The show is laden with all the necessary parts to make Black an authentic and rich military action and espionage drama with all of the trimmings, including a cast of which many are still either serving or retired. John T. Woods and Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa also star for the show’s limited progressive online roll out, so if you wish to see the episodes, now would be a good time. And feel free to subscribe to the accompanying Facebook page as well.
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.
Superhero movies are nothing new for people like independent filmmaker, stuntman and actor John Wusah who is serving up a dish full of his own masked heroics for his latest superhero-inspired shortfilm, Valiant. Co-starring Katie Kabili and co-directed by actor Michael Lehr, Valiant is the latest project kicking things off for Wusah in his latest collaboration with 108 Films and cinematic action stunt team Fight Factory.
Not much dialogue is heard here, nor is there the usual big budget spectacle or any special effects or wires as Valiant delivers clear, cut and dry martial arts action with a noteworthy, inspiring message wrapped in a little homage to superheroes from all walks of life. The shortfilm also sets another signature example of non-budgeted yet ambitious efforts that carry heavily on the continually creative efforts of a flourishing group of film professionals who very much remain an active lot to look out for in 2014. So, while you’re here, grab a friend and take the next five minutes to enjoy the new independent action piece hosted by the official channel for Wusah Productions where you may also subscribe.
Valiant also stars Oscar Leiva and David Bauer, with fight choreography and camerawork by Narayana Cabral.
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With lifelong dreams of becoming a martial arts action star, inspired by such contemporary action hits such as Ong Bak, The Forbidden Kingdom, The Raid: Redemption, Ip Man 2 and Undisputed 3, his years of incorporating his physical prowess with years of independent filmmaking experience has led him to train and work with numerous people, from Micah Brock, Shaun Charney and Chancler Hayes, to martial arts cinema greats like Erik Betts and Art Camacho. (You can view some of Narayana’s training footage with Art Camacho here and here.)