martin wan

Screener Review: THE LIBERATOR (2016)

A small string of shortfilms into his young movie career, actor and director Ben Lettieri is on track to arrive this summer with his latest feature length debut, The Liberator. Boasting a martial arts-infused adventure, the film does have a little bit going for itself with its low-budget status and an adherence to a specific niche. Alas, it deserves a curve of sorts, but a small one. Lettieri stars as Ben Silver, a former soldier and uniquely young, decorated war hero, now a private investigator who operates by his own morals and principles, paid or not, thus earning him his eponymous title through word of mouth. His is a reputation that has earned him infamy in the criminal underworld, specifically for London crimeboss Harry Miller, eager to make a profit off of a priceless Ming Dynasty vase he successfully steals from its owner, ex-con and museum curator Melinda Page. She […]

'SPY' CONTACT: A Word With Actor Julian Miller

Lee B. Golden III

The last few years are probably the longest I’ve spent with my eye on any particular project by any filmmaker or actor. It’s certainly the case for University Of York graduate, student filmmaker Andrew Kueh‘s newly released sci-fi action short, Prime Contact, which finally released online last week more than a year after its completion with its subsequent pursuit through festivals, and further correspondence with its producer, Harry Woodman, was also pretty insightful. The centerpiece of this particular project, however, is the steady career ascension of actor Julian Miller who plays the lead role in the shortfilm. Now living and working in the U.K. in a new life far from his roots in the Netherlands, the actor can also be seen in director Paul Feig’s latest action comedy hit, Spy opposite actress Melissa McCarthy, and he’s got his hands on other things as well aside from acting. Bearing Prime Contact […]

It's Ben Lettieri To The Rescue In The New Trailer For THE LIBERATOR

Lee B. Golden III

There’s no denying the impression left here that actor and martial artist Ben Lettieri is all about keeping it simple and entertaining for his latest upcoming U.K. martial arts flick, The Liberator. You may know what I mean if you managed to get a glimpse of last year’s mid-production trailer, brimming with its fair share of mild silliness, comedic cheese and watchable action. However, if you didn’t, then you’re in luck, because a new trailer is out and guarantees exactly what it presents with no apologies. SYNOPSIS: Have you ever felt like life was pushing you aside? As if your purpose was fulfilled? Ben Silver did. Once a British Special Forces soldier, he became the youngest man ever to receive the Victoria Cross for acts of gallantry on the front line. Ben was honourably discharged, received his 15 minutes and then left to ponder a career in politics. Sounds like […]

Watch The Official Trailer For Robin Schmidt's Asian Extreme Crime Thriller Short, DOG

Lee B. Golden III

UK filmmaker Robin Schmidt‘s on going endeavors in the action genre remain to be seen following the completion of his latest shortfilm, Dog. However, considering the accolades he and the other half of his indie platform, We Are Supermassive, lead actor Simon Wan have received during their film festival run this year, one may hope that if not a sequel, that another action-packed project from the duo may come to pass. Moreover, having reviewed Dog for myself, I can certainly say it has been a proven experiment in bringing much-needed martial arts action to the U.K. Its evolution from a once two-part hip-hop music video to an award-winning, eccentric, full-blown and thrilling crime drama with trippy visuals to enhance the psychosis of our demented anti-hero, coupled with brutal action sequences by Chris Jones and own Leeds-based stunt team, SG Action, make Dog an otherwise excellent treat to enjoy. SYNOPSIS: A […]

Shortfilm Review: DOG (2014)

Lee B. Golden III

DOG official teaser ‘BRUTAL’ from SUPER MASSIVE on Vimeo. SYNOPSIS: A gangster’s pet hitman is charged with baby sitting a building and the only thing stopping him going mad is an old gameboy and his noodles. One night a young woman looking for a flame for her drugs and a pillow for her head changes his whole universe. REVIEW: Leeds-based stunt team, SG Action is one whose works I’ve spoken heavily of in the last two years, and although it’s taken roughly another year or so, their latest shortfilm effort is finally gaining some traction in 2014 film festival circuit. Directed and produced by Robin Schmidt, Dog is a collaboration between the team and indie film production company, Supermassive, and was originally a two-part music video featuring hip-hop artist Dream McClean before it became a collective effort to build a larger shortfilm narrative following a successful Indiegogo funding run last […]

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The Future Of Vigilante Justice Has A New 'Face' In The Crowdfunder For Fantasy Action Thriller, WENDY!

Lee B. Golden III

The amazing folks over at the Leeds-based cinematic stage action and stunt performance troupe SG Action UK have continued to show great promise over the past year with involvement in such projects as the soon-to-be-released shortfilm, Dog, and the short independent fight thriller, Vendetta, implementing their own contribution to the martial arts film genre. And this year, they have continued the trend, with upcoming feature film involvement in the works and developing a unique relationship with some of today’s aspiring film professionals-to-be, namely independent filmmaker and student Jack Downs whose enjoyement of films since the age of eight, and an initial penchant for comic book artistry led him on a path that would accumulate up to six years of study. Now, in his third and final year in attendance at Leeds’s Northern Film School, Downs and his select team of filmmakers is working together a project that stands much closer […]