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PLANNING INTO ACTION: An Interview With Actor And Stuntman, Phong Giang
Click here and you’ll be able to see just how far back I began lending lip service to one of the most anticipated martial arts film titles at the time prior to its ensuing title, Plan B: Scheiss Auf Plan A (click here to read our review). That was in 2015 and it certainly feels like forever looking back as far as then in covering German film and stunt troupe, Reel Deal Action, as much as I have been.
BERLIN FALLING: Catch The Teaser And Official Trailer For Ken Duken’s Timely Terrorist Thriller
There’s no doubt that actor Ken Duken’s latest film marking his directorial debut is immersed in a sea of grim irony; That the new road thriller, Berlin Falling, comes as both inspired by and in the wake of tragic world events is not with a sense of heavy surrealism.
It’s an otherwise adventitious setup for the upcoming July screenings being slated in Germany following NFP’s acquisition of the film back in February. Duken also served as one of the producers and helped pen the script which joins him with actor Tom Wlaschiha (Game Of Thrones) which centers on a deadly fight for survival between a man on his way to Berlin, and the backpacker carrying a bomb with plans to detonate it in the city upon arrival.
Sans subtitles, a teaser and trailer have since made their way online and you’re more than welcome to check them out below.
AT LONG LAST: An Interview With Andy Long
That stated, I was never personally well acquainted with Andy Long until around my first or second year as a writer here at Film Combat Syndicate. However, the work he’s amassed and contributed to the genre and the people of his field makes him one of the most sought after people to date for a guy that lives so far away from most others, and it’s partly by way of the internet in its evolution for more than twenty years now that his relevance and success keeps him going, having collaborated with numerous teams and filmmakers aplenty, at home and abroad. Independent AND mainstream.
WHERE FANTASY MEETS REALITY: An Interview With Tanay Genco Ulgen
Interestingly enough, neither has fight choreographer and filmmaker Tanay Genco Ulgen, although it didn’t stop him from contributing to one of Sony’s forthcoming major feature film releases tying into the game franchise, Nozue Takeshi’s Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. I learned of this in a Facebook post a few months ago and so I found myself at an opportune moment to interview yet another aspiring film professional in the course of my own work in covering independent action as well.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN BERLIN: German Martial Arts Film Group, Reel Deal Action, Sets Their 2015 Feature Debut
At any other point in time before the new millennium, you may have been right in simply assuming that the martial arts action genre wouldn’t have had much fervor with the internet. Of course, time proved quite the opposite with a vast number of independent groups sprouting online for a community that has evidently gone global. Germany, for one, has surely seen its share of that effect with its own native talents, namely folks like Can Aydin, Phong Giang and award-winning stunt performer Cha-Lee Yoon – just three of the principle stuntmen combining years of experience to form their own team, Reel Deal Action, as of just several years ago.
Since then, they’ve continually left a memorable mark in the world of independent action, most recently winning Fight Of The Year over at Martial Arts Movie Junkie for their 2013 hit, The Messenger, prior to going global with their latest award-winning film festival short favorite, Evil Twin, which is now on its way to Tally Shorts in Florida and Jaipur International Film Festival in India this February. This, coupled with their recent successes in the stunt industry with credits like Arena Of The Street Fighter (2011), the 23rd Bond film – Skyfall (2012) and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Parts 1 and 2, as well as the Samuel L. Jackson starrer, Big Game this March, and the upcoming summer reboot releases of Point Break and Agent 47 have inarguably put Reel Deal Action on the map for certain viability as a self-sustaining team suitable and worthy enough for their own feature-length film. Alas, with the forthcoming German martial arts action comedy, Once Upon A Time In Berlin, they’re doing exactly that.
Currently under the working title, 4 Gewinnt (Connect 4), Once Upon A Time In Berlin is the feature-length debut collaboration between Reel Deal Action and VFX studio, CineChromatix following their prior get-together on Evil Twin and The Messenger. Visual effects artist and editor, CineChromatix founder Ufuk Genc and composer Michael Popescu are directing the film from a story and script by Reel Deal Action, Popescu and key screenwriter Rafael Garciolo which centers on a group of four best friends hustling for stunt jobs in Berlin who accidentally stumble upon the wrong address for an audition, only to have one of their own held hostage by a shady crimeboss who sends the remaining three on a harrowing race against time to collect four coordinates throughout the city leading to a safe and its incriminating contents.
Currently rounding out the cast are non-team member, actor and co-star Eugene Boateng and actress and stuntwoman Heidi Moneymaker following her most recent kick ass role with sister Renae Moneymaker in their 2014 short collaboration with 87Eleven, Behind Every Great Man. As per their M.O., Reel Deal Action designed their own sequences with Aydin serving as action director, and are also producing the film which is currently in post-production with further casting details, a release date and other specifics pending. A teaser could arrive as soon as next month although that is subject to change, so your best bet is to keep your eyes peeled and subscribe to the official Facebook page for Reel Deal Action for further news!
Watch The Trailer For Chong Seung-Hyun's Shortfilm Debut, STEH AUF (GET UP)
Tae-shik is a 26-years old Korean-German. Despite his Korean upbringing, he cannot quite identify himself as the Korean that his parents had in mind for him. He feels adrift in turmoil, struggling to find his own identity between the two different cultures of Korea and Germany. Nonetheless, he has one thing that brings him passion for life: boxing.
Mathis Landwehr Photo Teases A KAMPFANSAGE Reunion
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SYNDICATE SHOUTOUT: Sefa Demirbas
Aspiring martial arts athletes from around the world are continuing to put out some of their best work in the hopes of becoming the next in line to help deliver what is now expected in today’s generation of martial arts athleticism and showmanship. And today’s example comes from none other than the sound track of hip hop duo Black Sheep’s 1991 hit, “The Choice Is Yours”, applied to the latest reel from martial artist, stuntman and tricker Sefa Demirbas hailing all the way from Europe by way of dynamic award-winning German martial arts performance and screenfighting troupe TeamBay (meaning Team 7, with Bay translating from Vietnamese).
Founded by fellow athlete, actor martial arts performer and independent filmmaker Vi-Dan Tran in 2002, the team has seen its evolution between old and new members while nuturing its audience ever since. Its latest attempt at re-emergence this year has featured some new collaborations in film, and even a brand new clothing line of their own, all of which you can learn more about at their official Facebook page in the video’s description.
Feel free to subscribe to their channel below to keep up with their content, in addition to Demirbas‘s updates as well. (Be advised, the video is only playable on desktop, NOT mobile. So set your browser accordingly.)
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