Action Filmmaking Decoded- The Story of Action Films

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 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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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

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

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

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: 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

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: 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.

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.