According to Deadline‘s Anthony D’Alessandro, Lionsgate is partnering up with actress Zoë Bell for an adaptation of Bell’s Boss Bitch Fight Challenge. The film takes its cues from the comedic Fight Challenge viral video trend that took shape when stunt performer Aaron Toney cut together the inaugural video that started it all.
It’s been three years since stills began circulating for actor and filmmaker Nick Sasso’s latest, Haymaker. He makes his debut at the helm and also stars alongside transgender actress Nomi Ruiz and actor John Ventimiglia, witj Veronica Falcón, Udo Kier, actress and stunt legend Zoë Bell, and actor D.B. Sweeney.
Bell took to NZ Herald’s Spy column to discuss her involvement in the film as well as her motivations.
I don’t usually listen to independent rock. It’s not that I have an issue with it, really, but that it never stays in my purview long enough when it appears, and I like listening to it when it does. In this instance, filmmaker Christopher Zatta’s pick of choice is a real gritty, groovy theme that plays at least twice in his latest ambitious short film, Imbroglio, coming out of its debut at Fantasia Festival this week.
With Tracy (Alina Andrei) in his possession, Kyle (Joseph Michael Harris) leads his own group of criminals as they stage a trade-off of for his brother, Pete, believed to be held hostage by David (Travis Johns) whose own group, has Anna (Zoë Bell) seeking vengeance against Kyle’s over an earlier conflict. The standoff begins only to escalate even further when a dark twist is revealed, augmenting an already convoluted situation and ensuing a violent recapitulation from both sides in a hail of bullets, blunt force and vehicular destruction.
Zatta is no stranger to the process as this marks his fifth shortfilm directing credit next to others on several major television shows, including Marvel’s Daredevil, and Heroes, in addition to his 2014 feature debut drama, At The Maple Grove. Going into Imbroglio, you’re immediately pulled into something edgy, self-aware and direct in its approach. You know Zatta isn’t here to dance around anything with respect to the narrative, story and the action which makes the pulsating tension and build-up to the climatic and bloody second half all the more rewarding.
The cast is an exemplary line-up and with a script by Zatta that fleshes out specific characteristics from our principle players – most being motivated by violent, extreme means and measures. Mininal reference to the unseen events building toward the top of the film leaves room for all else to fall into place as we get to know both gangs and personalities of their members, such as that of Bell’s Anna, the brief dichotomy explored between actors Jason Tobias and Diosiq Burnè in the respective roles of Joey and Mike and their own proclivities. Stuntman and actor Robert Dill plays Ethan to girlfriend Rebecca, played by actress Kiralee Hayashi in a young couple pairing that antes up the stakes.
Bell, nowadays more than a stuntwoman as she’s flourished even more as an actress since showcasing a balance of both fields in projects such as Grindhouse: Death Proof (2007), and Josh C. Waller’s action horror, Raze (2013) and Camino (2015), stands out with poignance and fury as Anna and the one to root for in the second half. Alex Daniels coordinates the stunts and action to splattering appeal, orchestrated between a bloody close-quarters knife scuffle, and a raging shootout where secrets are exposed in the heat of the moment, allies are used as human shields, and all are subject to their fates one way or another.
You get the feeling that Zatta has seen his fair share of movies in his lifetime and an idea of his influences, lending greatly to the shock value of the violence that plays out. Aforementioned music by New York rock band, Wall, sets the theme amply and essentially lays the groundwork for a story rife with intrigue, fresh and fitting performances, all capitalized with explosive action and a strong, signature female lead.
The conclusion boasts an eerie, grisly finish laced with a fitting, sardonic touch that culmimates Zatta’s proof-of-concept for an arguably doable feature film series expansion. All in all, the potential is definitely there for something original to invest in with Imbroglio whose aspiring sophomore feature director could use a solid boost.
My weekend was a bit of a bummer…although it’s nothing compared to what others were going through in the world of stunts and entertainment as last week.
For all intents and purposes here though, it’s worth celebrating the life and legacy of stuntman and New Orleans native, John Bernecker, who sadly lost his life on Friday. In honor of his memory, he kicks off this week’s installment of The Hit List with highlights from projects such as This Is The End, Goosebumps and Get Hard to name a few, followed by reels from some of today’s top and up-and-coming stunt professionals, including Bryan Sloyer, Rosslyn Luke, Michael Bekemeier, Bronin October, Brandon Ly, Gabriela Kostadinova, Doug Karr, Suo Liu and stunt coordinator T.J. White.
At current, there’s nothing really in the way in terms of promotional materials. However, the latest shortfilm directoral outing from Christopher Zatta might be worth a nod as the new thriller, Imbroglio, readies for its Fantasia screening on July 26 and at LA Shorts Fest.
“IMBROGLIO” is a short action film starring Zoë Bell in which two warring groups of criminals meet to exchange hostages, each side unaware the other harbors a deadly secret. On one side, KYLE wants his brother back. On the other, DAVID wants to free his girlfriend. And ANNA (Zoë Bell), fueled by a history of bad blood, just wants revenge. As the standoff unfolds, everything goes south for everyone.
Also starring are Alina Andrei, Deosick Burney, Robert Dill, Joseph Michael Harris, Kiralee Hayashi, Travis Johns and Jason Tobias. Zatta recently posted a version of the one-sheet with its LA Shorts Fest laurel for next month. Check it out the poster just above, and peer onward below for a brand new trailer for Jyo “Six” Carolino’s latest action shortfilm sequel, Gauntlet Run: Breach, currently an entry for the Memphis Film Prize in Tennesse this August!
Flmmaker Philippe Deseck gets things off to a proper start this week hailing from Action Movie Makers with a trio of test fight pieces featuring Brigette Paroissan and Angie Adler-Koops, Maddison Bailey and Madeline Howlett, and Johnrè Blackie opposite Emily Rowbottom.
Antonio Cortes and Femi Olagoke follow up with an action demo of their own while we get something quite special out of an action snip from an otherwise miscellanous project I can’t find called Redline with performances by Guillaume David and Raimund Querido; From what I’ve discovered the footage is from around 2011 and whether or not I can find the whole shortfilm itself remains to be seen, but their action sequence was a great find in my opinion.
Filmmaker James Lee returns to the Hit List from doghouse73 Pictures and Low Angle Productions with the new mobile phone-filmed experimental action short, Overtime with Ben Chan and Lau Chee Hong about a man fighting to retrive a briefcase in order to clear his debts.
Rounding it all off is a project that was unveiled back in February, and we’ve only just caught wind of it. Acheron is the name from Wooden Gate Productions and helmed by directors Julian Lambert and Lee Fox Williams and centers on a young fighter journeying to an underground fight club, only to be tangled in a web of mystery as he must discover what led him there. Christian Arno Williams stars along with Faye Tozer and Jase Dean.
Last week’s Hit List is still a feat to enjoy if you have the time. Check it out while you can and subscribe to the channels to show your support, and as always, if you or someone you know has a kickass action reel or demo, or shortfilm project that could use a boost, contact us at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com!
Film Combat Syndicate: Did you ever consider going into acting when you first started doing stunts?
LOS ANGELES (September 1, 2015) – XLrator Media (Jimi: All Is By My Side, The Machine) announced the U.S. release of the action-thriller CAMINO starring Zoë Bell (Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, Death Proof) and Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes, Open Windows) in a rare acting role. Fully financed and produced by Bleiberg Entertainment, the film will be released in early 2016 on XLrator’s “TURBO” action label.
“No Touching” is about a shady haunted house attraction where the performers are assaulting female patrons in order to make a name for themselves. But the tables are turned when they attempt to take on two women who know how to kick some ass!
Bloody Disgusting forwarded a brand new clip and poster for director Josh Waller’s new contained action horror thriller, Raze, coming off of its successful film festival run last year. The new poster and clip come ahead of the latest announcement by IFC Midnight for the L.A. premiere of this weekend with a panel featuring Waller and Bell attending. You can checkout the poster for that event below the clip.
This Summer… The Expendables are back!
As far as action goes, actress and stuntwoman Zoë Bell continues to make a name for herself in her field, with her memorable work on hit TV/Film projects like Xena: Warrior Princess, Kill Bill, Death Proof and Angel Of Death. This year, she will also get her place in the spotlight as actress, stuntwoman and producer along with actress and co-executive producer Rachel Nichols (Continuum, Conan The Barbarian, P2), for the new film by Josh Waller, Raze on April 21, 2013 when it premieres at the TriBeCa Film Festival. Penned as an action/horror cross between Hostel and Fight Club, the film focuses on the story of two women who are among fifty other all-female combatants forced to fight each other in duels to the death in front of rich gambling socialites.
A new poster was recently unveiled for an upcoming independent action film called RAZE from Quincy Pictures and Cinipix. The film was written by Robert Beaucage and directed by Josh Waller, and stars executive producer Rachel Nichols and actress/stuntwoman/producer Zoë Bell. The story is penned as a cross between Hostel and Fight Club, focusing on two women who are among fifty other females forced to fight each other in duels to the death in front of rich gambling socialites. The new poster comes in light of the recent updates surrounding the film’s announced selection for the Tribeca Film Festival.
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