Episode 87 - Mike Leeder

Episode 87 - Mike Leeder

Author: Ben Johnson March 13, 2023 Duration: 1:10:35

When Asian action cinema expert, producer and casting director Mike Leeder left his job in a Croydon department store to go on holiday to Hong Kong, little did he know that - 32 years later - he would still be there. Before he fell in love with the city, he fell in love with its movies; a blossoming romance which started with a Jackie Chan double bill of Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master, and has led him to working on many of Hong Kong's biggest and best productions over the last three decades; from Fist of Legend to Fearless, True Legend to Once Upon a Time in China, Man of Tai Chi to the Ip Man series. On screen, he has been on the receiving end of a headlock from Jean-Claude Van Damme and refereed a kung fu battle with Jet Li, as well as working with the likes of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Scott Adkins, Mark Dacascos, Donnie Yen, Yuen Woo-ping, and many more. Over the years, his encyclopaedic knowledge and passion for Hong Kong movies has seen him contribute many articles and interviews to leading magazines and websites, as well as providing his voice to audio commentaries for Blu-ray labels across the UK, USA and Europe. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss his life in the UK before his journey east; that time he went to interview Jackie Chan, and what happened next; the lack of film preservation in Hong Kong; and how not to get noticed in the martial arts movie world.


LINKS

Mike Leeder on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498566/

Mike Leeder on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigmikeleeder

Mike Leeder on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigmikeleeder/


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 17 - Céline Tran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:31
Céline Tran continues to enjoy a remarkably diverse career. She has gone from adult film star to action hero following the release of her first martial arts feature film, Jailbreak - Cambodia's first martial arts film. I…
Episode 16 - Steve Kerridge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:30
Bruce Lee historian and author Steve Kerridge is my guest on this special episode of the show, which is very much a celebration of Bruce Lee's life and work. Steve is the author of the fabulously detailed book, Bruce Lee…
Episode 14 - James Nunn / Matthias Hoene [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:19
Aspiring filmmakers should definitely tune into this episode of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast, as I talk to two up-and-coming, talented, London-based directors Matthias Hoene and James Nunn, who are both making waves i…
Episode 13 - JuJu Chan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:12
It was a pleasure talking to the rising Asian-American movie star JuJu Chan on the latest podcast. JuJu was born in Hong Kong and raised in America where she has enjoyed prominent roles in films like the Netflix-produced…
Episode 12 - Katrina Durden / Yolanda Lynes, David Cheung [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:32
This is an action-packed show with not one, not two, but three up-and-coming UK martial arts stars. Firstly, I catch up with the directors, writers and stars of the new martial arts action flick The Real Target: David Ch…
Episode 11 - J.J. Perry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:15
What better way to launch the second season of podcasts than with a chat to one of Hollywood's most beloved and prolific stunt co-ordinators, J.J. Perry. Jordan Andrew 'J.J.' Perry has been involved in some of the best a…
Episode 10 - Hwang In-shik / Ricky Baker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:59
Here's a kung fu movie double bill for the final episode in the first season of Kung Fu Movie Guide podcasts. Join me as I have a quick chat with the legendary Korean-born Hapkido master and former action star Hwang In-s…
Episode 09 - Jerry Trimble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:56
Here's a real treat for fans of competitive kickboxing and martial arts movies, as I have a conversation with former world champion Jerry "Golden Boy" Trimble. Kentucky-born Trimble took the kickboxing world by storm in…
Episode 08 - Cengiz Dervis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:31
British actor and former world kickboxing champion Cengiz Dervis is my guest on this episode of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast. This interview took place in the same week Cengiz discovered that he had landed a large rol…

«1...678910