Mike Fury

Hit Girls: (Hit) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Impact

With the popularity of online movies and web series on the rise, a dynamic new action short recently hit YouTube and is already causing quite a stir. Hit Girls, the new short film from Rosebud Pictures, was recently released online following a successful set of screenings at BAFTA, Working Title and Electric Cinema in London. Differentiating itself from video game franchises like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat (the subject of other recent web films and series), Hit Girls remains action-packed while still grounded in reality. The film, which has kickstarted the development of a forthcoming web series and feature, stars Rosie Fellner (The Crew, The Life & Death of Peter Sellars), Gillian MacGregor (A Lonely Place to Die, Father's Day) and Joey Ansah (The Bourne Ultimatum, Snow White and the Huntsman)...

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Watch the film here!

Guest Host on Filmsploitation: The Film Podcast

Tonight I appeared as the guest host (joining presenters Phil Hobden and Richard Blanchett) on episode 10 of Filmsploitation: The Film Podcast!

In their own words, the podcast is: "A journey through all the good, the bad and the ugly that film has to offer. A fortnightly mix of reviews, news and opinion interspersed with the occasional special ‘Alternate Commentary’ or ‘Interview’ here and there. Hosted by Richard Blanchett & Phil Hobden, with a team of movie experts, we aim to offer an alternative view on all things film - from contemporary blockbusters to old skool classics."

Joining them, the three of us discussed the most highly anticipated titles of 2012, the biggest Box Office films right now, film news and gossip and my all-time favourite cult movie, The Warriors!

Visit the website and listen to the podcast here!

Interviews Referenced in Undefeatable Commentary

I was very pleased and honoured that my interviews with actors, Don Niam and John Miller, were heavily referenced for the latest film commentary from the well-established Podcast on Fire team. Their new commentary for B-movie Martial Arts favourite, Undefeatable, starring Cynthia Rothrock, is well worth checking out and offers some interesting comments and discussion points! Thanks for including me guys!

"Joined by Tom Kent-Williams and David Harris, Kenneth Brorsson tackles Godfrey Ho’s B-movie actioner that survived: Undefeatable. Cynthia Rothrock kicking butt flanked by kung-fu fighting cop and Don Niam (and mullet) tear it up Hong Kong style which means this one will have a perfect blend of eyebrow raising, good, mad fun!"

Click here for part 1 of the YouTube Edition

Click here to visit the Podcast on Fire website

Reflections From a Legend: An Exclusive Interview with Andy Lau - Jade Screen

Andy Lau is one of the most popular and enduring stars in the Hong Kong and Asian entertainment industries. Highly regarded as a Cantopop singer, he has earned literally hundreds of music awards and even holds the Guinness World Record in the category of “Most Awards Won By A Cantopop Male Artist”. He is also a hugely popular film actor, with a career dating back to 1981 and 150 acting credits, and works as a producer as well. He even nurtures new talent in the film industry, having formed his own company, Focus Group Holdings, to support new filmmakers and projects. Still as busy as ever, he recently starred in the critically acclaimed action/mystery, Detective Dee, under legendary director, Tsui Hark. Andy was kind enough to answer some questions on this hit film and discuss his extensive career...

Read the interview here!

A Master Returns: An Exclusive Interview with Tsui Hark - Jade Screen

Born in 1950 in Vietnam, the young Tsui Hark first travelled to Hong Kong in 1966 to attend secondary school. In the years that followed he studied at University in the US and became enamoured by the world of media, becoming immersed in newspaper press, theatre and television work. After leaving the US, he returned to Hong Kong in 1977 to begin work as a TV producer and director. In time he would forge some of the most popular Blockbusters in the history of Hong Kong cinema, including the Once Upon a Time in China, A Chinese Ghost Story and A Better Tomorrow series, and most recently the award winning Detective Dee, starring Andy Lau. Tsui Hark was kind enough to talk me through his many years of filmmaking and discuss his latest project which many see as a return to form for this master of the action arena.

Read the interview here!

When Twisters Strike: An Interview with Darren Shahlavi - Jade Screen

Darren Shahlavi is a British Martial Arts star widely known to avid genre fans around the world. With a versatile range of work and memorable characters to his name, he has single-handedly dominated the screen as both a hero and a villain, battling on-screen opponents from the East and West. Having started his training at the age of seven, this child of the movies began his career working in Hong Kong before moving into action films and major blockbusters in the West. Early highlights include Angel on Fire, Bloodmoon and Yuen Woo-ping's Tai Chi II, while more recently he dominated the screen in Ip Man 2 and Born To Raise Hell, opposite Steven Seagal. He also played Kano in the hit web-series, Mortal Kombat: Legacy and forthcoming titles include Tactical Force (with Steve Austin and Michael Jai White) and the hugely anticipated Mission: Imposible - Ghost Protocol...

Read the interview here!

Yakuza Weapon: An Interview with Actor/Director Tak Sakaguchi - Jade Screen

 

Born in 1975 in Ishikawa, Japan, renowned actor, director and action choreographer Tak Sakaguchi started as a feared underground street fighter with a reputation for using Martial Arts to beat down his opponents. He was later discovered by director Ryuhei Kitamura who cast him as the star of his low budget, action-horror film Versus, one of the earliest full-contact action films in Japan. This little film went on to become a cult action hit, selling over 100,000 copies in America and remains Kitamura's best-known work. Visiting London in May 2011 to promote the European Premiere of his new film, Yakuza Weapon, at the Terracotta Far East Film Festival, Tak also led a filmmaking master class and shared his experiences working in action cinema. He was kind enough to answer some questions looking back on his turbulent life and drop a few hints on what’s next for Japanese cinema’s undisputed badass...

Read the interview here!

A Warrior's Return: An Exclusive Interview with Richard Norton

Richard Norton is an undisputed legend of action cinema who remains one of the highest rated Martial Artists in his field. He even holds a unique accolade as one of the most highly regarded Westerners to work on the dynamic films of Hong Kong stars, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. Born and raised in Croydon, Australia, the young Richard pursued a passion in Martial Arts that would shape his life and career. He subsequently began working security at clubs before starting a long-spanning career as a bodyguard to some of the best musical artists in the world including The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Linda Ronstadt. After becoming good friends with Chuck Norris, Richard appeared in his first acting role in The Octagon in 1980 and would go on to appear in countless Martial Arts and action films throughout Hong Kong, America and Australia, including new films; The Amazing Spider-Man, and Mad Max: Fury Road...

Read the interview here!

Yakuza Weapon: An Interview with Actor/Director Tak Sakaguchi

Interview also featured on www.screen-power.com

Born in 1975 in Ishikawa, Japan, renowned actor, director and action choreographer Tak Sakaguchi started as an underground street fighter with a reputation for using Martial Arts to beat down his opponents. He was later discovered by director Ryuhei Kitamura who cast him as the star of his low budget, action-horror film, Versus. This little film went on to become a cult action hit, selling over 100,000 DVDs in America and remains Kitamura's best-known work. Visiting London in May 2011 to promote the European Premiere of his new film, Yakuza Weapon, at the Terracotta Far East Film Festival, Tak is also leading a filmmaking masterclass titled “Acting & Directing Action Films”. Tak was kind enough to answer a few questions looking back on his impressive career and drop a few hints on what’s coming next...

Read the interview here!

Fighter's Legacy: An Exclusive Interview with Donnie Yen - Jade Screen

Donnie Yen is an undisputed legend of action cinema and remains one of the most highly regarded Martial Arts movie stars in the world. Through his lifelong passion for Martial Arts, the young Donnie entered the film business working with master director Yuen Woo-ping, setting him on a path to become one of the most recognised physical action stars of all time. Today he has starred in nearly 50 films, as well building an unparalleled reputation as an Award Winning action choreographer. Celebrating the UK release of Ip Man 2, the hit sequel portraying the legendary Wing Chun master's move from China to Hong Kong, Donnie clearly found a unique role to express his ideology and vision of Martial Arts. In this exclusive interview for Jade Screen, he was kind enough to discuss some of the highlights from his 25 impressive years in the business and examine his latest work on the Ip Man movies...

Read the interview here!