jeff centauri

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Vincent Soberano Debuts FMA Action Horror Thrills In BLOOD HUNTERS

EXCLUSIVE: Currently in post production is the new Filipino action horror, Blood Hunters, from documentary filmmaker, Muay Thai champion and debut director Vincent Soberano. The film is the latest advancement of the proof-of-concept short of the same name for which Soberano won Best Short Film at the Urban Action Showcase and Expo in New York City last November prior to acquiring funding.

Poised as an English-language pic with international appeal, the film centers on a team of mercenaries assigned to battle swarms of hybrid, vampiric creatures and hunt down their Queen in order to harness her blood to prevent an Aswang apocalypse. Soberano also makes his lead acting debut in the movie from his own script in addition to designing some of the action, provided in part with Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) serving as the bedrock for most of the film’s fight sequences by choreographer Revirick Jocson and action director Jeff Centauri who last assisted stunt director Sonny Sison on Pedring Lopez’s Nilalang.

The martial arts heavy cast includes USA-born actress Sarah Chang, local Hall Of Famer Levy Ignacio and son Ian T. Ignacio, and longstanding action star and Makati congressman Monsour Del Rosario (Bloodfist 2, The Hunt For Eagle One) in his latest return to film. Joining in as the principal antagonists are former fitness instructor, actress Mayling Ng (Lady Bloodfight, Wonder Woman) who stars as the aforementioned Queen, Maya, along with actor and martial artist Temujin Shirzada as Naga.

Topping out the cast will be a spate of cameos from notable FMA Grandmasters, including Sr. Grandmasters Vicente R. Sanchez and Patrick Jason P. Balos, and Grandmasters Henry Espera, Ronaldo Baxafra and Arnold Narzo.

Production commenced on February 15 this year and subsequently wrapped on March 7 with an official teaser now en route along with some hopeful acquisition and distribution news before long. Until then, we have three fresh, new promotional images courtesy of the production for you to view below. Check them out and stay tuned for some teaser footage and more on Blood Hunters as the film takes shape!

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THE HIT LIST – March 21, 2016

The last entry is a teaser clip from Jyo Carolino’s upcoming indie action short, I Am Spartan with a full fight scene that initally premiered at MidSouthCon in Tennessee last week. The shortfilm, in whole will premiere on April 27, starring Carolino as a traumatized soldier forced to fight a new war at home in order to redeem himself. Jai Tanghal, and Drew Russom are also featured in the clip.

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THE HIT LIST – August 10, 2015

It’s been a busy, busy year for the blog, and I seem to notice I’m running out of outstanding stunt reels. I may have to substitute if this keeps going, although I hope this turns around. Anyway, this week has a new Hit List installment and it should be an awesome evening or morning for you, wherever you are in the world as there are plenty of shorts and bits of webserial content to share with at least one being a matter of catching up for me.

I almost wish there were two of me for this thing.

Starting things off here is the stuntreel playlist with samplers by Robert Watson and Sean Taylor‘s stunt highlights from work on Josh Trank’s Fant4stic, as well as reels by Tony Flores, Noah Woods, Lisa LoCascio, an excellent new reel from stunt coordinator and stuntman, Arnold Chon and a fantastic action reel courtesy of Martial Club’s own Daniel Mah!

Now it’s time to get fighting, and kicking things off are a trio of quick little fight action jewels, and I have a favorite from these. Cinematic Fight Studio initiates this round here with a test fight starring CFS student Nhan Du and martial artist and upcoming actor Tom Caserto, followed by Jeff Centauri‘s latest bit of madness in Young Model Fights Back: Secrets, a nifty little video from our German entertainers within the Noobtown Monkeys as dueling roommates, Player VS. Player and the latest test fight short, Captured, from Wolf Stunts!

Taking a moment to help share a little bit of webseries, YouTube Space has proven to be quite the breeding ground of ideas for Toku creative, indie filmmaker Bueno. The latest idea to come to fruition has finally taken shape in the new webseries, Ayakashi Zamurai, with Kimura Keisaku starring as a fugitive and wandering drifter armed with a kickass…puppy. Yes, I’m calling it a puppy until you see it for yourself.

The second video comes from the kind folks over at Shuriken Films in the wake of their new webseries launch, Warigami, starring Sam Marra in the story of a warrior on a mission to protect ancient scrolls while facing an opposition with a shared, unique skillset. It’s visually impressive and the story and action share as every bit of intensity as you’d hope, and if you’re new to the webseries, then you’re just in luck. Because you can also catch the second episode today after you’ve seen the first in the player below!

And lastly, though far from least, oft contributor and independent action coordinator, James Couche, has a few gems of his own now out and about. One is the latest long-awaited short Demon Hunters:  Zero Mission, now online as of last week and serving up a nice little slice of sci-fi action cheese circa the mid-90’s.

The second, and final video of the Hit List this week comes by the good graces of the latest milestone success of the current Kickstarter for director Michael Neal’s webseries, Swords Of Insurgency, with the unveiling of the pilot while crowdfunding continues. Couche’s team, DC Stunt Coalition led by stunt coordinator Dylan Hintz, designed the action with actress Rebecca Hausman front and center of this post-apocalyptic tale of one woman’s struggle to survive tyrannical usurpers of the future.

Click here for more info, otherwise, enjoy both videos below!

Swords of Insurgency – Pilot Episode from Michael Neal on Vimeo.

A few noteworthy mentions here are necessary this week, particularly for independent filmmaker Frank T. Ziede who is currently around the corner with his latest military action series, Black. In the meantime, he’s also promoting the Wednesday online premiere of his latest shortfilm, Dogs Of War, and there’s an event page where you can join and view the trailer as well.

As for all else, there’s plenty to catch up with if you’re new to the Hit List, and last week’s list is full of goodies if you missed any. And, if you or someone you know have QUALITY content you would like to host in our weekly Hit List, e-mail us at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com.

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Here's Another Batch Of Online Action Shorts From Around The Web!

As many of you all know in partaking in our collective readership, I also try to share the spotlight with all the various talented performers out their presenting their own short test fight samples online. I do try to cover as much as I get my hands on or whatever comes my way, although it’s challenging at times to lend individual coverage for each project I spot. So, in the spirit of keeping up with independent artists, I’m now presenting clusters of micro articles like this. It probably won’t be a weekly thing, but if it helps entertain and grant folks an opportunity to share their craft more, then all the better. So, here goes!

An active team since 2010, Kung Fu Heroes recently unveiled a new promo reel to headline some of their previous and upcoming work. A few of their members I know of already have projects of their own, including D.Y. Sao’s latest creation, Cambodian Killers, now underway as a limited series. As for the reel, “Not Giving In” by Rudimental is the song of choice, a lively song for an otherwise livelier reel. Take a look!

South Africa-based indie film and team, Arcade Killers first came on my radar back in August. With screenfighting also on their agenda, I took notice at the time, and they have some cool stuff on the way as well. In the meantime, their latest skit is now online spoofing Capcom’s Street Fighter in Slogat vs. Chun Duy, with principle performances by stuntman Slobodan and stuntwoman Duy Panouvic. It was a project they tried to complete in time for Halloween and ultimately couldn’t. Still though, silliness, comedy, action…good times!

The next clip comes straight from Thai action and screenfighting group, The Action Guys. It’s a three-on-three malay and another short example of some of the amazing talent overseas worth taking note of, assembled at the behest of its founder, actor and stuntman Charlie Ruedpoknanon back in April. They have a page where you can find more of their awesome material which you can check out by clicking here!

Next, filmmaker and action veteran Jeff Centauri, fully immersed in nurturing the action industry in the Philippines has another fun little video on his YouTube channel titled Pinay Rival, a spin on his previous short from a few weeks ago that is also on its way to a second. Here, perfomers Andrea Lee and Rev Salmanca take on each other, and while Ms. Lee remarkably manages to switch so quickly between outfits. It’s silly and entertaining, and it’s worth a look.

And lastly, straight from indie director, martial artist and stuntman Bryan Sloyer comes his latest step in the evolution of his craft behind the camera with the new short One Rule. Jerry Quill, Eric “Jay Kwon” Jeong and Jeremy Tristan also star, and the one rule seen here is probably the best, most creative thing I’ve seen from Sloyer‘s channel yet. That, on top of some of the detailed editing and shots between techniques shows the level of intricacy he’s paying attention to, which makes watching these all the more fun to watch.

Subscribe to these channels, and if you’re a filmmaker or a martial artist with a good quality action short or a test fight you would like to share, feel free to shoot me an email at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com

Photo: @thekungfuheroes via Twitter

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Check Out These Cool Test Fight Shorts Now Online!

Check Out These Cool Test Fight Shorts Now Online!

In the sprit of keeping up with independent action, at least four new test fights are now available for viewing in the embeds below. As always, feel free to subscribe to their respective channels!

The first one comes from Bryan Sloyer, an actor and stuntman who I’ve been covering for about a year now. He’s gotten a little sharper with the camera and his editing ever since, and it also helps that he’s getting a bit more creative in the process. His latest is called Shadow Fighter, with actress and stuntwoman Amy Sturdivant in a performance that illustrates the psyche of a fighter in training. Stunt player Jerry Quill plays her shadow, and its pretty slick!

The next one comes from indie auteur Emmanuel Manzanares – someone who I’ve covered in articles aplenty in the past few years, mingling with who’s who in the stunt industry between his own team, LBP Stunts Chicago, and others from around U.S. and Canada. This past week saw the unveiling of his latest gem featuring performances by Gui DaSilva and Natalie Padilla, based on a DaSilva‘s own concept. It’s got the usual exhilirating action, and maybe a little comedy…well, if only for the fact that having to brawl with a chick who breaks into my home to try and kill me would be a just a bit stressful (personally I’d rather have breakfast in bed). Check it out!

Up next is the newest from a couple of cool folks in Canada who I’ve covered a few times, and this one is a bit more celebratory. It features Eclipse Stunts’ own Alex Chung and stuntwoman Wei-Hsin Lee, just off of recovering from a knee injury and subsequent surgery earlier this year. The first short I shared with Lee was last year’s sequel short, Hallowed 2 by Eclipse Stunts. She’s fun to watch and even more fun to see Chung doing his thing, and he’s someone you definitely want to keep an eye out for, and his upcoming sequel to this little jewel should serve as an awesome reason why. Other than that, let’s watch these two crazy kids go at it!

Last but not least, indie filmmaker Jeff Centauri‘s latest, Pinoy Rivals, is one of a many test fights and shorts he’s been working on while working the film scene in the Philippines. The new video features performances by Eulver Presto and Evangelista Noe, both talented screenfighters and up-and-comers who deserve a shot, and I certainly hope to see these guys prosper in the months and years ahead; As a noteworthy mention, Centauri just finished working on actor Robin Padilla’s upcoming period actioner, Bonifacio: The First President, which is expected to be completed in time for the Metro Manila Film Festival, so keep your eyes peeled on that. Otherwise, enjoy the clip!

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Hollywood Ninja Presents: MANILA ASSASSIN'S CREED

Jearome Calica strikes a pose in ‘Manila Assassin’s Creed’

Independent filmmaker, action director and stuntman Jeff Centauri is currently in the middle of something truly awesome over in the Philippines. Having launched his career in the 1990’s after serving U.S. Air Force, Centauri has gone on to work on a great number of projects for TV and film, including the three-part compilation DVD series, Everyone Is Kung Fu Fighting, and even making his directorial debut in 1996 with the ultra low budget flick, The Zombie Ninja.

Since then, his experiences in film while living in the states have seen their fair share of challenges, but that has not stopped him from moving forward and stepping out on his own beyond borders. Currently based in the Philippines, you can now catch Centauri‘s online repertoire of indie action gems via his YouTube channel, with the latest being this week’s airing of the new short, Manila Assassin’s Creed with performances by Jearome Calica, Novie Banoy, Noe Evangelista and Diana Bertumen.

Centauri‘s work overseas is also part of a larger effort to help revive the action cinema industry at home with the current early stages of pre-production for the new feature film, Extra Heroes, a project that could do for the Philippines what films like The Raid and Ong Bak did for Indonesia and Thailand, respectively, if proven successful. “I believe that if an action movie is successful not only in the Philippines but internationally, then a lot of people will follow.” he says. “There are a lot of people just waiting. There are several groups of martial artists and parkour teams itching to be in movies. Some of them train regularly because they love to, and when the time comes, they will be ready.”

Check out Manila Assassin’s Creed in the exclusive video embed below, or feel free to CLICK HERE to watch it, as well as subscribe to Centauri’s channel where you can browse for other cool action shorts. Also, feel free to subscribe to his official Facebook page for EPIC Action Concepts to learn more about some of his work behind the lens.

P.S. ~ To the two lovely ladies, Novie and Diana, thanks for the shout out! ♡♡

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