
r.l. scott



LAZARUS Rises In The Official Trailer For R.L. Scott’s Hard-Hitting Superhero Thriller
It almost feels like a lifetime since any of us have heard from director R.L. Scott since the ceremony of his 2016 action drama, Call Me King. For all intents and purposes however, Scott is back and re-entering the fray and with every intent to present his creative evolution on a more ambitious storytelling template.

OPTION ZERO Spotlights The Moral Quandry Of Heroism With Pulsating Action And Drama (Reprint)
We last learned that director R.L. Scott has been in the making for his most recent efforts on superhero thriller, Lazarus, which is one of at least two titles made known to us. He hasn’t been on social media since last summer and we haven’t heard much thereafter so it’s safe to say he might have a lot on his plate for his independent endeavors.


Review: OPTION ZERO Spotlights The Moral Quandry Of Heroism With Pulsating Action And Drama
We last learned that director R.L. Scott has been in the making for his most recent efforts on superhero thriller, Lazarus, which is one of at least two titles made known to us. He hasn’t been on social media since last summer and we haven’t heard much thereafter so it’s safe to say he might have a lot on his plate for his independent endeavors.
Going forward however, we can at least share some progress being made on at least one other project we reported on back in 2014 which was initially designated as the pilot of a hopeful series. Per the nature of most non-mainstream projects left shelved or incomplete or falling by the wayside, Option Zero was in danger of almost never seeing the light of day until co-star and creator, executive producer Eliver Ling took the post-production reigns in late 2017.
Hence, while the wait continues for a more public screening, Option Zero currently exists in shortfilm form and for the most part as the summer festival circuit approaches, we can now breathe a sigh of relief for its completion. A new trailer and promotional run may be forthcoming although what remains to be seen apart from a release is if whether or not a larger concept will manifest.
For this, it’s reasonable to believe this as possible. Ling’s script touches on an idea rooted in value and worthy of expansion in the ways viewers have seen on prolific shows like Strike Back and Banshee. The added fanfare of watching cast members Christian Howard and Amy Johnston in action is a certain plus that amplifies the dramatic caliber founded in its cast led by Chris Conrad who plays Trevor, the commanding officer of the titular clandestined special ops unit, and Adolfo Quiniones who serves as its field director, Lionel.
OPTION ZERO: Exclusive Stills
Co-star Adamo Palladino in the role of the ruthless, cold and authoritative Cyrus, takes point in setting the stage for the narrative’s exposition as we are introduced to our protagonists in the wake of the arrival of Victor Federov (Jacob Witkin), an elusive Russian mafia boss whose trades in multiple counts of crime and terror have all but called for a complete, indiscriminate purge of his organization. Other members of the unit it next to Cyrus and Trevor are Ling who plays Connor and Johnston as the understanding and determined Kara, as well as Howard as the ambivalent Nate whose accord with their mission is not without concern for the very possible details and nuances that aren’t being made known given the nature of governmental secrecy.
Option Zero deals in a healthy staging of spectacular action and drama that hinges even more on internal conflict and upheaval when the mission is ago our five-member team ensues the bodycount. Innocent lives and enemies hidden in plain sight are the mines readying the explosive twists that emerge later pitting members against each other nearing close calls of insubordination as if certain death weren’t enough.
Alfred Hsing, a versatile stuntman primed with an international career next to the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Steven Spielberg, serves as action director, making more than sufficient use of our cast, including Ling, Howard and Johnston. Stylish gun battles kick-off the roaring finale with fight action that intensifies between the various revelations and clashes that incur from the first floor of the raid and upward with Scott also dealing in the cinematography.
Quiñones, long since the days of wrecking the dance floor as a prolific headlining dancer and actor for film and television in the 1980s, turns in a solid performance that bookends the dramatic caliber brought by a fine cast and a script that exhibits a multi-dimensional view of what heroism is in the name of government service. In its thirty-two minute duration, while Option Zero may not be what the average old guard producer seeks, makes an outstanding case for why that should change.
Scott has been directing movies for up to a decade as of this article and my intial introduction to his work was the most recent release of crime thriller, Call Me King starring Amin Joseph and Shaun Mixon. It stands as an exemplary view of what is possible with a good director behind the lens joined by a loyal and well-versed team of creatives and performers that know and speak the language of action and can translate it through quality storytelling.
That level of consistency and work ethic otherwise continues with Option Zero setting up a more than feasible argument for the kind of profusion that independent action cinema deserves. Production banner Rihsing Studios further played an integral role in applying the necessary finishing touches to the project and going forward, stands plenty to gain from Option Zero in its handing to the festival and markets later this year with all the hopes of either seeing this concept grow its potential, or that of its respective talents on either side of the lens.

LAZARUS Rises In The First Official Teaser Trailer Announcement
Plot details remain nil at the moment for Call Me King helmer, writer and director R.L. Scott’s new movie, Lazarus. That said, it’s been just shy of a year since we shared exclusive stills of the new ultra violent superhero thriller hailing from Shadow Motion Pictures and OverDog Entertainment.
That kind of profusion left questions regarding any teaser or trailer footage that may arise, and so this week, a brand new teaser trailer announcement has arrived to satisfy the curiosity. It’s brief, brisk, but presents something equally slick and edgy and worth every bit of attention you can lend if you love action cinema grounded in stark, visceral brutality pound-for-pound.
Sean Riggs (Stomp The Yard) leads the cast with a story centered on a super powered vigilante in his one-man war on an organization to free the city from darkness. Also starring are Costas Mandylor (The Saw Trilogy), Noel Gugliemi (Training Day), Shane Brolly (Underworld), Aeriél Miranda (Straight Outta Compton), R&B superstar Mya, Christina Wren (Man Of Steel, Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice), Adamo Palladino (Girls of Sunset Place), Kevin Lukata (Call Me King), Shaun Mixon, Andre “Chyna” Mccoy (The Matrix, Kung Fu Man), Linc Hand (42), Damian T. Raven, Sam Puefua (Hawaii Five-0), Johnny Alexander and Stephen “Stevo” Jones (Step Up-All In).
A full trailer is expected to emerge sometime in June. Check out the announcement below and stay tuned for more info!



R.L. Scott's CALL ME KING Announces The First Two Theater Locations!
CALL ME KING, is the story of two descendants from an ousted Haitian dictatorship who immigrate to the United States seeking to one day right the wrongs perpetrated by their father.
Screener Review: CALL ME KING (2015)
There are a lot of action films that simply entertain from start to finish with a mere modicum of value founded on the distraction of spectacle. As such, apart from these, very few movies within the genre stand out, and it takes an immense degree of creative independence aside from the usual hard work and willingness to accomplish doing so without said “distractions”. Really, this is all a moviegoer can ask for on top of great acting and action, and for this, we have to thank writer and director R.L. Scott in lieu of his latest crime drama, Call Me King.
The film centers on Rhyis (Amin Joseph) and Khalil (Maurice Whitfield), two sons of an ousted dictatorship in Haiti who have risen in America’s criminal ranks since childhood. Joined by Grimm (Sean Riggs) and Zoh (Jonathan “Lil J” McDaniel), they run The Strap Set – a quartet of gun runners and enforcers who operate the behest of the leader of the Italian crime syndicate, Angelo (Chris Mulkey). Through his long-term devotion to Angelo, Rhyis has grown ever closer to his goals returning to his native Haiti and reclaiming his birth rite, although little does he know that there are other moving pieces in play between two families threatened by internal longstanding grudges.
Tensions further build with the re-emergence of his infamous and estranged father, Knight (Shaun Mixon) and his cold and calculated partner, Simone (Monyque Thompson Scott), while Leena (Gabrielle Dennis) a naïve young woman begins her training as an assassin under Simone’s watch. With Angelo’s cocaine-addicted son, Nick (T.J. Hoban), eager to be number one, The Strap Set soon finds itself marked for death, setting the stage for an epic showdown between two modern day royals vying for the proverbial throne, and in the end, only one will be crowned King.
For all the faults it could have fallen into, the script, in part with its symbolic adherance to individual philosophy and the contemplative tone of a mindful chess player, pays close attention to many of the motivations behind each character, as many as there are, and without disengaging the audience by way of any unnecessary ornamentations. Quality performances are key in this regard and Joseph accomplishes much of this in a role that lies among several at the very forefront of the film’s multi-branched narrative. He and Mixon share quite a few of the film’s more electrifying and dramatic moments on set, almost perfectly setting the tone for Whitfield’s performance as the younger and slightly more impulsive Khalil.
Actress Bai Ling also does wonders for the film as Li, an arms dealer who shares a deep acquaintance with Grimm by way of her sister, Soo (Akari Kalai). Dennis‘s performance as Leena does not leave much of an impression, but it does serve its purpose in developing another of the film’s underlying subplots with actor Lester Speight in the role of Vincent, Simone’s assisstant. This, in conjunction with Thompson‘s pivotal and stellar performance lends a major plus to the film’s thematic delivery on transcendence and self-worth.
Further credit goes to the supporting roles of actors Alimi Ballard who plays Dwight, Bill Cobbs who plays Malachi and Del Zamora in the role of Feris in adding further layers to the film’s characteristic and overall depth. The film does dabble a little more into its sprawling universe of shady characters and none of it really feels like excess, though I can only imagine what more could have been done to include them further in the story. Nonetheless, the film is plenty fullfilling in its delivery as an epic crime drama peppered with great moments of action and brutality to boot, and characters you will both hate to love and vice versa.
Scott‘s fight choreography here is actually a first outing for me aside from having seen his previous mini webseries works, Touye Pwen (Kill Point) and Fixer, though he himself has directed action before, having earned cult acclaim on films like Champion Road and Champion Road: Arena. At any rate though, the fight coordination and execution here are great gems to observe as the most outstanding of the traits shared by each fighting character, particularly with actor Kevin Lukata in the role of Luc, Knight’s personal bodyguard. Moreover, while the design here does dabble a little bit in kicking, Scott‘s choreography stays true to itself with a highly grounded amidst the flurry of bullets, fists, blades and other blunt objects between the characters in conjunction with the film’s modest violence and gore a la practical and CGI blood effects.
The most exciting fight scene is obviously right where it is needed, which is in the third act, and I emphasize this largely because of many of the films I have seen which lose steam right in the middle of the film when it comes to action sequences. Essentially, Scott plays his cards perfectly here and it tops the film with just the dramatic finishing touch it needed.
At its core, the best thing Call Me King offers to viewers is a film that is honest with its audience. Scott‘s vision is executed here in such a way that despite whatever few miniscule flaws there may be or anything one may deem as subjective, the film makes damn sure it delivers a solid piece of cinema worth every minute of your time. The script, the overall chemistry between certain characters, and the action sequences give notice to fans of the genre in lieu the forthcoming another awesome action thriller to add to one’s own collection.
Call Me King opens in limited theaters on September 4. Check your local listings and visit CallMeKingMovie.com for more information.
Director R.L. Scott Announces Special Ops Series Pilot, OPTION ZERO
Filmmaker R.L. Scott is proudly announcing his latest shortfilm, one in a handful of projects currently in development for his indie platform, Shadow Motion Pictures. Newly wrapping just this week after a two-month shooting schedule, post-production is officially underway for Option Zero, a half-hour pilot for a hopeful action packed series surrounding a special ops team tasked with taking down high-ranking members of the Russian mob.
Actor Adolfo “Shabba Doo” Quinones (Breakin, Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo) plays the special ops team leader in charge of the mission. Also joining are actors Chris Conrad (Criminal Minds), Christian Howard (Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, Green Street 3) and Eliver Ling (Deadliest Warrior), and actress Amy Johnston (Raze). Scott is producing the pilot with a script by Ling who is also executive producing, with Alfred Hsing (Dragon Blade) serving as the pilot’s action coordinator.
Scott is best known for his 2008 action feature, Champion Road and its 2010 sequel, in addition to several original webseries projects including Kill Point and Fixer. He’s proven to have an effective approach to combining intense drama with electrifying action on his projects, an approach he guarantees will also showcase just the right balance between the two, with even more prolific martial arts action involving Howard and other key actors.
The director also has a few other feature films and series projects in store, including upcoming crime thriller, Call Me King now poised for a hopeful early 2015 release, and the current development of a slate of One-Shot episodes leading into the live-action production of the superhero property, The Almighty Street Team.
The news is still early but we may learn more between now and the top of the new year, so watch out for more news ahead.
Bloodlust And Battle Axes Clash In A New Clip From CALL ME KING!
“Call Me King” is the story of two young heirs, RHYIS (Amin Joseph) and KHALIL (Maurice Whitfield) members of an ousted Haitian dictatorship who immigrate to the United States. Now as adults, the brothers are seeking to right the wrongs perpetrated by their father KNIGHT (Shawn Mixon) by assembling their own four-member crew of gun runners, “THE STRAP SET.”
THE SMUGGLER Instateases New Footage!
Following the unveiling of five new stills for director R.L. Scott‘s upcoming action thriller, The Smuggler, a new viral Black And White Instagram teaser was prematurely leaked this week which you can now view below on YouTube, featuring split second glimpses of some of the film’s fight action and the grinding pavement as the lead character car, “Justine” revvs up. The film is the latest reunion of Scott and lead actor/executive producer Maurice Whitfield after last year’s production of the upcoming action crime drama, Call Me King, which releases later this year.
In The Smuggler, Whitfield stars as Mason Luke, a world class smuggler who gets caught in the middle of a war between two powerful corporations while trying to smuggle a young woman named Alaina, (Alexis Miranda) into the United States. The film also stars actor Sam Puefua, who plays Aleki Sovo, a New Zealandian mercenary hired with the task of killing Alaina, while faced with the conflictions of his own honor code respective to Luke’s. Scott is directing the action scenes, as well as producing the film from a screenplay he wrote. Actress and Call Me King co-star Monyque Thompson Scott, actors Kevin Lukata and George Vincent and actress and producer Ryann Graye round out the main cast.
The Smuggler is expected to wrap filming next month in accordance with the launch of the movie’s new website where action fans will also be able to catch the official teaser prior to further trailer and release news. In the meantime, check out the instagram teaser footage below and stay tuned for more information.
EXCLUSIVE: Five New Stills From R.L. Scott's THE SMUGGLER
Director R.L. Scott is currently working to deliver his newest complete action crime drama, Call Me King, to a solid release date. In the meantime, Film Combat Syndicate is now unveiling five new exclusive still photos of his newest film, The Smuggler, which is currently in the middle of principal photography.
The Smuggler stars reunites Scott with actor Maurice Whitfield who stars as Mason Luke, a world class smuggler who gets caught in the middle of a war between two powerful corporations while trying to smuggle a young woman named Alaina, (Alexis Miranda) into the United States. Whitfield can also be seen in a few of the stills below, including the still located second from the top with actor Sam Puefua, who plays Aleki Sovo, a New Zealandian mercenary hired with the task of killing Alaina, while faced with the conflictions of his own moral code respective to Luke’s.
Scott is directing the action scenes, as well as producing the film from a screenplay he wrote. Whitfield is also executive producing and stars Miranda and Puefua, in addition to actress Monyque Thompson Scott, actors Kevin Lukata and George Vincent and actress and producer Ryann Graye.
The Smuggler is expected to wrap filming next month in accordance with the launch of the movie’s new website where action fans will also be able to catch the official teaser prior to further trailer and release news.
Check out the official stills below and stay tuned to Film Combat Syndicate for more information in the days and months ahead.
CALL ME KING Goes Live With A Brand New Website
While writer, producer action choreographer and director R.L. Scott prepares next year’s production of The Smuggler, the official website for his newest thriller, Call Me King is now live where action fans can learn more about the upcoming movie and sign up for further updates via mailing list. A production of Shadow Motion Pictures, Dark Energy Pictures and Fisherthought Productions, Call Me King is Scott‘s riveting new gritty action crime drama which centers its intricate story around two brothers who vow to utilize their rise to power in America’s intricate criminal underworld to retake their home in Haiti without getting caught in the crossfire.
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