Episode 74 - Brad Martin

Episode 74 - Brad Martin

Author: Ben Johnson July 26, 2021 Duration: 1:20:48

Brad Martin is one of Hollywood’s top stunt coordinators with a string of blockbusters to his name, including the 'Underworld' series, 'Live Free or Die Hard', 'Tropic Thunder', 'Gemini Man', plus the Emmy-nominated 2021 Marvel series, 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier', to name but a few. He has recently been in Northern Ireland shooting second unit and stunt coordinating on a big-screen adaptation of the long-running video game, 'Dungeons & Dragons', scheduled for release in 2023. That’s not bad for a martial artist from Sun Valley, Idaho, who followed his dreams of becoming a stunt performer to Los Angeles – even though he wasn’t particularly sure at the time what a stunt performer did. Luckily, he quickly made friends with fellow martial artists and aspiring action directors J.J. Perry, David Leitch and Chad Stahelski; together, on a diet of determination and Jackie Chan movies, they would go on to transform Hollywood action cinema, becoming technically gifted filmmakers in their own right. We discuss Brad’s journey from George Clooney’s regular stunt double to fighting Sammo Hung in 'Martial Law', Keanu Reeves in 'The Matrix' sequels, and leading the stunt departments on some of the biggest action films of all time. Brad is now bringing back Smashcut Action Design, a company he first created in the 1990s. Using his wealth of knowledge from over 30 years in the business, he will be looking to consult with some of Hollywood’s biggest producers to create and inspire action design from the early conception phase to completion.


LINKS

Visit the Smashcut Action Design website: https://smashcutaction.com/ (coming soon!)

Brad Martin on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0551997/

Brad Martin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradmartinaction/

Brad Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradmartinaction

Brad Martin profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/ProfileBradMartin

'Live Free or Die Hard'/'Underworld: Evolution' stunt rehearsals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGTuSP7uXK0

'The Matrix Reloaded' - the making of the chateaux fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWuNDcHfF0g

'Underworld: Awakening' behind the scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rRW3v7zeY

J.J. Perry on Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast: http://bit.ly/KFMGPodJJPerry


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 98 - Best of Directors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:52
With financing and shooting schedules shrinking, how hard is it to make a decent action movie on a low budget? How can you make your lead actor look like an action hero if they refuse to train? And is there scope in the…
Episode 97 - End of Year Show 2023 with Mike Fury: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:17
In Part Two of our annual End of Year Show - featuring the author of 'Life of Action' Vol 1 and 2, the action movie expert Mike Fury - we discuss our favourite fight-centric action films of 2023. Which film will be crown…
Episode 96 - End of Year Show 2023 with Mike Fury: Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:26
Ho ho ho and happy Christmas to all the Fu followers around the world! Welcome to Part One of our annual End of Year Show, featuring the author of 'Life of Action' Vol. 1 and 2, Mike Fury. In Part One, we discuss the mar…
Episode 95 - Marko Zaror [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:52
From Chile to Mexico to Hollywood - and back again - Marko Zaror's incredible rise in the action world reached a new crescendo in 2023. Known as the 'Latin Dragon', Marko's scene-stealing performance as the main heavy, C…
Episode 94 - Ric Meyers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:58
It has been over a decade since we last spoke in-depth to the author and kung fu movie expert, Ric Meyers - the man responsible for introducing much of America to the classics of martial arts cinema over a writing career…
Episode 93 - Vincent Lyn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:20
Vincent Lyn's short career in Hong Kong action movies may only span a few years, but his good looks, martial arts abilities and acting skills saw him work with some of the biggest names in the industry, operating at the…
Episode 92 - Vi-Dan Tran / Lorenz Hideyoshi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:04
Over the last decade, Germany has become a hotbed of aspiring young martial arts talent who have seen their careers grow from DIY short films on YouTube to massive Hollywood productions. Cologne-born Vi-Dan Tran is a wus…
Episode 91 - Froukje Tan / Areel Abu Bakar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:07
We have a directors double bill on this episode of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast, featuring conversations with two filmmakers who have both released independent martial arts movies in 2023.Froukje Tan is a Dutch filmma…
Episode 90 - Eric Lee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:11
The martial artist, instructor, writer, actor, painter, fight choreographer, singer and all-round entertainer Eric Lee got his nickname - the 'King of Kata' - after winning a string of trophies throughout the 1960s, 70s…
Episode 89 - Stuntwomen special: Alyma Dorsey / April Wright [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:53
Women have been performing stunts in movies since the advent of cinema, but over the decades, their voice and influence in the industry has become marginalised. From fears of being overlooked, undermined or replaced, to…