Episode 55 - Tara Macken

Episode 55 - Tara Macken

Author: Ben Johnson June 29, 2020 Duration: 1:04:16

The key to success in the stunt world, says Hollywood action star Tara Macken, is to be an all-rounder. Tara's resume is testament to that philosophy. Raised in the jungles of Borneo, Tara's adventurous spirit started at a young age. It has remained with her throughout her professional career, where she has found work as a dancer, gymnast, model, actor and stunt performer with over 100 films and TV credits to her name. She is a leading name in the action community, known for her fighting and martial arts skills, and doubling huge movie stars like Tessa Thompson, Rosie Perez and Eva Longoria. An incredibly versatile performer, Tara moves between stunt work on hit TV shows like 'Westworld' and films including 'The Hunger Games', 'John Wick: Chapter 3', 'Birds of Prey' and the new 'Mortal Kombat' film, to playing Bugs Bunny in a sequel to 'Space Jam', and stepping behind the camera to work as a stunt coordinator, fight choreographer and trainer. She now has her eyes set on joining the rising number of female stunt coordinators operating in Hollywood, following a path set by her friends and colleagues Zoë Bell and Heidi Moneymaker, determined to redress the balance in the industry and eventually move into main unit directing. In an already long list of amazing achievements, we can't wait to see what Tara will accomplish next. This conversation was recorded in London prior to the UK government lockdown caused by the coronavirus.


LINKS

Tara Macken on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2706388/

Tara Macken on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taramacken/

Tara Macken on Twitter: https://twitter.com/taramacken

Tara Macken on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tara.macken

Tara Macken fight choreography reel: https://youtu.be/bYX9ofsJras

Tara Macken fight reel: https://youtu.be/jjHaMBIjih0

'Intensive Care' trailer: https://youtu.be/tTJo_vfeGI8

'Intensive Care' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://kungfumovieguide.com/intensive-care-2018/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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 108 - Tribute to King Hu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:10
King Hu is one of China’s most influential filmmakers, famous for his historical martial arts films which helped to popularise the wuxia (‘martial chivalry’) genre in the 1960s and 70s with classic films like 'Come Drink…
Episode 105 - Bren Foster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:08
Bren Foster is a man on a mission. Fresh from the positive reactions to his blistering 2024 martial arts revenge drama, 'Life After Fighting' - which also marked his directorial debut - Bren is now keen to show the world…
Episode 104 - Andy Le / Brian Le [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:40
Self-made and self-taught, the story of Martial Club - a YouTube channel created in 2012 by Daniel Mah and the brothers Andy Le and Brian Le - is truly inspiring. As kids obsessed with kung fu movies, they would copy the…
Episode 103 - Jude Poyer | Live in Oxford, 'The Heroic Trio' special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:05
For the second of our four live podcasts - co-hosted by the 'Life of Action' author, Mike Fury - we welcome back the British stunt coordinator and former Hong Kong stuntman, Jude Poyer. Jude's first appearance was on Epi…
Episode 102 - Katrina Durden | Live in Lewes, 'Dragon Inn' special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:35
For our first live episode - recorded at the wonderful Depot Cinema in Lewes, UK - we welcome back the actor and martial artist Katrina Durden, who first appeared on Episode 12 of the podcast back in 2017. From her work…
Episode 101 - End of Year Show 2024 with Mike Fury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:25
It's that time of year again - the annual Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast End of Year Show returns for its eighth year!Featuring the author of Life of Action Vol. 1 and 2, Mike Fury, we unpack our martial arts movie highligh…
Episode 100 - Best of Actors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:58
Is Scott Adkins the natural successor to Jean-Claude Van Damme? Why did Andrew Koji almost quit acting only months before landing the lead role in the beloved kung fu series, Warrior? And can we expect a rematch between…
Episode 99 - Best of Stunts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:41
The life of a stunt performer is both exhilarating and dangerous, spectacular yet physically and mentally demanding. Stunt performers put their lives on the line every day for our viewing pleasure, yet are seemingly ostr…