I definitely wanted to hit the snooze button a bit this weekend, but I eventually found myself busy reviewing stuff and even catching up on Netflix’s latest Shaw Bros. additions (and frankly I couldn’t be happier)…
At the same time I’ve fallen off a bit from anime and I really need to get back on it. In the meantime, I also took the time to gather some essentials for this week’s rounds on The Hit List.
Ilyana Eberhardt gets the party started for the first playlist kicking off the week’s amalgam of reels from some of today’s best and up-and-coming stunt performers and professionals alike. Rounding out the list are Aaron D. Alexander, Eli Bell, Sabreena Candreva, Bryan Dodds, Joseph Oreste, Kate Mah, Vic Plajas, Tyler Street, Linda Kessler, Blake Lee Roach, Simon Li, Shawn Robidoux, Uchikado Toru and Sean Kohnke.
There isn’t much in the way of promo gems this week, although there’s still the matter of at least one trailer in particular for Six Carolino’s upcoming sequel, Gauntlet Run: Noir. Carolino and co-star Vic Matthews headline the action comedy shortfilm series which took off in 2016 with Gauntlet Run: Origins with Gauntlet Run: Breach releasing earlier this year, with Noir continuing the action-packed saga centered on an
Following that is another small offering on John Balazs’s new shortfilm, Night Shift. You’re more than welcome to tap into my coverage by clicking here, while you can now check out a clip from the shortfilm courtesy of Balazs. Adele Elasmar stars in the upcoming short, featured here in one of its critical moments after clashing with a gang of crooks and a vicious tigerlady for a loanshark. There’s no fight stuff here but it does get intense.
Clockwise from top left: Adele Elasmar, Sean Kohnke, Jarrod Crooks, Six Carolino, Ilyana Eberhardt, Brett McKee, T. Ryan Mooney, Kimi Harris, D.L. McDonald, Bryce Biederman
Time for a little something different and while I don’t always share music videos, stunt performer Troy Faruk’s own outing here felt like an interesting enough find. I actually shared his stunt reel not too long ago, but it turns out he’s also endowed in music.
Jason Winn directs Faruk, performing with recording artist Sa’Miya in I’ll Be Fine, host to a story of a happy couple caught in a not-so-happy spate of revelations that ensue an all-out brawl featuring Faruk and fellow performer Delmar Reyna. Mark Hicks coordinates the action with appearances by Jorge Longoria, Curtis Lyons, Christopher Padilla and Bret McKee.
Alas, it’s time for some action and we begin with T. Ryan Mooney crossing blows and blades with Marc Canonizado before D.L. McDonald does battle with a crowd of Angela Jordan clones at Art School Dropouts.
The guys at 777 Raw Street tease us with a snippet of some one-take action before we revisit D.C. Stunt Coalition whose own Thuan Tran faces off with fellow team members before making a tentative knockout exit to law school this year. Congrats Thuan!
Bryce Biederman and Jason Ng heat things up in the kitchen with Dan Dargan Carter while Ben Bray’s El Chicano proof-of-concept takes shape ahead of his feature debut premiere at L.A. Film Fest next month, and David Semery introduces us to some practice fight scenery via his own channel.
Josh Vinyard’s first-place winning Dead By Daylight fan film, Nurse’s Calling, comes under our radar with Bri Marie Korin and Donald Brooks followed by an Unsettled Score from a cast led by Ronin Skai and G-Rod. Jay Kwon dares to impress thereafter with Guilty By Association, a riveting shortfilm action drama featuring Kiera O’Connor, Mark Poletti and Shing Ka.
Next up is the timely release of Keir Siewert’s new short, Duchess; I say timely as starring actress Samantha Schnitzler gets ready for her feature debut in Tom Paton’s The Black Site at Arrow Video FrightFest next week.
Ishigaki Shinji joins opposite Schnitzler in the ultimate battle-of-the-sexes MMA drama featuring the story of two athletes emboldened to beat each other in a fight where the ultimate prize is much bigger than pride. The drama here roars on both sides of the cage with some lively acting and performances and brilliant action, and with an ending that is just pure hilarity.
Rounding out the playlist is Kamen Ramen’s newest Ameritoku short, Power Rangers: Unworthy, and Indie Guys star Jarrod Crooks’ long-awaited romantic action comedy sequel short, Bitch Slapped: Again!
Enjoy the hits!
Don’t miss last week’s entries for The Hit List. Be sure to subscribe to the channels and share The Hit List with friends, and if you’re a contender with worthy material for The Hit List, don’t hesitate to e-mail us at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com!