Episode 34 - Sophia Crawford

Episode 34 - Sophia Crawford

Author: Ben Johnson October 8, 2018 Duration: 1:09:14
Buffy's stunt double and former Power Ranger, Sophia Crawford, earned her spurs as a stunt performer working in Hong Kong's raw and relentless action movie industry in the early 1990s. She found herself part of an era of exceptional, female-fronted martial arts films, working with the likes of Moon Lee, Sibelle Hui and Yukari Oshima, performing all of her own stunts in conditions that were sometimes less than perfect. It was in Hong Kong where she discovered her love for the martial arts, acting and stunt performing, following her troubled years as a teenager growing up in London as a directionless, rebellious punk rocker, expelled from five schools and eager for adventure. Her journey is one of dogged determination, perseverance, blood, sweat and tears - from Hammersmith to Hong Kong to Hollywood, doubling for the likes of Madonna, Sienna Miller and Renée Zellweger. Now she has accepted a new challenge away from the movie business, having moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband - the stunt coordinator Jeff Pruitt - to run her own business, a coffee shop called The Federal Coffee House. In this conversation, we discuss her approach to stunt performance, the challenges of working in an unfamiliar country, and her time on two of the biggest martial arts TV shows of all time: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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There's a particular magic in the stories behind the fights, the philosophy woven into the choreography, and the sheer dedication it takes to create martial arts cinema. The Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast is built on those stories, offering a backstage pass to the world of Hong Kong action, classic Shaw Brothers epics, and modern martial arts filmmaking. Host Ben Johnson, who created the extensive kungfumovieguide.com resource, sits down for detailed conversations with the very people who bring these films to life. Each episode features an unscripted, in-depth interview with actors who threw the punches, stunt performers who designed the falls, directors who framed the shots, and choreographers who turned violence into poetry. You'll hear about their career paths, the challenges on set, and the deep, personal passion that fuels their work. This isn't just a surface-level recap of famous movies; it's about the craft, the history, and the human effort behind every iconic scene. For anyone who has ever wondered about the artistry behind a perfectly executed fight sequence or the legacy of a genre that spans decades, this podcast provides a rich, engaging listen. Tune in for genuine insights from the heart of martial arts cinema.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 38 - Don "The Dragon" Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:26
When Chuck Norris convinced his martial arts buddy - the 11-time world kickboxing champion, Don "The Dragon" Wilson - to consider a career in the movies, he could never have dreamed how quickly his life would transform.…
Episode 37 - Shannon Lee / Andrew Koji [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:46
Shannon Lee was only four years old when she lost her father, the international martial arts superstar, Bruce Lee - but her father has continued to have a lasting impact on her life. As the CEO of the Bruce Lee Family Co…
Episode 36 - End Of Year Show 2018 with Mike Fury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:55
Celebrating the best (and worst) that martial arts movies had to offer in 2018, join us for our festive round-up of the year with the action movie expert and author of 'Life of Action', Mike Fury. As well as counting dow…
Episode 35 - Matthew Polly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:11
When Bruce Lee died 45 years ago at the age of 32, his death was shrouded in mystery. To this day, theories still abound as to the circumstances surrounding his passing and the events leading up to it. Writer Matthew Pol…
Episode 33 - Jean-Paul Ly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:56
When Jean-Paul Ly moved from Cambodia to London to make it in the movie business, he predicted that within three years, he would be the lead in a martial arts action film. It only took two and a half years until he compl…
Episode 32 - Jesse V. Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:55
Having now worked with UK martial arts star Scott Adkins a total of six times – including on the films Savage Dog, Accident Man, The Debt Collector, and the soon to be released martial arts movie event of the year, Tripl…
Episode 31 - Bryan Larkin / Ross Boyask, John Adams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:11
Today is an 'I Am Vengeance' movie special. WWE star Stu Bennett (aka Wade Barrett) and martial arts movie legend Gary Daniels star in 'I Am Vengeance' (aka 'Vengeance'), which is out now in theatres and on digital downl…
Episode 30 - Bob Wall / Timon Singh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:58
Although Bob Wall had no desire to become a film star, he somehow ended up appearing in some of the highest grossing martial arts films of all time. As Chuck Norris’ business partner and Bruce Lee’s training buddy and fr…
Episode 29 - Joey Ansah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:19
UK actor and filmmaker Joey Ansah’s imagination was sparked at an early age through the power of the classic Hong Kong action movie, Dragons Forever, and the Street Fighter video game. The son of a famous Ghanaian fashio…
Episode 28 - Alain Moussi / Dimitri Logothetis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:15
Alain Moussi has enjoyed a rapid rise from stuntman to starring roles to leading his own martial arts movie franchise. As Kurt Sloane, he is the poster-boy at the heart of the rebooted Kickboxer franchise – a role made f…