made in chinatown
MADE IN CHINATOWN Trailer: Meet Vinny
Writer and producer Mark Wiley’s Made In Chinatown is firmly planting its feet in for its freshman premiere at the third annual Newark International Film Festival which kicks off its 4-day event in September.
MADE IN CHINATOWN: First Official Trailer And Set Photos For The New Martial Arts Action Comedy
The last several years have been provenly ripe with the rollout of forefront Asian feature film talents, and I’ve proudly hyped them all up on this platform. As of Wednesday, I couldn’t be any prouder to add the name Jay Kwon to the list now with the first promo trailer online for upcoming martial arts comedy, Made In Chinatown, a project long shepherded by author and screenwriter Mark V. Wiley, and directed by martial arts legends, co-stars James Lew (The Perfect Weapon, Rush Hour) and Robert Samuels (Red Wolf, Yes Auntie!)
FIVE-A-DAY COUNTDOWN: Nightshooters, 14 Fists, The Prey, The Man From Kathmandu, and Made In Chinatown
Booyah! We’ve reached the halfway point of this journey at long last as we count out 100 movies to look out for in 2019. Bringing the total to 50, here are five more:
UPHILL: A Word With ‘Jack & Jill’ Actor And Director Mark Poletti
Look closely at the latest Kickstarter campaign video from this Monday for Bao Tran’s The Paper Tigers and you’ll likely spot actor Mark Poletti in the mix. I’ve been following Poletti off and on since about 2013 as I was catching on to the efforts of a group called Usurp Productions and Poletti has gradually seen his carrer progress little by little.
Fuhgeddaboudit! Check Out The First MADE IN CHINATOWN Official Poster!
2018 saw the proud partnership of action directors Art Camacho and Robert Samuels for the production of martial arts action comedy, Made In Chinatown. With the film currently in post-production, we now have our first official poster which you can check out below.
MADE IN CHINATOWN: Meet Vinny In New Stills From The Upcoming Martial Arts Mob Comedy
Production is currently underway for upcoming martial arts action comedy, Made In Chinatown, with scenes currently being filmed in Philidelphia. The film is being directed by Art Camacho and Robert Samuels (H.K.S.C.), the latter who plays a supporting role in the new film from Tambuli Media and R4 Films L.L.C.
MADE IN CHINATOWN: Cameras Roll For The New Independent Martial Arts Mob Comedy From Art Camacho And Robert Samuels
The next several months should get interesting with a crew of knowledgeable action cinema favorites backing the next generation of burgeoning screen stars and stunt professionals. Such would be the latest pairing between acclaimed martial arts cinema stalwarts Art Camacho and Hong Kong stuntman/trailblazer, filmmaker Robert Samuels for independent martial arts comedy, Made In Chinatown from R4 Films L.L.C. and Tambuli Media.
Executive producer Mark V. Wiley penned the screenplay that now offsets action actor Jay Kwon in his debut role as Vinny, an underdog Asian whose identity crisis and romantic interest in a mafioso’s daughter inspires him to win her heart by becoming a “Made” man in the Italian mob. Kwon shares several TV and film stunt performance credits as well as a number of online shortfilms assembled together with some of today’s best finds I’ve sampled in our weekly Hit List column.
Actress Michelle Procida also stars along with Tony Sirico and Vincent Pastore, Joseph D’Onofrio and Raymond J. Barry with Puerto Rican martial arts action star José Manuel, and kung fu cinema mainstays, legends Lo Meng and Hwang Jang Lee, as well as Norman Chin and Wai Hong. Emmy winner James Lew will also co-star is shepherding action direction along with choreography and performance duties from Team One Take’s Hector Soria and Luis Candelario.
Cameras are expected to roll in New York City and Philidelphia from now through the remainder of July and likely in August with a 2019 release – such is my own estimation seeing as how independent productions are usually in almost constant flux. Definitely keep your eyes peeled!
MADE IN CHINATOWN Casts Newcomer Jay Kwon To Star
This update comes from left field for me, but the word now is that up-and-comer Jay Kwon has been cast for the lead role of Made In Chinatown, from Tambuli Media and R4 Films L.L.C.. Martial arts stalwart and filmmaker Art Camacho (Half Past Dead 2) will helm the martial arts mob comedy with venerable H.K.S.A. member Robert Samuels (The Red Wolf) serving as co-director in addition to producing and co-starring.
Kwon, who replaces actor and martial artist Alfred Hsing in a robust, last minute recast, will make his feature acting debut in the role of Vinny Chow, an underdog Asian American living New York City’s Chinatown. Chow’s biggest goal is to be with the girl of his dreams, Michelle (Michelle Procida), and so with the help of a ragtag group of friends and the aid of his wise Sifu, he will rise in the ranks of the Italian mafia and become a “Made” man to do it.
Kwon has cut his teeth in both online as well as mainstream TV production; With select stunt performance credits that partly include FX series Lucifer, Marvel’s The Punisher and Iron Fist, he has been an oft favorite here at our site having been featured in many a Hit List entry on Monday evenings with prolific appearances at Bryan Sloyer’s YouTube channel, Sloyerstunts, and even in a Lumix GH5-shot action short from director Sam KJ titled Unmasked which you can view here:
Kwon will be joined by a bevy of screenfighting talents for Made In Chinatown including premiere Puerto Rican martial arts action sensation José Manuel, in addition to the local stunt performance talents at Team One Take who will be intergral in coordinating the action. Shaw Bros. legend and Ip Man franchise co-star Lo Meng further adds to the list of heavy-hitters next to Emmy Award-winning action director James Lew (Marvel’s Luke Cage, Big Trouble In Little China, Timecop, The Perfect Weapon) and Hwang Jang Lee (Drunken Master, Magnificent Warriors, No Retreat, No Surrender II: Raging Thunder), as well as Eric Kovaleski and Chuck Zito (The Martial Arts Kid) and Grandmasters Norman Chin and Wai Hong to name a few.
Rounding out the cast of principles are Tony Sirico, Vincent Pastore and Maureen Van Zandt, Goodfellas and upcoming Brawler co-stars Tony Darrow and Artie Pasquale, and actress Shuya Chang (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Snakehead, Revenge of the Green Dragons). Screenwriter and magazine editor Mark V. Wiley wrote script and is executive producing.
MADE IN CHINATOWN: Puerto Rican Martial Arts Action Sensation Jose Manuel Joins The Cast
Photo: Carlos Alfonso
One of the biggest and best things happening right now in the upper East coast is just weeks away from cameras rolling for upcoming martial arts mob comedy, Made In Chinatown. Breakout martial arts star, actor Jose Manuel has joined the cast that has martial arts cinema mainstays Art Camacho and Robert Samuels (H.K.S.A.) pairing up to direct.
The details of Manuel’s role are unknown. He’ll otherwise be among a raft of actors and action talent led by world class Wushu stylist and stuntman Alfred Hsing (Ready Player One, Ip Man 3) debuting a lead acting role. Executive producer Mark Wiley is penning the script that sees Hsing playing Vinny, an underdog Asian American who, with the help of a ragtag group of friends and his Sifu, fights to work his way up the ranks in the Italian mob to win over the girl of his dreams.
Manuel’s career progression began steaming forward by 2012 starring in his native Puerto Rico’s first-ever feature martial arts film, El Testigo (The Witness). His credits also include Jarrod Crooks’ Dispatched (2014) and Indie Guys (2016), and Pema Dhondup’s recently wrapped international martial arts thriller, The Man From Kathmandu. The rising star talent won Bests in both the Short Film Competition and the Blood Sweat And Bones categories at last year’s Urban Action Showcase with online short, Retribution, and his own in-house proof of concept, Uncompromised.
Made In Chinatown also stars Michelle Procida, The Sopranos series vets Tony Sirico, Vincent Pastore and Maureen Van Zandt, Goodfellas and upcoming Brawler co-stars Tony Darrow and Artie Pasquale and celebrated action film notables such as Shaw Bros. legend and Ip Man franchise co-star Lo Meng, Emmy Award-winning action director James Lew (Marvel’s Luke Cage, Big Trouble In Little China, Timecop, The Perfect Weapon) and Hwang Jang Lee (Drunken Master, Magnificent Warriors, No Retreat, No Surrender II: Raging Thunder), as well as Eric Kovaleski and Chuck Zito (The Martial Arts Kid), Shuya Chang (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Snakehead, Revenge of the Green Dragons) and Grandmasters Norman Chin and Wai Hong to name a few.
Tambuli Films is producing with R4 Films’ own Samuels and partner Robert Jefferson.
MADE IN CHINATOWN: Robert Samuels (H.K.S.A.) Antes Up As Co-Director For The New Martial Arts Mobster Comedy
Tambili Films is producing with R4 Films’ own Samuels and partner Robert Jefferson. Cameras are expected to roll on June 30.
Martial Arts Mob Comedy MADE IN CHINATOWN Sets Art Camacho To Helm Alfred Hsing Debut
Changes are in the midst for upcoming New York City-set martial arts mobster comedy, Made In Chinatown following last week’s exclusive report. Acclaimed filmmaker, stunt multi-hyphenate and author Art Camacho (Half Past Dead 2, Assassin X, Confessions Of A Pit Fighter) is being tapped to direct the new pic which rolls cameras in June.
Stuntman, world-class wushu stylist and champion Gold medalist, actor Alfred Hsing will make his starring debut from a script by executive producer and author Mark V. Wiley. Mingling tropes from various memorable hit films like Kung Fu Hustle, Analyze This, Micky Blue Eyes and Big Trouble In Little China, Made In Chinatown centers on Vinny, a Chinatown resident who, with the help of his sifu and a select few good friends, works to assimilate himself into the Italian mob lifestyle and gain top-tier status whilst in pursuit of the girl of his dreams.
Dubbed as “The Fight Master” in the 90s among a multitude of other accomplishments, Camacho has well over three decades to his name in stunts for television and film, shared with a line-up of action star favorites like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock, Ted Jan Roberts, Olivia Grunner, Steven Seagal and Gary Daniels. Next to earning knighthood by the Sacred Order of Saint Michael Arch Angel, his acclaim is recognized by Action On Film International Film Festival, the Hollywood Motion Picture Counsel and the World Martial Arts Association.
Camacho debuted in 2017 with his biography, “Art Camacho: A Filmmaker’s Journey”, which he parented with Martial Arts History Museum curator and Dragonfest event host, Michael Matsuda. He recently served on the fight and stunt action for R. Ellis Frazier’s latest Gary Daniels thriller, Repeater which is currently in production.
Hsing’s recent credits include Ready Player One, Ip Man 3, Birth Of The Dragon and Europe Raiders. His decade-plus career on both ends of the lens shares DNA with the likes of Yuen Woo-Ping, Corey Yuen, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Phillip Ng, Simon Yam, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Orlando Bloom, and directors Phillip Rhee and Steven Spielberg.
Rounding out the extensive cast are Michelle Procida, The Sopranos series vets Tony Sirico, Vincent Pastore and Maureen Van Zandt, Goodfellas and upcoming Brawler co-stars Tony Darrow and Artie Pasquale and celebrated action film notables such as Shaw Bros. legend and Ip Man franchise co-star Lo Meng, Emmy Award-winning action director James Lew (Marvel’s Luke Cage, Big Trouble In Little China, Timecop, The Perfect Weapon), Hwang Jang Lee (Drunken Master, Magnificent Warriors, No Retreat, No Surrender II: Raging Thunder) and Robert Samuels (H.K.S.A.) (Red Wolf, Mou Man Tai), as well as Eric Kovaleski and Chuck Zito (The Martial Arts Kid), Shuya Chang (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Snakehead, Revenge of the Green Dragons) and Grandmasters Norman Chin and Wai Hong to name a few.
Production hails from Tambuli Films in association with R4 Films L.L.C.’s own Samuels and partner Robert Jefferson.
MADE IN CHINATOWN: Alfred Hsing To Debut In NYC-Set Martial Arts Gangster Comedy
EXCLUSIVE: Updates are slowly but surely forthcoming as production approaches for martial arts gangster comedy, Made In Chinatown with most of the cast locked for the film’s June 30 start. Casting the lead, however, has been a different tale with a talent search that spanned as far as Malaysia to date.
As of Wednesday this week, I can confirm that actor and martial artist Alfred Hsing will make his lead debut. Suza Singh (Future Shift, Replecan) is directing as well as producing with a script by executive producer and author Mark V. Wiley. Hsing is a versatile wushu stylist with a number of champion wins and tournament activity around the world. His decade-plus career on both ends of the camera shares DNA with the likes of Yuen Woo-Ping, Corey Yuen, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Phillip Ng, Simon Yam, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Orlando Bloom, and directors Phillip Rhee and Steven Spielberg.
Hsing (Ready Player One, Ip Man 3, “Rush Hour”) plays Vincent “Vinny” Chow, our Chinese hero who feels like a failure and doesn’t fit in with his own culture. Instead, he wants respect, charisma, power, la dolce vita – in other words, he wants to be “Made”, to become an Italian Wiseguy like the heroes in all his favorite movies. Vinny rejects his Chinese culture as he tries to win the Italian girl of his dreams, prove himself worthy of MOB membership and even goes against his owns Chinatown to gain respect. With the help of his kung-fu master, the Chinese girl next door, a gay Black actor, and New York’s famous fortunetellers, Vinny finds Chinese culture at the center of who he truly is.
The official website details and extensive cast roster that lists Michelle Procida, Future Shift and Replecan star Asha Annais, The Sopranos series vets Tony Sirico, Vincent Pastore and Maureen Van Zandt, Goodfellas and upcoming Brawler co-stars Tony Darrow, Artie Pasquale and celebrated action film notables such as Shaw Bros. legend and Ip Man franchise co-star Lo Meng, James Lew (Timecop, The Perfect Weapon), Hwang Jang Lee (Drunken Master, Magnificent Warriors, No Retreat, No Surrender II: Raging Thunder) and Robert Samuels (H.K.S.A.) (Red Wolf, Mou Man Tai), as well as actor/martial artists Silvio Simac (Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing, Street Fighter: Resurrection), Eric Kovaleski and Chuck Zito (The Martial Arts Kid), Shuya Chang (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Snakehead, Revenge of the Green Dragons) and Grandmasters Samuel Kwok and Wai Hong to name a few. The page also presents a lengthy introductory to the film’s premise that hints at a tale mingling tropes from spectacles such as Mickey Blue Eyes, Kung-fu Hustle, Analyze This and John Carpenter classic Big Trouble In Little China.
Reel Diverse and Tambuli Films are producing the pic in association with R4 Films L.L.C.’s own Samuels and partner Robert Jefferson. Take a gander at Hsing’s 2018 stunt reel along with a raft of other reels and gems available at AlfredRocks.com.
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