Episode 89 - Stuntwomen special: Alyma Dorsey / April Wright

Episode 89 - Stuntwomen special: Alyma Dorsey / April Wright

Author: Ben Johnson April 10, 2023 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 the notion of "wigging" - male stunt performers doubling female characters - and concerns over sexual harassment, safety and security, April Wright's fascinating 2020 documentary, 'Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story', tells the shocking truth of how women - and other marginalised communities - have had to fight, quite literally, to be heard in a business predominantly run by white men. Using exclusive interviews with today's top female stunt performers and actors (including Michelle Rodriguez, Amy Johnston, Alyma Dorsey, and Heidi and Renae Moneymaker), and the pioneering women who paved the way for greater gender equity (including Jeannie Epper, Julie Ann Johnson and Jadie David), the documentary is a rip-roaring, high-kicking, full-throttle depiction of a stunt industry caught between the mistakes of the past and the need for progression. In this special stuntwomen-themed episode, listen to its director, April Wright, discuss what she learned during the making of the documentary, as she lifts the lid on some of Hollywood's darkest secrets. Plus, listen to versatile stunt performer Alyma Dorsey ('The Matrix Resurrections', 'Joker', 'Captain America: Civil War') explain her first-hand experience of working in the stunt industry as not only a woman, but also a Black woman, and the challenges she has had to face during her long and distinguished career. 'Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story' is available to buy and rent in the UK on Apple TV. April Wright's new documentary, 'Back to the Drive-In', is available to buy and rent on digital platforms in the USA courtesy of Uncork'd Entertainment.


LINKS

Watch 'Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story' on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/stuntwomen-the-untold-hollywood-story/umc.cmc.1nlx2mlmowxo9eyaomocg3zz5

'Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story' trailer: https://youtu.be/Dt6fvbB9uXw

'Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/StuntwomenKFMGReview

Buy the book, 'Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story' by Mollie Gregory, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stuntwomen-Untold-Hollywood-Screen-Classics-ebook/dp/B00WNGD0OC/

April Wright on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2119697/

April Wright on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/april_wright_1999/

April Wright on Twitter: https://twitter.com/driveindoc

Alyma Dorsey stuntreel: https://youtu.be/Mtr-wheImBs

Alyma Dorsey on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5219486/

Alyma Dorsey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alymadorsey/

Alyma Dorsey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlymaDorsey1

Alyma Dorsey on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alymadorsey9799

Watch 'Back to the Drive-In': https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/0J1T05LM0KY496HM6MAXDTQMQZ


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 87 - Mike Leeder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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. Bef…
Episode 86 - End of Year Show 2022 with Mike Fury: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:22
The wait is over! We can now finally reveal our favourite fight films of 2022 in Part Two of our annual End of Year Show, featuring Mike Fury, the action movie expert and author of Life of Action Vol. I-II. As is traditi…
Episode 85 - End of Year Show 2022 with Mike Fury: Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:41
It's the most wonderful time of the year... that's right, the time when we release our special annual two-part End of Year Show, in which we look back over the best and worst that martial arts movies had to offer in 2022…
Episode 84 - Robert Samuels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:53
It was a screening of 1972's 'Five Fingers of Death' (aka 'King Boxer') that would transform the life of Robert "Bobby" Samuels. At that time, he could not have foreseen that he would go on to become the first African Am…
Episode 83 - Scott Adkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:00
Scott Adkins is in a good mood. The response to his latest martial arts movie, 'Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday' - the sequel to his dream project, 2018's 'Accident Man', based on a cherished British comic book he loved a…
Episode 82 - Tribute to Jimmy Wang Yu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:45
When Jimmy Wang Yu died on 5 April 2022 at the age of 79, Jackie Chan took to his social media accounts to pay his respects, stating that "the contributions you've made to kung fu movies and the support and wisdom you’ve…
Episode 81 - Michiko Nishiwaki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:48
As a powerlifting champion, three-time ‘Miss Fitness’ winner in Japan and an action film star, Michiko Nishiwaki has been on quite a journey. When she left school to start working in human resources for the Mitsubishi ba…
Episode 80 - Jonathan Eusebio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:02
There aren't many stunt coordinators and fight choreographers who can say they have helped to change the course of modern day action cinema like Jonathan Eusebio. His work on the 'Bourne' films alone sparked a movement i…
Episode 79 - End of Year Show 2021 with Mike Fury: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:07
The wait is over! Find out our favourite - and least favourite - martial arts movies of 2021 in Part Two of our End of Year Show, featuring Life of Action author, Mike Fury. Join in the festivities as we take it in turns…
Episode 78 - End of Year Show 2021 with Mike Fury: Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:29
Ho ho ho and happy holidays to all our listeners around the world. Welcome to the first part of our annual, end-of-year wrap-up podcast featuring the Life of Action author, Mike Fury. And, wow, what a year it has been fo…