Action Filmmaking Decoded- The Story of Action Films (Darren Tun & Mike Messina)

Introducing: Eric Linden. Eric served as the stunt double for Jon Bernthal as Punisher before moving onto stunt coordinate Netflix’s Punisher and Daredevil series. Other projects include Black Adam, Red Notice, Suicide Squad, and Avengers Endgame to name a few. You may recognize him from YouTube where he coordinated stunts for many Rocket Jump / FreddieW videos and currently serves as a series regular for Corridor Digital’s Suntmen React series!

In this episode, we discuss Eric’s love for (and qualms with) the Star Wars franchise, his (successful) plan to get Scott Adkins onto Corridor Digital, and that time he set Kanye West on fire for Donda’s listening party.

We also breakdown the Punisher vs Daredevil rooftop fight scene, the pipe ramps and catch cars and crazy filming pace of Video Game High School, and his role on the set of Cast Falls as a stunt double and action camera operator!

Join us as we chat with the "stunt commander": Eric Linden.

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast, or on Twitter @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing Tom Struthers: international stunt extraordinaire. We had the pleasure of discussing his tales of Bollywood, tremendous impact working with Christoper Nolan in Inception and the Dark Knight Trilogy, and his innovative and revolutionary choreography techniques. Join us in our 2 part interview with Tom Struthers, revolutionist of the stunt coordination industry.

Introducing Tom Struthers: international stunt extraordinaire. We had the pleasure of discussing his tales of Bollywood, tremendous impact working with Christoper Nolan in Inception and the Dark Knight Trilogy, and his innovative and revolutionary choreography techniques. Join us in our 2 part interview with Tom Struthers, revolutionist of the stunt coordination industry.

Welcome to the final stretch of Shang Chi Week! This week featured Joseph Le and Vi-Dan Tran. Today, we are…

Introducing: Andy Cheng. He is known as fight coordinator for Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He is also a veteran of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team working on films such as Who Am I, Mr Nice Guy, Shanghai Noon, and Rush Hour 1 & 2. Other works of his include: Into the Badlands, The Rundown, Scorpion King, and 6 Underground.

In Part II, we’ll be breaking down other Jackie Chan works like Who Am I and Rush Hour 1 & 2, Andy Cheng’s works featuring Dwayne Johnson including The Getaway and Scorpion King, as well as his work on Michael Bay’s 6 Underground. We also cover Andy’s amazing fights on AMC’s Into the Badlands and, of course, dive into Shang Chi.

Join us as we chat with Andy Cheng: Taekwondo Champion, Stunt Golf Champion, Action Filmmaking Champion

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing part 2 with Michael Lehr: Professional stuntman who has worked on Rocket Jump shorts, video game mo-cap (Star Wars The Force Unleashed, Sleeping Dogs), the John Wick franchise, Logan, Extraction, Mulan, and now Fast and Furious 9 doubling as Han Lue. In this 2 part interview series he answers questions about his start in the industry, his martial arts background, Asian Americans in stunts, and breakdowns from his extensive stunt filmography. Join us in this interview with the one and only Michael Lehr, legendary stunt coordinator and stuntman.

Welcome to AFD News for 9/3/21!

We discuss the newest Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer, the recent Matrix 4 Resurrection first look from CinemaCon, and the latest photos released from Netflix's live action Cowboy Bebop.

We also breakdown the bus fight scene from Marvel's latest film Shang Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings. You can see the scene here.

Other news includes the tragic events in Afghanistan and what it means for Afghan women and filmmakers, the passing of Ed Asner and Sonny Chiba. 

Also covered is Cobra Kai's season 5 renewal, Francis Coppola's sci fi epic 'Megalopolis,' 'The Expendables' returns with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Megan Fox, and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Mission Impossible 7 has Tom Cruise doing the "biggest [stunts] in movie history," Netflix announces MANY fall movie releases such as the assassin action film "Kate" and Zack Snyder's "Army of the Dead" prequel called "Army of Thieves."

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram and Facebook at @actionfilmmakingpodcast

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing: Todor Lazarov also known as Juji. Todor is known for his stunt work on Hellboy, Game of Thrones, Expendables 2, and most recently RRR as Action Director which won a Golden Globe recently and is now nominated for an Oscar

In this episode, we discuss Sambo and Judo, directing an award winning short film, Todor’s interests in Opera shows, and the challenging yet rewarding task of stunt work with children.

We also take a deep dive into RRR, breaking down the filming of animals, the rigs of the prison break fight, kinetic camera work, flipping a horse carriage by hand, and much much more.

Join us as we chat with Todor “Juji” Lazarov.

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast, or on Twitter @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Reintroducing: Vlad Rimburg, the bad boy from Belarus. Vlad is an action / 2nd unit director, fight coordinator, fight choreographer, editor, and performer. Notable works include Lucifer, Sultan, and Unlucky Stars. You can find much of his work, from professional pre-viz to action short passion projects, on his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/vjvlad?pbjreload=102. In this episode, we discuss Vlad’s experience with Netflix’s hit show Lucifer, Indian action films Brothers and Sultan, and the show stopping indie action film Unlucky Stars (that featured AFD alumni Sam Hargrave & Emmanuel Manzanares). Vlad details the art of using stunt doubles in Lucifer and how he explored ‘size doesn’t matter’ in the fights of Unlucky Stars. Vlad also talks about how the weight of professional cameras affects the scene, the difficulty of trapping fighting styles on screen, the sometimes rocky relationship between action teams and editing teams, and taking the ‘Masala’ out of ‘Masala Action.’ Join us as we chat with Vlad Rimburg: action director Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening

Introducing: CC Ice. CC is a professional stunt woman known for doubling Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and Scarlet Johansson’s Black Widow throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is the owner of Space Cat Stunts Inc, Apex Entertainment Studios, and The Chamber Gym. In this episode, we discuss CC’s love for Aliens’ Ripley and T2’s (Terminator 2) Sarah Connor, how being a dancer helps stunt performers work with fight partners to sell a story, married life as a stunt industry couple, the influence of CC’s incredibly daring wing-walker pilot family, and how being a magician’s assistant helped her master movie magic. CC also helps us breakdown the final battle of WandaVision, Infinity War’s fight between Scarlet Witch and Proxima Midnight, and her latest work in the Black Widow solo film. She talks about the difference between making a Marvel series and a Marvel feature film, mastering and evolving the movements of Scarlet Witch, blending magic conjuring with hand-to-hand combat, and playing a dangerous game of memory while running along unstable Budapest roofs. Join us as we chat with CC Ice: from magician’s assistant to movie magic to chaos magic superhero. - Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram and Facebook at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening.

Welcome to AFD News!

Today's news includes a trailer for Scott Adkin’s no-cut military action film “One Shot,” Demon Slayer Season 2’s announcement, and Daredevil’s showrunner parts ways with Marvel

We also discuss Will Poulter being cast as Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and Jake Gyllenhaal starring as Prophet in Sam Hargrave directed superhero film,

We get into trailers for international blockbuster Sanak, Amazon’s Hanna Season 3, new Korean action series My Name, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, and Blade Runner: Black Lotus as well as recap reviews for Harder They Fall, Ghostbusters, No Time To Die, What If Finale, and Venom 2.

We also break down the riot fight scene from Squid Game.

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice

Find us at actiondecoded.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast, or on Twitter @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening

Welcome to Shang Chi Week! We’ll be releasing Shang Chi action team interviews today, Wednesday, and Friday!

Introducing: Joseph Le & Vi-Dan Tran. Both were action designers on Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Vi-Dan is a member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. His works include The Foreigner, Bleeding Steel, and Into the Badlands as well as his original fan films such as Cyberpunk 2077: Phoenix Program and Darth Maul: Apprentice. Joseph Le is also know for fan films such as Mulan: An East Side Story and Afro Samurai Champloo as well as many action comedy videos with Martial Club.

In this episode, we break down the action of Shang Chi. We detail some of the biggest changes that took place in the bus sequence, a process dictated by character and story. Vi-Dan also talks about the crazy measures taken to get the correct camera angles in the confined bus space... PlayStation controllers were used and metal was cut through!

As always, the Five Second Fight Club challenges our guests to predict fight winners. This episode's matchups include Mugen (Samurai Champloo) vs Spike (Cowboy Bebop), Gangster Mulan vs John Wick, and a three-way battle between the live-action Spider-Men!

We also discuss Spider-Man. Vi-Dan loves Spider-Man... a lot. 

Join us as we chat with Joseph Le & Vi-Dan Tran: indie action darlings & MCU action masters.

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram and Facebook at @actionfilmmakingpodcast

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing Tyler Witte: stunt double and stunt driver. In this interview, we discussed his start in the stunt-driving industry, approach with performing dangerous scenes, and the mindset of this daredevil. Join us in our interview with the rising star Tyler Witte.

Introducing: the best of 2020. It’s been a great year for Action Filmmaking Decoded, so today we’re taking a look back at some of the most interesting clips from our episodes thus far. You may even hear a bit from Skylar, the OG podcast host! This episode, we’ll hear from the action filmmakers on camera, off camera, and everywhere in between. Wade Eastwood talks dropping Tom Cruise out of a plane, Keir Beck explains how to rig a flame throwing guitar player on the front of a speeding truck, Scott Adkins details kicking Donnie Yen in the throat, and much much more. Thank you to everyone listening to this podcast. Your support is what allows us to book amazing personnel and keep the show running! Join us as we look back on the best of 2020. Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast

Introducing: Vanessa Campos. Vanessa is a rising action performer, fighter, and MMA presenter. She recently made her film debut alongside Michael Bisping in Never Back Down: Revolt. Her martial arts journey has landed her both inside the ring as a Muay Thai fighter and behind the desk as a commentator.

In this episode, we discuss her professional fights and her training journey which has brought her to legendary MMA locations such as Strike Blast Gym (home to the Notorious Conor Mcgregor!)

We also dive into her time training and on set for Never Back Down Revolt. She details what she learned about performing, her experience working with Bisping, and advice for new talent breaking onto the scene.

Join us as we chat with Vanessa Campos: The “Asian Megan Olivi.”

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast, or on Twitter @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening.

In our first episode, we give a little background on who we are and why we do what we do. Our passion is placed in the creation of action films and the intricacies of fight scenes. In the future, we'll be exploring the choreography of films fron the Ip Man, Marvel, and John Wick franchises, along with many standalone features. Join us on the beginning of our journey.

Introducing: Bao Tran and Ken Quitugua, two badass action movie masters. For their new feature length film The Paper Tigers, Bao directs and Ken action direct a Kung Fu action-comedy about three aging martial artists when they’re brought back into the fight game to solve the death of their former master. In this episode, we discuss creatively navigating the constraints of indie filmmaking, the difficulties of crowdfunding films, and why both of their directing is focused on characters rather than scenes. We also debut our newest show segment ‘Five Second Fight Club,’ so be sure to listen til the end! Join us as we chat with Bao Tran and Ken Quitugua: action director. *Spoiler Warning* Major plot points and sequences are discussed in depth for The Paper Tigers in the breakdown section of this episode! Film streaming services can be found here: http://pov-films.com/thepapertigers/ Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening

Welcome to Shang Chi Week! We’ll be releasing Shang Chi action team interviews today, Wednesday, and Friday!

Introducing: Joseph Le & Vi-Dan Tran. Both were action designers on Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Vi-Dan is a member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. His works include The Foreigner, Bleeding Steel, and Into the Badlands as well as his original fan films such as Cyberpunk 2077: Phoenix Program and Darth Maul: Apprentice. Joseph Le is also know for fan films such as Mulan: An East Side Story and Afro Samurai Champloo as well as many action comedy videos with Martial Club.

In this episode, we talk about getting involved with Shang Chi, working with Brad Allan, and putting your emotions aside in order to rapidly iterate.

Then, we take deep dives into some of our guests’ biggest fan films. Mulan: An East Side Story is an action-musical mashup combining Mulan and West Side Story. Joseph tells us about the short’s music and cocaine kicks. Vi-Dan tells us all about his 40+ minute sci fi action fan film Cyberpunk 2077: Phoenix Program. He tells us about the Keanu Reeves inspiration and how he built out a whole world starting from a single video game trailer.

Stay tuned for Part II releasing this Wednesday, in which we break down the action of Shang Chi, discuss Spider-Man a whole bunch, and bring our guests through the Five Second Fight Club!

Join us as we chat with Joseph Le & Vi-Dan Tran: Shang Chi brothers in arms.

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram and Facebook at @actionfilmmakingpodcast

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing: Garrett Warren. Garrett is the self proclaimed “best one-eyed, balding stunt coordinator / 2nd unit director in all of Hollywood.” His filmography includes Logan, Avatar, and Alita: Battle Angel. He’s also worked with talent such as Hugh Jackman, Mickey Rourke, James Cameron, and Stephen Spielberg, to name a few. Most recently, Garrett has worked on the upcoming two sequels to Avatar. We sit down with Garrett to break down Alita: Battle Angel’s incredible bar fight scene and discuss what martial arts influenced Alita’s zero-gravity fighting style. We also talk large-scale battles when reviewing Avatar’s breathtaking final sequence. And, when analyzing Logan’s farmhouse fight, we come upon a script excerpt that Garrett may or may not have printed on his crew’s t-shirts. Join us as we chat with Garrett Warren: photographer, martial artist, and action filmmaker. Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening.

Today, we're exploring the choreography of the Ip Man franchise, known for its legendary fight scenes with Donnie Yen and company. This is an overview of the entire Ip Man franchise and it should be noted that the depth and pure volume of the movie's action sequences make it nearly impossible to cover every fight scene in-depth in a normal-length episode. We will be covering notable individual fight scenes in future shows but for now, join us in our examination of the legendary Ip Man.

Introducing: Tim R McAdams. Tim is a business consultant, enrichment speaker, and professional action stuntman. When he isn’t behind a podium, he’s on-set for productions such as Black Panther, Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Endgame, and Fast & Furious 7 as well as TV shows such as The Wire, The Walking Dead, Oz, Atlanta, and Black Lightning. In this episode, we discuss how Tim grew from theater kid to sales associate to speaker - consultant - stuntman. Tim also talks about his work as a director for the Stunt POC Directory, details how Atlanta became the “Hollywood of the South,” and explains exactly what a “ratchet” is. In part 2, we go in depth on his experience losing 25 lbs in 3 weeks, getting beat up on The Wire, being a part of entertainment history with HBO’s Oz, and going pantsless in front of a busy street for Donald Glover’s Atlanta series. Then, Tim describes his experience working on Marvel film sets, specifically the incredible VFX magic and the legacy of Chadwick Boseman. Join us as we chat with Tim R McAdams: Left-handed Leo, Wakandan warrior, and action filmmaker. Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing Mike Moh: actor, martial arts master, and Bruce Lee aficionado. We had the absolute privilege of discussing his role in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, martial arts philosophy in Taekwondo & Jeet Kune Do, and contemporary Asian representation in film. Join us in our interview with the Wanaukee Wisconsin’s one and only Mike Moh.

Reintroducing: Vlad Rimburg, the bad boy from Belarus. Vlad is an action / 2nd unit director, fight coordinator, fight choreographer, editor, and performer. Notable works include Lucifer, Sultan, and Unlucky Stars. You can find much of his work, from professional pre-viz to action short passion projects, on his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/vjvlad?pbjreload=102. In this episode, we go in-depth about Vlad’s work with indie action shorts, discussing how he riffed on John Wick’s fighting style for his female John Wick short “Ballerina” as well as recounting the gnarliest groin grabs and nut shots he’s ever choreographed. Also, Vlad reveals the secret to perfect shaky cam, details why The Protector’s one-take fight was ineffective, and reveals which action fight scene made him cry. To top it all off, Vlad gives up-and-coming action filmmakers some good old financial and life advice. Join us as we chat with Vlad Rimburg: action director Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening

Introducing Scott Adkins: actor, producer, and martial artist to the core. In this episode, we were graced with Mr. Adkins presence as we went down the line of his entire career in the film industry. In the realm of acting, we discussed his tutelage under Dee Cannon and Mykel Shannon Jones (Undisputed III) and his director and actor relationship with Isaac Florentine, Jesse V. Johnson (Accident Man, Debt Collector, Avengement), and Adrian Bol. These director partnerships have given Scott a great opportunity to take on more challenging character-driven films.  In the domain of production, we examined his role as a co-writer with his long time friend, Stu Small, in Accident Man and the maneuvers made in filming Avengement on such a tight time schedule. We also cover what makes a skilled fight cinematographer when it comes down to coordinating and filming fight sequences. As a passionate martial artist, we analyzed his fight scenes against Marko Zaror from Undisputed III: Redemption and Donnie Yen from Ip Man 4 (choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping) along with getting an inside look at his new film Legacy of Lies out now. Join us in this special, extensive interview with martial arts veteran and extraordinaire, Scott Adkins.

Today, we're diving into the dark, neo-noir world of John Wick and the underworld rife with assassins and crime families. We will be examining some of our favorite fight scenes from over the course of John Wick 1 and 2. We hoped to cover John Wick 3 more extensively in a separate episode as it is the most action-packed and creatively choreographed of them all. Until then, join us in the exploration of the battles of John Wick, the Baba Yaga.

Introducing: Vlad Rimburg, the bad boy from Belarus. Vlad is an action / 2nd unit director, fight coordinator, fight choreographer, editor, and performer. Notable works include Lucifer, Sultan, and Unlucky Stars. You can find much of his work, from professional pre-viz to action short passion projects, on his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/vjvlad?pbjreload=102. In this episode, we discuss transitioning from the indie action world to hollywood, the state of female representation in action films, and how smoke can supplement the creative process. Vlad also talks about the different roles of fight choreographers and fight coordinators as well as emphasizes the importance of applying film theory and getting practical experience. He also recalls his experience with sparring, forms, and how each offers unique benefits for screen-fighting. If you need some practical financial advice as a stunt performer, Vlad has you covered as well. Join us as we chat with Vlad Rimburg: action director. Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening

Welcome to AFD News! Today's news includes the unfortunate passing of action film legend Brad Allan, Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey Network finds a new home, casting announcements for Witcher prequel series, live action My Hero Academia film finds its director, Alan Taylor talks losing interest in film after fan backlash over Thor 2 and Terminator Genisys, casting updates for Brad Pitt’s Bullet Train, Ryan Reynolds and potentially Extraction’s Chris Hemsworth make their way to Fortnite, Paper Tigers hits #7 on Netflix, Anthony Mackie closes a deal for the next Captain America film, and Hasbro releases an Aliens anniversary Pulse Blaster Nerf gun! In tribute to Brad Allan, we also do an in-depth discussion of the rematch duel from 1999’s Jackie Chan action romcom “Gorgeous.” The two martial arts legends go toe-to-toe in an almost 10-minute long sequence, showing great sportsmanship and even greater kicks. Of course, the whole endeavor is steeped in the classic physical comedy signature to Jackie Chan’s filmography. - Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing: Emmanuel Manzanares, prolific action choreographer and stunt performer. You can see his handiwork in Logan, Gemini Man, and Batman: Enemy Within, to name a few. We discuss what makes for great stunt camera work and “bending” martial arts for the screen. We also take an in-depth look at Logan, Gemini Man, and more. Join us as we chat with Emmanuel Manzanares, actor and orchestrator of on-screen combat.

Introducing Sam Hargrave: Professional stunt coordinator, stunt double for Captain America, and now, director. We've had the pleasure of asking him some questions about his martial arts background and the action in his directorial debut, Extraction, out now on Netflix. Join us in this interview of the Sam Hargrave, legendary stuntman and choreographer.

Re-Introducing: Todor “Juji” Lazarov, RRR Action Director!

Todor is known for his stunt work on Hellboy, Game of Thrones, Expendables 2, and most recently RRR as Action Director which won a Golden Globe and Oscar

In this episode, we dive deep into the action of RRR, from flipping a carriage by hand to practical action camera advice to the complex rigging required for the iconic jail break sequence. This episode has been in the AFD vault for too long…

Join us as we chat with Todor “Juji” Lazarov.

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at ⁠Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking⁠.

Subscribe and leave a review on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at ⁠actiondecoded.com⁠, on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠TikTok⁠ at @actionfilmmakingpodcast, or on ⁠Twitter⁠ @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Today we introduce our newest podcast co-host, Mike Messina. As Skylar Tun steps down from more traditional interviews to focus on fight breakdowns, Mike will be co-interviewing guests with Darren. Mike is the former president of Binghamton University's Asian Student Union and the podcast host of 'Inside Outlook' and 'AO Story Time', podcasts focused on telling the experiences of different Asian Americans. He’s a Tae Kwon Do black belt and certified instructor with additional training in Krav Maga and Jiu Jitsu. Join us every Wednesday at 5AM for new episodes!

Enter: Manuel Crosby, co-director and co-writer behind the new action comedy ‘First Date’ that premiered at Sundance Film Festival this year. The film description reads: “Conned into buying a shady '65 Chrysler, shy teen Mike's eagerly anticipated first date with the girl next door, Kelsey, implodes as he finds himself targeted by criminals, cops and a crazy cat lady. A night fueled by desire, bullets and burning rubber makes any other first date seem like a walk in the park.” Manuel’s work blends witty dialogue, colorful characters, and of course, compelling action. In this episode, we talk about his relationship with co-director / co-writer Darren Knapp, how he created large action set pieces on an indie budget, and where the inspiration for some of the film’s wackier elements came from. We also breakdown the film’s largest action scene! The film is OUT NOW in select theaters and On Demand! Join us as we chat with Manuel Crosby: hometown hero and master of the first date. *Spoiler Warning* Major plot points and sequences are discussed in depth for The Paper Tigers in the breakdown section of this episode! Wanna see the film? Check out streaming services and select theaters here: https://www.firstdatethemovie.com/ Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening

Introducing: Tim R McAdams. Tim is a business consultant, enrichment speaker, and professional action stuntman. When he isn’t behind a podium, he’s on-set for productions such as Black Panther, Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Endgame, and Fast & Furious 7 as well as TV shows such as The Wire, The Walking Dead, Oz, Atlanta, and Black Lightning. In this episode, we go in depth on his experience losing 25 lbs in 3 weeks, getting beat up on The Wire, being a part of entertainment history with HBO’s Oz, and going pantsless in front of a busy street for Donald Glover’s Atlanta series. Then, Tim describes his experience working on Marvel film sets, specifically the incredible VFX magic and the legacy of Chadwick Boseman. Check out part 1 if you haven't already! There, we discuss how Tim grew from theater kid to sales associate to speaker - consultant - stuntman. Tim also spoke about his work as a director for the Stunt POC Directory, detailed how Atlanta became the “Hollywood of the South,” and explained exactly what a “ratchet” is. Join us as we chat with Tim R McAdams: Left-handed Leo, Wakandan warrior, and action filmmaker. Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing: Gui DaSilva-Greene. Gui is known for his works on Captain America: Civil War as Black Panther's double, Avengers: Endgame, Paper Tigers as well as the incredible My Hero Academia fan film UA:LA. You may know him as the co-host of Corridor Digital’s Stuntmen React series or their new Netflix spinoff Punch 4 Punch.

In this episode, we discuss the 4 Ingredients for a masterful stunt reel, Gui’s top kicking exercises, keys to live action anime, and the next generation of bonafide action stars. He also details his journey from professional dancer to professional stuntman to professional actor.

We also breakdown the Black Panther chase scene in Captain America: Civil War, the action packed intro to 2020’s critically acclaimed Paper Tigers, the church fight scene from fan favorite Unlucky Stars, and more.

Join us as we chat with the “Soft Taco” meme: Gui DaSilva-Greene

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Get a year of Skillshare at 30% OFF!

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast, or on Twitter @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing: Justin Eaton, stuntman and double in Banshee, Dr. Strange, Daredevil, and The Punisher. He was Emmy nominated for his stunt performance as Captain America John Walker in Falcon and The Winter Soldier. He is also married to CC Ice, double for Black Widow and Scarlet Witch!

In this episode, we discuss his work as Bloody Face on American Horror Story, scaring people on set with his monster makeup, and receiving an action stunt crash course for Bunraku. We also dive into his work relationship with Dave Macomber, having tattoos as a stunt performer, and that time he stretched his shoulder muscles til they "plucked" like the violin bow strings.

We also breakdown Banshee’s pit fight as well as the action short Identity Crisis which was filmed over two weekends with the Banshee action team!

In Part II, we’ll be going in depth about Daredevil, Deadpool, and Doctor Strange. We’ll also be breaking down action sequences from Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Join us as we chat with Justin Eaton: The Wicked Lion of Stunts.

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice

Find us at actiondecoded.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @actionfilmmakingpodcast or on Twitter @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening

Welcome  to AFD’s Christmas Special! Join Darren and Mike as we explore some of  the best holiday action and stunt films of all time: Die Hard, Kiss Kiss  Bang Bang, Iron Man 3, and Home Alone. We discuss what makes John  McClane the perfect action hero, the incredibly witty dialogue of Shane  Black, the unique action of a powered-down Iron Man, how Joe Pesci’s  head was lit on fire, and the true whereabouts of Mr. Elvis Presley.  Today’s episode is laid back and a ton of fun- we hope you enjoy!  Thank you so much for your support throughout 2020! We can’t wait to  bring more content in 2021! Happy Holidays!

Re-Introducing: Justin Eaton, stuntman and double in Banshee, Dr. Strange, Daredevil, and Punisher. He was Emmy nominated for his stunt performance as Captain America John Walker in Falcon and The Winter Soldier. He is also married to CC Ice, double for Black Widow and Scarlet Witch!

In this episode, we discuss his work on Daredevil where he doubled the legendary Scott Glenn! We also get a story about Scott Elk hunting on his front porch. Justin also talks about his time doubling Dr Strange for reshoots, what it’s like donning the Dr Strange cape, and doing motion capture for Deadpool as well as an NFL robot!

*SPOILER ALERT*

We also break down fights from Falcon and the Winter Soldier, specifically episode 4’s fight where Falcon, Winter Soldier, and Cap take on the Flag Smashers. We also breakdown episode 5’s fight where Captain America John Walker fights Falcon and Winter Soldier, something the action team dubbed “Civil War 2.0.”

In Part I, we discussed Justin’s work on American Horror Story, Bunraku, and more. Check it out if you haven’t already!

Join us as we chat with Justin Eaton: The Wicked Lion of Stunts.

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast, or on Twitter @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening.

We had the privilege of interviewing Wade Eastwood: one of the biggest names in stunt coordination, most famously known for his work on 'Mission: Impossible Fallout' and 'Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation'. He has worked on stunts for over twenty-seven years including the James Bond Franchise, Jumanji: The Next Level, Jack Reacher, and Edge of Tomorrow. Here, we had the chance to talk to Eastwood about his exciting stunt coordinating & 2nd unit directing experiences with Tom Cruise and writer/director Christopher McQuarrie, his ingenious creative process, and his methodology in choreography. Join us in our interview with Wade Eastwood as we go in-depth into action sequences with this true titan in stunt coordination. 

Introducing Michael Lehr: Professional stuntman and actor who has worked on Rocket Jump shorts, video game mo-cap (Star Wars The Force Unleashed, Sleeping Dogs), the John Wick franchise (John Wick 2 & John Wick 3) with Keanu Reeves, Logan, Extraction (netflix) with Chris Hemsworth, Mulan, and now Fast and Furious 9 doubling as Han Lue. In this 2 part interview series he answers questions about his start in the industry, his martial arts background, Asian Americans in stunts, and breakdowns from his extensive stunt filmography. Join us in this interview with the one and only Michael Lehr, legendary stunt coordinator and stuntman.

Welcome to AFD News, the new series from Action Filmmaking Decoded. Today's news includes casting announcements for John Wick 4, a trailer for Marvel's Shang Chi, the new action series 'Take Out' from Randall Park  and Lana Condor, early Suicide Squad release performance, Snake Eyes shaky cam, Ghost Busters trailer, Paper Tigers doing great on iTunes, and a new video from Ameridote's Master Ken. We also do an in-depth discussion of the crazy church fight scene from 2014's Kingman. Colin Firth plays Agent Galahad, a British gentleman spy. When the bad guys activate their violence-inducing device, Galahad fights his way through a stable of not-so-likeable church folk, making for an over-the-top and very fun sequence. - Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing: Keir Beck, award-winning Stunt Coordinator, Director, and writer. Keir is well known for his remarkable work on Mad Max: Fury Road, The Matrix, and Pirates of the Caribbean, to name a few.   We talk about Keir’s filmography, his program teaching up and coming stunt performers and riggers, and how being a tree surgeon set up Keir’s film career. As always, we also break down some of our guest’s exceptional stunt work.  Join us for this conversation with the incredible Keir Beck.

Happy Halloween! Today, we’ll be diving into three of our favorite action horror films, and helping us accomplish this spooky task is Jerry Horror, host of “The Offering” podcast!

In this episode, we break down the groundbreaking Blade and explore how Wesley Snipes laid the groundwork that the MCU would be built upon several years later. We also explore how Aliens was able to so effectively act as an action-oriented sequel to its horror-centric predecessor. Finally, we get into the divisive Freddy v Jason which was salvaged from development hell just like how Freddy brought Jason back from literal hell!

We also talk pure action films... shaky cam, martial arts choreography, and film history all get talked about because our guest really wants y’all to learn something!

Join us as we talk action horror alongside Jerry Horror: Host of The Offering Podcast!

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast, or on Twitter @ActionDecoded

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Welcome to the final stretch of Shang Chi Week! This week featured Joseph Le and Vi-Dan Tran. Today, we are…

Introducing: Andy Cheng. He is known as fight coordinator for Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He is also a veteran of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team working on films such as Who Am I, Mr Nice Guy, Shanghai Noon, and Rush Hour 1 & 2. Other works of his include: Into the Badlands, The Rundown, Scorpion King, and 6 Underground.

In this episode, Andy regails us with his exploits as a Tae Kwon Do athlete and Bronze medalist. He’s been knocked out, knocked out others, and even had to fight his own teammate on TV! He also details his younger years imitating Jackie Chan stunts with his friends, including one near-death experience involving a loose pipe on the top of a building.

We talk about the blending of action movie styles for Shang Chi and break down scenes from the Jackie Chan film Mr. Nice Guy, including the horse carriage scene which resulted in someone “breaking their head.” We look at the construction site scene too, a scene that had the team filming absolutely nothing for two straight days as Jackie sat and thought about the sequence.

Andy also tells us about living with Jackie and throwing a Tomahawk at Jackie’s head!

In Part II, we’ll be breaking down other Jackie Chan works like Who Am I and Rush Hour 1 & 2, Andy Cheng’s works featuring Dwayne Johnson including The Getaway and Scorpion King, as well as his work on Michael Bay’s 6 Underground. We also cover Andy’s amazing fights on AMC’s Into the Badlands and, of course, dive into Shang Chi.

Join us as we chat with Andy Cheng: Taekwondo Champion, Stunt Golf Champion, Action Filmmaking Champion

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing: Garrett Warren. Garrett is the self proclaimed “best one-eyed, balding stunt coordinator / 2nd unit director in all of Hollywood.” His filmography includes Logan, Avatar, and Alita: Battle Angel. He’s also worked with talent such as Hugh Jackman, Mickey Rourke, James Cameron, and Stephen Spielberg, to name a few. Most recently, Garrett has worked on the upcoming two sequels to Avatar.  In this episode, we discuss choreographing according to story, the incredibly useful shotdeck.com, and the smell of a good fight. We explore Garrett’s passion for photography and how it influences him as a filmmaker. Garrett also vividly describes the exhilarating experience of a stunt performer just before hearing “action!” for a death-defying gag. He advises those in film to be “great at many things and professional, the best, at one thing.” Join us as we chat with Garrett Warren: photographer, martial artist, and action filmmaker.  Edited by Luigi Hernandez  If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast. Until next time, thanks for listening.

Introducing: Emmanuel Manzanares, prolific action choreographer and stunt performer. You can see his handiwork in Logan, Gemini Man, and Batman: Enemy Within, to name a few. We discuss what makes for great stunt camera work and “bending” martial arts for the screen. We also take an in-depth look at Logan, Gemini Man, and more. Join us as we chat with Emmanuel Manzanares, actor and orchestrator of on-screen combat.

Happy Black History Month! This week, we’re celebrating by breaking down some of our favorite action films that feature Black heroes and action filmmakers! We’re talking Black Panther, Django Unchained, and The Last Dragon! Black Panther, Marvel’s action blockbuster featuring the late Chadwick Boseman, has become a cultural icon. We breakdown the incredible casino fight scene, analyze Black Panther's fighting style, air some visual effects grievances, and gush about Michael B Jordan’s performance. Django Unchained, Tarantino’s Western action film, boasts a star studded cast and some fantastic fights. We breakdown the Candyland shootout, talk about how violence is treated in the film, and note which gunshots that made us laugh. The Last Dragon is an 80’s action film continuing the legacy of Bruce Lee’s filmography. This cult classic is a pioneer of the Black Kung Fu film genre and is chock full of over-the-top characters, set-dressings, and of course, action! We talk about the non-actor star, the quotable lines, and the comedic nature of its action! Join us as we celebrate Black History Month! Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening

Welcome to AFD News for 10/1/21!

Today's news includes a new action BTS video of Jason Momoa in Dune, new Russo Brothers comments about a precarious future with the MCU, and Shang Chi making bank as the highest grossing domestic film of 2021!

*Since the time of recording, Scarlett Johansson has announced that she settled her dispute with Disney!

We discuss many trailers from  around the web and Netflix’s TUDUM Event. Those include Matrix Resurrections, Hawkeye, Cobra Kai, Cowboy Bebop, Extraction 2, Army of Thieves, and Minnal Murali.

We also break down the seminal lobby shootout from 1999’s Wachowski classic “The Matrix.”

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Edited by Luigi Hernandez

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking.

Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice.

Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok at @actionfilmmakingpodcast

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Today, we're diving into the dark, neo-noir world of John Wick and the underworld rife with assassins and crime families. We will be examining some of our favorite fight scenes from over the course of John Wick 1 and 2. We hoped to cover John Wick 3 more extensively in a separate episode as it is the most action-packed and creatively choreographed of them all. Until then, join us in the exploration of the battles of John Wick, the Baba Yaga.

Hello! Quick announcement from Mike and Darren about the show moving forward... We'll be releasing episodes every Friday, alternating between our signature filmmaker interviews and news / breakdown episodes. We also have a Patreon! If you enjoy the work we do and want to support us, you can contribute to the show! Donating as little as $1 per month will get you an exclusive video-breakdown of an action scene each month! It's been a great ride so far and we're looking forward to bringing you more! - Edited by Luigi Hernandez If you enjoyed this episode, you can support us at Patreon.com/actionfilmmaking. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast app of your choice. Find us at actiondecoded.com or on Instagram at @actionfilmmakingpodcast Until next time, thanks for listening.