Action Talks with Eric Jacobus – Details, episodes & analysis

Mathis Landwehr an actor, stuntman, producer, and indie action filmmaker. He's known for his show Lasko, The Foreigner, and Kamfansage II (my personal favorite). You can see his IMDB here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1716923/
Edited by Tristan Glover
Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5
Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2
Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319
My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com
Blog: www.ericjacobus.com Timestamps: 0:05:26 Time constraints shooting "the Last Kumite"
0:06:45 Shooting until it's perfect
0:07:55 How Mathis built his skill set
0:09:31 Inspirations
0:10:40 The film scene in Germany
0:12:11 Why Germany didn't make action films
0:14:44 No German action heros allowed
0:18:21 Mathis's first short film
0:22:34 Did Mathis make the first German martial arts movie?
0:24:24 German people's and regulators perceptions of action movies and violence
0:30:14 Martial arts vs acting
0:32:02 Martial arts culture in Germany
0:33:59 V for Vendetta
0:38:42 Advancing one's choreography skills
0:40:20 How previz changed over time
0:42:16 Lasko Previz
0:46:43 Martial art monk
0:50:44 Different approaches to Kampfensage and Lasko
0:58:30 Action design in Lasko
1:01:45 The feedback about Lasko, the super fans and haters
1:05:04 It's different when Germans watch Germans
1:08:39 Mathis's career after Lasko
1:10:43 Changing his approach and attitude toward action
1:13:44 Stroytelling vs unnecessary fighting / shoe leather
1:17:13 The Foreigner
1:25:16 The Last Kumite and emulating the 80s action film
1:36:53 Finding his own way
1:39:00 Perceptions on violence

Mathis Landwehr an actor, stuntman, producer, and indie action filmmaker. He's known for his show Lasko, The Foreigner, and Kamfansage II. You can see his imdb here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1716923/ Edited by Tristan Glover Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com

Simon Rhee is an action star, martial artist, and pioneer in American martial arts cinema with the Best of the Best series under his belt. Lately he's been the stunt coordinator for Lucifer and American Horror Story. You can see his IMDB here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722223/ Edited by Milan Swagers Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 Telegram: t.me/ericjacobus My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com Timestamps: 0:00:57 Introduction 0:02:21 Origins of films like Best of the Best 0:04:39 Making real contact in fights 0:07:21 His first movie "Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave" 0:08:54 Inspirations and Kicking 0:14:48 Designing action for Best of the Best 0:22:50 Stuntwork in the early 90's 0:29:06 Koreatown Riots in 1992 0:37:17 Best of the Best 2 (1992) 0:45:14 Best of the Best 4 (1998) 0:50:27 Simon's Father 0:53:06 Buddhism can be brutal, i.e. Steven Seagal 0:56:16 Working with Wesley Snipes 1:02:34 Working with Hong Kong 1:09:59 Tom Cruise & Madonna 1:15:11 Working with David Mamet & Christopher Nolan 1:23:04 Lee Byung-Hun 1:25:26 Helping out Korean Pastor with orphanage (The Drobox) 1:27:41 On the Korean Action industry 1:33:53 What makes a realistic fight? 1:38:23 Director Park Chan-wook 1:40:49 Tauris Award Winning Fight scenes 1:45:32 On Fatherhood 1:53:39 Signing off

Simon Rhee is an action star, martial artist, and pioneer in American martial arts cinema with the Best of the Best series under his belt. Lately he's been the stunt coordinator for Lucifer and American Horror Story. You can see his IMDB here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722223/ Edited by Milan Swagers Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 Telegram: t.me/ericjacobus My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com

Larry Leong was an early member of the Zero Gravity action team, known for films like the Title Pending and Damn series. He also directed the feature action comedy Yeah, Sure, Okay. You can see his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJwF-hQCBZVJFIsRrSMHP4w Edited by Milan Swagers Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 Telegram: t.me/ericjacobus My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com Timestamps: 0:00:34 Introduction 0:03:12 Joining Zero Gravity 0:09:23 Title Pending 1 0:14:53 How did Capoeira help in action scenes? 0:18:08 Tricking in the late 90's 0:23:01 The Damn Series 0:29:05 Title Pending 2 (2002) 0:33:53 Previz? 0:36:03 Hong Kong action comes to the US 0:55:47 Gauging succes 0:59:46 Moving to LA 1:12:33 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) 1:19:11 Yeah, Sure, Okay (2008) 1:29:39 On depression and COVID 1:41:46 On reading books 1:44:02 Doing social work 1:52:37 Staying in touch with Zero Gravity members 1:55:20 Thoughts on mass media 2:09:15 What would you like to see in the action industry? 2:13:20 What would you tell your younger self?

Larry Leong was an early member of the Zero Gravity action team, known for films like the Title Pending and Damn series. He also directed the feature action comedy Yeah, Sure, Okay. You can see his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJwF-hQCBZVJFIsRrSMHP4w Edited by Milan Swagers Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 Telegram: t.me/ericjacobus My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com

Marko Zaror is a Chilean action star and producer known for films like Mirageman, Undisputed 3, John Wick 4, and Fist of the Condor. We talk about his body of work and how he approaches the characters he plays. His IMDB can be seen here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1047252/ Edited by Milan Swagers Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 Telegram: t.me/ericjacobus My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com Timestamps: 0:00:33 Introduction 0:01:36 Marko's first movie: Hard as Nails (2001) 0:03:11 Moving to the US 0:07:38 Marko's Background 0:14:19 Getting started in Hollywood 0:18:11 To be a stuntman or actor? 0:25:04 Mirageman (2007) 0:36:19 Chilean Action Style 0:38:10 The necessity of producing your own films 0:40:21 On Previz 0:43:59 Previz in Hollywood 0:48:46 Mandrill (2009) 0:55:33 Training for Combat 0:57:28 Machette Kills (2013) 1:01:21 Undisputed 3: Redemption (2010) 1:05:55 Learning acrobatics 1:07:21 Redeemer (2014) 1:10:09 Life outside the Silver Screen 1:16:20 Sultan (2016) 1:18:56 Working in American Television 1:25:15 On film distribution 1:31:40 John Wick 4 (2023) 1:37:45 Fist of the Condor (2023) 1:47:02 Marko's least favorite part of the filmmaking process 1:49:12 Marko's top 5 films 1:53:38 Why Eric loves Fist of the Condor so much 1:58:33 Closing

Marko Zaror is a Chilean action star and producer known for films like Mirageman, Undisputed 3, John Wick 4, and Fist of the Condor. We talk about his body of work and how he approaches the characters he plays. His IMDB can be seen here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1047252/ Edited by Milan Swagers Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 Telegram: t.me/ericjacobus My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com

Mike Leeder is filmmaker and producer in Hong Kong whose work includes most Hong Kong films you've probably ever seen. We talk about his work as a journalist during the heyday of Hong Kong action, the insane drive of Hong Kong filmmakers and stars, and the differences between HK, Korean, and Japanese action. You can see his imdb here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498566/ and his HKMDB here: https://hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=26183&display_set=eng Edited by Milan Swagers Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 Telegram: t.me/ericjacobus My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com 0:00:58 Introductions 0:02:21 Moving to Hong Kong 0:05:33 Hong Kong in the 90's 0:13:27 Mike's easy access to Hong Kong stars 0:23:29 International appeal of Hong Kong action 0:30:31 Hong Kong breaking into other industries 0:44:25 Hong Kong Stars and the Japanese market 0:53:39 Hong Kong audiences 0:58:37 Censorship 1:13:34 The Hong Kong handover 1:15:23 Financial complications of the Handover 1:17:00 Hong Kong spontaneity 1:21:18 Japan 1:26:11 Korean stuntman in Hong Kong 1:42:28 Korean Films inspired by Hong Kong 1:47:28 Working with inexperienced stunt performers 1:55:12 Nicholas Tse's drive 2:02:29 Copying choreography 2:07:56 Authenticity in Action 2:33:34 Stunt doubles 2:42:18 Shooting Fight Scenes takes time 2:43:49 On Pre-Viz and casting problems 2:53:37 On new potential industries 3:04:04 Political correctness 3:15:57 Preservering original copies of films 3:25:48 Closing thoughts

Mike Leeder is filmmaker and producer in Hong Kong whose work includes most Hong Kong films you've probably ever seen. We talk about his work as a journalist during the heyday of Hong Kong action, the insane drive of Hong Kong filmmakers and stars, and the differences between HK, Korean, and Japanese action. You can see his imdb here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498566/ and his HKMDB here: https://hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=26183&display_set=eng Edited by Milan Swagers Action Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvT1cdaRn78tV4vF78InER7GhxCKaxU5 Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289YtkiQIkSVhNLDX8O2 Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/action-talks-with-eric-jacobus/id1686666319 Telegram: t.me/ericjacobus My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com Blog: www.ericjacobus.com