I wish that Hollywood would release another Martial Arts movie that is REALLY a movie about Martial Arts. One that does not:
1 Rely more on CGI than on real work.
2 Have non MAist actors who complain about how hard the training regimen was.
3 Have any relation whatsoever to Quentin Tarantino (I get sick of telling people that he did not direct Hero and I was REALLY REALLY disappointed by Kill Bill 2).
4 Have every single protagonist being an anorexic barbie doll (not to seem sexist but I think if I see Cameron Diaz and her crappy stance work in one more action movie I will puke).
5 Promulgate the blasted idea of “martial artist as supernatural chosen one”. You wouldn’t believe how much this bugs me and between “Bullet Proof Monk”, “The Matrix” and now from the look of the previews “Elektra” that is all Hollywood seems to want to do with martial arts these days. Why not a movie where a martial artist WORKS HARD (training montage, back story, etc.) to become skilled.
Agreed on all points. NOT too much to ask, but good luck getting it.
Unless you want to make your own movie the way you want it?
A couple of friends of mine are fledgling directors, and this is one of the things that sticks like a big pill not wanting to go down, but none of us have the money/time/resources to do anything substantial. So, we make bad short films on a crappy, outdated camera. Not blockbuster material, but it satisfies the craving somewhat.
Originally posted by tug
[B]Agreed on all points. NOT too much to ask, but good luck getting it.
Unless you want to make your own movie the way you want it?
A couple of friends of mine are fledgling directors, and this is one of the things that sticks like a big pill not wanting to go down, but none of us have the money/time/resources to do anything substantial. So, we make bad short films on a crappy, outdated camera. Not blockbuster material, but it satisfies the craving somewhat. [/B]
Submit a script to Gene and see if he &/or his mag. will sponsor it, esp. with product placement.
I don’t think it’ll be a money thing, but more likely then your friends will be able to go to other potential backers and they can say they’ve got a sponsor, etc.
Call it “A simple wish”. Enter it in a festival, etc.
I will do my best, but my friends are very tight fisted with their work (kinda defeats the purpose, don’t you think?), so I don’t know if I can get them to release anything.
But hey, anythings possible, right?
Sorry to SimonM for apparently “hijacking” this thread.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.
What do you think our company is, made of money? If that was so, I could hire someone else to plug MartialArtsMart.com here and I could just focus on publishing and research.
2 Have non MAist actors who complain about how hard the training regimen was.
If you are choosing actors based on their martial arts ability then the film will be all but unwatchable as a story (JCVD anyone?) the fact is it’s easier to train an actor to do an OK fight than it is to train a fighter to act an OK scene.
5 Promulgate the blasted idea of “martial artist as supernatural chosen one”. You wouldn’t believe how much this bugs me and between “Bullet Proof Monk”, “The Matrix” and now from the look of the previews “Elektra” that is all Hollywood seems to want to do with martial arts these days. Why not a movie where a martial artist WORKS HARD (training montage, back story, etc.) to become skilled.
Two issues here, which are kind of linked. First off, the fantasy/comic book fan is more open to having full on martial arts action in a film than someone who watches nothing but Bruckheimer movies. This is why films like bulletproof monk, matrix and daredevil seem to be the major “martial arts” films.
Secondly, time and budget constraints, editing and test audiences. Your idea would only be of appeal to martial artists, a small section of the audience, and therefore likely to be one of the first things cut.
Shhh, DS, that’s supposed to be our little secret…
..and what an embarrassment that was. :o
We have no problem with our producst getting exposure in films, but if you want us sponsor it, that’s a totally different subject. In fact, we get contacted for release right often, mostly from small independant films. The makers of SWAT contacted us to show the magazine, but that scene wound up on the cutting room floor. Maybe it’s ont he extended DVD, but the movie was so awful, I bother want to checking.
Enter it in a festival, etc.
