Actress Sarah Chang Interview - Wolf Warrior 2 Chat- A Dan's Movie Report Exclusive

Wolf Warrior 2 has exploded into box office history this Summer with an amazing 800 million dollar box office haul in China alone. I was one of the fortunate few who had the opportunity to witness this spectacular film in the cinema in the U.S. as it only played in 53 theaters nationwide. Wolf Warrior 2 represents a great advancement in U.S./Chinese collaborations as the East meets West idea was not the white man saving the day. Actress and stunt double Sarah Chang shares her experiences from the set of Wolf Warrior 2, as she was Celina Jade’s stunt double and had a small acting part as well. The interview was conducted on the set of her new film Trigonal: Fight For Justice.

DMR: How did you get connected for work on Wolf Warrior 2?

SC:I got on the film because of my friend Kevin Lee and his wife Janet Wang. They helped me get in touch with the Wolf Warrior 2 executives. I was also fortunate to go for the first time to Jackie Chan’s training center to do an audition, after that they brought me along. After that I got into the training, and finally I got to be the  stunt double for Celina Jade.

DMR: Cool story, yes often it is personal connections that lead to work. Not to spoil Wolf Warrior 2, but there is an amazing helicopter crash sequence, I am curious what was the prep time for the helicopter crash stunt? Chat about some of the techniques you learned to prepare for that.

SC: We had two weeks training before the movie started, most things however were ‘on the spot’ whatever is needed. Celina Jade does not actually fight in Wolf Warrior 2 (Ed note: she plays a doctor). Although she does not fight, her character is involved in a car chase scene and has some action. The film had two units filming at the same time, so I was always in the Jeep, or in the helicopter depending on the situation. I actually got to play a role inside the helicopter, I was the factory owners wife, and we were trying to escape, and then the helicopter crashed. I had to break the glass with my head (Laughs) yes that was the stunt.

DMR: That is a funny story,  Sarah, what was it like to work with Celina Jade and other cast members on Wolf Warrior 2?

Celina Jade is the sweetest girl ever, she is super super nice and eats very healthy, actually. She is always bringing flax seed on the set, and granola. Celina is always making sure we have our grape seed oil. She really is super healthy and sweet, sometimes she would even cook for us! We would go and hang out, she is a really good cook. She had a restaurant called Home: Eat To Live (Ed Note: the HK eatery recently closed).

DMR: Great story, yes Celina is vegan, I had the opportunity to give her fruit from my trees when she came to South Florida. Pushing on with the interview, having watched the film in the theater, it was pretty amazing to see how much screen time Heidi Moneymaker had. Share your thoughts on having the ladies doing more action sequences on Wolf Warrior 2 and other films.

SC: I think right now the hottest thing is having action women! For example, look at the recent success of the Wonder Woman. Basically, look at all the current film trailers, everything is women, Atomic Blonde… It is the new trend, it is important to have a good action director, and have to have good training so you can kick ass on set.
Heidi Moneymaker, wow, she is totally ripped. When I first met her I was like (bows with outstretched arms) hello! She of course did the stunts for Black Widow. We also worked with the talented Sam Hargrave, Aaron Toney, and Brian Ho. All of these guys worked on Avengers, and many of the top action movies. It was the most amazing experience to witness how they all gelled together. Some of the stunt performers only met each other for the first time, but the way they just understood action was amazing. They just moved together like a cohesive unit, so fluidly. It was a great learning experience for me to be among those performers.

 
DMR: Thanks Sarah for sharing your experiences on Wolf Warrior 2, we will catch up again when Trigonal: Fight For Justice arrives. As always, keep action alive.

Brand New! 2018 Action Reel:

 

For further information on Sarah’s activities, please visit her official social media pages:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/starringsarahchang/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starringsarahchang/?ref=br_rs
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm8590020/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC6aktAPNFSSXbBAwwS55uA

Truy Sat to screen @ IDTV ACTION FEST! August 10-12 in Austin, Texas!

Above: Truy Sat Promo Poster

Greetings valued Dan's Movie Report readers. On August 10^th thru the 12^th in Austin, Texas at Highland Galaxy Theater The IDTV Action Fest will take place. Included in the fest is a Texas premiere screening of the amazing Vietnamese film Truy Sat! This marks only the second time the film has ever screened in the U.S.! 

Above: Autographed photo from Truong Ngoc Anh, when she came to Miami Beach!

 Check Out our Exclusive Interview! Live on South Beach! 

Above Photo: Dung Phan (C) 2017 Dan's Movie Report

https://dansmoviereport.blogspot.com/2018/07/truong-ngoc-anh-interview-dans-movie.html

The action film, starring and executive produced by Truong Ngoc Anh through her company TNA Entertainment, and CJ Entertainment is a whirlwind of mayhem and violence, with a heartfelt story. Truy Sat is sure to please fans of indie action films and big budget films alike, as the scope and depth of chase scenes and drone footage are sure to make the heart race.

Exclusive Truy Sat Movie Review: http://dansmoviereport.blogspot.com/2016/10/truy-sat-2016-movie-review-c-2016-dans.html

Above: Truong Ngoc Anh nomination.

Actress Truong Ngoc Anh is nominated for best action actor as well!

6700 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752

Tickets: https://irondragontv.ticketbud.com/iron-dragon-action-fest-2018

All the nominees: http://www.idtvactionfest.com/films.html

For more information on TNA Entertainment, go to:  https://www.facebook.com/dvtruongngocanh/

Watch for later in 2018 as Truong and Cung Le will be filming The Target, a new action film!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/idtvactionfest/

Actress Stephany Jacobsen Interview (C) 2018 A Dan's Movie Report Exclusive!!

Above: Stephany as Amilia Chambers ready for action (C) 2018 Saban Films. For Promotional Use Only.

Greetings valued Dan's Movie Report readers. Today is a special exclusive interview all the way from Australia! Actress Stephany Jacobsen burned the midnight oil to conduct this interview. She chats in depth about her roles in the Terminator series and her new film Occupation! Get ready to go down under with the talented and sultry Stephany!

DMR: In a multi-part question, chat about working on The Sarah Conner Chronicles, what attracted you to the show, and how you got the role, and talk about your character and what she had to go through.

SJ: I did an audition, I read for Josh Friedman. He and James Middleton had seen me in Battlestar Galactica and they were looking for someone to play a love interest for Bryan Austin Green. I guess that the figured I would be right for the part. Let me just go ahead and say that Terminator and Occupation have been my two favorite roles. She was so cold and so detached, kind of unhinged, but in the most controlled way.

Jesse always had strength, she was always a soldier, a commander of a nuclear submarine. I loved the role, I had to find her character, in reverse. The producers and writers did an amazing job of reverse engineering that particular character arc for me. We all loved the show and the audience loved it, in retrospect however I think the show may have been a bit ahead of it's time. Actually Summer Glau and I were in a comicon in Melbourne and I got to be with her meet her family and introduce her to Luke (Sparke)

DMR: Thanks for that insight into that amazingly entertaining role, fast forward to 2018, your character Amelia in Occupation was my favorite, you had to go through so many emotions. The character had depth and range. Chat about your character, and what attracted you to the role.

SJ: Luke does not comment on female characters, and that is kind of like Josh Friedman. They both write female characters who do not need any concessions to be made. I saw that in Amelia straight away, and that quality in Luke as well. Although I played a somewhat similar character in Jesse, I never had to go through the complete range of being innocent, she is an engaged law student who is serving meals in a cafe, and by the end of the movie she is this warrior. I was really excited about the prospect of playing that arc. We had a meeting and we talked about the character and he talked about what he wanted, and I threw out the ideas I had about her and we were kind of instantly on the same page.

There was a point in the movie, you know the scene in the house, where the aliens come in and we have the first fight, he came to me and said this is where Amelia is at her most vulnerable. Interesting, as we were a couple of weeks into shooting at that point and I had been thinking when does she make that decision, when does she reach that chasm between being the waitress and the warrior? I was thinking when I should work it in, and he gave it to me. That became the moment when she flipped. At the beginning of it she was kind of cowering in the corner, hiding behind the mattress and then she comes running out with a hammer and haha knocks the alien flying. That was a magical moment.

Above Photo: The group of intrepid humans ready for battle against the aliens in Occupation (C) 2018 Saban Films. For promotional use only.

DMR: I think the character that you portrayed could have been played by a woman or a man

SJ: That is exactly what I mean, Luke is a big Battlestar Galactica fan. Just like Josh from Sarah Conner Chronicles, they write the characters like that Starbuck etc...

DMR: I think Occupation was unique among alien invasion films in that it told a human story outside of the aliens and the invasion. When a character dies or is kidnapped I am sad, as they are established.

SJ: I agree in fact we see that from the outset. This movie is essentially about family, and the human spirit.

DMR: I agree, aliens happen to be the catalyst that drives everyone together. Incidentally, I liked the ending, it kind of ended without having to make a sequel.

SJ: No one thought we were going to make a sequel.

DMR: Any new films or TV shows that you are shooting?

We are actually going into pre-production for the sequel in a few weeks, yes as my voice-over at the end there is still pockets of resistance and aliens who do not want to get along with the humans. Like rogue units, so I have to go hunt down and find those rogue aliens. The battle rages on, but now it is them against us and some of them (aliens).

DMR: Ok! Cool! you are doing a sequel, I will get with Luke to do some sort of behind the scenes production blog. Last couple of questions, what is some advice you have to give to younger actors coming up in the business?

SJ: Just focus on being good, remember that this is a job, it is a profession. Regardless of how much weight you have lost or how many Instagram followers you have, what matters most is how competently you can do the job. Stay focused, stay grounded, one thing I think is very important for young actors is to have a sense of professionalism. That is something that is appreciated by everybody, at times it can be in short measure. Because of the nature of acting, many people do not treat it as a job, be a professional be fore you are a celebrity.

DMR: What are some of your goals in the next 5-10 yrs? Do you want to direct or produce?

SJ: I definitely do not want to produce, I have all the respect in the world for the producers, they have the most difficult job on the planet haha. I do not think my nervous system could handle it. I do not have any aspirations to direct, I may at some point write.

DMR: It was great talking with you Stephany.

SJ: Thanks so much for chatting Dan.

For more information on Stephany follow her on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/sjacobsen22

Occupation

AVAILABLE IN THEATERS, VOD AND DIGITAL HD: July 20, 2018

New Kenneth Mader Short Film Echos To Premiere August 18th at Action On Film Festival!

World Premiere in Vegas!

Exclusive news! We haven't made a public announcement yet because we wanted to let you know first! We just finished post-production on our latest short film ECHOES and it has already been accepted as an Official Selection in two film festivals!

ECHOES will have its World Premiere Screening at the Action on Film International Film Festival  and the Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival  at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas Saturday August 18th in the 6:00 pm Block  Ticketing and more info here: https://www.actiononfilmfest.com/tickets  BONUS Our feature film DISPLACEMENT will also have an encore screening at  Action on Film Sunday, August 19th, 6:00 pm Block Plus our stars Bruce Davison and Courtney Hope will be honored with  Lifetime Achievement and Rising Star Awards at the Black Tie Awards Gala  on August 25th.  Hope to see you there!

Visit the Maderfilm Website for more info on ECHOES

IDTV Action Fest Official Nominations and Film Screenings! Dan's Movie Report

Above: Iron Dragon TV Fest Panels

Greetings valued Dan's Movie Report readers. The official announcements have been made for the nominations and film screenings during the IDTV Action Fest in Austin, Texas August 10^th thru 12^th!

NOMINEES:

BEST FILM 
Kowloon Killers
I am White Tiger
Vengeance
​

BEST ACTION SEQUENCE Blindsided: The Game Kowloon Killers Deviants BEST ACTION ACTOR Kowloon Killers — Tien Hoang Dead End — Bryan Larkin Truy Sat — Truong Ngoc Anh

​BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY Kali Diaries Deviants Kowloon Killers BEST ACTION TEAM Deviants No Trace Blindsided: The Game

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The feature films that will screen during the festival are:

Blindsided 2: The Game (US)El Mate de Morphy (Spain)I Am White Tiger (Hong Kong)Tricking: The Freedom of Movement (US)Truy Sat (Vietnam)Vengeance (UK) 

Above: Truong Ngoc Anh Nomination Laurel for best action actor!

 

Action film Truy Sat will be shown, as Actress/Exectutive Producer Truong Ngoc Anh is nominated for best action actor.

The short films that will screen during the festival are:

Beyond Return (Thailand)Bodyguard (France)Dead End (UK)Deviants (France)Gauntlet Run: Breach (US)Ghost Cop (US)Kali Diaries  (US)Kowloon Killers (UK)No Trace (US)The Legend (France)The Summit (US)We Are War (Philippines)When Kids Grow Up (US) 

The amazing Kali Diaries 3 will screen with the intense fight between Lauren Mary Kim and Amy Johnston.  Tsuyoshi Abe is nominated for best action choreography. The talented stunt coordinator Bryan Sloyer was on camera work and editing.

In addition to the film screenings and awards there will be panel discussions as well. Please go to the official website: www.idtvactionfest.com or the official Facebook page for updated information. https://www.facebook.com/idtvactionfest/

A special screening of Reborn will also take place: https://www.austinfilm.org/screening/reborn/

The screening will be at AFS Cinema

6406 N I-35 Suite 3100 Austin, TX 78752Showtime Fri, Aug 10! Director Yûji Shimomura will be on hand for discussions as well.

Actress Katrina Grey Interview (C) 2018 Dan's Movie Report (Exclusive)

Above: Katrina Grey Head shot---

Above: Daytime Nightmare poster (C) 2018 Raluca Andreea Porumbacu (Film is in post-production now- watch for more exclusives in late 2018 and 2019!

Actress Katrina Grey came to my attention a few years back. With the release of Hard Target 2, and Locked up, I wanted to get her thoughts on the various projects she has worked on. Katrina has been honing her action skills and acting chops releasing a new demo for 2018. Kat has also been hard at work in post production for her own film Daymare: Daytime Nightmare. Time to chat with Kat!

DMR: Jailbait: You had a main character role in the film, and I loved the first film so much, what happened between you reading the script and shooting the movie? Were there a bunch of changes made, I felt the movie was very poorly done.

KG: I have seen Jailbait as well and I liked it very much too. And the movie Locked Up which i was starring in, was for me a whole different story. when i read the script the first time I loved it. All I can control is my role in the movie and to be able to serve it to the best of my ability to embrace the character i was portraying. And I loved my character in the movie. It was a character I always wanted to play.

DMR: Your character in Jailbait 2 (Locked Up)  had to go through emotion, and you did your part admirably, that said what happens when your star is just not that good, and not balancing things out?

KG: I met Kelly ,the main character, on set for the first time just before we started shooting - we immediately became friends and we had a connection which i feel was visible on screen afterwards since we played best friends. It was a new experience for us and our characters balanced well on screen. Its always interesting to start working with someone you don't know to see how can you balance the characters and we did not have any rehearsals before so it was quite challenge which it came out good;)

DMR: A testy subject, nudity on screen, I feel that in the right setting nudity can be fine but this scene is like a Cinemax film from the 90s an so out of place, was this discussed earlier the length and detail of your scene?

KG: Actually we had a brief nude scene which was part of the script, after which my character revealed details about her past life before prison and was kind of contemplating life. It was a closed set and the whole team was extremely professional and we did it in just one take so it was as real as possible. I am a method actress so for me everything I did in the movie was as real as it could be.

DMR: When you watched the finished film what were your thoughts? I mean you essentially had a huge role so in that sense it was good, but the film itself is not, what did you learn NOT to do next time?

KG: When I saw the movie first time i thought I looked good on screen haha. Especially because during the whole shoot i was covered in dirt , sitting on dirt and had no make up, only dirt on my face and was sweaty - as real as it would be given to the fact of where i was supposed to be. I definitely learned a lot from this experience, and i know what to improve in the future including acting wise. I always change adjust grow develop from all the experiences I have on set.

DMR: Ghost house- Loved the opening scene, was killer, how long did it take to rehearse, and shoot how many takes, and what did you do to actually be frightened, as not gonna lie it looked in real life someone was chasing you?

KG: Oh this is my favorite topic. I don't remember exactly how many takes we did but but we had camera movement rehearsal first and than we started to shoot. The location was amazing and in a dark alley as well. The ghost was very scary. Like i mentioned before i do method acting so ´ in the moment´ of acting being real under imaginary circumstances I applied it in the scene. I was frightened for real and use me all my past scary experiences that i lived in my life. I was being chased by my own imaginary ghost and in fact camera as well;)

DMR: Expanding on the Ghost House ideas, chat about the dynamic of fear, what do you do to get in that mindset, to show the emotion.

KG: Method acting again;) I used techniques which i learned in masterclass to prepare myself in advance for the scenes and than on set completely relax I live the moment . Basically I recall all similar situations I was in before and than react to it using the script. To make it real. 

DMR: Ghost House was just beautifully filmed, what are your thoughts on the filming and locations?

KG: Oh this project was just amazing, director producer and everybody on set as well. This project came out great because they put their hearts into it. Including me i am very proud to be part of the team and this project.

Above Katrina Grey on set of Daytime Nightmare - (C) 2018 July Desiree A Dan's Movie Report Exclusive

DMR: I watched the film a couple of times, that said I just had a hard time getting into the pacing after the opening was so crazy and amazing, what are your thoughts on this?

KG: When I watched the movie for the first time at the premiere in Bangkok, I was scared as hell. This movie had so many unpredictable scenes and also scenes I never seen before so it definitely became my favorite horror movie. The pace throughout the movie is different so it keeps the watcher always interested in the story;).

DMR: The amazingly powerful short film Milk, wow is all I have to say how did you become involved?

KG: Yes i just filmed an amazing high budget short movie directed by Yu Jin Jang - a Korean female director. The Amazing thing about this was there was a mostly female crew on set which was very nice. The story is about the mother ( Thai and German ) coming from different worlds, backgrounds and find many things in common. A Powerful short drama. What's Interesting about it is that I learned German for this movie so I could deliver many lines in German. It Was not easy since i speak no German and the language itself is difficult but i enjoyed it very much. 

DMR: Chat about playing essentially a character alone talking to a bird, how did you get into the mindset for a duality role?

KG: Short Movie Two: White Crows was very interesting to work on. I had the director replying as a bird to me while talking and looking at the bird. And it was interesting because I just imagined that he understands me so therefore it felt real for me to have a conversation with a bird. Bit of imagination is needed  always;)

Link here:: 

https://youtu.be/WTAmbBpO5Xg

DMR: Will they film screen at other festivals? I mean it is great, I would def say 7 or 8 out of `10 rating?

KG: Yes i think both short movies i did will be in short film festivals but at the moment i don't have any further information. 

DMR: Script writing a big undertaking what made you decide to write your own or co-write?

KG: I decided to work together with screenwriters in my own script ideas because I have many stories to tell and I wanna write the main character for myself and portray it as best as I can. Soon I will have 4 and wanna get them made soon. At the moment I have one action drama called Soulless and a big inspiration for my is my favorite actor Haley Joel Osment which I hope he would play the main character. 

Above: Clapper from production of Daytime Nightmare: (C) 2018 July Desiree A Dan's Movie Report Exclusive

DMR: Chat about your upcoming projects?

KG: Movie Vampire reborn just came out into theaters in Minnesota. Its a Hmong legend which was shot as an action movie directed by Yengtha her . Its in English and Hmong language. It was very exciting for me to work on it because everybody on set was so nice and did not speak English but we had same goal and project we worked on which brought us together. I played police officer Sandy alongside amazing actors such as Ron Smoorenburg and Byron Gibson. 

Also I just filmed an episode for new original TV series called Future Sex for Blackpills. With awesome Directors Bruno Zacarias and MacGregor. Stay tuned its an awesome futuristic mini series. 

Another project that I had part in is Troy the Odyssey . I had a small part in this movie , I was playing Helen of Troy. This movie was produced by Asylum and Benetone production company. Awesome historical project. Enjoy:)

DMR: Final thoughts, any advice or ideas you have to make the film community a better place?

KG: I can suggest to everybody no matter what they do , to follow their dreams, to do what they enjoy the most and enjoy the process and not to focus on the goal only.

Connect to Katrina Grey: 

Official website: http://katrinagrey.com

2018 Acting showreel:

YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEJgFr9F3iBxQ3gg1w07bmg

Imdb: http://m.imdb.com/name/nm6593421/filmotype?ref_=m_nm_flmg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrina_grey/?hl=sk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katrina_grey

Facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/katrinagreyofficial/

Above: Live Dan's Movie Report Shout out!  Get ready for Daytime Nightmare!

Website: www.katrinagrey.com