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________________
"Kung Fu"
Movie in the Works
Warner Bros.' Legendary
Pictures ("Superman Returns",
"Lady in the Water") is
bringing the 1970's martial arts TV
series "Kung
Fu" to the big screen
after acquiring film rights from series
creator Ed
Spielman.
Legendary has optioned a screenplay
from Spielman and Howard Friedlander,
also a writer on the original series.
Warner Bros. previously considered
the idea of making a feature based
on the martial arts TV series but
abandoned them when rights reverted
back to Spielman at least five years
ago.
David
Carradine (most recently
seen in Kill
Bill Vol. 1 and 2 ) immortalized
the lead role of Kwai Chang Caine,
a Shaolin monk who flees China for
the American Wild West, where he helps
the powerless. It has been confirmed
that Carradine, now 69, will not be
returning to the project, nor will
it be an effects-laden movie.
"Kung Fu, the movie, will explain
why Caine fled China, and will take
Chinese tradition seriously. "'We're
not looking at this as 'Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' with people
flying all around,' producer Scott
Mednick recently told Reuter. 'The
actual priests of the Shaolin Temple
can do things that are amazing without
wire work or special effects.'"
The series ran from 1972-1975.
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MAT
CASTING NEWS:
What's
New on MAT |
Seeking Female
for Lead Role in Martial Arts Film
- Feature film to be shot in multiple
locations worldwide seeks half-asian
(or half asian-appearing) female with
martial arts background. Should be
well-spoken and comfortable with press
interviews for heavy promotion. Film
Casting here (#823).
________________
Disney's
Martial Arts Festival 2006
Think Disney's just
for animation and amusement parks?
Think again. Each year they host a
Martial Arts Festival which draws
competitors from all over the globe.
More details:
Discipline. Honor. Pride.
Put your skills to the test against
world-class competitors in an array
of Martial Arts disciplines. Take
part in national events, including
the long-running Disney's Martial
Arts Festival which now hosts over
1,000 athletes and coaches from around
the globe.
Date: October 27 - 29, 2006
The seventh annual Disney's
Martial Arts Festival
combines the positive atmosphere of
competition with the magic of the
Walt Disney World® Resort for
competitors, spectators, families
and volunteers. This event is open
to both children and adults, from
White Belt/White Sash to the Black
Belt/Black Sash. Whether you are a
competitor, family member or a fan
there is something for you at Disney's
Martial Arts Festival.
Martial artists from all disciplines
will enjoy the very best competition
from all over the world.
Click
here to visit their website and register
for the event.
________________
The Ultimate
Fighter 3 Draws Record Numbers for
Spike TV
The third season of Spike TV's "The
Ultimate Fighter"
ranked as the most-watched premiere
for an original series in the network's
history. An average of 2.4 million
total viewers tuned in for the 90-minute
April 6 premiere, according to the
channel.
"Fighter" features 16
up-and-coming mixed martial artists
competing for a contract in the Ultimate
Fighting Championship organization.
Casting and audition information for
this season was featured
in our casting section.
Compared with the same time period
a year ago, which featured the Japanese
import "MXC," the figures
represent a 262% increase in average
audience.
The third season of Spike TV's highly
successful reality series features
UFC legends and bitter rivals Tito
Ortiz and Ken
Shamrock as coaches.
UFC President Dana
White serves as host.
The Ultimate Fighter is on Spike
TV every Thursday at 10pm ET/PT.
________________
|
What's
So Funny About Martial Arts? |
Apparently, quite a lot. Although
comedy certainly isn't new to the
martial arts genre, the success of
a few recent blockbuster hits in the
US (Rush
Hour, Kung
Fu Hustle, etc.) has
shown that mixing martial arts and
laughs still has some pull power.
Two new martial arts comedies (see
below) are in the works for the near
future. Only time will tell if they
end up being "hit" or "miss".
________________
Hypnotic
Productions helms a pilot deal
for a Kung Fu comedy with NBC.
Doug
Liman, director of "Mr.
& Mrs. Smith” is teaming
with writer Dave
Caplan for the untitled
half-hour comedy that revolves around
a pair of brothers who find themselves
taking care of their mom and her restaurant.
In order to afford her dream retirement
home, they’re forced to become
bounty hunters, using kung fu rather
than guns to get the job done.
Caplan fits the writer’s position
perfectly. “I was a private
investigator before becoming a comedy
writer, and I’m currently training
for my black sash in Wing
Chun (Shaolin) kung fu,
so it was tough to resist,”
Caplan said.
"Luckily for me, the list of
ex-private eye, kung fu-trained comedy
writers is pretty short,” he
says.
________________
Schneider to Play Martial
Artist?
Comedian Rob
Schneider will produce,
direct and, yes, star in the martial
arts comedy film Big Stan.
Josh
Lieb (previously the
writer for the "News Radio"'
TV series) wrote the screenplay about
a weak conman who decides to take
up martial arts from a mysterious
sensei known only as The Master after
being sentenced to go to prison.
Stan transforms himself into a kung
fu expert -- ultimately bringing the
warring prison gangs together and
establishing peace within its walls.
Big Stan is a co-production between
Crystal
Sky Pictures and Silver
Nitrate Entertainment.
Big Stan is scheduled to begin shooting
in Los Angeles on May 6.
________________
V
For Vendetta hits conventional
theaters and IMAX theaters on March
17.
The film boasts former
Matrix
Trilogy principals: the
Wachowski brothers as
producers, Hugo
Weaving (who played "Agent
Smith") as "V" and
the original First Assistant Director,
James
McTeigue, as the film's
Director. We can be sure it will be
action-packed.
In the futuristic landscape
of totalitarian Britain, a man cloaked
in mystery known onlly as "V"
finds an unlikely ally in a seemingly
mild-mannered young woman named Evey
(Natalie
Portman).
Incomparably charismatic and ferociously
skilled in the art of combat and deception,
V ignites a revolution when he detonates
two London landmarks and takes over
the government-controlled airwaves,
urging his fellow citizens to rise
up against tyranny and oppression.
 
As Evey uncovers the truth about
V's mysterious background, she also
discovers the truth about herself
-- and emerges as his ally in the
culmination of his plot to bring freedom
and justice back to a society fraught
with cruelty and corruption.
Based on the acclaimed
graphic novel "V For Vendetta"
by Alan Moore.
Click here to view V
for Vendetta Trailers and Previews.
________________
What is a Podcast?
The internet is always
evolving. Internet broadcasting is
fast becoming an option to traditional
programming. This means anyone with
a bit of creativity, a video camera
and a computer connection can make
their own television show or film.
What's the newest technology
on the block? Podcasting.
Podcasting
is the distribution of audio or video
files, such as radio programs or music
videos, over the internet using internet
syndication tools for listening/ viewing
on mobile devices (think: iPod) and
personal computers.
Sound like the wave
of the future? Perhaps, it just might
be.
Stay tuned for new information
on Martial Arts related podcast posting
on MAT soon for martial artists and
footage.
________________
The
Ultimate Last Challenge
is a new reality show filming and
shooting live this summer. The show
will be capturing a top competition
and the skill of real point fighting.
The event is already
one of the largest of its kind with
nearly 40,000 martial artist fans
and fighters in attendance. For three
days, fighters, celebrities and spectators
flock from all over the world to be
part of the action.
The reality show is
the first of its kind to take a real
live fight competition from beginning
to end and show the viewers at home
what the fighters really go through.
Combined with seven years of compiled
footage showing some of the most awesome
fighters making their journey to the
top, this will be the true story behind
the fighters.
Think you have what
it takes to be involved? Real
competitors only.
View
Reality Show Casting here (#445).
________________
Jet Li and
Statham Together Again in Rogue (Plus
see MAT Casting)
Jet
Li will team up again
with Jason
Statham (Transporter).
The two previously worked together
in The
One.
Li will play the title
character, an assassin who has caused
a bloody crime war between rival Asian
mobs. Statham plays an FBI agent determined
to bring down the killer after his
partner is murdered. Rogue will be
helmed by music video director Philip
G. Atwell. Corey
Yuen, who has worked
extensively with both stars in recent
years, is the action director.
Rogue producer Steve
Chasman mentioned that
in The One, Li and Statham were originally
meant to fight each other, but budget
constraints got in the way. Since
then, Statham has gone on to become
the world's newest non-Asian martial
arts star for performing mixed martial
arts action and his own stunts under
the guidance of Yuen in the Transporter
films.
So, is Jet Li still
doing martial arts films? Li indicated
that his comments about quitting martial
arts films were misinterpreted (mis-translated?)
by the media. Apparently, he meant
that he was done with wu
shu movies, but would
continue making action and kung fu
movies.
View
CASTING for ROGUE, here (#433).
________________
Serious Talent.
Serious Resource. Quotes
on MAT:
"I
am a member of your service
and have gotten a couple of
jobs already through your site.
It is a great site and has been
long overdue for our industry.
Please
keep up the good work!"
|
- Drew Serrano, co-founder of the
United States Breaking Association
________________
 Click
here to Tell A Friend about Martial
Arts Talent!
View
Previous "What's New?" Updates
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MAT
CASTING NEWS:
What's
New on MAT
|
Females with
Martial Arts - Are you
a photogenic female with martial
arts experience? Modeling shoot
for national website. See
Casting here (#888).
________________
|
Rob
Cohen to Shoot "Arrow" |
New Martial
Arts Action Film
Rob
Cohen ("The Fast
and the Furious", "Stealth",
"XXX") has agreed to direct
the mixed martial arts actioneer
"Arrow" under Warner Bros.
Pictures and Thunder Road.
The details of the
story are being kept under close
wraps. Cohen came up with the idea
for "Arrow" then brought
in Brandon Noonan to write the script.
Cohen has already
had experience in the martial arts
world, having directed the 1993
film "Dragon:
The Bruce Lee Story."
________________
Tom Yum Goong
will be released as WARRIOR KING
in UK cinemas this month.
The film was released
last year in Thailand and is full
of fast-paced action sequences without
the aid of wires or computer enhanced
stunts. All stunts are performed
by Thai superstar Tony
Jaa.
Watch out for the 4 minute spiral
stairway fight in particular.
In Tom-Yum-Goong,
Tony Jaa demonstrates a style of
Muay Thai that has moves which imitate
an elephant. Jaa was able to draw
on his childhood for experience,
because his family raises elephants.
Tony Jaa is skilled
in Muay Thai, Muay Boran, Aikido,
Pencak Silat, Capoeira, Wushu, Stick,
Krabi Krabong and Taekwondo.
Click on the link
below to view clips (flash required):
Hi
Res | Med
Res | Lo
Res
In UK theatres July
28.
________________
 |
What
We're Up To...
______________ |
Keeping
the Ball Rolling.
Take a good look at
MAT these days. This summer, we'll
usher in the new MAT. What exactly
does this mean for you?
New look. More features.
More resources. Questions? Feedback?
Contact
Us.
________________
|
Bruce
on Broadway? |
Kung Fu Takes
on Broadway
Martial arts has already
found a home in Hollywood. Now,
two massive Asian-themed shows are
both in development to debut on
Broadway in the next two years.
The first is a version
of "Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
now under development from the Weinstein
Brothers. Harvey
Weinstein told Daily
Variety that he sees the show as
“an epic spectacle in the
vein of Cirque du Soleil, with a
heavy reliance on martial arts,
albeit within a cohesive narrative”.
The second is a new
musical based on the life story
of kung fu legend Bruce
Lee, under development
by Chicago-based Elephant Eye Theatricals.
The musical is entitled, "Bruce
Lee: Journey to the West",
written by Tony Award-winner David
Henry Hwang. Producer
Stuart Oken has commented that the
Lee show will be a very different
project from "Crouching Tiger,"
despite Lee's iconic status in the
world of martial arts.
"Our show is
a legit show," says Oken. "No
flying. No wires. No Cirque-type
stuff. I see us doing something
far more in the mode of 'The Lion
King.' Something low-tech."
Oken says he's aiming for 2008 --
and plans at least two tryout cities
prior to New York.
2008 just might be the perfect
year for such a debut since Chinese
culture will enter the spotlight
even more due to the 2008
Olympics in Beijing.
Will there be room enough for two
martial arts shows on Broadway at
the same time? Only time will tell.
________________
Ong Bak Returns
to the Big Screen
The Thai Film Journal
has reported that Tony
Jaa will indeed direct
the film Ong Bak 2 (working title).
Filming for the feature is expected
to start soon. Even though the working
title of the film is Ong Bak 2,
the journal reports that the plot
will have nothing to do with the
first film.
It quotes Prachya
Pinkaew (director of
Ong
Bak and Tom Yum Goong)
as saying that "We decided
to use the title Ong Bak 2 because
it's immediately recognized wherever
we go. In some countries, the film
Tom
Yum Goong is called
Ong Bak 2." Concerning his
stepping down from the director's
chair, Prachya is quoted as saying,
"I'm tied up doing my movie
right now and the script for Daab
(Sword) isn’t finished yet
so [Jaa] asked about being director
on the project. The time was right
so we agreed."
Prachya Pinkaew will
still have involvement in Ong Bak
2 as producer. Tony Jaa's mentor,
Panna Rittikrai, is also set to
be involved (most likely as stunt/fight
choreographer).
The rights to Ong
Bak 2 have already been secured
for territories outside of Asia
and the UK by the Weinstein Co.
________________
| |
MAT
CASTING NEWS:
What's
New on MAT |
Roles for
Feature Film - Are you
a female with a Caucasian/Asian
or Eurasian look? Average height,
should appear to be in young 20's.
Martial arts background. Also casting
other roles. Film
Casting here (#705).
Fight Crew
Needed - Trained in fighting
and able to portray fighting well
on screen? Filmmaker looking to
build up fight crew for paid jobs
in upcoming features and fight scenes.
New York area. Fight
Crew Casting here (#699).
Martial Arts
Fitness Show - Casting
fit and athletic men and women,
trained in martial arts, dance and/or
gymnastics for television fitness
shows. End of May deadline for submissions.
Television
Casting here (#694).
________________
|
Sequels
in the Works for Crouching
Tiger |
Martial arts film
enthusiasts have been wondering
about a prequel or sequel to “Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
for some time. Recently, the Weinstein
brothers have announced that they’ll
be doing another four films in the
“Tiger” series, all
based on the books by Wang
Du Lu.
The producers are
planning three prequels and one
sequel to the Ang
Lee hit – though
they've yet to decide which titles
they will do of "Crane Frightens
KunLun," "Precious Sword,"
"Golden Hairpin," "Sword
Spirit, Pearl Light," "Tiger"
and "Iron Knight, Silver Vase”.
They are also hoping to entice Oscar
Winner Lee to get involved.
“Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon”, starring Chow
Yun-Fat, Michelle
Yeoh, Chen Chang, Ziyi
Zhang, Sihung Lung,
Pei-pei Cheng, Fazeng Li, and Xian
Gao - was actually the fourth chapter
in the series of books by Lu.
________________
Casting
Highlight - Acting Coach Seeks Martial
Arts Trainer (Lesson Exchange)
Are you an actor with
martial arts certification in need
of acting training? Celebrated Los
Angeles acting coach is currently
offering acting lessons in exchange
for martial arts training. With
his classes, you’ll develop
the skills necessary to make it
in the business, and sharpen the
tools to break out of your comfort
zone, expanding your horizons for
a richer, fuller life.
All qualified parties
please submit resumes and references.
Click
here to view details and submit
to this posting (#575).
________________
Illustrator-turned-director
Dave
McKean will direct
Varjak
Paw, according to the
Hollywood Reporter.
The production will
be an adaptation of SF
Said's fantasy kung
fu cat series for the Jim Henson
Co. McKean will also co-write the
screenplay with Said. "Paw"
follows a Mesopotamian blue kitten
who embarks on a journey to save
his family and in the process discovers
he is part of a mystical tradition
of magical martial arts.
See Dave McKean's
illustrations
of Varjak Paw here.
________________
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CASTING
HIGHLIGHTS
Keep
your portfolio up to date! |
As you get new projects
-- add them immediately. Recent
projects are better than some smaller,
older projects. Take the time to
review your resume / bio to make
sure you present the best background
possible
We
continue to get great feedback on
the quality of our members and their
abilities. Keep up the good work!
Women for
Television Series - Physically
fit? Have a background in dance,
gymnastics, boxing, cardio kick-boxing
or any type of martial arts? Education,
poise and high energy important.
Television
Show Casting here (#495).
Stunt Team
for Music Video - Trained
in fighting (street fighting / hand
to hand combat) and near (or able
to get to) Chicago? Music
Video Casting here (#485).
________________
Martial
Arts SuperShow - Building the Business
of Martial Arts
The industry's largest
educational experience, tradeshow
and networking event will take place
in July. This event delivers the
ultimate convention experience to
school owners and instructors who
want to build their business, increase
their stature in the community and
network with their peers from around
the world.
Martial Arts
SuperShow 2006
When: July
6th, 7th and 8th, 2006
Where: MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89103
Visit
the official website.
________________
Ace stuntwoman Ming
Qiu has an impressive
lineup of Hollywood films (Charlie’s
Angels, Kill Bill, Ultraviolet)
on her resume and Inside Kung Fu
magazine just saluted her as their
2006 Woman of the Year.
It didn’t take
long for Qiu’s talents to
make a mark in the industry. She
doubled for Lucy Liu in the Charlie’s
Angels films and in Kill
Bill, and helped to
prepare Summer Glau for the Serenity
fight scenes. Her work can be seen
in non-genre films like Austin Powers
in Goldmember and Memoirs of a Geisha,
as well as fan favorites like The
Scorpion King and Spiderman 2. She
also appeared as a Chinese vampire
slayer on the Buffy series. “I
do mostly stunt work now. A lot
of movies need people who can fight.
But even if you know martial arts,
you have to learn more skills, like
wire work, high falls, and gymnastics.”
Qiu trained Milla
Jovovich in combat
techniques for her lead role in
the upcoming sci-fi actioner Ultraviolet,
and is credited as assistant stunt
coordinator in the film.
“Before they
hired Milla, they already asked
me to stunt double for the lead.
But then they cast her, and she’s
about 5’8”, and I’m
about 5’3”! So instead
I worked with her on choreographing
and rehearsing the moves before
they hired her doubles. Then we
trained the doubles.” She
added, “Milla does her own
moves” as a freedom-fighting
vampire in the futuristic thriller.
“She uses beautiful moves
to avoid bullets.”
Read
the entire article at Kung Fu Cinema
here.
________________
The "Battle
at the Boardwalk"
will be held this weekend - February
17-19, 2006 , at the Atlantic City
Convention Center in Atlantic City
, New Jersey. For the first time
on the East Coast, a major martial
arts tournament will combine multiple
disciplines.
Spectator Tickets
can still be purchased online. Find
out more by visiting the website.
Martial Arts Talent Calendar
of Events coming
soon.
________________
Serious Talent.
Serious Resource. Quotes
on MAT:
"Wow!
This is fantastic. As a former
British Champion and Martial
Artist, you can see why I
am so pleased to see my favourite
sport is moving forward, thanks
to people like you.
Keep
up the fantastic work."
|
- Harun "The Persuader"
Rabban
________________
Jobs,
Jobs, Jobs - Keep an
eye on our regularly updated job
listings section to find paying
work as a full-time or part-time
instructor and more.
Click
here for Job Listings.
________________
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