marcus shakesheff

KEEPING SECRETS: Marcus Shakesheff, ‘Kamikaze’ Team Going Bigger With Epic Spy Action Thriller [EXCLUSIVE]

Actor, martial artist and stunt-multihyphenate Marcus Shakesheff is in the works with Keeping Secrets, a new spy thriller he’s writing and developing out of his independent Beat ‘Em Up Films production banner. The film will be his second venture into feature film production after breaking ground in 2016 with Welsh action thriller, Kamikaze. Plot details are largely unknown but the film is being described as a modern day take on Tomas Alfredson’s 2011 adaptation of John la Carrè’s hit novel, “Tinker Tailor Solider Spy”, with an original story based on real people and events through a fictionalized lens. The production is also hinting at inspiration from other classic and contemporary hit thrillers such as the Police Story trilogy, The Raid 2, The Boune Identity, Todd Phillips’s Joker and Donnie Yen headliner, Flash Point. I am further told that the new film aims to be much, much larger than Shakesheff’s predecessor […]

David Newton’s THE TAKE DOWN Does Its Real Unseen Heroine Justice

Lee B. Golden III

Stunt professional David Newton‘s debut turn at filmmaking drew great prospects in the last few years with assassin thriller, The Take Down. Formerly titled “Amber“, the film brings aboard stunt performer and debut actor Jack Jagodka for a strong feature outing that has garnered nearly two-dozen awards for its festival run. A tragic mistake offsets a foreboding tale for Jack (Jagodka), an underworld assassin who now finds himself on the run from his employer, Eastwood (Kevin Mangar). With government handler Hawkins (Vanessa Coffey) targeting Eastwood for selling government secrets, Jack is taken under her wing and assigned the final task of killing his former boss. The mission is provenly not an easy one for Jack who is forced to fend off Eastwood’s cadre of mercenaries on London’s bustling streets. He’s not without friends of his own to aid him in his cause, but further mystery and intrigue loom with an […]

THE HIT LIST: October 23, 2017

Lee B. Golden III

I’m actually a little upset that I came across a few of this week’s entries as late as I did, particularly having tried to been on top of it. Such is why I need at least two more of me (especially since one could use the extra sleep ?). At any rate, tireless and forever tired as I am (a phrase coined by my friend Philippe), my quest continues to help bring notable independent content and stunt talent to the spotlight per our weekly vehicle here at the Hit List. Let’s load up on paramount stunt talent with the latest stunt and training reels from today’s talented stunt performers beginning with Dylan Rampulla, Jessica Barfoot, LeRoyal Tutt, Alina Andrei, Kage Yami, Damali Ross, Tony Vittorioso, Donny Nichols, Niko Dalman, Camran Bostanabad, Johnny Zhao Haitao and Darrell McLean. We round out this playlist with a tasty teaser reel by a fantastic […]

THE HIT LIST: September 25, 2017

Lee B. Golden III

I had some great downtime this weekend despite working. It definitely gave me something to do apart from relaxing a little bit more, which reminds me… It’s time to get back to the biznazz of helping great stunt professionals and creatives become a little more famous and this week’s installment of The Hit List is here to do just that. Aaron “The Ginger Ninja” Gassor starts it up in the new stunt reel playlist followed by the talents of Braxton McAllister, John Nania, Cameron Okubo, Ilana Collins, William Greenburg, Kyle Glenn Thomas and Jason Triplett. Wrapping it up is a stellar sell by Marcus Shakesheff (Wonder Woman, Kamikaze) for his YouTube channel followed by stunt coordinator and choreography reels from Andrew Carlisi and Jessica Erin Bennett, and a YouTuber’s new fan reel featuring Fabien Garcia (Die Fighting) which I’m sharing because…well, I miss the guy and I hope he comes back […]

AMBER: Jack Jagodka Takes On London’s Best And Badass In The First Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

The U.K.’s talent pool continues onward in bustling fashion as we approach the 25th installation of the Raindance Film Festival in September. Stuntman and freshman director David Newton aims to join the party accordingly now with his turn at the helm well on its way in the new thriller, Amber. Jack Jagodka follows up his own career in stunts for the chance of a debut lead role from Newton’s script that sees a London ex-hitman forced back into the game in order to save his daughter. Rounding out the cast are Kevin Mangar, Vanessa Coffey and Beau Fowler with Yolanda Lynes, Katrina Durden (Doctor Strange), Jean-Paul Ly (Jailbreak), Marcus Shakesheff (Kamikaze), and with actress Connie Jenkins-Grieg in the title role. The official trailer is out as of the weekend while tickets are now available for the film’s September 27 premiere at the Raindance Film Festival. Take a look!

THE HIT LIST: July 10, 2017

Lee B. Golden III

Well, at least for me the bad news is that I relapsed again and now I have another cold. That makes two this summer. The good news is I had stuff to do so I got in some time to write two reviews, one of which you can check out on your own time. As for all else, I had people sending me stuff for the Hit List and there was no way I could pass up sharing it. Some of you know me as much. Kicking it off this week is a brand new block of jam-packed stunt and action reels starting with the latest from Black Site star, actress and martial artist Samantha Schnitzler via Vimeo. The playlist beneath cues onward from there beginning with legendary stunt coordinator Bruce Law followed by reels from Alyma Dorsey, David Conk, Tyler Witte, Jonathan Pang, Marissa Labog, Lee Gifford, Jyo “Six” Carolino, […]

THE HIT LIST: March 27, 2017

Lee B. Golden III

Welcome back to another installment of The Hit List! Nope, no sponsors, no commercial breaks, just me, you, and the creatives out here putting their craft on display for the world, and there’s a lot to cover so let’s get to it! As always we start with a playlist of meaty action and stunt training reels and the first comes from actor, martial artist and stuntman Marcus Shakesheff who has been immersing himself into filmmaking for a few years now. Having established a milestone in Wales with the first Welsh martial arts action pic, Kamikaze, he’s been staying sharp on his own YouTube channel with a slate of videos including his latest kicking reel which kicks things off rightly in the playlist below (more on him later). Following that are reels by Deanna Page, Vonzell Carter, Troy “Taz” Castaneda, Katie Schwartz, Yarett Harper, William Rodriguez and rising star actress and stuntwoman Natascha Hopkins, […]

THE HIT LIST: January 9, 2017

Lee B. Golden III

I don’t know about some of you but my new year already had a few stumbles in its first week. Granted we still have about 355 days left of the year as we are now fifty-one weeks in, and the internet is ripe with action-packed content ready to share, thus commencing the return of The Hit List – our weekly column in which we boost some of the best and impressive videos showcasing stunts, demos, test fights, trailers and complete, independently-produced shortfilms that live up to the task of delivering great storytelling and action. If you’ve been with us at all in the last two years since this column of Film Combat Syndicate began, you know how this script goes. However, if this is your first rodeo, hopefully you’ve got some time to kill. As always, our first playlist comes jam-packed with terrific stunt and demo reels from today’s talented […]

THE HIT LIST: December 19, 2016

Lee B. Golden III

Welcome to the last Hit List of 2016 before I take my fat butt away from my phone a bit more to enjoy life around me some. Indeed it’ll be at home through Christmas and New Year’s Eve at least until my cough dissipates…It’s not how I wanted to go out this year but… oh well… Wish me luck! Moving on to the business of things here, we’re starting things off via Vimeo exclusive with a new reel by acclaimed author, stuntman, stunt coordinator and venerable cinematic fight coordinator John Kreng (Battle B-Boy, Paying Mr. Getty), whose newest reel is a litany of highlights from various interviews, documentaries and television work showcasing his knowledge and wisdom on stunts, stunt equipment, Bruce Lee and Jet Li and more. From there, we keep the business going with the latest in action, stunt and choreography reels, kicking off our playlist with Hayden Lam, […]

KAMIKAZE Crashlands With Action, Espionage And Big Stunts In The Official U.S. DVD Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

I haven’t been kidding about my praise in the last few years for multifaceted stuntman and actor Marcus Shakesheff’s latest starring/directorial debut, Kamikaze, and I’m far from doing so now. The first-ever film of its kind in Wales is readying its U.S. DVD release on December 13, 2016 courtesy of Indican Pictures and the official trailer has arrived to help deliver the goods. SYNOPSIS: Evan Reed is a disillusioned ex M.I.6 agent who has become a mercenary for hire. Hired to steal files containing incriminating evidence linking the Prime Minister with illegal weapons contractors, Evan realizes he is in over his head. But after the mission Evan finds that his pregnant girlfriend Jess, has been kidnapped. Evan is forced to fight his way through agents, thugs and a small mercenary army to rescue Jess. With the odds stacked against him and a top assassin hot on his trail, can Evan […]

Marcus Shakesheff's Welsh Action Debut, KAMIKAZE, Gets U.S. DVD Artwork For December Release

Lee B. Golden III

My review of martial artist, actor and stuntman Marcus Shakesheff’s 2015 directorial debut, Kamikaze is already online. Do take a look to get a good understanding of what’s to come, because it’s the first film of its kind hailing from the local film scene in Wales and it’s finally making way for the U.S. on December 13, 2016 following its recent acquisition by Indican Pictures. SYNOPSIS: Evan Reed is a disillusioned ex M.I.6 agent who has become a mercenary for hire. Hired to steal files containing incriminating evidence linking the Prime Minister with illegal weapons contractors, Evan realizes he is in over his head. But after the mission Evan finds that his pregnant girlfriend Jess, has been kidnapped. Evan is forced to fight his way through agents, thugs and a small mercenary army to rescue Jess. With the odds stacked against him and a top assassin hot on his trail, […]

THE HIT LIST – May 30, 2016

Lee B. Golden III

Having written this on the day of, I’m just glad that my weekend didn’t completely burn me out. Needless to say, I had my work cut out for me but I’m glad to have managed to squeeze in today’s playlists loaded with great stunt and fight work from today’s inspired action cinema creatives. Alas, welcome to another installment of The Hit List, and kicking things off is another new playlist full of electric stunt reels. Shahaub Roudbari kicks things off followed by Canadian traceur and stunt performer, Thomas Lorber. Following that is one of the rare instances I’ll feature a reel that doesn’t use music as the outling backdrop, and that comes from actress and filmmaker PeiPei Alena Yuan – no stranger to stunts and fight choreography having put out some great gems on her channel and making her all the more enjoyable to cover on this site. Deadpool double […]

THE HIT LIST – December 21, 2015

Lee B. Golden III

At long last, we’ve arrived at the final Hit List of the year and I can’t say how fantastic 2015 has been. 2016 also has its share of momentum and prospects and so I go into this article looking plenty forward to what lies ahead, and having said this, I can’t thank those of you enough for engaging and sharing these Hit List pieces every week. So, let’s get to this time with a brand new playlist of amazing stunt reels that awaits. Kicking things off is a fresh promo reel courtesy of Jacob Sebastian Malm‘s European Stunt School, followed by stunt reels from Valisa Tate, Melissa Allen-Weiser, Eric J. Nash, Alice Rietveld, Paul Lacovara, Brittany Christine, Bradley Menyhert, one of my favorite people in the world – stuntman and fight coordinator Anthony Pho, Aaron Hakala and two cool new directing reels from Joaquin Ortega and Jeff Lunzaga (a.k.a. Desciple)! Next in […]

THE HIT LIST – October 26, 2015

Lee B. Golden III

This weekend was another rough one… safe to say I need two of me. Nevertheless, I’m committed to the Hit List this week and have delivered the goods, the high falls, the hard-hitters and all! Right now, we kick things off like we always do, and that’s with the stunt players and demo reels of their own. Watch the latest from Alexandre Gay, Jennifer Li, Sam Slater, Pablo Verdejo, Kadia Saraf, Jesse Haus, Alessandro Romeo, Felix Quinton, Moe Alafrangy and Taz Garcia, as well as an illustrious Darth Maul-inspired lightsaber demo conjured by actor and martial artist Aaron Gassor. Up next, as always, we have a small list of test fights that I found worth sharing. The first comes courtesy of filmmaker Bryan Sloyer who dazzled us earlier this year with an amazing action short called The Keeper. He’s got a new BTS video for that project you can view […]

Screener Review: KAMIKAZE (2015)

Lee B. Golden III

SYNOPSIS: Evan Reed (Marcus Shakesheff – Batman Arkham Asylum, Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows) is a former MI6 agent, now a mercenary for hire to the highest bidder hired by cabinet minister David Markham to retrieve documents linking him with illegal weapons contracts. But Markham loses his nerve and takes drastic measures to ensure his hands are kept clean. With Markham’s top assassin (David Newton – The Dark Knight Rises, Captain America) hot on his trail, Reed is forced to pitch battle against a small but deadly army to rescue the woman he loves… REVIEW: Independently-produced action movies have always lended their fair share of noteworthy surprises. While some are larger than others, it’s no mistake to suggest that this particular subgenre really is, in a general sense, one to truly pay attention to, because you never know what you may be missing out on. Hollywood stuntman Marcus Shakesheff, […]

Wales' First Action Film Gets A New Trailer For KAMIKAZE!

Lee B. Golden III

Hollywood stuntman and actor Marcus Shakesheff is bringing pure, organic martial arts firepower to his directorial debut in Wales’ first action film, Kamikaze. The film is the latest launch project for Beat’Em Up Films, with Shakesheff sharing co-writing duties with scribe Catherine Maher and producing credits with co-stars Gemma Harry, actor and stuntman David Newton and co-producer David Ware. The film sees lead actor Shakesheff caught in a web of espionage and treachery that places him at the center of all the high flying action, which he also choreographed. And based on the new trailer, the stuntwork is nothing short of amazing, with featured performances by Newton, as well as actor, tricker and martial arts Youtube personality Aaron “The Ginger Ninja Trickster” Gassor. SYNOPSIS: Evan Reed is an ex M.I.6 agent who has become a mercenary for hire. Evan is hired by Cabinet Minister David Markham to steal files containing incriminating […]

South Wales Gets A Taste Of Hollywood For Its First Ever Martial Arts Action Thriller, KAMIKAZE In 2014

Lee B. Golden III

The South Wales Argus has reported that Hollywood action actor and veteran stuntman Marcus Shakesheff is helping to deliver Gwent county’s first ever blockbuster action adventure thriller. The film is called Kamikaze, based on a story and screenplay by Shakesheff and writer Catherine Maher. In the film, Shakesheff stars as Evan Reed, an ex-MI6 agent-turned-mercenary for hire who is picked by crooked Cabinet Minister David Beckham to steal files containing incriminating evidence against a member of the UK parliament linking him to a weapons contractor. Intrigue ensues as the mission backfires and Beckham kidnaps Evan’s girlfriend, Jess, with no choice but to battle his way through agents, thugs and assassins in order to rescue her. The film also stars actor, stuntman and producer David Newtown, whose credits include Captain America: The First Avenger, World War Z, Kick-Ass, and also shares stunt credits with Shakesheff for upcoming films Kick-Ass 2 and Thor: […]