Episode 75 - Lee Charles / James Nunn

Episode 75 - Lee Charles / James Nunn

Author: Ben Johnson November 1, 2021 Duration: 1:24:37

It has taken six years for director James Nunn to bring his one-take, real-time action movie to the screen. During that time, 'one-shot' movies like 'Birdman' and '1917' have not only dominated at the box office, but they have also been lauded by critics. In many ways, Nunn's intense, relentless thriller, 'One Shot' - which is released theatrically and on VOD services in the USA on 5 November 2021 courtesy of Screen Media Films - is an even more remarkable achievement, considering its comparatively low-budget and 20-day shooting schedule ('1917', by comparison, was made in 65 days). Nunn puts the success of the film down to a huge amount of preparation, and an incredibly hard-working cast and crew - especially its leading actor, Scott Adkins, who is intimately followed through every long-take, moving from dialogue scenes to gun battles, knife fights, explosions and punch-ups. As a technical feat, there's nothing quite like it in the DTV action world. In this conversation, James explores the film's many great performances - from Adkins to co-stars Ashley Greene Khoury, Ryan Phillippe, and the MMA fighter Jess Liaudin - and lifts the lid on how it was made.


Lee Charles - "the Al Leong of British cinema", according to fight choreographer Tim Man - has fought on-screen with some of the world's biggest action stars. He took a clobbering from Dave Bautista in 'Final Score' (2018), and tired to take out Sope Dirisu as 'Lenn the Butcher' in an iconic, grisly battle scene in the TV show, 'Gangs of London', co-created by 'The Raid's Gareth Evans. His role as a French mercenary in 'One Shot' marks another opportunity for him to go toe-to-toe with Scott Adkins - the duo worked together on Nunn's previous Adkins flicks, 'Green Street 3: Never Back Down' (2013) and 'Eliminators' (2016), plus roles in 'Accident Man' (2018) and 'Avengement' (2019). Charles is the walking embodiment of his own life motto - that anything is achievable through hard work. He's currently working with his childhood hero, Sylvester Stallone, on the all-star action sequel, 'The Expendables 4'. We discuss his multifaceted life and career; from Everton FC to six-time World Kickboxing Champion, training with Benny "The Jet" Urquidez and making it in the movies.


LINKS

One Shot trailer: https://youtu.be/Et5Cgq1B2_g

One Shot website: https://screenmediafilms.net/film/3352/One-Shot

One Shot review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/OneShot2021

James Nunn on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2071556/

James Nunn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjamesnunn

James Nunn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesnunn/

James Nunn on Episode 14 of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast: http://bit.ly/KFMGPodEpisode14

Lee Charles on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3124775/

Lee Charles on Twitter: https://twitter.com/leeacharles

Lee Charles on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrleeacharles/

Lee Charles on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leecharlesactor/


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…