Above: Luke screams into his phone as the mighty boss villain on Blindsided: The Game!
With
the US release of Savage Dog on Netflix now and the DVD & Blu-Ray
retail release last year November 21st , Luke LaFontaine
breaks down the action on the film and working with Jesse, and the
other actors. Luke has a wealth of action experience, and offers his
wisdom and ideas, about being a fight and stunt coordinator. Sit
back, and enjoy the action, stay savage. Buy the Debt Collector now
on Sony Home Entertainment, and watch for more action soon from the
legendary Luke LaFontaine! Review: http://dansmoviereport.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-debt-collector-2018-movie-review.html
Above: Luke demonstrates the knife technique from Savage Dog -- David J Moore credit
DT: I
know you have worked with Jesse V. Johnson on many projects, must
have been exciting when he asked you to be a part of Savage Dog, chat
about the initial discussion you had with him about it.
LL:
Jesse and I spoke at length about the action for Savage Dog, we both
agreed it would be gritty and real. When Jesse said he wanted me to
coordinate and do the fights I got even more determined to give him
the brutal, gritty, real action we'd been talking about. Martin
Tillman would be a tactician who cut you down and left you with a
punishing reminder of why you shouldn't have fought him.
DMR:
Chat about crafting the fights and action to relate to the late 1950s
more of a raw, what I call non beautiful style action.
LL:
The fights and action had to fit within the real world of 1959
Indochina. I did a lot of research on bare knuckle boxing, travel
fights,dirty boxing, Muay Thai, muay barong, savate and military
weapons and tactics of the french foreign legion. Scott couldn't
throw 720s in this film, this was a very different character compared
to say Boyka who's every move is an epic acrobatic fight ender. I
wanted there to be a clear thru-line to the fights. A progressing
story to show an escalation. Brute force being countered by technique
and timing.
DT: I
know Savage Dog was a real passion project for Jesse, chat about the
cast on set, really seemed like a cool film to work on, even though
not a big budget, it had some heart and soul.
LL:
Everyone was onboard to make a genuine heart and soul film. Jesse's
determination and drive rubbed off in everyone. He knew every aspect
of the film he was making. All the actors Scott, Keith ,Marko,
Cung,Vladimir, JuJu all gave 200% and got along super. It was a very
professional, fun set.
Above: Photographer Ben Burton exclusive shot of the 'villains' Savage Dog! Marko Zaror and Cung Le!
DT:
Chat about working with Cung Le, and breakdown the fight he had with
Scot Adkins, how do you adapt the action for Cung's strengths and the
close quarter fighting?
LL:
Cung Le is an awesome guy. Hes nice as can be,cooperative,
professional all while not breaking you in half like you knew he
could. I wanted the fight between Scott and,Cung to be epic, it was
the first time these two would fight on film. The choreo for this
fight came easier, Cung's character was the first to match Martins.
Martin had no raw motivation to fight Boon so it had to build into no
one standing in the way of Martins revenge. Scott and Cung both have
amazing control. They worked flawlessly together.
Marko
Zaror is an amazing fighter and action guy. Chat about the massive
fight he has with Marko at the climax, the weapon ideas and the
action.
Marko
is great. Hes a gentleman and a talented martial artist. The final
fight took two weeks to finalize. The previz took 6 hours to shoot
with changes to accentuate the drama in the fight. We added 3 phrases
of choreo.
The
knife was Jesse written story point. He wanted a Spanish Navaja to be
Marko's tool for the executioner. I added real Navaja knife fighting
techniques into the already complicated choreography. We decided
Marko would be a Savate fighter to utilize his great kicks. Scott and
Marko worked great together, they were unstoppable machines fighting
for over 12 hours. One of my all time favorite fights. Proud of this
one.
DT:
Chat about fighting and filming in mud and water in Savage Dog, and
how it changes the dynamics of the action.
LL:
Honestly fighting in the the mud and water is a huge pain in the ass!
It
looks great on film but is NOT easy to do. Scott was a real trooper.
His feet would sink 8 inches into the mud every time he kicked. Very
difficult, but it got done.
DT: I know you are fight director in the new Blindsided 2 film, chat about
that shoot and a bit about the action, and working with Michelle Lee
and Eric Jacobus and his team.
LL:
Blindsided 2 was a pleasure to work on. I've know Clayton J. Barber
for almost 2 decades hes my stunt brother and hes an intelligent,
driven creator. (Clayton J Barber is stunt coordinator on Iron Fist
Season2!) Getting to work with Eric Jacobus was a delight and
an honor, we got along like long lost brothers. We actually call each
other big and little brother now.
Above: Sal's gang in Blindsided: The Game -- Official Press Photo
They
really trusted my sword knowledge, we came up with..well Ill just say
you're in for an eye opening treat!! I didn't get to work w Michelle
Lee on this BUT.. I have worked with her and hired her on other films
and video games etc... over the years. Shes a talented powerhouse
action performer, and a fine actress. Blindsided 2 has got fun and
surprises in store.
In
Savage Dog, due to the settings and such the ladies in the film JuJu
Chan and Sheena Chou did not do any fighting, curious on your
thoughts on the upward swing of women in prominent roles in action
films?
LL:
JuJu Chan and Sheena Chou are both very fine actresses and super
people. I'm loving the upward swing in female action roles. I
recently got to choreograph sword action for Amy Johnston in her
flashback sequence in ACCIDENT MAN. Great time, Amy is amazingly
talented and a super nice person. Looking forward to more strong
action roles for women in films. Accident Man is also available now
on home video for Sony!
DT: I
loved The Beautiful Ones, chat about working on the action in that
film. It is a really raw gangster style mob film. – I know the
film was shot in Black and White, chat about making the action look
stylish without the benefit of color film?
LL:
The Beautiful Ones was a great film to craft action for. The knife
fight is over 3 minutes of solid fighting. Jesse and I talked a lot
about the real and sometimes awkward situations that happen in real
fights. There are some great bizarre moments in the gun battles that
show how things can really go sideways. Black and white is
beautiful. You have to deal in contrast, different imagery which
makes things come across raw and unflinching.
DT:
With so many projects under your belt, have you every thought about
taking Jesse's route and directing a feature film?
LL:
Directing is a very different animal. I've done a lot of 2nd unit
directing, and directed 2 shorts. I have a lot of projects I've
developed that Id like to do one day. Perhaps down the line.
Directing is nowhere near as easy as everyone seems to think it is.
Above: Luke with Robin Williams in Hook! 1991 film.
DT: I
like your open ideas to take on smaller and bigger film and TV
projects, I think it makes you more well rounded in action, do you
have advice for up and coming stunt performers and newer
coordinators, seems many of them are looking for that perfect
situation when it is not out there? I see also you have worked with legends like Robin Williams.
LL:
Big and small projects have their different challenges. Small
projects give you more leeway to create and problem solve. Big
projects hone your organizational skills, bigger responsibility and
results with Zero excuses.. I'll quote Buster Keaton, "Think
Slow, Act Fast." Listening is important. The answers are there.
You can and must learn from every experience.
Incidentally
Luke LaFontaine crafted some amazing action in The Debt Collector.
The Sony release presented some really visceral action, along with a
great story. Luke is always up for a challenge, he respects action on
all levels, watch for new interview soon!
