Summer of Madness! #ActionDanbackwithaplan! More Exclusives!

Life is full of curves! Thanks to my friends and family for helping me through this difficult time,  I needed to take a summer off, go as the amazing Jesse Ventura says OFF THE GRID!! Prepping for more exclusives~ Dan's Movie Report, is prepairing for phase 2! The second million views!

Watch for exclusive photos from The Chemist, from Jeff Centuari! Congrats to Celina Jade on Blue Bloods September!! Get ready  for a  crushing fall and Fall haha! .

Watch for a Jesse V Johnson interview as it gets closer to the time of his release of 'The Beautiful Ones' 

Watch for Exclusive Amy Johnston and Juju Chan Autographed Photos that will stuff your stocking way to full just in time for the holidays!

Watch for an exclusive photo shoot with Amy Johnston with photos by the amazing Tara Macken!

Just a quick reminder, Dan's Movie Report is all exclusive, so I do not to press releases, nor share from other sites. Respect people's creations and live for the underground!

To Mark Pollard, thanks for letting me be a part of Kungfucinema.com in the early days --End of an era.R.I.P. To my buddy Chyna take care of your self, respect!

To wet your whistle for things to come, watch for exclusives from this new action short! 'Assassin Interrogation' Starring a decorated martial artist Andrea Abdon shot by the amazing Jeff Centauri!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbbJ36ttn7M 

Follow Andrea on Facebook @  https://www.facebook.com/andreamae.abdon
 

Actress Tasya Teles interview (Exclusive!) (C) 2015 Dan's Movie Report

 

Tasya Teles came to my attention because of her sensitive performance as Dolph's wife in the new film 'Skin Trade'. After checking out her various sites, I found her to be a great person to interview. Tasya shares her unique and various stories on life in and out of film. Time to take a trip to Canada, and explore the beauty, Tasya it is your turn to shine!

On your bio it says you studied commerce in college then fell in love with the theater,  curious as to how the pursuit and transition from one diverse career to the other took place, did the power to create and act stem from watching a theater show, movie? 

 

Those two disciplines couldn’t be more different, and my decision to go into Commerce was a difficult one. At the time I was modeling in Canada, but at 17 years old, with two parents who are professors, modeling (or acting, or traveling, or anything non-academic) was out of the question. I picked Commerce because it felt like a safe bet, and I knew that as an artist, an understanding of my finances would be valuable. Let’s face it. Artists aren’t known for their accounting skills.

As the semesters slowly ticked past I was craving art and inspiration again. Freedom. By my third year I was a starving artist, and started loading my schedule with art classes, from painting and drawing, to English, and theatre. Acting was always my true love, but it was too precious to me. I was too afraid I would fail. After convincing myself to go back to theatre, it was over. It became my obsession. I knew acting was the only path for me. I finished my degree shortly after, and completely lost myself into the acting and training world. I haven’t looked back.

I noticed you have a wealth of scene study training, and material in a wide variety of directions. Is there something from your schooling, a message, a teaching that has stuck with you all of these years?

Training is paramount. I didn’t have a strong understanding of just how hard you have to work as an actor until studying with Larry Moss. He is like every actors best and worst friend. He pushes you beyond your limits and shows you what it means to work hard.

Since working with him, I liken acting to being an Olympian. How far do you want to go? There are so many areas to develop – which ones are most important to you? Like an athlete, I want to push myself as much as possible without injury and develop myself to operate at the height of my capacity. Again – without injury! You can’t win a race if you’re on crutches! Our body is our instrument, so we have to treat it carefully and keep it tuned up and ready at all times. Relaxation is important, but finding ways to continually be growing and learning is equally important. That’s what makes life exciting!!!

I watched some highlights of the TV series you were in called 'Rogue' looks like a rather sexy drama, what is your process for filming the romantic scenes in that, or any film or TV show?

Haha! Oh my GOD! That 'Rogue; scene was intimidating. I was excited about it, because it was written so wildly, but with all the craziness surrounding the sex scene, it was daunting. I got these red pages handed to me, that no one else on set was allowed to see except the three actors in the scene and a few crew. It was my first network show, and I was trembling. Swinging between bone crippling fear and a weird curiosity of how it was all going to go down, my coping mechanisms went from sitting in total silence, to chatting uncontrollably to anything, anyone, who would listen. I think I was talking to a pole for a long while before noticing that no one was there. Sex scenes are always awkward – it’s inescapable. I try to get around the awkwardness by heightening my focus so that everyone else in the room disappears, and it’s just me, and my scene partner.

My process is very simple: I focus on the minutiae of each moment. Because the camera captures every subtlety and shared exchange, I really allow myself to take my time as if working in slow motion, so as to not close myself off from my scene partner. I study my partner’s eyelashes, lips, tip of their nose. I try to stay as relaxed as possible and trust my scene partner to do the same. That’s when those beautiful, real, intimate moments are born.

Dispensing with the fluff, chat about your character Rosa Cassidy in 'Skin Trade' director Ekachai told me how impressed he was with you, and many people auditioned to play Dolph's wife. Perhaps discuss the dynamic of interactivity with Dolph, I saw a photo of you and actress Chloe Babcook in what appeared to be an informal setting, did the three of you discuss being a family unit on screen. I ask this because your character felt natural, not forced, you seemed at ease in scenes with Dolph.

Ekachai was very smart in organizing a few lunches and dinners for us to get to know each other on a personal level before we started shooting. Chloe, Dolph, and I shared a wonderful lunch together, which led into a family shoot where we all bonded in that goofy and natural way that we all do unknowingly when hanging out with our own families. During a picnic scene, I was preparing the sandwiches, Chloe kept arguing with me wanting more junk food to eat, Dolph became the calm voice of reason, arbitrating between the two women squabbling around him. It was a really important day in solidifying our characters, and the family ties between us. Dolph has a very gentle nature about him, despite his tough exterior, and those lunches were important in seeing beyond that.

I discovered Rosa’s deep love and devotion to her hardworking husband, Nick, and a very real protective nature she holds for both her husband and daughter. That lasts to this day, Chloe and I see each other regularly and sometimes she jokes that I am still mothering her…sigh. Motherhood is a thankless job!

'Skin Trade' showed the horrors of Human Trafficking and the subversive nature of traffickers even on a fictional lever. Did you audition for the film for the message or for the opportunity to work with many talented actors. What was the most enjoyable scene or day on set of 'Skin Trade'?

It’s funny, the day before my audition I had just finished a really intense year of work, the industry was about to shut down for the December holiday season, and I just needed a break. I was planning a trip to Thailand to visit an organization called COSA I encountered earlier in the year when visiting Thailand with my mom (which combats human trafficking), and I needed to rest up before my travels, and all the chaos that December brings.

“No more auditions for me! Please!” I begged my agent. He agreed that I needed a break, and wished me a Merry Christmas. Within an hour I see his name pop up on my phone, and I suspiciously answered to him saying, “I know you said no more auditions, but this one is made for you.” I read the breakdown, and sure enough he was right. This role was perfect for me.

I believe that human trafficking is the human rights issue of our time. At the time I was putting together the foundation for my organization, ‘The Unslaved’ – an organization that combats human trafficking, and it felt very serendipitous to be offered an opportunity to work alongside such great actors on a topic so close to my heart. I couldn’t say no.

The best day on set was the day we got to set fire to our set, with lots of explosions and craziness! (And incidentally the day Rosa gets hurt.) Call me crazy but I love being in the middle of some good explosions and gore.

Were your interior scenes shot in Thailand? If so how did you enjoy being in the country? If not, what was the physical location? Share a story perhaps a humorous one from 'Skin Trade'.

We shot in Thailand, which is just a magical place. I feel a strong connection with Thailand, and its citizens, so I was extremely happy being there. Not to mention Thai food is my favourite cuisine, so I was like a kid in a candy store!

We shot during the political unrest in January 2014, when the Thai people were protesting and ‘Shutdown Bangkok’ locked up the major arteries of the city. Yet despite the traffic, the show must go on! The rallies were peaceful, but they meant early rises to get through the traffic to set. The set designers did a fabulous job creating our entire house inside a studio lot.

There were so many stories, but one that comes to mind is the day Dolph and I had to shoot the love scene. Thai people are also very shy, and it was so endearing how bashful they became once the clothes came off. As our DP, Ben Nott, shared with me: “Everyone on set is more uncomfortable with love scenes than the actors themselves.” This is especially true in Thailand, with groups of Thai people racing towards you with their eyes to the ground holding robes. Plus I hold the title for taking Dolph Lundgren’s onset virginity, which is kinda cool ;) I don’t know who was more nervous!

Living and working for the most part in Canada, I noticed you had cool roles on The 100 and a small role on the amazing sci-fi show Continuum.  Both of those shows and Skin Trade are full of action, do you enjoy action as much as the romantic side of films? Perhaps share a story from The 100 set, it is an amazing show, very enjoyable to watch.

Working on The 100 was amazing! There is nonstop action, and a lot of stunt work so it was a joy watching everyone perform. To be honest, I love both equally. Lately I think I’m developing a penchant towards action – maybe The 100 is rubbing off on me. Although, what’s tough about action is the toll it takes on your body. One day, after sitting in a cage all week getting broken, battered and bruised, the final take was a scene where I had to spit in Bob Morley’s face, who plays Belamy. We were both so exhausted, it was the final shot, and there was no saliva in my mouth, no matter how much I tried!!! The director, and everyone on set started giving me tips on how to ‘hock a loogie’ – basically launch a spitball. No dice. I just couldn’t do it.

Finally, having exhausted every other technique, they handed me a cup a water which I had to spit, and aim overtop the camera crew, through the small grates of the cage, and into Belamy’s face. Talk about a challenge. Poor Bob was on the receiving end of my watery spit for, oh say, 15 takes. But he was a good sport, we had some good laughs, hahaha.

How about directors or actors you would like to work with but have not had the opportunity to. Do you have a favorite actor, actress, director?

Like most artists, you always want to work with the greats! Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Spacey, Bryan Cranston, reign high on my list. But I do want more comedy in my life!! I would love to work and laugh alongside Kristen Wiig, Bill Murray, Zach Galifianiakis, Wes Anderson, Will Farrell, Larry Charles… Oh the list could go on!

However, since seeing Birdman, working with Alejandro G. Iñárritu would be a dream!

Are you still modeling a bit or concentrating on acting now?  Any desire to produce, work behind the camera in production?

Oh I think every girl would be lying if they said they didn’t enjoy playing dress-up and doing a little photoshoot. I love modeling, and will always love it. I occasionally choose work with brands and people I like, such as Astrid Lily and Anna Kosturova, who I am working with currently, however acting will always remain my focus. On that note, I do have plans to direct and produce in the future, stay tuned!!

Chat about upcoming projects for 2015?

Upwards and onwards! Lots of exciting stuff happening this year, the most immediate being a Sci-Fi story, titled ‘Ethix’, which goes to production this summer. I get to try my hand at producing in this one, as well as playing a wicked robot named Penelope. Otherwise it’s time to get a dog, finish my move to LA, as well as get back on track with my yoga schedule. I also need to clean my closet, which is a massive project that might have to wait until 2016 ;)

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to conduct this interview, please keep in touch on your career happenings as the interview can of course be updated.

For More info on Tasya go to her official sites!

http://www.tasyateles.com/

https://twitter.com/tasyateles

https://instagram.com/tasyateles/

Bey Logan Interview (Exclusive) (C) 2015 Dan's Movie Report

Bey Logan has been working in Hong Kong for two decades, from doing commentary on Hong Kong films, to working as a writer and director, Bey has carved his slice of the action. Most recently he wrote and produced Lady Bloodfight and worked as a producer on the second installment of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Bey told me it has been a long time since he has been interviewed, well, here goes, another Dan's Movie Report exclusive interview.

Chat about your childhood, and what made you decide to be involved in

film?

From when I can first remember, I was just obsessed with the moving image and with martial arts. I can’t really explain why, especially regarding the latter. There is one rather metaphysical interpretation. I have a complicated family background, kind of similar to that movie ‘Philomena’, and I grew up with adoptive parents. While I was living my middle class English life in Peterborough, England, my real mother was over in Australia training in karate from her husband, Tino Ceberano, and, later, getting involved in the entertainment industry. And, even though we didn’t know each other at that time, I ended up doing pretty much the same things in the UK and then Hong Kong. So I guess if you believe in these kinds of spiritual connections, that would make sense, and if you don’t it wouldn’t. First time I’ve talked about that in an interview, I think! 

 

Did meeting Jackie Chan inspire you to want to write and direct?

I was already writing stories and scripts before I knew Jackie Chan, but certainly he gave me my first real chance to write and produce movies for him, and I’ll always be grateful to him. I first met Jackie when I flew to Hong Kong for the first time, I was 20 years old, and I interviewed him at Golden Harvest studios for a magazine article. I never dreamt that I’d ever have a chance to work with him. It was more than ten years later that he let me work on his documentaries, ‘Jackie Chan My Story’ and ‘My Stunts’, on the films ‘Gen-X Cops’ and its sequel, and then to write ‘The Medallion’, and then to produce ‘Twins Effect’, in which Jackie appeared. It was an amazing to experience working with Jackie, and I hope to again before either one of us retires!

3) Share a story from working on The Twins Effect, interesting film.

I became involved with ‘The Twins Effect’ right after we finally finished ‘The Medallion’. The new head of production at Emperor Motion Pictures, Carl Chang, showed me these proposals for their upcoming slate, including this concept for a movie about these two young Asian girls fighting vampires. I said that was the one we should make, and that we should bring Donnie Yen back to Hong Kong to action direct. He was living in LA at that time. Donnie and the director, Dante Lam, had very different styles, but we won Best Action at the Hong Kong Film Awards, which was great, and the film was a big hit, which is never a bad thing!

Jackie Chan had a role in the film. I remember one night we were filming down by the waterfront in Hong Kong, and everyone was under these canvas awnings. It was dark and I was trying to write some notes on the dialogue, and I had a pen and notepad and was holding a torch in my mouth as I wrote. Jackie saw this and went to take the shoelace from one of his sneakers, and then he took the torch and tied it to the crossbeam of the awning, and so the light shone down on me as I wrote. And that’s how I’ve always thought of Jackie Chan, a bringer of light to this dark world!

 

 

Chat about working on The Blood Bond, I reviewed that film

http://dansmoviereport.blogspot.com/2011/10/blood-bond-movie-review.html

Blood Bond was a movie I rushed into right after I finished my first three year tour of duty with The Weinstein Company. Most people who leave a major film company say they’re going to make their own films, and of course most never do, so I felt I had something to prove. It was an interesting script, an interesting project, and it kind of got hijacked by Michael Biehn, who was hired to star in the film and ended up directing it. Michael’s a nice guy, a very talented actor, but he was the completely the wrong man to direct a martial arts action movie in China, at least at that time. It was a good lesson for me that you either have to maintain control yourself as a producer, Jerry Bruckheimer style, or else you find people you can trust and let them shine.

 

Were you happy with the final edit of the film?

I think it has its moments, but doesn’t match what was intended. And we had all the moving parts that were needed to make a better film! It was released in theatres and on DVD in Hong Kong and elsewhere in Asia, but it kind of got buried internationally. The funny thing is that I watch all these straight-to-video Dolph Lundgren and Vinnie Jones films they make now in LA and elsewhere, and, compared to them, I think Blood Bond actually stands up pretty well. At the time, though, I felt I could do better. And happily I went on to do so!

Chat about Covert Operations, AKA The Borderland, has the film been

released yet? Perhaps discuss the plot and more about the film.

The film has been released in the UK, North America and Japan, and probably elsewhere by now. This was a project that came about when I was producing a short film, ‘SOLIID’, for a director called F. Manga. This was something we did at a studio in China I used to have a deal with, the same one where I shot Blood Bond. Manga’s project was brought to me by Seydina Balde, an old friend of mine who had been 5 times world karate champion. ‘SOLIID’ never got made, but Seydina came back saying he had an investor and a director and a script for a film called ‘Borderland’, which was kind of ‘Die Hard’-in-a-North-Korean-bunker concept. So we made that movie, and it turned out very well, in my admittedly biased opinion!

‘Producing’ is such a generic term. On this film, Seydina, as a producer, brought in the financing (very important!) and found Mathieu Weschler, the director, and Vincent Viellard-Barone, the DP, and himself as star, then, when they moved to Hong Kong and China, I took over so Seydina could focus on the acting and the action. I think it was the perfect team, and the look that Mathieu and Vincent got was so great. It’s so imaginative, such a ‘go for broke’ movie, stylistically, where it could so easily have been a generic video actioner. I’m very proud of the film. I kind of thought that it would be a stepping stone for everyone involved to do bigger films, and I hope that happens in time. I’d certainly be very open to doing another movie with the same team. Maybe even ‘Covert Operations AKA The Borderland 2’!

 

Chat about the idea of Lady Bloodfight, how the concept and idea came

about.

I felt that there was an increasing interest in female martial artists, with these characters being used in side roles in these big franchises like The Expendables, Fast and Furious, though the leads were still men… I thought it would be interesting to do a whole film about an American girl who comes to Hong Kong to compete in a secret tournament, basically the kind of film you would normally make with a guy in the lead! As a producer, I always have a decent writer on staff, myself!, to hammer out a first draft, and that’s what I did here. 

 

 

Was it hard to get the project off the ground in the beginning? Chat

about the casting and challenges you had to go through on the initial

stages of Lady Bloodfight?

I was very lucky in that Voltage Pictures, who are a highly regarded LA-based production company, who have won Oscars and so on, responded to the script. This was Nic Chartier, who started the company, and Zev Foreman, who was responsible for developing Lady Bloodfight, and also Babacar Diene, who was very involved in developing the script. They had a lot more ambition for the film than even I did! They brought it to a different scale. They were the ones who signed the incredible Amy Johnston to star in it, and they got Chris Nahon (Kiss of the Dragon) to direct and Michel Abramowicz (Taken) as DP.

 

 

Lady Bloodfight promises full force action, I noticed that several of

the ladies in the film are fitness people or body builder types, so a lot

of new fresh faces, was there a lengthy audition process? I saw that there

was a few weeks of training prior to the filming,

That was what we thought would be the real challenge. You had to find a female martial arts star that could carry a film, both as an actress and a fighter, which was Amy, who is just amazing. I was so impressed with how good of an actress she is. It’s not really fair to compare her with the other female martial artists who’ve starred in movies, she’s that good. Then you needed all the other women warriors to participate in the tournament, and what we found was that there were a lot of really talented, very physically gifted performers out there, just waiting for someone to make a film like Lady Bloodfight! We had people like Jenny and Kathy Wu (who are not actually related!) and Muriel Hoffman, who came from a conventional acting background, and they really threw themselves into the martial arts training under Hung Yan Yan Shrfu. Then you had Jet Tranter, who already had an on-line following as a fitness icon and for whom I think this is a break out movie role. Jet’s a very interesting actress because she has this very formidable physical presence, but then she’s also, as a person, very funny and also very sensitive, and this comes across on screen. And then you’re only as great as your villain, and we got really lucky with Mayling Ng, who I had first met when I was working on the film Twins Effect. She is a martial artist/bodybuilder and was such a ‘good’ bad girl. Stanislavsky said there are no small parts, just small actors, and I’m happy to say there are no small actors in this film. I cast some people I knew, like Rosemary Vandenbroucke, Nathaliea Ng and Lisa Cheng, and they really surprised me with what they could do, in terms of both acting and action, and there were some players who were new to me, including Lauren Rhoden and Sunny Coelst, who were just as stunning. In total, we had 16 fighting femme fatales in this, and they all gave 100% and more, every day.

 

 

How were the local crew to work with? What was the name of the stunt

crew you used, have to give them their props.

The local team were a mixed bag. We made some decisions early that created challenges for us further down the line and a very experienced American line producer, Justin Bursch, came on, who had worked on some Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren films, which was the perfect background for this film, and Justin proved invaluable. Our action coordinator was the great Hung Yan Yan, who kung fu film fans know from the Once Upon a Time in China series, Tsui Hark’s Blade, Seven Swords… Yan Yan put a good team together, and everyone trained at my now legendary kwoon in Cheung Sha Wan. I also want to mention my local producing partner, Uri Schwarz, who had done just one low budget movie before, Stories Forelorn, but proved such a great asset. I think we’ve now lost him to Hollywood!

I was just blown away by Chris Nahon, who, amazingly, hadn’t made a film for about five years before working on ‘Lady Bloodfight’, and this guy is simply incredible. I’d been lucky enough to spend the previous year working with various Oscar nominated directors, and Chris is their equal in every respect. ‘Lady Bloodfight’ is going to be an unusual martial arts film in that the non-action scenes are shot in a way that’s just as exciting and revolutionary as the fights. He and (DP) Michel (Abramowicz) created this extraordinary style for the movie. I’ve actually never worked with anyone who has a more total grasp of the medium than Chris, and I hope and believe ‘Lady Bloodfight’ will bring him back into the film-making mainstream. Also he’s such a kind and loyal person, both Chris and his wife Cecilia. They both showed their appreciation for me creating a project that can show the world what Chris Nahon can do as a director, and you don’t always find that kind of loyalty in this industry. I really miss spending so much time with them in Hong Kong.

Amy Johnston. I predict is going to be an A list action star soon, how

did you approach her for the lead in Lady Bloodfight?

I have to give Voltage Pictures credit for seeing the full potential in Amy. She came to us having been Scarlett Johansson’s double on Captain America: Winter Soldier, so we knew she had the action down. What blew me away was what a great actress she is. Amy could completely hold her own in a straight drama with no fighting. She and Muriel Hofmann, who plays Amy’s teacher in the film, are a great double act, on camera and off.

Now that the film has completed principal photography, are there any

ADR shots left, or is it all ready for post? When is the release

anticipated for? I am assuming this is going to be a hard R rated film?

The film is in post now, Chris is cutting away and this is where we benefit hugely from having Voltage produce the film, because they have a great track record in making sure their films get the post they deserve and the distribution and so on. So it’s in good hands!

Ok, time to get on to CTHD2, How did you become involved in the

project?

I actually can’t talk about the specifics of CTHD2, other than saying it was an honour to be invited by the producer, Harvey Weinstein, to join the team. It was genuinely an amazing experience, truly, uniquely, extraordinary.

With Woo-Ping directing the film seems to promise more action, and

conflict. I know the plot and such is under a tight wrap, I hear there are

some amazing action sequences with Juju Chan's Silver Dart Shi character,

she is like a protector and fights with Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh? Is

there anything you can chat about with regards to other action in the film

now?

It’s going to be amazing. Juju Chan worked very hard on the film. We actually wanted her to be in Lady Bloodfight, but she was apparently too busy working in LA on a new project. The whole team in front of and behind the camera on CTHD2 was just world class.

Perhaps share a cool or funny behind the scenes story from CTHD2 shoot,

any pranks or silliness happening?

Everyone was working too hard! No-one had time for any pranks. And there weren’t any on Lady Bloodfight, either! The funniest thing on the Lady Bloodfight set was Justin Bursch's beard…

Chat about martial arts in US films VS Asian produced movies, do you

find the tendency is to take short cuts and quick edits on US films?

I was infamous for criticizing the martial arts action scenes in Hollywood movies, in the pages of Impact and elsewhere. Over time, American producers realised that Hong Kong film-makers, the people I was championing, Yuen Woo-ping, Sammo Hung, Corey Yuen and so on, started working in Hollywood productions. Now, though, I think the best of the American choreographers, the guys that did John Wick, for example, are on a par with Hong Kong film-makers in terms of modern day action, but I still think we do traditional kung fu fighting better!

 

Perhaps share some advice for up and coming actors.

I think the best advice comes from object lessons, you see who else has succeeded and learn from that. For example, something I remember very well from Maggie Q was still in Hong Kong is her incredible work ethic. When she had to do martial arts scenes, she would put in extra time with the stunt team. When she was going to do a stage play, she took singing lessons to help with her breath control. Her success came because she worked on it. That’s not to say that everyone who works hard can succeed, but you do have some say about how much effort you put it, though not in how lucky you are. As Louis Pasteur said “chance favours the prepared mind.” You also have to be able to recognise opportunity when it’s presented to you. And it always helps if you’re loyal!

After she’d played a lead in ‘Naked Weapon’, I offered Maggie a supporting role in ‘Dragon Squad’, a film I was producing, and her management were telling her not to take it, the part wasn’t big enough, the money was no good and she was just like “^%& it, its Bey, I’m in…” We were filming in Happy Valley cemetery and there was a stunt where Maggie’s character was meant to be swing down on a cable from a tree. The action director, Chin Kar Lok, was suggesting we use a double, and Maggie, of course, insisted on doing it herself. And someone was on set who was involved with the casting for ‘Mission Impossible 3’, and that started that whole chain of events which took her to Hollywood.

So the moral of the story is work hard, stay loyal to your mates, jump from that tree and grab the chance when it comes…!

 

What are some of your future projects?

I feel that, with CTHD2. Lady Bloodfight, shooting a fight with Donnie Yen for Kung Fu Jungle, the first cycle of my career has draw to a close. I’ve been in production for a long time now, if you add together the time I spent prepping Lady Bloodfight, then we had to postpone it and I went to prep and shoot CTHD2 and then prep and finally make Lady Bloodfight... Right now, I’m taking a sabbatical in my hidden fortress, writing a new script for an east-west actioner, finishing my long-awaited new volume on Hong Kong kung fu cinema, waiting the further call to arms from my home studio, The Weinstein Company…

Whatever the future holds, as a western writer, producer and film expert living in Hong Kong, I’ve had 20 years here that no-one came close to matching, in terms of the range of my experience and success, and yes, I am proud of that! There have been up and downs, like there are in any career, in any life, but it’s been quite a ride for a middle class English guy from Peterborough. I’m very aware that I’ve been blessed to live out the dreams of my youth.

The film industry has changed so much, globally, since I joined it and, locally, I look forward to seeing younger non-Chinese, or overseas Chinese, fulfilling their visions, people like Mike Leeder, Roseanne Liang, Uri (Schwarz), Jason (Tobin)… There’s so much talent out there. The tools are now here for these guys and gals to create their own projects, from the ground up, and I can take it a little easier! I’m training with my teacher, Mak Chi-kong Sifu, studying, spending time with my family, with my kids, who haven’t seen enough of me the last year. Living the book of my life, as Stevie Wonder put it…

There you have it straight from the mind of Bey Logan, Get ready for the two Bey Logan projects unleashing later in 2015 and more interviews from the cast of Lady Bloodfight!

Actress Jet Tranter Interview (Exclusive) (C) 2015 Dan's Movie Report

Greetings fellow action lovers worldwide, here is another exclusive Dan's Movie Report interview. Sultry and talented Jet Tranter chats about fitness and her work on the new action film 'Lady Bloodfight'. Enough of my babbling, time for Jet to take off!

Was there a film or TV show that inspired you as a child to take up Martial Arts? If so what? If not what did inspire you?

Almost every martial arts action movie I watched growing up resonated with me. As a kid I loved Monkey magic, The Karate Kid & Ninja Turtles. In my adolescence it was Bloodsport, Kick Boxer, Rocky & Bruce Lee films which drove my curiosity & passion further. Besides that I was determined to build my strength & confidence through martial arts as I was bullied in school.

Describe a typical daily Jet Tranter fitness regimen? Stretching techniques, diet, exercise? Please be as detailed as possible.

I have no regime. These days I'm self aware & educated enough to know what my body needs to stay in good health. It took me years to be at peace with my body & find balance. Now I enjoy a varied guilt free diet full of fresh good quality food, wine, chips, chocolate & ice cream if I want. As for supplements I take the best GSH booster on the planet, I call it the secret remedy. I practice yoga 1-3 times a week followed by meditation. I swim & surf 1- 3 times a week & I also hit the gym 1-3 times a week depending on how I feel & what gigs are coming up.

 
Chat about weight training, I interviewed Carly Sunae and she comes from a power lifter background, curious as to your philosophy on weights, I notice you are toned, but not overly body builder muscular. What is your secret to balance?

The secret to balance is listening to your body & being kind to yourself, push yourself when you need to be pushed but don't punish yourself unnecessarily. For me weight training is a supplement for martial arts, to increase strength & power in my technique & to even muscle development. I don't train for aesthetic purposes & I don't judge anyone who does. Looking fit & healthy is just an outcome of what I love doing.

Being a positive influence on others I noticed is a common theme among the best trainers, discuss how you impart on your students, the attitude to be healthy.

Over training and restricted diets are a common trend these days, this can lead to body image disorders and metabolism damage in the long run. When asked for advice I encourage people to be kind to themselves. Guilt, negativity & judgment are the most toxic things for the mind & body. Train smart, eat well, rest, don't stress & practice inner peace. As a trainer I not only strengthened peoples physical weakness but also their mental attitude.

Shifting gears...chat about Lady Bloodfight, your character Cassidy, time in HK, and meeting and hanging out with Amy Johnston.

My character in Lady Bloodfight is Cassidy Young - a 25 year old Aussie/Asian MMA Champion. She is happy, cocky tomboy who doesn't know when to shut up. There was a lot of improve in my scenes. It was a fun role to play. Leading lady Amy Johnston, Producer Justin Bursch, Chris Nahon, all the fighter girls, uncle Harry and the crew - I adore them all. We were like a family during this project and our bonds will last a lifetime.

What new fighting techniques did you learn on the set of Lady Bloodfight? I saw some double swords!

Yeah double butterfly knives - Working with Master Yan Yan and the stunt team was an incredible experience.

Do you want to act in more films?

YES. But with less blood, I still have nightmares about being covered in that sticky corn syrup from head to toe.

I know you love Australia, but are you open to moving to the USA? For film, TV or training?

If an opportunity arises I'd move anywhere. But Australia and Thailand will always be my home.

Are their directors or producers you want to work with?

My favorite director is Quentin Tarantino. I'm a big fan of his artistic genius in movies. It's my new dream to work with him one day.

Ok Quentin, Jet wants to work with you! Wrapping up this interview, chat about upcoming 2015 projects? Fitness or acting related.

As of 2015 I am a represented actor by AE Artist management. They are keeping me in the loop with upcoming projects & auditions. This year is about keeping the momentum of my first feature film to build a larger profile. I also just started a Youtube channel where I will be featuring food, fun & fitness ideas.

For more information on Jet fly your browsers over to her official Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jet-Tranter/128814600483609?fref=ts

Check out Jet's official Youtube channel @  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy8fogs7SWATx1G-v6Lojyg
Action and Acting Demo 2015 @  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLJb-XDxTg