Actor and martial artist Keith Cooke has been around for as long as most martial arts fans of today’s generation have heard of the genre. From the China O’Brien movies to Mortal Kombat, to his career of late as a professional trainer and athlete, Cooke dives into it all in Scott Adkins’ latest episode of the online series, The Art Of Action. Enjoy!
By all accounts, if you’re a martial arts fan then there’s really no excuse for not having heard of Bao Tran‘s feature debut, The Paper Tigers. Born from an idea nearly a decade ago leading to an action-packed proof-of-concept, and an extensive galvanizing effort to crowdfund a targeted campaign to the global film markets for better appeal just a few years ago, that idea now comes nourished with nearly back-to-back stellar reviews from critics and virtual festival audiences the world over, including two reviews here at FCSyndicate HQ from none other than myself, as well as Melbourne-based Vance Ang whose own recent coverage partly states the following: “…As a feel good action comedy, the movie concludes in a decidedly formulaic fashion neatly wrapping up the story. Though nothing teases a sequel, the strength of its characters and themes could no doubt present this avenue – as Bao Tran clearly deserves […]
Say what you will of Andy Lau, but the man’s output has been pretty damn noticeable in the last several years, including a sequel to his 2017 thriller, Shock Wave, now guaranteed a summer rollout in the UK. Joining actor Sean Lau (Call of Heroes), Ni Ni (The Flowers of War) and Philip Keung (Sheep Without a Shepherd), Yau’s 2020 follow-up, Shock Wave: Hong Kong Destruction, is billed as “a must-see blockbuster full of twists, turns and explosive action from start to finish.” Trinity CineAsia is proudly premiering the film on Friday via Chinese Cinema Season, with releases on Blu-ray & DVD from June 7, and on Digital beginning June 14. After suffering life changing injuries in the line of duty, bomb disposal officer Poon Shing Fung (Andy Lau, Infernal Affairs, House of Flying Daggers) turns his back on the police. But when a devastating series of bombings sweep Hong Kong, the […]
I’ll be taking the day and watching this as it plays out. Great to see Scott back with another Art Of Action episode, and he’s got Lateef Crowder this time. I’ve been following Crowder for nearly two decades as I’m a fan of his work with the Zero Gravity stunt team, and he’s been a rising star ever since. His latest work on Disney+ series The Mandalorian is a major highlight as well. Enjoy!
It’s been a helluva ride waiting out the last fifty-thousand seven-hundred and thirty eight years for another Mortal Kombat movie to arise, and for that, it’s as surreal as it is sobering that many of us fans around the world will get to close this chapter with the hope of prospective sequels stemming from this latest effort by debut filmmaker Simon McQuoid. Alas, I hope everyone checking the film out this weekend does so safely, whether in a limited theater or at home. For all this and more, I now bring you to the latest what-in-hell-is-going-on-ness that is the latest independent music video premiere of Mortal Kombat co-star headlining as “Kung Lao”, actor/martial artist and JC Stunt Team cohort Max Huang, performing “Flawless Victory” to ring in the opening weekend. And… yeah. This is a pretty solid jam. Be cool if Watertower Music considers this a fair addition to the […]
I caught up on Friday with the official YouTube channel where actress, stunt performer and martial artist Angela Jordan took to her platform to acquaint viewers with fellow colleague, Ayesha Hussain. She’s a newcomer in entertainment, albeit experienced in her trade in martial arts and weapons performance, and the two spend close to a solid 38 minutes discussing the martial arts in sport, practice and philosphy, Ms. Hussain’s background, issues pertaining to sexism and gender equity, and much more. It’s a lively watch, and a fitting contribution to an online community where even action stars like Vidyut Jammwal and Scott Adkins are chatting it up with other action stars. Check it out above and sub to all things @AJKick101 by clicking here!
It’s Friday, and all the more importantly, it’s still March as the duration of Womens’ History Month in 2021 finishes out its final week. Alas, leave it to directing duo Shahaub Roudbari and Patrik Gardino to weigh in with a timely subject matter with a twist in the new shortfilm thriller, Unwelcome, starring Roudbari and Dustin Stern-Garcia, and Samantha Win and Dawn Marie. Two unassuming women are pursued by a pair of “perfect gentlemen” while hiking in the desert. As the fire burns into the night, the duo are met with unwelcome advances from the duplicitous aggressors. Tensions boil over and the predators learn they are prey in a gruesome taste of poetic justice. The shortfilm’s tagline, “Complicity has consequences.” fits perfectly into the mix as you’re more than welcome to see for yourself. Roudbari and Win, both independent filmmakers as well as top-tier industry stunt professionals who’ve respectively worked […]
Everyone’s got their dealbreakers when it comes to gauging a director’s work. Either way though, the final product speaks for itself, in all instances, and for me, that’s usually the case for how fun it’s been to keep an eye on director Christopher Sheffield. A few years since he landed on my radar with contract killer thriller, Split Lip, the LA-based independent filmmaker has amassed a worthwhile stack of feature and short duration credits behind the lens, including his latest ten-minute boiler room actioner, Welcome To The Sting, which took center stage in our recent behind-the-scenes coverage of the project. Dev (James M. Black), a fresh-faced detective, takes his first undercover step into the deadly world of the ‘Price Crime Syndicate’, but he learns the hard way that even Harper (Billy R. Smith), a fellow undercover officer who’s been below the surface for too long, can’t keep him safe. It’s […]
The past few months have proven to be the most driven for one of our own here on this platform. If you’ve been keeping up with all things related to the hit series, Warrior, which is currently streaming both seasons on HBO Max, and you happen to be one of our readers, chances are you’ve caught on to Kyle Wong’s own reviews of each episode. The series continues to inspire as it’s been doing, despite the discouraging lack of a third season and the reportedly paltry media attention against all cries from fans for the show’s continuance, myself included, wishful thinking be damned. Welp, that didn’t stop Kyle’s mission to cover this show, and The Movie Dojo’s own Phat Samurai Guy only recently wrapped up his own viewing and has since taken up arms with the fanbase to keep the fervor going as of late Tuesday in a new episode […]
If you’re a deep action aficionado like myself, who is appreciative of the introspection and analysis of the action genre, you should be familiar with the name Ross Peacock, aka Rossatron. His video essays on YouTube about Action Cinema are the finest you’ll ever see, I promise you. No one breaks down Action movies quite like Ross. But Ross has made it known that while he does enjoy making his video essays, his true love lies in filmmaking. And coupled with his expertise on Action, fans were salivating at the thought of what he could accomplish as a filmmaker. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we now have a glimpse of exactly that, as Ross has just released his debut as writer/director with Acéré. A man on the run. A villain with a knife. A fight to the death. This is Acéré (Sharpened to Kill). With Acéré (which means Sharp in french), […]
So, three things: The obvious: Cobra Kai is getting a third season on Netflix. Also, it’s releasing a week earlier following a badass announcement this week, so be sure to start your new year right and stream accordingly! And third? Well…all I got is this Yule Cobra from the show’s YouTube channel above. Enjoy your favorite beverage and celebrate your respective denominational holidays safely and well, everybody!
“The future of action animation is here.” says filmmaker Eric Jacobus, which is pretty much just the endorsement any independent filmmaker with an action project could hope for, and it’s definitely greener grass for creator Dillon Gu with his latest short, CyberKatsu: Recoded. The short itself is only a few minutes, woven as a sampling for aspiring creators to show what’s possible with Blender, billed as a robust 3D animation program used by thousands of artists. Gu is using this to pitch his Blender Animation Course which comes with a few perks from now through November 30. Gu’s Bloop Animation is the place to be to learn more apart from the video above. Check it out and enjoy! H/T: Eric Jacobus
There’s a reason why I spent a good six years prioritizing stunt performers, as many of them spend a great deal themselves on perpetuating and evolving their craft into other areas of film. Alas, do a YouTube search of actress, stunt performer and pro-athlete Caitlin Hutson and you’ll find ample results of some of her work on both sides of the camera. Her latest short is online with The Neighborly, pitting Anthony Oh opposite Brett Meier in a hodgepodge of action comedy fingergun-fu and bullet-ballet antics, followed by an end plot-twist that gets all the giggles. Check it out above, and follow her wherever she hangs her creative hat online. You know the drill.
Take the moment right now to etch Daniel Boocock’s name in your memory banks. Three years and one shortfilm credit in with The Desolate One, the Norwegian filmmaker is on a mission to leave an indelible mark as an emerging film talent from his Claret & Blue banner, which may just be the result he gets if his newest short, The Neolith, is any hint. “Too much animal distorts the civilised man. Too much civilization makes sick animals.” – CARL JUNG Amidst a beautiful and unforgiving landscape in an unknowable time and place, a mysterious individual takes action against a pack of bloodthirsty outsiders whose thirst for dominance is thriving, with brutal and bloody consequences… A bold, innovative and visually stunning short work, The Neolith recalls the fantastic realism and epic scope of Vikings and Game of Thrones while remaining entirely unique in its storytelling and style. Combining aspects of […]
Long since making headway as Puerto Rico’s premiere martial arts star in El Testigo, Jose Manuel has worked his way up from YouTube talent to working in feature films. Thus, his debut lead role in Pema Dhondup’s martial arts action drama, The Man From Kathmandu, just dropped in the United States and you can now find it for rent via YouTube, as well as Apple TV, Amazon and Google Play from High Octane. A young man morally torn between his cultural identity and his newfound vendetta, must reconnect with the traditions of his roots and find the true meaning of justice. The Man From Kathmandu has been on my radar for a really long time having undergone its evolution over the years in cast and story. It’s a milestone success for Manuel, and with a story that takes quite a cerebral turn and should definitely be seen with a nuanced […]
If there’s anything good that might come from the lockdown, it’s the emerging releases of stifled film projects only recently completed as Covid-19 gripped the world. Such was the case for filmmaker Glen Harris whose long-awaited ninja-thriller, Honour, is finally out and about with an online audience starring actor Mike Carr. Filmed in 2017, the project follows Harris’s previous endeavor, Headhackers. Carr himself tipped me off with a few promotional images for Honour prior to shooting, and as filming finished, so began an unfortunate post-editing process with VFX issues, post-production assistants bailing at the last minute and Harris’s own hectic work and moving schedules all hampering its release… that is, until now. Carr has long since disengaged social media and embarked on what I’ve been told is a career change from his earlier exploits in film. In the meantime, Headhackers and Honour are two projects this site has been glad […]
It’s taken more than a year until its release, but it was just last week that Martial Club launched its newest kung fu fan film, Fist Of Fury, popularly attributed to cinematic hero Chen Zhen, ironically potrayed by the likes of Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Donnie Yen among others. The project is headed by Andy Le who directs and stars opposite fellow actor and Martial Club founder Brian Le, in yet another phenomenal team effort with Daniel Mah, and assistant director Joseph Le who is best known of late for his own fan contributions via Team Red, like Afro Samurai Champloo, and a Mulan musical action short starring Jackie Kim. The team have also released two behind the scenes featurettes on the project, which are both now online following yesterday’s Part Two release. Make no mistake though: The team is on a mission with current efforts that span television, […]
I was today years old when I realized actor and martial artist Lewis Tan did an amazing shortfilm that’s been making the festival rounds for a while. Ji is the name, and it’s directed by Ben Griffin, and while I normally save these for The Hit List, I have the bug at the moment, so I didn’t wanna let up. Besides, after successfully earning his place in martial arts action fandom over the last few years with Marvel’s Iron Fist and prominent roles in AMC’s Into The Badlands and Netflix’s Wu Assassins, Tan’s next big move is expected to arrive with the January 15 release of Mortal Kombat, from Warner Bros. Pictures. Ji, for what it’s worth, serves as a nice little treat before then, doused with dazzling special effects to manifest Griffin’s ambitious sci-fi concept. The story introduces a universe in which the Earth is left destitute, wartorn and […]
“Lovecraftian” and “cosmic” are just a couple of the adjectives I’ve seen used to describe the type of horror film that is The Beach House. How would I describe it? Weird, but watchable. Hear me out: Emily and Randall are a young couple (who, in my opinion, have grown apart but are forcing the relationship) and they decide that a retreat to Randall’s dad’s beach house will be just what their relationship needs. Once there, they meet an older couple, Mitch and Jane Turner, who are also using the beach house since they are friends with Randall’s dad. So what do you do in this situation? It wouldn’t be much of a movie if one couple opted to leave so they decide to go through a bunch of wine and when that runs out, they all partake in some edibles…and no, these aren’t just tasty treats. Here’s where things get […]
Joey Min at Art School Dropouts released a new video essay at his official YouTube channel on how to make a feature film with no money. It’s about fifteen minutes long, and I have to say, it especially goes beyond the listed “steps”, one which includes, as Min himself elucidates: “Be nice. Be-Fucking-Nice.” That, to me, among feeding your crew and saying ‘Thank You’, is tantamount to the process in whole, while also worth noting the true intent of the video. Filmmaking is largely a learning-by-doing process, as I’ve learned from various film professionals in the last seven years through their own experiences, some of which who’ve evolved amply immensely in terms of character, creativity and morale. Min conveys his points through some of the experiences he shares with behind-the-scenes highlights of his recent webseries hit/feature debut, My Asian Auntie S2: Yes, Auntie!, in addition to other ASDO projects, and […]
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