ID), Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, The Expendables), Tsui Hark (Once Upon a Time in China, Detective Dee) and Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs, House of Flying Daggers). There are also unique insights from the creators of the hugely popular Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist series and the action teams behind John Wick, The Expendables, Warrior, Haywire and more. 

Featuring never before seen interviews and exclusive images, Life of Action provides an intriguing first-hand account from the best in the business and is a must-read for all fans of high-kicking, high-octane cinema. 

Life Of Action is now available for purchase right now at Mike Fury's official website - but wait, THERE'S MORE! Film Combat Syndicate is hosting a new contest this week if you would like to win a FREE COPY of the book. You can do so by answer the following trivia question?

What is the correct spelling of the full (first and last) name of the character Scott Adkins plays in the second and third installments of the Undisputed franchise?

You must submit your answer to filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com with the words, LIFE OF ACTION CONTEST in the subject header of your e-mail before the contest ends on May 7, 2015 at 12:00pm EST. A random drawing will announce the winner twenty-four hours later on May 8, 2015 at 12:00pm EST, and the winner will be sent an e-mail request for a home address for the winner to receive the prize. GOOD LUCK!

STUNTS, FANDOM & ACTION: A Word With Jonathan Eusebio And Can Aydin

The first weekend of April this year was an excellent time for me. I got to meet up with a fellow movie friend to see Furious Seven on opening night, and what's more, I got to meet up with two of the most awesome people anyone could hang out with, and it's definitely another milestone I've set for myself as a film enthusiast.

Honestly, you watch movies and you see the people in them, and you never suspect you will ever meet these guys in real life. But when it does, part of you feels most of its surrealness while the other parts of you settle with the fact that you're in a room with said people and you need to compose yourself lest you hyperventilate or cause your head explode. Thankfully though, neither of those happened on the evening of Sunday, April 5 when I went to The Centurion Hotel where I met Reel Deal Action founding member Can Aydin and Hollywood fight and stunt coordinator Jonathan Eusebio for the first time.

I had to wait a while in the hotel lobby where I wanted to take some pics, but unfortunately no pics are allowed, but I did manage to squeeze in a few with Can after he and Jonathan arrived from a previous engagement. From there, Jonathan went to his room to straighten up a bit while Can and I kept each other company after our warm greetings....all while I was beside myself for the fact that I just shook hands with one of Germany's biggest rising action stars, and one of Hollywood's most formidable fight coordinators and stuntmen, and you really don't know what to think when this kind of thing happens. I should also add that they were also in the city conducting business with fellow stunt professional Jon Valera who couldn't make it to the hotel, unfortunately.

Moreover, for me in every second I was there, I literally did not know what would happen next. I came unprepared and ready for nothing but a conversation with new friends, and if technology worked in my favor, some video to show for it. Unfortunately much of the video is so poorly shot and I accidentally muffled the microphone on my tablet during a few portions of my interview that I have rendered it unsharable for the time being. So, instead, I took the challenge of transposing as much of what was said in as much a sensible way as possible as a readable article, and I have to say, while this project has been one of the most tasking and meticulous, it is certainly one of the more memorable experiences I will ever have as a film enthusiast.

I leave you now with my discussion with the film industry's own Can Aydin and Jonathan Eusebio in this Film Combat Syndicate Exclusive!

Film Combat Syndicate: How is your stay in New York?

Jonathan Eusebio: It's good! I've actually been out here before so it's nothing new but, we're coming to the tail end of the cold here so any time it's warmer I feel a little bit better. 

Can Aydin: Yeah, we're training a lot together, they've shown me around and I like this city. It's good! I love it actually. New York is a great city and it's my first time, and I thank my big brother, Daigo (points at Jonathan) [everyone chuckles jokingly] for showing me the city. It's great!

FCSyndicate: How long have you been doing stunts?

JE: I've been in the business for about fifteen years.

FCSyndicate: What motivated you?

JE: I grew up doing martial arts and training among guys I came up under with who did martial arts in movies and performed stunts as doubles. As soon as I graduated from school I went to them and said "Hey, I wanna do what you do!...", and I just kinda fell into it at that point.

FCSyndicate: Any favorite films?

JE: In terms of stuff I could watch all the time, I'd say I could watch Raiders Of The Lost Ark over and over again. In terms of martial arts movies, back in the early 90's and late 80's I was also into John Woo, as well as Jackie, Sammo and Yuen Biao movies. I'd wait for those every week at the Chinatown cineplex.

FCSyndicate: I'm actually suprised that the first thing you didn't come up with in your answer was Bruce Lee! [laughter/crosstalk]...

JE: Well, you know when I was younger, I mean, you knew who Bruce Lee was, and then of course you had the Bruceploitation era. To be truthful, I never really saw the 'real' Bruce until I was maybe eight or nine when I saw Enter The Dragon and I was like "Holy cow!" because you could tell this was the real Bruce Lee. But...you know? I love his movies too. It really depends on my mood at the time. I was really into Bruce, as well as  John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat when they were making movies together, and I was really into Jackie, Sammo and Yuen Biao movies, as well as Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest.

FCSyndicate: What movies are you looking forward to from here on out?

JE: It just depends, really. Any film that can tell a good story with action that compliments it really well will do. We're actually working on some movies of our own, actually. Hopefully some comic book movies.

FCSyndicate: And to you, Can, same question. How long have you been doing stunts?

CA: I think for about ten years. And for pretty much the same reasons as Jon. I grew up watching martial arts movies, I'm a big fan of Hong Kong action cinema, and I also grew up watching all of Stallone's movies - Rocky, Over The Top, Rambo, etc. So those gave me a lot of motivation to train and to be a better person. So, one day I said 'You know what? Let me try this, you know?' [laughs].

FCSyndicate: And you're a part of a team called Reel Deal Action. How did you all meet?

CA: Well, I've known Phong for ten years and we trained at the same gym, and I thought he was pretty talented and felt we should do something together. I told him one day I'd create a group and mentioned that I'd love for him to join, and he obliged. I also met Cha six years ago at the same gym in Germany, actually, and especially in Berlin - we have a gymnastics gym there where people train. I noticed Cha had the same spirit and passion, which is important to have in order to click, and that's pretty much how it started. And now...

FCSyndicate: And now you are all onto your new feature film!

CA: Yes, and we have a name for it: Plan B!

FCSyndicate: What was that like to make your debut with this film?

CA: It was good! It was stressful at times, but simultaneously it was worth it. We worked a LOT - it was crazy but we were all disciplined. It was good, and I'm happy although from a filmmaking point of view, generally you know it can always be better.

FCSyndicate: Always the artist! [laughs]

CA: [nods] Exactly, exactly.

FCSyndicate: So Jon, tell us about your first time on a movie set.

JE: Well, I did extra work to get my SAG card, and the first movie I did to get my card was Kung Pow: Enter The Fist.

FCSyndicate: With Steve Oedekerk!

JE: Yes! I was like, Henchman #4 or something.

FCSyndicate: You weren't the cow, right?

JE: [laughs] No, I wasn't the cow.

FCSyndicate: 'Milk bullet time!' MOOOO!! [laughs]

JE: [laughs] Those effects looked so good at the time and now you look back on it and it's like, ancient. [laughs] But yeah that was my first time on a real movie set. It's a big difference, like when you're training all the time and practising reactions in the gym, and when you get on set feeling confident and you're asked "What reactions can you do?" and you're like, "I can do a back 3/4 on the stomach, I do it in the gym all the time!", and then when you do it ten times on a REAL floor with a hard surface, it gets different when you're under pressure. So that's the first thing I learned when I was on set between doing it in a gym as opposed to doing it on the spot under pressure.

FCSyndicate: Do you get star struck?

JE: Nah, not really. I've been working for a while now...I mean, sometimes you do, like, I met [Sylvester] Stallone and [Arnold] Schwarzenegger on Escape Plan and I grew up watching them. They're icons, and working with these guys, you do feel a little a little overwhelmed because, well..they're the biggest action stars in the world, you know? We grew up watching them. But, at the end of the day, it's a job. It's all part of the job.

FCSyndicate: And to you, Can, tell us your first time on a set.

CA: It was really exciting! Jojo was my boss on Agent 47, so really he actually gave me my first big shot. He and the crew really teached me a lot - they teached me the real stuff and these guys, you have to understand...they've been doing this for years. They're the real deal, and the good thing about them is that they're still REALLY into training and maintaining, they live it, they feel it. It's not just business, you know? It's a combination of martial arts and movie making - it's an unbeatable pairing. Plus, being REAL and being a martial artist and understanding the movie language, it presents an unbeatable formula. And so I appreciate everything they've told me and taught me. It's crazy exciting, and I'm still learning! We we're training the other day and whenever I train with them, I'm always learning something day by day, especially with them, so I appreciate it.

FCSyndicate: [To Jon] What's it like to work with Can Aydin?

JE: It's great! I watched some of their shorts over at Reel Deal before I got to Germany. Usually I work in other countries so I try to find the best team I can find when I'm away. So I kinda go and find guys who have similar attributes and skillsets that I want to see, and I saw their shorts over on their Reel Deal channel and I felt they were really good. We had an audition and Can came in. He was one of the best ones I saw by far and I could tell that he could pick up rhythm and give the performance I want.

FCSyndicate: What are some of the most challenging things about directing action, performing and stunt coordinating?

JE: It just depends, really. It's a ton of things; You always want to make something new and fresh, but when you're dealing with Hollywood pictures in general, you're dealing with a lot of factors including budget and time constraints. In Asia, you could film a fight scene over five minutes long, right? And you'll get two months to shoot it, whereas in Hollywood, you'll get less time to shoot big action sequences. You might get anywhere from two days to a week, you don't know. So, in terms of big Hollywood features sometimes it's more about the time constraints that challenge what you're able to shoot and what you can accomplish.

FCSyndicate: And do you think Hollywood has a ways to go in terms of adapting to longer shoots for the sake of quality?

JE: No, no. I think, well... they're big budget features for a reason. They have the best crews and the best lighting, they get the best equipment, etc. I think in terms of ...well...you look at all the Bourne films-

FCSyndicate: You were in the forth one right?

JE: Yeah, I trained Matt on the first one and I was involved on all of them.

FCSyndicate: You fought Jeremy Renner too!

JE: Yeah! Hell yeah! [smiles] I coordinated the last one, I was assisstant fight coordinator on the third one and I trained Matt for the first one so I kind of introduced them to Kali.

FCSyndicate: How would you perceive the role independent action movies and online filmmaking plays in today's industry?

JE: Hmmm... I think nowadays in this age of social media, these guys are getting really popular, and they're getting better with shooting and camerawork, editing and after effects, etc. These guys are making independent movies, and with these guys, especially folks like Can and his team, it's not so much as the skillset; fights are fights and moves are moves. I could probably go on Youtube, find something cool and copy it, but the most important thing is what Can said earlier. You're combining real martial arts with filmmaking and what these guys are really good at is they have they're own definitive filmmaking style. It looks like it's shot well and its performed, and I could tell everything is thought out as opposed to just being "moves". Fight choreography is more than just "moves".

FCSyndicate: [Turns to Can] Jon speaks highly of you. [Everyone laughs]

CA: Well, he's very humble and you can tell. He's one of the creators of the 'Bourne' style. You have to understand, it's a style that's lasted well over ten years and it's still applied in Hollywood movies today, and you're sitting in front of one of the creators of the 'Bourne' style. 

JE: It's a lot of what Can was saying earlier, for some films "realistic" doesn't necessarily look good on camera. So a lot of it is, well... you have to have the body language. You have to look like who's trained before. Some you may tell they've been in martial arts since they were a kid, or a pro-fighter by the way he/she stands as opposed to being a good athlete, say, a pro-football player or a gymnast. Great athletes. But if you tell them how to stand in a fight, it might look awkward. There's a certain body language you can read compared to what you're trying to convey, and it all comes down to 'Why are you doing this move?', 'What's your motivation behind this move?', as opposed  to just the move itself.

FCSyndicate: Do you see yourself directing and anytime soon?

JE: I mean, that's my progression. I came up under my mentors, Chad Stathelski and David Letich and I'm part of 87Eleven with them. But, yeah, I watched them go from stuntmen to stunt doubles, to fight coordinator and stunt coordinator, second unit, and now they're directing their own movies, and I'm pretty much trying to follow that same progression.

FCSyndicate: How long do you think it'll be before then?

JE: I depends, really. I just got my DGA card so hopefully I'll get to second unit soon.

FCSyndicate: Who do you hope to work with? Have you worked with Scott Adkins yet?

JE: No I haven't, but I met him! We auditioned him for Snake Eyes on the first G.I. Joe, a lot of guys know him. He's a very nice guy and a good martial artist and I chalk him up there with a whole list of guys I would love to work with, Sammo or Jackie, or even Tony Jaa. I got to work with Chow Yun Fat years and years ago, and when I was in high school I would copy his look or clothes or whatever. I worked with him on Dragonball: Evolution, and I got to meet him. He's the coolest guy, you know? You get to meet your idol and he's everything you thought you'd be.

FCSyndicate: Speaking of live-action anime, what are some animes you hope to see brought to life?

JE: Well they're gonna do Ghost In The Shell, so I'm kinda curious about that.

FCSyndicate: What do you think of the casting?

JE: Scarlett? Well, I trained her for Iron Man 1 and 2 and then Avengers, so I know she can do it. She can pull it off. They're A-list actors and she's a great actress, and some people are concerned about her not looking like the lead from the anime, but Scarlett will make it believable. She's got the chops!

FCSyndicate: Are you going to see Avengers: Age Of Ultron?

JE: Of course! Yeah I'm definitely going to see that.

FCSyndicate: Favorite Avenger?

JE: Probably Black Widow. And I like Iron Man too. 

[Turning to Can] 

CA: I like Hulk. [laughs] He's stong and he's straightforward.

FCSyndicate: What were your first thoughts when you learned you were going to work on the Point Break remake?

CA: It's a classic. Some people have their doubts because it's a classic and are concerned if whether or not it will be just as good as the old one or better; Kinda like Rambo. But, I saw some of the footage and it looks good.

FCSyndicate: You also worked on Big Game, tell us about that.

CA: It was good, it was nice- [I cut him off enthusiastically].

FCSyndicate: Samuel L. Jackson! What's he like in person?

CA: [laughs] He's a nice person. We didn't have much time together but he picked up the choreography right away, we had one day for the fight to prepare and got it in just a few hours. The next day we started right away and I doubled his opponent so I got to fight him too. It was fun!

FCSyndicate: Back on your feature film debut, how did Plan B get started?

CA: About a year and a half ago, I started writing a script with an action/comedy in mind. We sought after an investor and one person came and left. We kept looking and eventually got in touch with Ufuk Genc and his company, CineChromatix. And from there we began producing, but we had to change it to where we're telling one story while tellng another to give it some substance. So...we're very excited about it as it's the first action comedy in the history of German cinema. There have been martial arts movies but no one's ever shot an action comedy.

FCSyndicate: There's footage online over at MDR  and it looks VERY sharp!

CA: Thank you very much. Yeah, ...I guess we'll have to see. It's an experiment of our own in the genre so we'll have to see if there's...

FCSyndicate: If there's room for a sequel, maybe?

CA: Yeah, and how we develop it after this one. Especially with the action, you know? I mean, you have to find the balance. There's a risk in making a fight too long, because today's audience is not the same as it was in the eighties. For example, like in Rocky IV with Stallone and Lundgren in the final fight, that scene was maybe, twenty minutes. Nowadays you can't do that. 

JE: Yeah, your audience is smart. They know. We watch real fights all the time, so it's like...you've got the highest-trained guys fighting five-by-five minute rounds? In the real world, fights never last that long. Your audience will be bored with it.

FCSyndicate: What was the most gruesome time you've had on set, in terms of hours on set?

JE: They're all pretty much long hours. I remember we worked on Ninja Assassin-

FCSyndicate: [Cuts him off enthusiastically] I loved that film by the way.

JE: Thanks, that one was hard. Chad and Dave were the second unit, so they created and set up all of the action. The last couple of days were non-stop and we were working almost thirty-six hours straight, and then last day was just crazy. That was between the temple fight at the end and at the warehouse. We were all pretty tired... yeah. So it all varies. The hours are generally long and sometimes it can be non-stop.

FCSyndicate: What was it like to train lead actor Rain?

JE: I came in at the end actually, but my teammates Jon Valera and Danny Hernandez did, and Rain...he worked SUPER hard. He's a good athlete too, being a dancer and performer himself and in good shape, and he remembers choreography. He picks things up super fast, he's like a madman. Non-stop.

FCSyndicate: [Turns to Can] What was the most challenging part about your feature debut with Plan B?

PLAN B - Official Stills

CA: There were many. The whole movie was challenging, actually. Sometimes we were working anywhere from thirteen to sixteen hours and we had to be in shape, and we would only sleep maybe about two or three hours after. That's how it is. So, above all else, you have to be disciplined and flexible. Things are can change when you're on set - you have to be able to adapt to that environment with the camerawork, the action and choreography. Nothing is entirely set in stone, so you have to be flexible, as well as fast, and at the same time, relaxed. And that's what I recognize in people like Jojo and Jon, they're flexible and fast. We worked on Agent 47 and at times we were supposed to have two days to prep something and it would instantly be cut short to one day. Like 'boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom'...you know? He and Jon Valera were very fast. In Hong Kong, you would have weeks and months whereas these guys, they come well-prepared under durress. You have to be ready.

FCSyndicate: [Turns to Jonathan] What does that do to the human body working so strenuously?

JE: Well, if you train all the time an you work that much, eventually you feel the wear-and-tear take shape. Your body can deteriorate and sometimes minor injuries occur.

FCSyndicate: What was the worst injury you have had?

JE: Well, for me it's not so much as the "worst", really. Sometimes, for example, like, with fire stunts there's always the risk of getting burned. But generally, you can get a lot of knee, shoulder or ankle injuries.

FCSyndicate: What was the biggest stunt you have performed?

JE: Well, all the stunts I've done all pretty much measure the same. I mostly do fight coordination. I'm a fight guy, but I've done things like high falls up to thirty feet, a lot of crashes through stuff, getting beat up, thrown head first on the floor, wire stunts, etc. So I wouldn't say there was one more dangerous than the most. They're all dangerous if something goes wrong.

FCSyndicate: What is the most important thing a person should remember when considering stuntwork?

JE: Like Can said, you definitely have to stay in decent shape and be able to adapt pretty fast for any changes. It sharpens your awareness in case something goes wrong and you can adjust to it, and neither you or no one else gets hurt.

FCSyndicate: And you also worked on the latest Ninja Turtles reboot back in 2013. Tell us about that?

JE: Well, it's like you grow up watching Ninja Turtles so you're excited to be a part of something that's part of your DNA growing up.

FCSyndicate: What was your biggest influence in designing the fights?

JE: Well, everyone knows their personalities and that the action and fight styles are all based on ninjutsu, and then it came to just putting together those styles with respect to their personalities. The source material is already there, basically, everything. So while working with our turtle doubles, say, I'll look at Matt (Emig), Jeremy (Marinas), Anis (Cherfua) and Danny (Graham) tricking, and say "that's the physical manifestation of what I think the Turtles are". And so they put together what they can do physically, up to a certain point, and then we also have to figure out, visual effects-wise, what can we do to add onto that and hybridize it into the real world.

FCSyndicate: Favorite turtle?

JE: I like Raph, he's kind of like... he's the anti-hero, you know? The loner, one who thinks he's grumpy but really he has a heart of gold.

FCSyndicate: I know you can't really talk too much about what you're working on right now-

JE: Well, we're working on the Turtles sequel. Nothing's really started yet as we're all kind of in pre-production. Nothing eventful just yet so far. Just getting ready to shoot.

FCSyndicate: [Turns to Can] Back on your feature debut, you got to know and work with Heidi Moneymaker. Tell us what that was like!

CA: It was great! Heidi was very capable at what she does. It was easy, she's very fast. She trains with Jojo and everyone over at 87Eleven. 

JE: Yeah, she's on our team and she's one of the best stuntwomen in Hollywood. Anything with fights or big stunts, she's amazing. She trains really hard. And a lot of it is work ethic, so when you see her on screen its a culmination of the hard work she puts into her training.

FCSyndicate: And Can, you guys also worked on Behind Every Great Man and some other projects. How did BEGM come about?

CA: One day while I was working on Agent 47, Jonathan called me and told me that Heidi was coming and she wanted to shoot a short so make sure she has everything, take care of her and maybe you guys can help out. And Jonathan is "Daigo" (big brother), so I went and took care of her, and we had good chemistry. We worked with Heidi while also working with her sister Renae on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. It was a crazy schedule too because I was also working on Point Break and we shot BEGM and Bad Choice with Sam Hargrave as well. It was very simultaneous.

FCSyndicate: Both BEGM and Bad Choice have Marvel nods to them. Is this a sign that you'd like to work on a Marvel movie anytime soon?

CA: I wouldn't mind it! Originally the idea for both shorts came when Sam said we should do a short together, and I had this idea stemming from him having worked on Marvel movies before and thought about how to combine one story with another to form some kind of theme to tell it as our own story; and worked out! It was fun!

FCSyndicate: So how far are you into Plan C?

CA: [laughs] We're working on it right now but it depends on the first one. And hopefully there will be a sequel and Jonathan and I might work on it as well. Actually, Jonathan almost worked on Plan B with us but he was busy working on a film. 

JE: Yeah, and I also wanna do a shortfilm with Can and his guys as well. Unfortunately not here in New York City because of our schedules so we're just trying to figure things out as time passes.

FCSyndicate: You also worked on John Wick, right?

JE: Yes, I was the fight coordinator on that one as well. That movie was was awesome, I mean if you wanna talk about getting starstruck, he's one reason why you would be!

FCSyndicate: You worked with Neo, man!!! NEO!!!

JE: Yeah, I mean Chad and Dave already have a good relationship with Keanu, and Chad was Keanu's double for a long time, so yeah. You're with a guy who is an action icon, pretty much. And he's a really nice guy and he works really hard. That guy will train every, EVERY day, and it shows on camera.

FCSyndicate: What wae your favorite scene?

JE: I liked the house and the red circle stuff. But that movie is cool altogether, because it's all an 87Eleven production, and all the fights and all the stuntwork and our guys, we worked together for so long. It shows on screen pretty well.

FCSyndicate: And Chad and David confirmed they were doing John Wick 2. Will you be on that as well?

JE: It depends in terms of scheduling, so we'll see what happens. But yeah, they're getting ready to prep that as well as Turtles 2.

FCSyndicate: I also know they're working on a Cinemax adaptation of a book series for a show called Rain with Keanu on it too. Will you be on it as well?

JE: Same, it depends. It's early so it's all up in the air at the moment. But it's nice to be a part of those things with the people you train and came up with, so we'll see.

FCSyndicate: What would you be doing now if you weren't doing stunts and action for film?

JE: I went to school for Bio and then I wanted to work as a criminalist. But nowadays...it's weird. I can't imagine myself not being a part of anything with film. Either way, I will be involved somehow. You kinda feel where you're going in life and you drift toward it.

FCSyndicate: Any brothers and sisters involved in film?

JE: Nah, just me.

FCSyndicate: What did your parents think when they found out you wanted to do stunts?

JE: Both my parents were nurses, so when I told them I wanted to do stunt work, they weren't sure why, really [laughs]. They questioned it and were worried at first, but I just kept working and kept at it. After a while they were really proud of me.

FCSyndicate: Your parents have my best wishes.

JE: Thank you [smiles]

FCSyndicate: And Can, same question?

CA: Exactly the same. My parents were exactly the same way. I started at mechanical engineering and had a safe job, but yeah...for them it was "safe" job and "safe" income. But at the same time I wanted to be in movies. So I got an opportunity and quit being an engineer and started doing my own movies.

FCSyndicate: And asking you what I asked Jonathan earlier, what's the most important thing a person should keep in mind when pursuing a career in stunts?

CA: You have to train and you have to push yourself. There is no end, like for example, meeting these guys, Jonathan and Jon, they are always teaching me something. You never know every single thing as you are constantly learning and working on yourself as they are. Which also brings me to this - You have to be humble. I've seen some examples nowadays for myself where people were not humble and you HAVE to be. You have to appreciate what you have, which is why I hold people like Jonathan and Jon with high regard. They're role models. 

JE: [Nods jokingly] Nah, none of us are, really.

[laughs/crosstalk] 

CA: But I'm saying, Jonathan Eusebio, he created the 'Bourne' style, he worked on the Avengers movies and tons of other (Marvel) movies like Iron Man - he's done so much. John Wick is a huge success, that movie is everywhere, but he's one of the creators. It's going to be a classic from here on, and he's a part of that DNA and pioneering that style of action. And even with that, he's STILL humble about it and modest about it. Same with Jon Valera, they're both down to Earth and you can talk to them and learn with them and train with them. And that's more important aside from just the business end of it. You have to be humble, train and work on yourself and be reflective on these things.

FCSyndicate: And that's pretty much the same chemistry you have with your team at Reel Deal.

CA: Exactly. 

JE: That's why I like these guys. The way they are with each other like our team, they have the same attributes. You know? Like attracts like. Birds of a feather flock together.

FCSyndicate: TMNT 2! What are your hopes for that one?

JE: Well, generally, I hope people like it. I hope everyone who enjoyed the first one will enjoy this one as well.

FCSyndicate: Bebop and Rocksteady are said to be coming and Stephen Amell is going to be Casey Jones!!! [laughs, crosstalk]

JE: Yes I've seen that, I read that also.

FCSyndicate: Have you worked with Amell before?

JE: No I haven't. I've watched Arrow a couple of times. I liked the Flash a lot, and there was a crossover episode as well.

FCSyndicate: What was your favorite TV show growing up?

JE: Favorite TV show...you know what? I was a weirdo growing up. It was a show called Kage No Gunda (Shadow Warriors) with Sonny Chiba, it was a ninja series.

FCSyndicate: You had the childhood I would have wanted!

JE: [laughs] Yeah I watched it on Channel 18 on an international channel... that was my favorite.

FCSyndicate: Did you grow up in the states?

JE: Yeah, I grew up in California. But yeah, I would go crazy to watch that show waiting for it to come on on Sundays. You had a bloc of Japanese programs but I used to watch that...and I also watched Robotech.

FCSyndicate: And you, Can?

CA: There were so many I used to watch growing up like He-Man, Bravestarr! 

[crosstalk with Jonathan and Can/laughter] 

JE: Bravestarr!? [laughs]

FCSyndicate: I vaguely remember Bravestarr growing up. I used to watch that too!

CA: Yeah, that one, and also. I even watched Knight Rider and Hulk. But He-Man I still watch to this day.

JE: He likes Hulk.

CA: Yes, yes I do! I had a good time watching TV growing up. I was never bored.

FCSyndicate: Avengers! The scene where Hulk tosses Loki around in Stark's complex!

CA: Best scene ever in the movie.

FCSyndicate: I would have loved to have been in the room with you to see your reaction! Mine was pretty loud! [laughs].

CA: Forget about my reaction, everyone at the cinema was in an uproar!

FCSyndicate: That was the best!

CA: [laughs] Yeah, but I had a lot of fun TV shows growing up. Ghostbusters and even He-Man, which I would still watch sometimes. That's it, really. 

JE: Whatever influences you I guess... These are all American shows! 

CA: [sings the He-Man theme song, laughter in the room, crosstalk]

FCSyndicate: The jacket you're wearing, is that the same black leather jacket you wear in Plan B?

CA: No, that one was ripped while fighting my co-star, Aristo Luis Altobelo. He rips it off during the fight.

FCSyndicate: Yeah that's also in the reel at MDR. Tell us about your work with him on that scene, if you can offer a few words.

CA: Well, that was pretty much the hardest fight. Remember, I had to lose weight and get lean for my character. He and I train in the same gym and I met up about four months before we started shooting. I told him he had to lose weight and he actually gained weight instead, and so I was somewhere around 79 or 80 kilos and he was close to 95, maybe...which I think is about a thirty pound difference. Anyway, I remember telling him "Go for it!" because energy is very important to me on set in becoming a part of what is happening on camera and making it real to you through performance as much as possible. And Aristo is a real fighter, a K-1 fighter. He WENT for it as I told him to and of course, I regretted it [laughs], he hits real hard. But like I said, energy is important, and I like the end result despite being short on time.

FCSyndicate: The footage looks really fantastic.

CA: Thank you so much. It was my hardest fight but it was worth it, so whenever he would kick me or throw me or punch me, it was tough indeed. He's a heavy-hitter. But it was worth it, because this is our living, our passion, our art.

FCSyndicate: Do you have the jacket as a souvenir?

CA: Yeah it's at home.

FCSyndicate: Are you going to wear it again for the sequel? Maybe put some duct tape and superglue on it?

CA: [laughs] Actually one other thing about the jacket is that we're all representing our cinematic heroes.

FCSyndicate: Yeah you guys a theme going on!

CA: My jacket represents Stallone as Cobretti from the movie 'Cobra', Phong's jacket resembles Marty McFly from 'Back To The Future', Cha-Lee's jacket has the classic colors from 'Game Of Death' with Bruce Lee, and U-Gin's jacket is attributed to MJ from the music video, Thriller.

FCSyndicate: U-Gin isn't a member of Reel Deal but he's part of the main cast. Does he do any fighting as well?

CA: No, he's an actor and a dancer by profession. But he was great to have as well. Again, these jackets were iconic as tributes to our role models, so I thought it was kind of a good idea to put those ideas in the film. I hope it catches on. Let's see.

FCSyndicate: As challenging as this film was for you, is there anything you'll do differently on your next feature?

CA: Of course, because you always learn. Because like I said earlier, timewise, budgetwise always having to "go-go-go-go..."

FCSyndicate: So definitely more time...

CA: Yes, it's like this: If you ever watched that one Jackie Chan interview, you hear him say 'I'm not the best. I have time.' You have to undersrand - Everyone knows on Drunken Master 2, he had the final fight in the factory: Five months. Donnie Yen's end fight for Flash Point: One month. I mean, you can ask Jonathan what it means to have a whole month for a fight... 

JE: Yeah, most of our constraints are budgetary and with time. Hollywood fight scenes have very truncated schedules.

FCSyndicate: What are some of the hurdles you face when designing action? Say, since there's the hype of living up to 'The Raid', or something.

JE: Well, I guess it's like whatever is new at the time. Silat's been around forever and it's nothing new, and even the rhythm is based on Jackie Chan's style, kinda like Police Story, for example, only it's Silat. They're Indonesian martial artists and their techniques are based on Silat, but even the rhythm is pretty much the same nowadays. The only thing really is to figure out where the acting beats are throughout that rhythm.

FCSyndicate: What do you think is more in demand these days, between R-rated and PG-13 action?

JE: Well there are a lot of factors involved, like whether or not there's too much blood or if it looks cartoonish...I think it just depends on the story. Just because, say, a fight scene has more gore, doesn't make it a better fight-

FCSyndicate: Which reminds me, I was about to ask you, is there more effort between creating action for either of the ratings, R and PG-13?

JE: It's really just whatever the story calls for and trying to be inventive and staying relevant or whatever that boundary calls for. I mean, it's always nice to have less limitations, so R-rated movies are good in a way because you're not too limited in terms of violence where you can show it, as opposed to PG-13 where you have to be a little more creative and you don't have as much freedom to throw the kitchen sink out there.

Much of this interview had extra dialogue I decided to leave out for comprehensive reasons, as my goal here was just to help present an experience I wanted to share with all of you. It's a rare thing for me to go out and meet new people, particularly people who are heavily engaged in what you enthuse about almost regularly. For what it's worth, I chalk this up as another accomplishment, and I hope you enjoyed this really, really long and, in some ways, random exchange.

From L to R: Jonathan Eusebio, myself (cheezin' it as usual) and Can Aydin

In hindsight, there were definitely some questions I would have asked had they come to mind or had I had them ready, but I was really just living in the moment. I suppose next time I'll try to be ready with a list of questions and a better grip on my tablet, but at any rate, Jonathan and Can were very welcoming and were as cool as is their comradery, and if I may, I am more than happy to call friends.. Accordingly, I also have to thank Can for introducing me to Jonathan and helping to make this happen, and for allowing me the time and space to share this content with you all. Their parents raised them well. And to Jon Valera, I certainly hope we meet soon, so I can have a photo moment to share as well.

Agent 47 arrives in theaters on August 28, 2015 with Big Game and Point Break heading to theaters on June 26, 2015 and December 25, 2015, respectively; As a noteworthy mention, Jonathan also mentioned working on a Vin Diesel film. I didn't remember at the time, but a brief glance at his IMDb page shows it was Diesel's forthcoming fantasy action thriller, The Last Witch Hunter, which arrives on October 23, 2015.

Stay tuned for more info on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 and Aydin's debut in the new German martial arts action adventure comedy, Plan B!

*Partial Photo Credit to photographer Jacob Seifert who has more photos of Reel Deal Action at the team's official Facebook page.