christian sesma

A Case For Better Action Movies – VIGILANTE DIARIES (2016)

It took me a few viewings on a Sunday to get through director Christian Sesma’s new movie, Vigilante Diaries, and mainly due to my job (Hashtag #WhatsAWeekend?). This, and the fact my online screener copy kept freezing and I had to go through a series of stops-and-starts to make it through both viewings. But, that’s neither here nor there – whereas the core of this discussion lies mainly in the overall fascination behind turning an underfunded webseries into a sprawling action film with sequel potential. This was the case in 2013 when Chill.com was a still a thing, and Vigilante Diaries landed with two episodes in an all-exclusive effort to earn the support of donors willing to help bring thrilling action and mature, graphic novel-style storytelling to a series format. Obviously, that effort was short-lived, but apparently it didn’t stop Sesma, nor the film’s star, actor and screenwriter Paul Sloan, […]

Anchor Bay Announces Epic Action Thriller, VIGILANTE DIARIES For Theatrical Release Next Month!

Lee B. Golden III

It’s probably the best news in the world at this point for all the energy I’ve put into following the work of filmmaker Christian Sesma. Though my timing was off between the debut of my blog and Sesma’s then-efforts toward the action-packed hyper violent webseries, Vigilante Diaries, I pretty much came just in time to watch and observe with the rest of the crowd in the last several years as the maverick filmmaker evolved the project from its embryonic status as an online product to a fully fledged feature film. Thus, we are now about to get our hands filthy as glorious fuck with the film’s officially announced release theatrical, iTunes and VoD, and DVD releases, respectively dated for June 24 and July 5. For this, we have to thank CineTel Films for shopping this puppy around as long as they have before finally landing it at Anchor Bay Entertainment, […]

Cinetel Picks Up VIGILANTE DIARIES Ahead Of EFM 2016

Lee B. Golden III

Three years since erecting his vision onto limited webseries format, director Christian Sesma is finally poised to lend exclusive screening audiences to his latest feature thriller, Vigilante Diaries. The film has been in post production since late last year after wrapping with the surprise addition of martial arts star Michael Jai White to the cast, and with the festivals lining up, this season, word from Screendaily has it that Cinetel has acquired world wide rights and will be presenting the film to respective markets this year. The film stars White along with lead actor Paul Sloan, and co-stars Jason Mewes, Quinton Rampage and Michael Madsen from an original script and concept based on a graphic novel which centers on a documentary filmmaker’s exploits as he follows a team of rogue mercenaries who set out in search of the infamous Vigilante while they dodge the notorious hidden dangers set by the […]

FIVE A DAY: Ring In The New Year With These Heavy Hitters!

Lee B. Golden III

At long last, we’ve come to the last day of 2015 and we have ten more titles to list by Friday. Once more, quite a few of these are just here as worthy reminders as some of these titles tend to fall into obscurity until something major happens, so I’m glad to help keep the attention going for these and rest assured, I’ll be tracking other titles as always. So, here is the next slate of my Five-A-Day round-up! Out of all the people you could list as high profile in martial arts cinema, in many ways actor and filmmaker Michael Jai White clearly falls in that category. For this, the first title I want to list in that regard is, what was once a surprise to me at the time, his addition to Christian Sesma’s Vigilante Diaries starring Paul Sloan, Quinton Jackson and Jay Mewes. The film spawned as […]

Michael Jai White Joins Indie Action Thriller, VIGILANTE DIARIES!

Lee B. Golden III

The current production of director Christian Sesma‘s new action thriller, Vigilante Diaries, has been quite the enduring one. Taking into account the last several years have seen the property evolve righteously from an experimental hyperviolent and sexy Chill.com exclusive webseries to a now fully-fledged action movie, there’s plenty to hope for here with a cast and crew that is nothing short of adhesive to its craft. Watch Sesma‘s The Nightcrew and you’ll see what I mean. In the meantime, cameras went back to rolling after Sesma shot some scenes in the UK and other parts of Europe with actor Paul Sloan leading the cast along with Jay Mewes, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Michael Madsen to name a few, following last year’s first official teaser. With more footage to come, we can now add action star Michael Jai White to the current roster for what Sesma describes as his own answer […]

Screener Review: THE NIGHTCREW (2015)

Lee B. Golden III

REVIEW: Director Christian Sesma is a filmmaker with a huge vision for action whilst working as optimally as possible with smaller budgets. Tonally, there’s a level of intensity that normally comes with a Sesma film, particularly when left unhindered, and much to our delight, we get to see a product fully into itself with his most recent action horror, The Nightcrew. Luke Goss leads the film as Wade, the leader of a team of hard-up bounty hunters who swoop in and recover Mei, a mysterious Chinese woman just as she’s about to be kidnapped. Little do they know, she turns out to be more than she appears as the team gets cornered in the middle of the midwestern desert at night by an army of hitmen at the behest of Mexican crimeboss, Aguilar, who has plans of his own for Mei. The film was written by Sesma and co-star and […]

Screener Review: AWOL-72 (2015)

Lee B. Golden III

REVIEW: I’ve been following director Christian Sesma for a few years now since covering his earlier work on the once-upon-a-time webseries, Vigilante Diaries. That project is still in full bloom as we speak, while his latest film, AWOL-72 is now heading for a release this month in the U.S. and the U.K., and certainly serves its purpose for the R-rated action film crowd. Actor Luke Goss and actress Heather Roop lead the story of Conrad Miller, a former soldier on the run when he’s discovered to have sold Cold War secrets to ex-KGB. With just three days to get out of the country with the woman he loves and their child on the way, he faces a few misadventures before he can steer clear of danger, including hillbilly human traffickers, crooked cops, two relentless detectives, and assassins who will stop at nothing to find him and kill him. The film […]

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Hey UK! Win Your Copy Of Luke Goss's New Action Flick, AWOL-72

Lee B. Golden III

Director Christian Sesma‘s latest action thriller, AWOL-72 is finally releasing this Fall with a UK street date set September 21 on DVD and Digital in the U.K.. With that in mind, two lucky fans in the U.K. now have a chance to win a DVD copy of their own by Friday, September 18. Simply email us at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com and tell us your favorite Luke Goss film, and TWO lucky winners will be selected on September 18 with a full name and address request. In the meantime, fans of Goss, formerly of the music duo, Bros, will surely get a kick out of this one with a director currently getting his feet fairly wet with a number of action-genre titles for the niche, and AWOL-72 looks rather promising and fun. Expect a review by next week, and good luck with our latest contest! SYNOPSIS: Conrad Miller (Luke Goss), is an AWOL […]

AWOL-72 Gets A Release Date And A New Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Director Christian Sesma has been hard at work directing several projects in the last few years, and now one of them is finally heading to theaters as of late. September 25 will mark the U.S. release of AWOL-72, rejoining Sesma with actor Luke Goss following their previous get-together The Nightcrew with actor Bokeem Woodbine also starring. SYNOPSIS: Conrad Miller, is an AWOL military officer who has been accused of selling secrets to ex KGB during the cold war. When Miller realizes he has been tracked by his counterpart hit man Myron, Miller knows his love, and his compromise has been threatened, and he does the only thing humanly possible. RUN. The Soviets enlist the services of Detective Adams to aid them in the local hunt to track down Miller by any means necessary. Miller has 72 hours to make his rendezvous point and get out of the country with his […]

Everyone Is Out To Kill Luke Goss In The New Trailer For AWOL-72!

Lee B. Golden III

The Nightcrew helmer, director Christian Sesma will finally be getting the release treatment for his newest, AWOL-72 next month. Dates are pending but a new trailer is now circulating as of the weekend with actors Luke Goss and Bokeem Woodbine back in the fray with Sesma as a rogue MP on the run from soviet agents, the police, and pretty much everyone who is armed and has authority. Clearly there won’t be much room to rest in between. SYNOPSIS: Conrad Miller, is an AWOL military officer who has been accused of selling secrets to ex KGB during the cold war. When Miller realizes he has been tracked by his counterpart hit man Myron, Miller knows his love, and his compromise has been threatened, and he does the only thing humanly possible. RUN. The Soviets enlist the services of Detective Adams to aid them in the local hunt to track down […]

Outnumbered Bounty Hunters Tackle Border Cartel Thugs In The New Trailer For THE NIGHTCREW

Lee B. Golden III

The unyielding creative film duo that are co-scribes, director Christian Sesma and actor Paul Sloan are starting off the new year just right with their latest pairing for the upcoming action thriller, The Nightcrew. Actor and debut filmmaker as of recent, Luke Goss, leads the cast with Sloan in a story about a team of hard-up bounty hunters who apprehend a mysterious Chinese woman trying to cross the border, only to discover her deadly secrets as they fight to survive the night in a desert motel against a horde of border runners. The script itself existed for some time prior to its application last year during three weeks of principal photography. Nowadays, Sesma‘s films are finally coming out of the woodwork, adding the film to a list of a few other titles for the new year, including Vigilante Diaries: The Movie, and AWOL-72. And on that note, if you’re wondering […]

Director Christian Sesma's VIGILANTE DIARIES Gets A New Poster

Lee B. Golden III

From L to R: Paul Sloan, Jason Mewes and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Not too long after the unveiling of the latest teaser trailer for director Christian Sesma‘s 2015 action thriller, Vigilante Diaries, the production released the first of pending poster art ahead of its upcoming presentation at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California next month. The film is offering a mixed bag of new faces to its old line-up originally stemming from its earlier roots as a hopeful Chill.com exclusive webseries, boasting crazy, high-octane action and spectacle with stylish storytelling, and fully-loaded characters to make this feature-length expansion worth every playing minute. Check out the new poster art below, in addition to the latest explosive teaser trailer just beneath! SYNOPSIS: Based on the graphic novel web series, VIGILANTE DIARIES the feature film, explodes with a genre bending, action packed ride following documentary filmmaker Mike Hanover (Jason Mewes) as […]

Get Dropkicked And Blown Away In The New Teaser For VIGILANTE DIARIES!

Lee B. Golden III

The last few years have been busy, but good to director Christian Sesma following his intial attempt at a Chill.com exclusive webseries production slate for Vigilante Diaries once upon a time. Fast forward to now in late 2014, where our dear filmmaker has successfully extrapolated the material for a fully-fledged feature-length action-packed spectacle now set for 2015, and to say the least, the new teaser trailer delivers with gusto! SYNOPSIS: Based on the graphic novel web series, VIGILANTE DIARIES the feature film, explodes with a genre bending, action packed ride following documentary filmmaker Mike Hanover (Jason Mewes) as he and a badass team of mercs, led by Wolfman (Quinton Rampage Jackson) go off to find the infamous Vigilante (Paul Sloan), now missing for the past 7 months. But an Armenian mob boss out for revenge will stop at nothing to prevent the Vigilante’s return as Mr. Moreau (Michael Madsen) a […]

Strap Into Your Firebird And Watch The New AWOL-72 Trailer With Luke Goss!

Lee B. Golden III

On the heels of his own directing debut, actor Luke Goss is still an active member of the action genre, trading headbutts and fisticuffs for action fans alike. Soon enough, you’ll see more of this as we approach the forthcoming release of his new road-raging, hard-hitting fugitive thriller, AWOL-72, directed by Christian Sesma with a script by Cecil Chambers. SYNOPSIS: Luke Goss leads the action-packed adventure as AWOL Marine Conrad Miller, who in possession of key secret government information is chased by Russian Mobsters, an LAPD Dectective (RZA) and a highly-paid assassin (Bokeem Woodbine) in order to get the military secrets he carries. Actors Bokeem Woodbine and RZA, and actresses Heather Roop and Mary Christina Brown also round out the cast. Fans can further expect Goss and Woodbine to reunite when their next film, Sesma’s The Nightcrew, releases next year as well. Until then, as release dates await announcing, AWOL-72 […]

GUNS, COMICS And BANANAS: Director Christian Sesma Talks VIGILANTE DIARIES: THE MOVIE!

Lee B. Golden III

Director Christian Sesma (left) and actor Jason Mewes (right) on the set of VIGILANTE DIARIES: THE SERIES (2013) Moving away from the habitual cycle of comic book and video game adaptations in film these days, independent filmmaker Christian Sesma and actor Paul Sloan are proof positive that original storytelling can still pave the way for something massively incredible. And as of late, their prospects in this regard are about to take shape with their new stylish action thriller, Vigilante Diaries: The Movie, a film that once saw its day as a Chill.com exclusive webseries with Sloan joined by actor Jason Mewes (Clerks, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back). The series unfortunately faded after its two-episode premiere and a lot of time did pass since then with Sloan and Sesma keeping busy with other projects. However, some new and peculiar-looking photos in Sesma‘s Instagram account landed in my sights and drew […]

On-Set Stunts: A Word With Actor Darren Bailey For The New Film, LOST TIME

Lee B. Golden III

From L to R: Director Christian Sesma, actors Derek Mears, Darren Bailey and Luke Goss, co-producer A.J. Rickert-Epstein and producer Jerry Apodaca on the set of Lost Time. The latest trailer is out for the forthcoming release of director Christian Sesma‘s new sci-fi suspense thriller, Lost Time. The film is one of several films fans can expect from the director with a few more on the way featuring actor Luke Goss, who plays Carter, a cop on a mission to rescue his dying girlfriend, Valerie, who ends up caught in a web of supernatural mystery after the sudden disappearance of her sister. The film also lended quite a memorable experience for up-and-coming actor Darren Bailey (our resident film critic for The Bailey Review), best known for his work as fellow performer and co-founder of independent action film team, Thousand Pounds Action Company. Here, Bailey found himself in the good graces […]

Paul Sloan Is Armed And Ready In A New Character Still From THE NIGHTCREW

Lee B. Golden III

Photo Credit: Sissy Nightmare Writer and director Christian Sesma unveiled the latest character photo featuring actor Paul Sloan from the upcoming action thriller, The Nightcrew from Premiere Entertainment and Seskri Productions. Sloan joins a cast that also includes Luke Goss, Bokeem Woodbine, Chasty Ballesteros, Jason Mewes, Derek Mears, Roberto Sanchez, JacqueliIne Lord and Danny Trejo in a story about a rag tag team of bounty hunters who become the target of a savage Mexican cartel after chasing a mysterious female across the border, only to discover she is way more than she appears to be. The film is currently in post production after wrapping several days ago while Sesma has officially announed the start of preparation for his early 2014 filming schedule for his next film, AWOL 72. No premiere date has been announced yet for The Nightcrew, although a trailer could be aired online this February followed by a […]

'Diaries' Series Helmer Goes Rogue With Luke Goss In AWOL 72 Next Year

Lee B. Golden III

Long after putting forward his efforts in Chill’s exclusive online graphic action webseries, Vigilante Diaries, and the sci-fi horror thriller Lost Time, director Christian Sesma (pictured left) is currently readying his latest Mexican border action thriller, The Nightcrew with actors Luke Goss, Paul Sloan, Bokeem Woodbine, Jason Mewes and Danny Trejo among a list of other cast members. As of late, a few of those actors so far will reportedly be returning to the set with Sesma early next year in Los Angeles when he hits the ground running for his next film, AWOL 72, with Goss leading, according to the latest report from Deadline. Directing from a script he co-wrote with producer, Triumphant Entertainment’s Cecil Chambers, Sesma directs AWOL 72 where Goss will play a rogue Marine carrying sensitive government information, which makes him a target of Russian special ops, an assassin and an LAPD detective. Woodbine will be co-producing […]