alexander hashioka
LBP Stunts Chicago Presents: KARATE BOYS Vs. THE WORLD
From L to R (background): Tony Vittorioso, Alexander Hashioka and Nate Hitpas take direction from Emmanuel Manzanares (center/front)
Going into the weekend, we have a outstanding amalgam of talent that once more sees LBP Stunt Chicago’s own Emmanuel Manzanares back behind the camera for his latest skit, Karate Bros. vs. The World. This one is one of the slightly more spectacular ones with a little bit of VFX near the end, which is different from a lot of the short test fights we see from this group. Not to mention tricking impressario Micah Karns does a neat little stunt that was edited just nicely in the second half to give the fight that extra edge.
Fellow LBP members Alexander Hashioka and Nate Hitpas, with fellow tricker and martial artist Tony Vittorioso also perform.
LBP Stunts Chicago Presents: KERAMBIT KNIFE FIGHT
It’s been a busy, busy Spring for movies, including fans and filmgoers who have seen (or in some instances may be still waiting to see) director Gareth Evans’ latest film, The Raid 2, which opened the floodgates nationwide in early April. And with the film’s popularity among fans of Evans’ work, there’s a clear fascination with Indonesian action cinema, particularly with the weaponized choreography involving the use of the Kerambit knife, an ancient weapon which was once, like other ancient weapons, used as a farming tool.
Gh jyyThe knife can be seen in both aforementioned films along with others, including briefly in actor Dean Alexandrou’s next film, Reflex. This week however, we now get to see more of that hardwork pay off on the latest test fight short by Emmanuel Manzanares, and featuring Alexander Hashioka and Bryan Sloyer. It’s about a minute and a half, but still worth taking a peek as part of the embodyment of inspired action design courtesy of LBP Stunts Chicago.
Take a look and follow the channel for more content. Also, if you haven’t subscribe to Sloyer‘s channel and wish to explore his work, CLICK HERE and subscribe as well.
Indie Spotlight: ESCALATION And EMBRACE THE VOID Feat. Jerry Quill
It’s been an amazing year so far being able to observe and write about so many independent performers apply their creativity for cinematic action. And this week, that passion most notably arrives in a cool little double-header with two new videos featuring up-and-coming actor and stuntman Jerry Quill.
The first of two new test fight installations includes the latest one from independent filmmaker Emmanuel Manzanares titled Escalation, with fellow LBP member Alexander Hashioka. The short is one of several pieces Quill has done with LBP since late last year, with Manzanares‘s choreography here experimenting with a flurry of non-martial arts-stylized exchanges to depict more of a realistic, brutal struggle.
It’s this kind of creativity which provides a continually fruitful and evolving playing field for Quill in fight choreography and stunt experimentation. And if you haven’t subscribed to LBP Stunts Chicago on Youtube, then you’re in for a treat, to say the least. So by all means, check out the video below and hit the subscribe button.
The second short titled, Embrace The Void, also stars rising action actresses Sharon Berezin and Sarah McCreanor, and comes as the result of inspiration Quill had one day while bored at work. In light of this inspiration, his friendship with Dragon Phoenix Entertainment’s own Shaun Charney earned him a pretty good opportunity to apply himself in a way he had not done before until now, in directing, as well as action design and writing. “I don’t write very often actually,” he says. “But, I decided to push myself to do it for this so I could have something more to shoot than just a fight scene.”.
He also added, “I’ve always had an interest in choreography but never directed before. I want to be able to produce and direct my own projects but didn’t know where to start. So I contacted Shaun for help and advice. He told me he would collaborate and help me put together a small project for learning purposes.”.
Quill also discussed his history with Berezin and how he came across discovering McCreanor, both who I have written about either once or twice in a few previous articles. “I had worked with Sharon several times before through a couple of Shaun’s other projects,” he writes. “We also meet up to train once and a while. She’s been helping me with basic acrobatics.” He continued, “I met Sarah briefly working on a music video. After seeing one of her dance reels, I asked her if she would be interested in doing a small fight scene so I could get some practice directing. Plus, because of Sarah’s dance background and flexibility gave me the chance to try a few different ideas with some of her moves.”.
As experimental as this particular project was, the project was also a test of time management and pressure. Thematically, the short was meant to be much longer and more metaphorical in its delivery, featuring McCreanor as the human emulation of “Death” testing the will of a “slave” played by Berezin. “I originally wanted to tell more of the story through the fight and choreography,” he says. “However due to poor planning on my part, we only had one day to shoot and we were fighting the sunlight and time. So I had to cut most of the choreography in order to finish.”.
Quill also writes, “I learned a lot about what I can do better next time. It was great working with both of them. Thankfully they were both super patient with me throughout this process. Plus, Shaun Charney helped me out A LOT with this project, so kudos to him!”.
It’s very interesting to see as many independent performers grow and improve in the past decade as I have, including within the past year spotting Quill in what would be going into his second year in such an occupation, performing in several pieces for Charney. And adding Berezin and McCreanor in the mix, I can only hope these folks will help keep me busy on this site for the years to come.
Check out Embrace The Void in the embed below, and to follow, you know what to do!
Photo: Tony Chu Photography
"Are You Ready!?!" Watch The New LBP Test Fight Short, THROWDOWN!
Michael Lehr and Alexander Hashioka-Oatfield trade shots in the LBP short, THROWDOWN
Independent filmmaker Emmanuel Manzanares continues to entertain the masses this month with a brand new pound-for-pound action short titled Throwdown. Filmed just this past Sunday, the project is one in a continual series of the usual experimental pieces representing the body of work by LBP Stunts Chicago as Manzanares expands his craft with other stunt performing actors in front of the camera, this time with LBP member Alexander Hashioka-Oakfield and West coast-based Fight Factory’s own Michael Lehr.
I spoke to the two performers this week leading the way with Lehr, who recently appeared opposite actor and director John Wusah in their latest collaboration titled Valiant just last week. And it just so happens that while Lehr has been familiar with LBP’s work for a long period of time, Throwdown is his first pairing with Manzanares and anyone from his team, which he describes best as an “eye-opening” experience. “Everytime I think I’m good at stunts and fighting, I work with aces like these guys and I get a good reminder of how much I can improve.” he says. “…They were very friendly, very accommodating and patient.” With several more projects Lehr will be involved in between now and this summer, Lehr expressed his humilty and hopes his next adventure with LBP won’t be too far off, adding “I learned a lot from them, and for such a short shoot, they managed to make me look credible. I’m always trying to surround myself with people I think are better than myself, so hopefully they’ll let me work with them again ASAP.”.
Hashioka-Oatfield, a member of the team since its conception between 2007 and 2008 who has appeared in several pieces I have written about in the past year, can certainly side with Lehr in vouching for the amount of impact that entails in combining similar goals with like-minded folks such as Manzanares. “Any amount of committed training produces results, and working with good people always forces you to raise your game.” says Hashioka-Oatfield. “And since we train hard and regular, it’s fairly easy to grow and make moves. And obviously, in any group, diversity is important, so I’ve tried to branch out and do more than just our stunt training with our guys.”. On that note, he also spoke highly of Lehr on their first time performing together, saying “It was a fun time! Mike has plenty of legit fight training to draw on, and it’s just a matter of channeling that ability towards performance. Honestly, it’s always a little nerve wracking fighting someone new, especially with lots of in ring training. However, Mike has great control and ability. I think he can go as far as he wants with the fight specialty.”.
Currently, Lehr is set to produce a few projects next month, in addition to a Fight Factor sci-fi short with stunt player and actress Katelyn Brooke, as well as playing the lead in an upcoming Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-oriented webseries, and appearing in NBC’s new medical drama, The Night Shift this fall. Meanwhile, TV viewers can expect to catch Hashioka-Oatfield in a few stunt appearances later this year, including the NBC series Chicago PD, with credits shared with a few more folks from LBP Stunts Chicago in director Neil Burger’s Divergent, in thearers on March 21.
Check out Throwdown in the embed below where you may also subscribe and stay tuned for more info and exciting content.
The Final Battle Between Ranger And Outlaw Begins In FROM MAN TO MAN (Da Uomo a Uomo)
I feel like I must have covered LBP Stunts Chicago a lot this year. Aside from what seems to have been a flourishing year for multifaceted stuntman and independent filmmaker Emmanuel Manzanres, it was only two days ago that I covered two of the team’s members, Nate Hitpas and Keith Min in seperate pieces.
Now, just three days later, we are back with another collaborative piece from our director, which he wrapped up during his time in California, newly releasing his latest short, From Man To Man – Da Uomo a Uomo: Volume 2. Two years in the making, the shortfilm follows up Manzanares‘ own visionary concept illustrating kung fu action in a western setting featuring actors, Thousand Pounds’ own Vonzell Carter and LBP’s own Brendon Huor in parallel battles that ultimately lead to their final one-on-one confrontation, inspired by the aesthetic presented in Zhang Yimou’s Hero with legends Jet Li and Donnie Yen.
Manzanres has done some amazing work this year, in addition to his recent television work in Chicago PD and Chicago Fire, and performing stunts with fellow LBP members under action director J.J. Perry in helmer Neil Burger’s upcoming sci-fi adventure, Divergent. And if you are just now catching onto LBP and what they are all about, you can check out the tags at the bottom of the article.
Manzanares also set to appear in the upcoming indie all star production of Unlucky Stars going into the new year, which has already been a really long wait that fans continue to hope will end soon.
Stay tuned for more information as it trickles, and for your enjoyment, check out both volumes below for From Man To Man – Da Uomo a Uomo in the embeds below.
Also starring are Jeffrey Griffith, LBP’s own Alex Hashioka and Martial Club team performer, actor Andy Le.
FROM MAN TO MAN (DA UOMO A UOMO): PART ONE
From Man to Man (Da Uomo a Uomo) Vol. 1 from LBP Stunts Chicago on Vimeo.
FROM MAN TO MAN (DA UOMO A UOMO): PART TWO
