Alexander: I had breakfast with my longtime friend Andrew Freund in February 2024, and I presented him a DVD of my first Western “Gunfight at Rio Bravo.” Andrew is the director of USA SUMO, and he told me that it could be cool to see sumo stars in a Western one day. After that, he told me the real story of the great Hitychiama’s trip to America in 1907. I was amazed, and we decided to make a movie together. That’s how “The Wide West” was born.

What was it like working with Sumo champions Ichi and Hiroki Sumi?

Alexander: I knew that they were both great champions and very strong athletes, but I didn’t know that they’re as stoic as samurais. We shot our film in the Californian desert, and it was really hot, but Ichi and Hiroki never complained. They worked long days and also performed many takes of actual fight scenes. Also, they are both talented actors, so it was a joy working with them.

Are there things you’ve done with your character Max that you feel like you’ve never done before?

Alexander: Yes, Max was an interesting character for me. Usually, I play ultimate heroes, and you don’t have to ask them twice to fight evil or protect others. But Max is different. He’s a gambler, not an action hero. He has a gun (probably for protection), but he doesn’t want to risk his life. But later, he decides to do it anyway. So I had to “turn down” my inner hero when I was playing Max, and it wasn’t easy.

Is it fair to say “The Wide West” was at least partially inspired by Terence Young’s “Red Sun”?

Alexander: Absolutely. I’m a big fan of “Red Sun.” To be honest with you, Charles Bronson’s character was an inspiration for me when I was getting ready for the role of Max. And the idea of combining East and West (pairing a gunslinger with a samurai) was just executed brilliantly in “Red Sun.”

Where was “The Wide West” made?

Alexander: As I mentioned before, we shot it in California, at WhiteHorse Ranch. Director Joe Cornet made three Westerns there already, so he knew all the locations very well. It was a good experience for me and also an interesting change after shooting “Gunfight at Rio Bravo” and “Taken from Rio Bravo” in Arizona.

Have you ever been in Japan?

Alexander: Not yet. Almost all my movies were released in Japan (starting with “Moscow Heat”), but I’ve never been there for some reason. I hope I’ll be in Tokyo soon for “The Wide West” premiere!

How was working with Nick Baillie, Tatiana Neva and Joe Cornet?

Alexander: Our team was amazing! Nick Baillie is a great actor, and he was always prepared and helpful. Tatiana Neva is so talented and beautiful, and she also did a great job styling all of her character’s wardrobe. We had a lot of big and strong guys in “The Wide West,” but thanks to Tatiana, we also had a stunning lady. Joe Cornet and I made three movies before, and we always had fun. But this time he played a bad guy, and I think he had even more fun doing it.

Do you prefer acting or producing more?

Alexander: I love both. Plus, it’s super easy for me as a producer to work and cooperate with myself as an actor.

How do you keep in shape during production?

Alexander: I just work out every day. Every night, to be precise. I’d go to the hotel’s gym after we were done with shooting, and it doesn’t matter how late it is. That way, I stay in shape and also know my lines better (because I have extra time to study while doing cardio).

What are your favorite martial arts movies?

Alexander: “Enter the Dragon” with Bruce Lee and almost all of JCVD’s movies from the ’80s and ’90s.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Alexander: My friends and idols Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ralf Moeller told me a long time ago (in 2000) that I have to work hard in Hollywood, but I also have to have fun every day. And I’m doing exactly that all these years!

Would you like to direct again?

Alexander: For sure. I think I’ll do it soon. My directorial debut “Black Rose,” was very successful all around the world, and it was my first film which was bought by Netflix for release in North America. I know it’s time for me to return to the director’s chair.

What can you tell us about your next project?

Alexander: I’m getting ready to complete the Rio Bravo trilogy. I think that “Last Heroes of Rio Bravo” will be my next project. I’ll keep you posted!

Nick Baillie: I began acting back in 1993 when I was living in Montreal, the city I grew up in. I studied acting for 3 years and then began doing plays and auditioning for small roles in commercials, tv shows and feature films. I landed my first union credit in 1996 on a film called Rowing Through, which was about the 1984 U.S Olympic rowing team.

Budomate: You’ve appeared in an impressive array of notable shows. Which one stands out the most for you?

Nick Baillie: I’ve been fortunate enough to work on some really great shows, like Murdoch Mysteries, Taken, The Dead Zone, Flashpoint and even Degrassi. I’d say my experience on The Dead Zone with Anthony Michael Hall was definitely a highlight. Not only because I grew up watching his movies, but I played a priest who was possessed by the devil, which was a tremendous experience and challenge for me as a young actor.

At one point AMH came up to me and quietly told me that I was in an extreme closeup. He was basically telling me to adjust my performance for the framing, which was such a generous thing for him to do for a young actor. I never forgot that.

Budomate: You were part of the Taken series. How is this version of Bryan Mills different from the classic film?

Nick Baillie: The Taken series, served as a prequel to the original films, and explored Bryan Mills’ earlier years, showing his time as a special operative before the events of the first film. That version of Mills was younger, less experienced, and still honing the skills that would later make him the unstoppable force seen in Taken. In contrast, the Bryan Mills of the film is already a highly skilled and hardened operative with decades of experience. It was also a really fun show to work on.

Budomate: Can you tell us more about the Theatre by the Bay project?

Nick Baillie: Theatre by the Bay is a Shakespeare company that my ex-wife, Larissa Mair and I founded back in 2001. We wanted to bring more work to a struggling industry at that time. Our first season was A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the summer of 2002 under a huge tent right on the edge of a beautiful lake in a town north of Toronto called Barrie, Ontario. We went on to produce over 50 plays in a decade, including Broadway style musicals as well as children’s shows, original works, and of course Shakespeare.

I stayed with the company for almost 15 years, and it taught me many things that have helped me with producing films. The company will soon be celebrating it’s 25th anniversary, so I’m proud to say it’s still alive today even though Larissa and I left over a decade ago. I would say that it is my proudest achievement in my career.

Budomate: Could you share more about the 21-part web series Claddagh, which won the “Outstanding Series Premise/Concept in a Drama” award?

Nick Baillie: Claddagh was created by Alan Duggan, an actor friend of mine back in 2011. He co-wrote it with Anthony Mancini, who is one of my acting mentors. This series took place in Montreal, Canada where I grew up, and it followed a family of Irish gangsters as they dealt with the Italian mob. It was a real window in to how things work in that world.

They were a very big part of the history of Montreal and essentially they ran the show in that city for many years. In some respects they still do. As a matter of fact we had to get them to sign off on the script, and give us permission to shoot the series. In the end they endorsed it and we even shot some scenes in the top Irish leader’s home.

Budomate: Can you tell us about the award-winning documentary Back to Sparta?

Nick Baillie: Back to Sparta is a documentary that follows Angelo Tsarouchas, a Greek Canadian comedian, and personal friend’s journey to Greece, exploring his heritage and seeking to understand his roots. George Tsioutsioulas, the director followed Angelo for the better part of a decade and when I joined the team, we flew to Greece to follow Ang as he returned to his father’s home town years after he passed away.

It was the first time he performed in Greece as well, so we was understandable nervous. The standup show is called “A Night in Athens.” Both were produced by another good friend of mine Robert Cordileone, who coincidentally also produced “Claddagh” with me.

Budomate: You recently played the lead role in the thriller Malicious, directed by John Fallon. How did you land this role, and what can we expect from the movie?

Nick Baillie: Originally Kevin Interdonato, one of the writers and producers, reached out to me in 2018 with the script that he and John Fallon had written. He thought I would be good for the role of William McCabe, the patriarch. Kevin and I had worked on a couple of other movies together in the past and I had a great experience with him, so I jumped at the opportunity.

At one point a production company from Germany came on board, and I actually had to audition for a role I thought I already had. In the end Kevin, John and I produced it ourselves, and shot it in the Poconos. It took us almost 4 years to get it made, but in the end I’m super proud of what we accomplished. It’s currently available on Tubi and Amazon Prime.

Budomate: You’re currently working on the Wide West movie alongside Alexander Nevsky. Could you share more about your character?

Nick Baillie: In The Wide West I play Judge Dwight Ogburn. He is an honest, hard working man who accepts that there are things that happen in his town that may not be so virtuous, but also necessary for the community to thrive. He tries his best to keep the peace and to enforce the law, but doesn’t always get the support he needs. He is a peaceful man, but in the end is forced to resort to violence to ensure that his community is safe, and criminals pay for their actions.

It was a really great role to play. I have always dreamt of being in a western, so this was definitely a treat for me. Alexander always wants people to have fun while they are working, so it made it such an easy production to work on. I look forward to our next western The Last Heroes of Rio Bravo, to be shot later this spring.

Mark Strange: I’ve been studying martial arts since the age of 10. Inspired and influenced by Kung Fu and action films, I started training at a local Lau Gar Kung Fu school. I then wanted to expand my knowledge of Chinese martial arts, and began training with Sifu Derek Frearson with the International Taijiquan & Shaolin Wushu Association.

Derek invited me to train in China and Hong Kong. I studied Shaolin Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, Wing Chun in Foshan, and Seven Stars Praying Mantis Kung Fu in Hong Kong. It was an incredible time, and provided me with skills and experiences that will always stay with me.

Budomate: You represented Great Britain at the World Chinese Martial Arts Championships in China in 1997. You earned the prestigious title of British Full Contact Chinese Kickboxing Champion. Could you tell us more about that achievement?

Mark Strange: I earned my place to compete in the World Chinese Martial Arts Championships over a series of tournaments that took place on the Wirral, UK. I became British Full-Contact San Shou (Chinese kickboxing) champion, and was selected for the squad for the World Championships at the Chin Woo Athletic Association in Guang Zhou, China, where I earned the title of ‘Most Outstanding Competitor’.

By this time, I had already been competing extensively on the UK martial arts tournament circuit, and became an all-rounder in that I competed in Forms, Semi-Contact and Full-Contact kickboxing, achieving many accolades over the years. These were great times, and also helped shape my performance as an actor and action-performer.

Budomate: In 2003, you appeared in The Twins Effect directed by Dante Lam and later in The Medallion, where Jackie Chan starred. How did you land those roles, and did you get the chance to meet Jackie?

Mark Strange: I sent a showreel out to a producer, which landed me a role on The Twins Effect with Action Director, Donnie Yen. I got the call to fly out to Hong Kong. Whilst working on the movie, I then got an opportunity to work on reshoots of The Medallion.

It was an incredible experience to meet and work with Jackie Chan so early in my film career, and I was fortunate to have two stand-out scenes with Jackie in both movies. I’m grateful for the opportunity, the people I met and worked with, and the experience took me forward in the action cinema world.

Budomate: In 2016, you took on a few roles in TV shows. How is the filming process different from making movies?

Mark Strange: The filming process is totally different, and can vary greatly between projects too. I’ve worked in-front of the camera on a few TV series, including Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, starring James Nesbit. That was such a great experience. For many years, I’ve also been working behind the camera on Fight Arranging for two of the UK’s leading television soap opera series. I enjoy this immensely, passing on my skills to other actors and ensuring the action looks realistic for film and television.

Budomate: In 2019, you worked with Scott Adkins and Jesse V. Johnson, playing a character named Cliff. How did they work together, and what was your experience like?

Mark Strange: It’s always fantastic working with Scott and Jesse. They are both incredible and super-talented, and they always put 100% into making memorable action films. Playing the part of Cliff in Avengement was such great fun, and the team gave everything, especially in the epic pub brawl scene, to ensure the action was gritty and realistic. It was awesome to be part of that movie.

Budomate: Most action fans know you from your role as the Karate Champion in Ip Man 4. How did you land that part, and what were the highlights of the experience?

Mark Strange: Hong Kong based producer and Casting Director, Mike Leeder, put me forward, showed my reel to the Director, Wilson Yip, and they got back to offer me the part. I was a perfect fit for the Bob Wall / Chuck Norris type Karate Champion that challenges Bruce Lee, played by Danny Chan, in the famous street fight. It was an incredible experience.

Not only for the fact that I was fighting the legend that is Bruce Lee (played by Chan) but that I had a part in what is probably the biggest martial arts movie franchise in the world. When I flew out there, I didn’t expect that I would have over 3 minutes of screen time in that iconic fight scene. It’s a major career highlight for me.

Donnie Yen is incredible, and it was also sensational to work with the legendary Action Director, Yuen Woo-Ping (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Kill Bill). It was fantastic to share movie screen-time with Danny Chan and Scott Adkins, and the whole cast and crew were fantastic.

Budomate: Your recent movie, Kung Fu Games, is getting a lot of attention. Can you tell us about the story and your character?

Mark Strange: Kung Fu Games is about a group of notorious fighters trapped in a lethal martial arts game run by a sadistic magnate, and it’s a battle for survival in a deadly kill-or-be-killed showdown. I play the lead role, Mike Fisher, who is one of the fighters. It was an amazing opportunity and a dream-come-true starring role.

It was incredible working with producers of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Shannon McIntosh and H. Daniel Gross of Tiger Style Media to deliver their vision of launching an explosive new era of martial arts cinema. It was brilliant working with the Director Ryan C Jaeger, and all the supremely talented cast and crew.

I love that Kung Fu Games pays homage to old-school Kung Fu films of the 1970s and 80s. My co-stars have a stunts / martial arts background, and we all did our own stunts with Stunt Coordinator, Sarah Chang. Everyone did an amazing job, and we had a lot of fun.

It’s a dream-come-true opportunity to play a starring role, and is most definitely the major highlight of my film journey so far. It’s given me a thirst to play more leading roles so I can stretch myself as an actor, and I’m looking forward to further opportunities in the near future.

Budomate: You recently shared the screen with Frank Grillo and Robert Patrick in Hounds of War. How was your experience working with Frank?

Mark Strange: It was awesome! Frank Grillo is a brilliant actor, very charismatic, and it was fantastic to be in the film working alongside such a talented and creative cast and crew. We filmed in Malta, which was great. Although I didn’t get a chance to do much action, I enjoyed playing Santiago, one of a group of mercenaries on a mission. I love playing military elite type roles so it was such a great experience.

Budomate: Can you share some details about upcoming projects?

Mark Strange: All I can say right now is there’s a slate of really cool film projects up ahead, and I’m looking forward to playing some memorable character roles that bring out the best of me as an actor and action performer.

Budomate: You ran a successful martial arts academy early on in your career. Do you still teach?

Mark Strange: Apart from the odd masterclass workshop for national or international shows, I no longer offer in-person tuition as my film schedule is so busy. And I get asked a lot to teach. To remedy this, we recently launched the Mark Strange Channel where members have access to my exclusive training videos and motivational content on all aspects of martial arts, fitness, screen fighting and getting in the greatest shape both physically and mentally.

It’s a great platform in that it enables me to keep on sharing my skills and experience, and there’ll be plenty of guidance for actors who want to improve their screen-fighting skills too. Check it out: https://markstrangechannel.com

Budomate: If you could star in a remake of any famous film, which one would you choose?

Mark Strange: That’s a great question! I can think of quite a few films but I’d have to say that it would be utterly amazing to star in a remake of Rambo. Alongside Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone has always been an inspiration to me. So, it would be an absolute privilege to play a new version of Rambo.

Budomate: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Mark Strange: Training, more training… watching movies, travel, and sharing life’s journey with the wonderful LIMA X ART. And I enjoy everything about being on a film set, bringing visions to life on the screen.

Budomate: And finally, what are three recent movies you’d recommend people to watch?

Mark Strange: Right now, I’d say The Killer Game directed by JJ Perry, John Wick 4 directed by Chad Stahelski, and Fall Guy directed by David Leitch. Of course, Deadpool & Wolverine directed by Shawn Levy – it was great to have been part of the stunt team on this movie – and, of course, I’m super-proud of Kung Fu Games, and would love people to watch it.

Joe Cornet: I don’t know if it was a “natural” choice. It happened almost by accident after a series of events. The journey basically began as a result of my pursuit in writing. Various contacts were made, classes and workshops attended and suddenly I was making my first feature film. My path was unique.

Budomate: You’ve been involved in commercial real estate development for many years. Have you ever sold any celebrity mansions or worked with Hollywood stars?

Joe Cornet: Ha! I’m afraid not. I always crossed paths with various famous people over the years but being acquainted with any of them really occurred after my pursuit of film.

Budomate: What made you gravitate toward the Western genre, and what inspired you to make six Westerns already?

Joe Cornet: I love westerns! Always have. It was not a conscientious decision. I kept getting opportunities to direct one western after another and I thought “why not?” It never bothered John Ford!

Budomate: How did you meet Alexander Nevsky and begin working together?

Joe Cornet: I met Alexander through our mutual friend, the great composer Sean Murray. He was putting the final touches on the score for my movie PROMISE and thought this could result in an interesting collaboration. As you can see, it did!

Budomate: In 2023, you made your first horror film, Night of the Caregiver. Can you share what that experience was like and explain why it doesn’t feature zombies?

Joe Cornet: I love classic horror as well as the cinema of Dario Argento, so when Alexander gave me the Craig Hamman penned script I jumped at the chance to direct it. I love what we did with that film, it’s sinister, spooky mood and the performance by Natalie Denise Sperl in the lead. As for zombies… I don’t think I have anything new to add to that genre!

Budomate: What’s the difference between making a movie based on your own script versus someone else’s?

Joe Cornet: When I am working from one of my own scripts, the vision of the film is with me from the beginning. When I am working from a script written by someone else, I make sure to respect the writer’s original vision and I try to adhere to that while adding any ideas I might have. I like working with writers, especially if it’s Craig Hamman.

Budomate: How difficult is it to distribute independent movies today, and what do you think could help?

Joe Cornet: It is very difficult to distribute independent films. Thankfully I am blessed to have Alexander Nevsky who has amazing relationships with distributors and knows how to market our content. What helps in the process is having a good team and striving for excellence.

Budomate: What makes a great villain in a movie? Who is your all-time favorite movie villain?

Joe Cornet: A villain must be sinister enough to be a plausible threat to the hero. I love a number of villains in cinema history (such as Major Strasser in CASABLANCA). One of personal favorites has to be Hugo Drax in MOONRAKER (I think the Bond franchise has some of the best) he’s smug, conceited and unctuous-just great fun to watch. By the way, I am playing my first villain in our next, upcoming feature!

Budomate: Could you tell us about the action scenes in your films and any challenges you encountered while filming them?

Joe Cornet: Action sequences are important, if they are not coordinated properly they can look silly. Fortunately, I have one of the best action coordinators in the business, Art Camacho. A real pro, he works out all the sequences in advance and shows up to set and tells everyone what they need to do. Check out Alexander’s knife fight sequence in TAKEN FROM RIO BRAVO. It’s wild.

Budomate: What are you working on right now, and what can we expect from you next?

Joe Cornet: Right now, Alexander and I are working on THE WIDE WEST, a later era western based on a true story and it features Sumos, samurai sword fights and gunslingers. It’s Japanese action meets the Wild West!

I also published my first book of fiction last month called A PRAYER FOR THE DAMNED and Other Tales of the West. It’s a novelized version of my first feature length western (including many twists and turns not featured in the original movie) along with four short stories. Readers will have fun with these tales, some epic, some terrifying and some strange. It’s available from all booksellers.

Budomate: If you could star in a remake of any famous film, which one would you choose?

Joe Cornet: That’s a question! I actually have an answer for that. I have long wanted to do a remake of PLAY MISTY FOR ME. I even went so far as to research the rights to that property a few years ago.

Budomate: And finally, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Joe Cornet: I have a horse named Lady and enjoy riding adventures with her whenever possible. She’s even been in two of my movies!

Chris Evangelou: After a bad hand injury I was forced to take a long time out of boxing. I found myself going back to my first love of acting. I quickly started to book roles and landed an agent. I realised that this was still a passion of mine and decided this is what I want to do.

Budomate: What titles and ranks did you achieve in your boxing career, and how did it all start?

Chris Evangelou:

• X6 international Gold Medals
• 2006ABAs
• Professional International welter-weight masters title

I had n argument outside my college. I wasn’t was confident as I would have liked to be so I decided to start boxing to gain confidence. That’s really how it all started.

Budomate: Which boxing legends have you met throughout your travels, and who’s your idol?

Chris Evangelou: Mike Tyson was always a boxing idol of mine, I did get to meet him in Vegas when I was training at The Mayweather camp. That same week I got to meet Mayweather too. I’m friends with Freddie Roach, as I trained with him and Jesse Reid Sr just before I turned pro.

Budomate: Shifting to your film career, how did you land your first acting role?

Chris Evangelou: I joined websites that posted acting roles, which I could apply for without an agent. My first big role was a Samsung commercial. It’s very hard at the start of acting career, but you have to keep persistent and not lose hope.

Budomate: You played a boxer Primetime in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen. What was it like working with a legend like Guy Ritchie?

Chris Evangelou: It was one of the best experiences of my life. Working with one of my favourite directors felt like a dream. As Lock stock and Snatch are two of my favourite films, it was a honour to be a part of Guy Ritchie’s collection of gangster films. Loved playing Primetime!

Budomate: Could you tell us about Shadow Boxer, the short film you wrote and produced? What’s the story behind it, and why should people watch it?

Chris Evangelou: Shadow Boxer was a story that I wrote, which was inspired by my experiences in my career and life. It was a way of me showing the world that a boxer, whose tough, durable, strong and disciplined can still suffer with mental health problems and anxiety. It’s a great one shot film that I think people would understand and some might reside with.

Budomate: In 2020, you worked on the TV show Devils for Sky Originals. Can you tell us a bit about that experience?

Chris Evangelou: I played a Hitman on Devils, it was a great experience to be on a show like that. It was fast paced and I had to run a lot!

Budomate: You also appeared on BBC’s EastEnders—can you share more about your role there?

Chris Evangelou: I played a boxer called Troy, I actually really enjoyed playing this role. I would have loved to have seen more of Troy in Eastenders, maybe that will happen one day. Working on such an iconic soap was a great experience, especially speaking with actors that Ive watched growing up.

Budomate: Recently, you played Harry Felix in the TV series La Máquina. Can you talk about that character and the show?

Chris Evangelou: I play the world champion boxer from London, Harry Felix. What an experience that was. 2 months of my life in Mexico, dedicated to the show. I prepared as if I was in a training camp, it was very intense. Attending the Hollywood and Mexican Premieres was really aa dream come true.

Budomate: If you could star in a remake of any famous martial arts film, which one would you choose?

Chris Evangelou: One of my favourite martial art films growing up is The Drunken Master with Jackie Chan. Id definitely love to remake that.

Budomate: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Chris Evangelou: I train a lot, almost everyday. I love going out to eat but my favourite thing to do to relax is go to the cinema. I can just switch off for a couple hours.

Budomate: And finally, what are three recent movies you’d recommend people to watch?

Chris Evangelou: ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’, ‘A quiet place 3’, but the first one is the best. My last one isn’t too recent but ‘Upgrade’ is a really good film with a great story.

In 2019 she moved to Hollywood where starred in two horror movies Night of the Caregiver and Spooky+. Her recent role is the character of Arlene in the western movie Gunfight at Rio Bravo alongside Alexander Nevsky.

Besides her film career, she continues working as a model and runs her Youtube channel named Actress’s journal in Hollywood.

Social profiles:

1. https://www.instagram.com/anna_oris_la/
2. https://www.instagram.com/annaoris_official/
3. https://www.tiktok.com/@annaoris_official
4. https://twitter.com/anna_oris_
5. https://www.facebook.com/anna.orisik/
6. https://www.cameo.com/anna_oris
7. https://soundcloud.com/anna-oris-720411024
8. https://www.youtube.com/@MrsOrisik

Budomate: You have phenomenal kicking skills, could you please tell what or who led you to martial arts and which arts have you been studying?

Brahim: Thank you for the nice words about my kicking skills. I started martial arts after watching a Jackie Chan movie called First Strike back when I was 14 years old.

At the time there wasn’t a lot of options around my house so I took up Aikido first at 14 years old and added Karate Wado Ryu cause I wanted striking more than joint locks.

Two years later I discovered tricking through a friend of mine who took me to watch a tricking competition. I fell in love with it and focused on that side for many years. My kicking and acrobatic background purely came from tricking. I never took gymnastic and my style for flipping is really trickster oriented.

When I started my film career I realized a lot of the tricking kicks and acrobatics needed to be adjusted for movies and camera angles so I adapted my style for film work. I also studied Boxing a bit of Muay Thai and nowadays I train BJJ at least 4 times a week if I am not working.

Budomate: I’ve heard you have been tricking with a stunt group called Cascade. Could you tell about these guys and what they do?

Brahim: You did your homework I am surprised you know I started tricking with this group. Team Cascade is a group of martial artists who at the time had classes for kids who wanted to learn to trick and compete in musical forms.

Every one of the teachers came from a Taekwondo or Vovinam background. The main coach was Maurice Chan who still runs the group but nowadays it is more oriented on big events and also stunt work for movies in Europe. I trained there for 3 years.

Budomate: I suppose you are in the movies since 2007, how did you get into the business?

Brahim: I was teaching tricking in Paris on the weekends in a group called X Swipe. After travelling to the US and competing in a few tournaments over there, I thought it was time to stop doing tricking for fun and start to make a living out of it.

In 2006 I stopped competing and focused on trying to get into stunt work first in France but I quickly realized the market in France was controlled by a few older performers who kept young and hungry guys like me out. I went to a few castings and many times could not even cast so I got very depressed for a year and stopped putting efforts into it.

The owner of the X swipe school asked us if we wanted to go on a holiday to Thailand and do a casting for Ong Bak 2 at the same time. So the trip was fully paid and I did not have a job in France so I just packed my bag and followed my friends.

We landed in Bangkok completely exhausted I remember sleeping and waking up around 2 am. Walked outside and it was a cultural shock. I hated it at first and just wanted to leave. My friend told me we will leave after the casting was done so we went to the casting and of course we didn’t get it.

We met Tony Jaa, took a few pictures and most of the guys took the plane back to France to go back to their usual routine. My instinct told me to stay so I told my friends “Guys I am gonna stick around here for a bit more”.

My gut told me to stay and something was gonna happen here. After running out of money after 2 months I had to leave back to France but I managed to meet a few people who did movies there.

Went back to Paris found a few small jobs to save up money and in 2007 I packed my bag once again but this time I made a promise to myself – If I did not have a stable film career in 3 years I would quit and change job.

With a lot of hard work, I managed to make my dreams come true and until today still work in the film business.

Budomate: I remember the first time I noticed you in the Man of Tai Chi alongside Keanu Reeves and Tiger Chen in 2013, was it different to work with Keanu?

Brahim: Working with Keanu Reeves was an amazing experience. I got cast on the film by a very good friend of mine and I consider him like a big brother, my good friend Mike Leeder. He asked me to send him a reel of me doing all kind of kicking. I did and a week later I was on a plane to work with Keanu and Yuen Woo Ping. Keanu Reeves is just a down to earth human being.

Budomate: You already played in a few movies with Jackie Chan, how did you meet him and his team?

Brahim: I met JC stunt team back in 2014 when I worked on the film Dragon Blade. They were looking for a lot of Roman looking action actors. They contacted me back in January 2014 and at first, I thought it was a joke so I didn’t really take it seriously but then again later around July of the same year they messaged me again asking me if I had a Chinese visa and to my luck I did.

Next day after 3 flights, I was in the Gobi desert getting to work with Jackie Chan. The whole process was quite crazy as out of nowhere I was finally working with Jackie Chan and his team.

Budomate: You worked with Van Damme on a few of his movies as well, what was the most memorable moment on sets?

Brahim: Jean Claude is one of the nicest actors I ever worked with. We always speak French on the set and when I first met him on The Eagle Path, he told me “I reminded him of this french Muay Thai fighter called Dida Diafat”.

So later on Pound of Flesh when Mike brought me to work, Jean Claude cast me as well in the movie. I remember him taking me to his trailer and showing me footage from the Eagle Path last time I saw him in China and we talked about his old films and how to stay in shape over the years.

Budomate: I’m a big fan of Strike Back TV Series, how did you get there for the role of Russian Soldier?

Brahim: I got to work on Strike Back through a casting director from Malaysia. They did shoot in Thailand before but for some reason, I did not get to work on it until season 7.

Budomate: I suppose you spend a lot of time in Thailand now, where many movies are filming, what made you move over there like many other stunt guys?

Brahim: As I said earlier moving to Thailand was not what I was planning at first. I came for a holiday which turned into a whole different plan. After Ong Bak, Thailand was the new Hong Kong for martial arts action movies and a lot of westerners moved there to pursue their dreams to be in that kind of films.

I met people here who became my best friends like Tim Man. It was an amazing cause in a gym we had at least 20 westerners training and we all went to the same castings or jobs. It was almost like the foreign legion and every job we had guys with big egos or guys who came for a few months then discovered how hard this business was then to go home.

Budomate: Do you remember your first day on sets when you have to act not fight?

Brahim: That day was when I did Streetfighter the Legend of Chun Li. I was cast in the film with 2 lines and a little fight with Kristin Kreuk. I was never really worried about acting I just never really thought of myself of an actor even today, I am just a guy who enjoys doing action movies and if there are lines well I will just say them as naturally as possible without thinking too much. I think that is where people get it all wrong about acting and fighting. Doing stunts for me is acting.

You don’t say lines but you perform your body movement and facial expressions. So I have been acting since my first stunt job in my eyes but lines to me are just words so when I had to do lines I try to be as natural as possible just like when I do a stunt.

I always laugh when I read other action actors who do minor roles like me say they had to go method acting for this role or that role, I think it’s just plain bigotry. We ain’t doing Shakespeare at least not yet so let’s not make it more difficult than it is.

Budomate: I suppose most of the fans know you by the role of Igor Kazmir in Boyka movie, who invited you for the role and why nobody invited you in previous movies?

Brahim: I met Tim Man in 2007 in Thailand. He was already a stuntman in Sweden and was also doing a lot of work in Thailand. I remember emailing him when I was in France asking him questions and how to get into the film business? He was very nice to take me on some films he did as a fight coordinator like Kill Em All and Ninja Shadow of a tear.

We met Isaac on Ninja Shadow of a Tear and Scott of course. Later on, when they were doing Boyka Undisputed they were having a hard time to find someone to play Igor Kazmir and Tim suggested they use me. I think they were, of course, a bit septical at first since it was such a big part in what is considered by many to be the best western martial art franchise.

Tim convinced Isaac, Isaac convinced Scott and this is how I got to be in the film. I would have never been able to work on the previous ones as I was a very slim guy back then so I needed time to put on muscle. The luck I had was I am always working out so I am always in ready shape so I did not need to pump up that hard to get how you saw me in the film.

Budomate: You used you to double Scott Adkins for some of his trademark aerial kicks when he injured his back. Was it hard to repeat what Scott does?

Brahim: The hardest part was to make my hair look like his hahaha. Scott can do all the moves I do, to be honest, it was not hard since we have a very similar style and also the same body structure and height. Scott is an amazing martial artist and also a great person. I am glad to call him my friend today and he has been very supportive of me over the years.

Budomate: Please tell about your Broto character and why it is so good at Vanguard? Any plans for a spin-off?

Brahim: I am very happy that people liked the character I played in the film. Broto is a special force that is doing a lot of dirty work in the middle east. He gets hired by Omar who wants to kidnap an accountant who used to work for his dad. Broto goes on the mission but then gets stopped by the Vanguard group lead by Jackie Chan. Then the story takes us from England to Dubai.

I don’t know if there will be a spin-off but if Stanley Tong wants me to come back in Vanguard 2 I will be happy to join again.

Budomate: What is your favourite role so far?

Brahim: Broto was by far my favourite role

Budomate: What is your dream role and who do you want to work with on the future?

Brahim: I would like to come back in the Undisputed series and showcase more of Igor cause I think there is something more to do with this character in a similar fashion of what they did with Boyka in part 3. Why not one more episode of Undisputed and bring back Igor again that would be something I will be glad to do.

Budomate: Could you name your three favourite martial arts movies?

Brahim: Drunken Master 2, Drive and Kickboxer.

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Enjoy!

Budomate: How did it all started? Do you remember yourself dreaming of playing a fighting girl in the movies or falling from the roof to please the movie goers?
Amy: I grew up in the martial arts and watching kung fu films was the normal. I never thought of making it a career until I saw Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Michelle’s strong yet feminine essence was so inspiring to me. That film is still one of my favorites!

Budomate: Please tell about your martial arts experience, do you remember your first class?
Amy: My dad owned a martial arts school so I was always running around at a young age. I do remember my first serious class when I turned 5 – because I was a big girl and could finally train with the big kids. Woot!

Budomate: How often do you train and how do you manage to stay in share between sets?
Amy: Working out can be difficult when busy but I always try to get in some movement, stretching and a little sweat. I always feel better for it. If I am not working then I am working out every day in one way or another!

Budomate: Who is your inspiration and what was the first martial arts movie you seen?
Amy: I am inspired daily by my peers as well as several influential people throughout history, although my mom has influenced me the most. Bruce Lee, Michelle Yeoh and my dad inspired my martial career. Meryl Streep, Robyn Williams, Jim Carey and Angelina Jolie inspired my acting career. The first martial arts movie I remember watching was Enter the Dragon.

Budomate: As I understand it all started with The Adventures of Senor Toro in 2009 where you played a victim. Please tell about that.
Amy: Senor Toro! A good family friend named Shane Stanley knew I had just moved to Los Angeles and brought me out to help him in his comedy short.

Budomate: We all know about male stuntmen but hardly can hear about females, what does it take to be a professional stunt woman?
Amy: I think more and more people are becoming aware of stuntwomen with all of the major action films. I am actually apart of a documentary right now titled “Stuntwomen: The untold hollywood story”, directed by April Wright. It is based off of the book and goes in depth of the life of a stuntwoman from the early ages of film to the present! Like any profession you need to be able to do what is asked, which can be a wide range of things including martial arts, gymnastics, horse riding, fire burns, wire work and so much more. Train hard and smart, be professional and a good sport.

Budomate: You worked on a lot of video shorts such as Angering the Gods, Mickey & the Fly, or The Gate, does it help to grab the attention of producers and land a role?
Amy: Yes, I think it is so important as an artist of any sort to create without hesitation. The control is in your hands to create your own content or collaborate with others. The internet gives us all a way to communicate and share with the world, so why not share your art. I started booking stunt work and even acting jobs based off of some the youtube videos I was in.

Budomate: There is a really tough short where you take on 7 male fighters. What was the idea of this project?
Amy: The Amy vs 7 video with the “Thousand Pounds Action Team” was a conceptual piece for Jace Hall and HD films.

Budomate: In Kung Fu Femmes and Angering the Gods you served as a fight choreographer, is it difficult to make a good fight scenes on a budget or it just a matter of creativity?
Amy: I don’t believe that you need a budget of any sort to create a good fight scene. Although, budget is needed for safety and respect to the performers and crew. There are so many talented choreographers creating amazing fight scenes with nothing but creativity, skill and a camera. It’s all about the team. You could have all of the budget in the world but you need good artists at the end of the day.

Budomate: You were a Scarlett Johansson’s stunt double in the Captain America 2, what was the most dangerous trick you made, and how did you find this job? How was it in comparison with Harley’s role in Suicide Squad?
Amy: Yes, I was one of Scarlett Johansson’s stunt doubles for Captain America 2. James Young who was the choreographer and winter soldier double brought me on to do a previs test fight and I was hired shortly after. That was my first long run on a film and I learned so much. Heidi Moneymaker, Scarlett’s main double did most of the stunts but I did get a few fun ones in and was able to contribute to the creative process. I loved swinging under the bridge! For Suicide Squad I was only brought in for a day to work on a previs for a fight scene as Harley.

Budomate: In 2013 you worked on Raze with Zoe Bell. This movie looks like a good preparation for your latest leading role in the Lady Bloodfight, was it difficult to work on a female fighting movie?
Amy: Raze was a really fun movie to be apart of. There were so many talented ladies in that film and all so lovely. Zoe Bell is a joy to work with.

Budomate: You worked a very popular TV shows such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and NCIS: Los Angeles, is there a difference between movies and TV when it comes to stunt work?
Amy: Every job in general is so different which is one of the many things that I love about my career!

Budomate: Video gaming is absolutely different industry for actors and stuntmen or I’m wrong? Please tell about your work on Spider-Man, Uncharted 4 and Rise of the Tomb Raider?
Amy: I love to be apart of video games and motion capture. I have always had wonderful experiences with each motion capture job. It truly is always a blast and the people are fantastic. I have mostly worked on the Uncharted series as the character “Nadine” who is a complete badass!

Budomate: The Gate short looks very promising and having Yayn Ruhian in the movie makes it a very exciting project. Please tell how did you land this role and how was it to work with such a master?
Amy: The Gate is one of my favorite projects that I have been apart of. There is so much passion coming from Kellie Madison, the writer/director/producer. Yayan is so humble and sweet, yet an absolute master of his craft. Plus I got to work with two of my favorite peer Martial Artists; Malay Kim and Xin Wuku.

Budomate: You worked on Deadpool and now joined the sequel, as I understand it will be much more action sequences as David Leitch is directing?
Amy: Yes I worked on Deadpool and then did some previs work for Deadpool 2 but I am no longer working on Deadpool 2 as the director and coordinator have changed.

Budomate: Let’s talk about Lady Bloodfight. This movie is like the answer to manly Kickboxer Vengeance. Please tell how did you land the role, how was it to work with a legendary Bay Logan? Will it be a sequel?
Amy: Lady Bloodfight was my first lead role in a film and I was super anxious! I had been seen on a youtube video and then brought in for an audition with Voltage Pictures. They were very supportive of me and so great to work with. The director Chris Nahon was such a pleasure to work with! Bey Logan is one of the most knowledgable people when it comes to the martial arts, from cinema to history of the arts. As of now, I don’t know of a sequel.

Budomate: You just finished working with Scott Adkins on Accident Man playing Jane The Ripper, please tell about your role and what we can expect from the movie?
Amy: I am really looking forward to the release of Accident Man. Scott Adkins was incredible to work with – a true gem. Jesse Johnson, the director was fantastic as well! A really great team all around. You can look forward to incredible action and such fun characters!! I can’t wait!

Budomate: As time goes we see more and more fighting movies with female leads, how bright is the future for this kind of movies?
Amy: I think it’s a great time to be a woman in action right now! It is more common to see women in leading roles and leading action roles now!

Budomate: Who do really wanna work with, what is your dream project? Maybe some kind of Expendables?
Amy: I’d love to work with so many..the list is long but here are a few directors: Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Ang Le, Baz Lurhmann, Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg- I’ll stop now

Budomate: What next for Amy Johnston?
Amy: I just wrapped on a pilot titled “Paloma’s Flight” that I am very proud of and can’t wait to share! It’s about a young lady named Paloma who is a photojournalist. She lost her husband, a US Navy Seal, to a botched raid in Afghanistan. She continues to fulfill their dream of exploring Mexico. Its a beautiful story and directed by multiple Emmy award winning director Lee Stanley.

Budomate: My traditional question: which three martial arts movies you can call a classic?
Amy: Enter the Dragon, Drunken Master 2 and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin!

You can contact Amy on her official site, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

All rights for this interview reserved by budomate.com and can not be used without official permission.

Budomate: Please tell how did you get involved in the movie business?

William: I first got involved in the film business in high school when I lived in Bangkok Thailand. As a young teenager I got to work on the Robin Williams film Good Morning Vietnam, then in film school, I went on to work for a special effects and movie weapons coordinator, a really super talented guy who worked on lots of big films like Robocop and The Abyss. This led me to eventually begin directing commercials and short films before eventually doing my first film The Prodigy.

Budomate: Your first movie was the Prodigy in 2005 starring Diana Lee Inosanto and her husband Ron Balicki worked and starred in your movies. How did you meet Inosanto’s family?

William: I was a huge fan of Ron’s as a martial artist so with fingers crossed I reached out to him to ask him if he’d lend his expertise to the project and luckily he said yes. This partnership lead to an opportunity to connect with Diana, she sent in a great audition and the rest is history. Ron was the stunt coordinator and fight choreographer for The Prodigy. Super proud of what we all accomplished with the film.

Budomate: It was a 5 years break after the Prodigy, have you been working on something.

William: During that time I worked a lot in video production and began developing the script for Sinners and Saints. It was a long road to get that film made but that’s not unusual if you’re going to work outside of the studio system.

Budomate: You made two movies about soldiers, how close this topic to you?

William: I come from a long line of family that served in the army and so I definitely hold the military in high regard. And I think that combined with some really amazing former spec operators that I proudly call my friends. This all has really shaped that passion and allowed to be as honoring and authentic as I can be when approaching this kind of stories.

Budomate: Cuba Gooding Jr. starred twice in your movies, how does he fit into the action roles?

William: Cuba’s a great actor, he is part of a very elite team of actors that hold the title of Oscar winner. I think that inherently that alone makes him a very unique and unorthodox choice for a leading man in an action film. He worked his tail off for me and was very collaborative. We had a blast working together.

Budomate: In 2012 you worked with Big Swede on One in The Chamber, how was to work with Dolph, I suppose you been his fan like many of us?

William: As a kid, I was definitely a fan of Dolph’s. I think The Punisher and I Come In Peace movies we’re really underrated. Dolph is one of those guys that knows exactly what he wants to do and goes and does it.

Budomate: In 2015 you worked on Marine 4. Do you think this franchise moving the same direction after the first film of 2006 with John Cena or changed its spirit?

William: The Marine franchise has been a huge moneymaker for WWE Films. It plays to that “Guys who love movies for Guys” demographic and does really well.

As far as the spirit of it, no I don’t think it has changed. The budgets have definitely shrunk dramatically but the tone and what they set out to do have been very consistent. Take my installment “MOVING TARGET” it’s basically one giant running gun battle, very straightforward storylines where the action constantly drives the plot forward, propelling from action set piece to action set piece. WWE knows exactly what they want and that’s what they deliver.

Budomate: Budget of first Marine movie was $20,000,000 and Marine 4 was made for just $1,950,000. How hard is it make action film on such a small budget?

William: I would definitely say it’s challenging especially when you consider the scope of the action required in the script for my installment. But that said, WWE is really great about surrounding directors with top-tier talent to handle that kind of production.

I can’t speak for the other directors but I definitely felt very blessed to be working with some incredibly talented guys on the crew when I found my film in Vancouver. Without that level of support it can’t be done.

Budomate: WWE studio making movies with wrestling stars, what the future holds for WWE?

William: I really don’t know where they’re headed but I imagine they will be focusing eventually on bigger and bigger films. I recently saw Scott Adkins and director James Nunns new film Eliminators and I thought it was great. James is a really talented director and I love Scott. Very cool film.

Budomate: UFC is going to start film movies too and this is just a question of time when it will happen. Who do you want to work with from UFC champs and who do you think can become the new action star?

William: I was lucky enough to get to work with two of the scariest guys to ever enter the octagon – Bas Rutten and Krzysztof Soszynski. Both absolute monsters in the cage but also two of the coolest guys anyone would ever get to work with.

I hear there’s talk of Connor MacGregor doing movies but these guys make so much money that unless it was a giant studio project I’m not sure that luring them away from that is very likely.

Budomate: Sinners and Saints is one of the best action films ever made and I can put it on the same level as Tony Scott’s Last Boyscout or John Woo‘s Killer or Hard Boiled. Really love the film spirit – gritty, tough and deadly. How did you come up with the idea?

William: Thank you, I’m super proud of that film. Definitely one of my favorites. I guess to start with I think it goes without saying I am very unapologetic about how much I love the action genre. So my writing partner Jay Moses and I knew we wanted to do something very old-school and very gritty… a kind of the throwback to the action cop films we grew up with.

The next thing to decide was where to send the story. We both wanted to place it in the South and we knew we wanted it to be very urban. So the answer for me was pretty obvious.

New Orleans is my absolute favorite city in the South and there’s absolutely nowhere else like it. There have been very few films filmed in New Orleans – Mardi Gras or Voodoo.

I really wanted to showcase the New Orleans I knew. The boroughs and neighborhoods surrounding the Quarter. The underbelly places the tourists would never even consider going, but places where the locals really live and breathe.

It’s such a cool, gritty, city full of so much energy, history and such an incredible mix of cultures… French, Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, Irish-German the ultimate melting pot.

I thought it was a city begging to be put on film. So that’s what we tried to do, combine a gritty dark cop film with a unique city on the planet.

Budomate: Gun fights are so awesome so only John Wick can keep up on the same level. Who was working on scenes and what is the secret?

William: I got really lucky on that film originally the villains of the peace were Russian mafia, so during my research, I stumbled across Sonny Puzikas, a former Soviet commando, known as one of the top tier firearms trainers in the US.

I reached out to him and as luck would have it it just so happened he also lived in Dallas where I live. We connected and I asked him to step in and be the tactical advisor for the film. Hands-down his input really took it to the next level. So I guess if I have a secret, my secret is being really honest with myself, looking at my shortcomings and then finding really talented people to fill those deficits.

Budomate: Johnny Strong played the lead, how did you meet him?

William: It’s a long story but basically I was a fan of his from Black Hawk Down and Get Carter, and a fan of his music and reached out to him under the pretext that I wanted to use a couple of his songs in my first film The Prodigy. We connected in a venue that he was performing at and hit it off, I got him the script and the rest is a history.

Budomate: You started talking about Sinners & Saints 2, can you share any ideas of what we can expect in the second part?

William: Sinners & Saints 2: Vengeance is basically the original film turned into a vengeance story cranked up on steroids. Sean Riley crosses paths with the new nemesis and that leads him on an international hunt. Think something in the vein of the original film meets Man on Fire with a LOT MORE ACTION. A very cool, gritty, brutal story that definitely won’t disappoint

Budomate: In 2016 you worked with Scott Adkins on Jarhead 3, how was it to meet one of the popular kicking stars of today?

William: I’m a huge fan of Scott and so that was a great opportunity for the two of us to connect and collaborate. Although as far as action goes I definitely didn’t get to showcase Scott potential we’ve got plans in the future to do exactly that. A couple very cool projects in the works.

Budomate: You work a lot with Chad Law, I can say you are like Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, doing a lot of great stuff together to please action fans. How did you meet each other?

William: Wow! That is an amazing compliment, thank you.

We actually met through my producer and very good friend Jay Stamper. The two of us really hit it off, we both love the genre and Chad really “get’s it “… exactly the kind of collaborative partner I needed.

I owe Chad a lot, he was really the one responsible for getting me hired on for his script for Sony’s The Hit List. We’ve basically been connected at the hip since then. Chad wrote my pride and joy Daylights End, co-wrote Sinners 2 with Jay Moses and has also penned several projects I currently have in development, lots of very cool stuff coming together in the future.

Budomate: Many great action directors such as Craig Baxley or Andrzej Bartkowiak don’t do films anymore, what do you think is the reason?

William: Man, both those guys are awesome. I love Craig Baxley’s action, his second unit work on The Predator. The attack on the rebels by Arnold and the team is still some of the best action work put on camera, and I personally think that Andrzej Bartkowiak’s Maximum Risk is one of Van Damme‘s best.

But to your point, I think it’s such a shame that theses two don’t direct more but this is a tough game and the business has changed dramatically. In my opinion, I really doubt films like I Come In Peace or Maximum Risk would be theatrical productions now. All those kind of movies go straight to video and DTV probably is not something either of those guys want to do. If they did want to do then they would be.

It’s a tough game and the industry has changed dramatically. With all the rampant piracy budgets have shrunk and studios primary interest at this level is to do sequels from their own internal vault of films. I can only assume neither one of them have found anything that they really want to do or otherwise they would be doing it.

Budomate: Action movies involve a lot of stunt work, could you please tell about the most dangerous scene you worked on?

William: Probably the most dangerous scene I had performed was in One in The Chamber. It was basically a “Highfall” repel by Cuba Gooding’s stunt double Mark Hicks. The stunt was coordinated by Diyan Hristov and what made a particularly challenging was it was a high-speed descent/repel down the center of this very small opening in the center of this old building. One false move and Mark would’ve pendulum back-and-forth smashing into the side of the building as he fell all the way to the ground. Super sketchy… I was very glad when that shot was over.

The other one would probably be the double car hit with Mike Mukatis (doubling for Johnny Strong) and Keith Davis (doubling for Kevin Phillips)… The stunt was coordinated by Jeff Galpin and again there wasn’t much room for error. Both Mike and Keith’s wardrobe didn’t give them much opportunity for wearing any protective gear and getting hit at the same time by a speeding car and not knowing where the other one would go and land on concrete was pretty ugly, was definitely holding my breath on that one.

Budomate: What can you recommend to guys who want to break into the movies and bring back the spirit of good action films?

William: The best advice I can give is to surround yourself with talented people. With people who know more than you do and then get out there and shoot. In a world where you can buy an HD camera and zoom recorder and premier editing system for under $10,000 you really have no excuse.

If you really want your opportunity, the only way you’re going to get it is to go do it. That’s exactly what we did with my first film The Prodigy. If I hadn’t fought like hell for that opportunity and along with my team pushed it across the finish line I would have never been given any of the opportunities I’ve had since then. I would still be talking about what I’m gonna do some day. In my opinion, it’s all about hard work and determination and putting it all on the line.

Budomate: What’s next for William Kaufman?

William: Right now I’m in the middle prep and Bulgaria from my latest film Lazaret Burning. A very cool, unique action film with an almost entirely European cast produced by Joe Zaroui.

As for after that as I mentioned before I’ve got a handful of very cool projects in the works. Super excited about doing Sinners & Saints 2 with Johnny Strong and my producing partner King Hollis. And I’m also knee-deep in developing a great project in Thailand called SAVAGE with producer Daniel Zirilli, and once again starring my partner in crime Johnny Strong.

Budomate: My traditional question: which three martial arts movies you can call a classic?

William: Hmm that’s a tough one, lots of great ones. Off the top of my head I would have to say, I love Above The Law, The Matrix and The Raid.

All rights for this interview reserved by budomate.com and can not be used without official permission.

All rights for this interview reserved by budomate.com and can not be used without official permission.