Undisputed 2
There is no need to say much after my first interview with Isaac Florentine last year. This mega-talented director and very nice person will make his breakthrough with 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing' and finally also attract the attention that he deserves.
(read the full interview)
Isaac, you finished the movie last year but nine months later the audience still waits for the release. New Line hasn't pubish an official date but they work on extras - for example audio commentaries. How frustrating is it for you to await the release of your last work also first reviews are very positive?
The release date is Jan 23 2007. The reason for the delay is because of series of events that happened to the film since its first audience test score on Dec 2005. Originally the film was pre-sold to New Line Cinema. The First audience test screen was in Long Beach CA. The film scored extremely high. New Line decided to test the film once more in Clifton NJ. and the scores were pretty much similar. Bob Berney from Picture house (A company partly owned by New Line) attended that screening, liked the film and the way the audience reacted to it and decided to come with a plan to release it theatrically (Bob released My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the Passion of the Christ). Unfortunately his plan was rejected by New Line. Avi Lerner the CEO of Nu Image asked the film back from New Line, so he'll be able to shop it around in order to find a company that will release it theatrically. New Line gave him 30 days to do it and basically asked for an additional price for the film if it'll be sold to another campany. The film generated interest with other companies, but thefact that they had to out buy New Line made the film's price an unattractive acquisition. As an example the film was shown to Harvey Weinstein who liked it but did not want to out buy New Line. Finally the film came back to New Line. Luckily the senior VP of the Home entertainment devision is a great guy who really loves films. His name is Kevin Kasha and he is the Person who originally bought the film in the first place (when we were still in its first shooting week), Kevin already believed in the film in that stage. When Kevin purchased the film, our producer Boaz Davidson called me told me the good news and asked me how can he help . I asked Boaz to give us more shooting days and he managed to do it. Kevin Kasha is proud of the final result and he is determined to make it a DVD hit for New Line. So are his stuff and rest of the people I met in New Line. That is why Kevin is planning to release the film at January 2007, so the film will not be buried by the Christmas and Summer films. So looking back I can say that for me it's a bitter sweet victory...
You told me in our first interview that your are a freelancer who does not create new projects but modifies existing projects. How can I imagine these changes using the example of 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing'?
From my experience of directing a lot of episodic TV, I came to realize that in reality the director's craft is to give his interpretation to the written material, allowing him to emphasizes things he feels are right to the film (and genre) - I am not a big Jazz fan but I believe its like the way a Jazz player takes a music piece and plays the way he feels is right for him. or an arrangement for a music piece that can go to many directions. When a production company are bringing a director to do a project it really means they're bringing a certain style in to it. I can not really give you a specific example because it is all over the film. Also it really began from the fact that I am no a fan of jail films and I did not want to do a depressing jail film so I went more in the direction of a fun film kind of like the original Longest Yard' a different director could have taken that film and go to different direction . - Ringo Lam made From Hell and went into a violent gloomy direction I went for the action 'light' feel. It doesn't mean one is better then the other it's a matter of taste (Some like Vanilla ice cream some chocolate...)
After 'Desert Kickboxer' you found your entrance to Nu Image (My mistake: the movie was made by Golbal Pictures) on the set of 'American Cyborg: Steel Warrior' as martial arts choreographer. Can you explain a little bit how these contact came into being?
Not really, NU Image was not involved in American cyborg, as it did not existed yet in LA, however it's the first time I worked under Boaz Davidson who directed the film. and ever since then I see him as close friend and a mentor in the film making world. I did not really do a lot in the film, I wanted to do much more but it was always a matter of short scheduling. I met Boaz just before the film, by then he was already a legend (because of the Lemon popsicle films) Boaz has a rare capability to look into a person's insight immediately and read it like an open book. That makes him the good director he is, and a great story teller / film maker with tremendous grip on a story. I said it before and will say it again . I truly believe that Undisputed II: Last Man Standing came up good is because of Boaz Davidson. He was like a solid rock making sure the film will get anything needed to elevate its quality. This film was a total joint effort and he was the fuel that made the engine running.
Between 'Special Forces' and 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing' is a lapse of three years? What do you between your movies normally and how difficult is it for you to wait for the next production?
It's frustrating as I love doing films I do not like the waiting period. However sometimes I feel I need the time to recharge the batteries. I use to direct TV episodes in between (Power Rangers). Also I am a partner in Rising Sun productions that distributes and produce Instructional Martial Arts DVD strictly for the Martial arts practitioners. And having a large family four kids and a wonderful wife that is a full time physician, I am always always busy.
Five years ago you shot with 'U.S. Seals II' your last movie in Bulgaria. Nu Image invested a lot of money in the local studios in the last years. Did you feel big differences during filming 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing' compared to 'U.S. Seals II' ? Nu Images productions also often placed in South Africa. Would it attract you to work in South Africa again. In my opinion the locations are looking more attractive and unspent.
Actually I did the first film Nu Image did in Bulgaria (Bridge of Dragon with Dolph Lundgren). For me that film was a total mess because the shooting conditions were really bad. I liked Bulgaria and it's people but I was not sure I wanted to make there films again . Ever since then I did two more films there and visited the country five more times. It a total new experience I love working in Bulgaria the crew (same one from the first film) is really good and Sofia is a beautiful great city. And the studio there is running like a machine. The head of the studio David Varod is a good friend he was the production designers in Cold Harvest and Bridge of Dragon . David has a great managing instincts besides being an artist and a man who knows from first hand the craft of making films. It's always a pleasure to work in the studio. I also shot in Lithuania and South Africa. I have no problems to shoot anywhere as long as it's right for the film. -The film comes first.
You can feel the pulse of the b movie industry direct in Los Angeles. After a few rather unsuccessful years excellent films like 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing' or Dolph Lundgrens 'The Mechanik' delight the fans and also veterans such as Wesley Snipes or Jean-Claude Van Damme find themself in better productions. Is there a optimistic mood to detect? How does your view in the future look?
I wish others would feel the same. As I find it, the main stream Hollywood is shying away from B-movie Hollywood. I discovered that being a straight to DVD director is ( just to quoteBoaz Davidson) ' worst then saying you have a Malaria...' I always say that until the French New Wave 'intellectuals' called the American B films that were made in the 30's 'Film Noir' the American looked down at these films. I always joke with my wife that probably after I'll be long gone some important film maker (from the mainstream) will say that he used to love the B films of directors like Steve Wang or Isaac Florentine when he was a kid...
Ok, the closing words are yours. If you want to say something to the your fans is this your opportunity.
I do not have fans - We're all fans!! We're all fans of the genre we love so much. I am maybe lucky to express myself in it and to do a film or two. however I really believe we're all in the same boat. If not for the action/ Martial arts films, especially Bruce Lee Sergio Leone and the Spaghetti Westerns, I would have never got the desire to become a film maker. - At the end with all I said I love it!! And I really like that I am getting good reactions for U2 and I hope to do better films in the future.
(read the full interview)
Isaac, you finished the movie last year but nine months later the audience still waits for the release. New Line hasn't pubish an official date but they work on extras - for example audio commentaries. How frustrating is it for you to await the release of your last work also first reviews are very positive?
The release date is Jan 23 2007. The reason for the delay is because of series of events that happened to the film since its first audience test score on Dec 2005. Originally the film was pre-sold to New Line Cinema. The First audience test screen was in Long Beach CA. The film scored extremely high. New Line decided to test the film once more in Clifton NJ. and the scores were pretty much similar. Bob Berney from Picture house (A company partly owned by New Line) attended that screening, liked the film and the way the audience reacted to it and decided to come with a plan to release it theatrically (Bob released My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the Passion of the Christ). Unfortunately his plan was rejected by New Line. Avi Lerner the CEO of Nu Image asked the film back from New Line, so he'll be able to shop it around in order to find a company that will release it theatrically. New Line gave him 30 days to do it and basically asked for an additional price for the film if it'll be sold to another campany. The film generated interest with other companies, but thefact that they had to out buy New Line made the film's price an unattractive acquisition. As an example the film was shown to Harvey Weinstein who liked it but did not want to out buy New Line. Finally the film came back to New Line. Luckily the senior VP of the Home entertainment devision is a great guy who really loves films. His name is Kevin Kasha and he is the Person who originally bought the film in the first place (when we were still in its first shooting week), Kevin already believed in the film in that stage. When Kevin purchased the film, our producer Boaz Davidson called me told me the good news and asked me how can he help . I asked Boaz to give us more shooting days and he managed to do it. Kevin Kasha is proud of the final result and he is determined to make it a DVD hit for New Line. So are his stuff and rest of the people I met in New Line. That is why Kevin is planning to release the film at January 2007, so the film will not be buried by the Christmas and Summer films. So looking back I can say that for me it's a bitter sweet victory...
You told me in our first interview that your are a freelancer who does not create new projects but modifies existing projects. How can I imagine these changes using the example of 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing'?
From my experience of directing a lot of episodic TV, I came to realize that in reality the director's craft is to give his interpretation to the written material, allowing him to emphasizes things he feels are right to the film (and genre) - I am not a big Jazz fan but I believe its like the way a Jazz player takes a music piece and plays the way he feels is right for him. or an arrangement for a music piece that can go to many directions. When a production company are bringing a director to do a project it really means they're bringing a certain style in to it. I can not really give you a specific example because it is all over the film. Also it really began from the fact that I am no a fan of jail films and I did not want to do a depressing jail film so I went more in the direction of a fun film kind of like the original Longest Yard' a different director could have taken that film and go to different direction . - Ringo Lam made From Hell and went into a violent gloomy direction I went for the action 'light' feel. It doesn't mean one is better then the other it's a matter of taste (Some like Vanilla ice cream some chocolate...)
After 'Desert Kickboxer' you found your entrance to Nu Image (My mistake: the movie was made by Golbal Pictures) on the set of 'American Cyborg: Steel Warrior' as martial arts choreographer. Can you explain a little bit how these contact came into being?
Not really, NU Image was not involved in American cyborg, as it did not existed yet in LA, however it's the first time I worked under Boaz Davidson who directed the film. and ever since then I see him as close friend and a mentor in the film making world. I did not really do a lot in the film, I wanted to do much more but it was always a matter of short scheduling. I met Boaz just before the film, by then he was already a legend (because of the Lemon popsicle films) Boaz has a rare capability to look into a person's insight immediately and read it like an open book. That makes him the good director he is, and a great story teller / film maker with tremendous grip on a story. I said it before and will say it again . I truly believe that Undisputed II: Last Man Standing came up good is because of Boaz Davidson. He was like a solid rock making sure the film will get anything needed to elevate its quality. This film was a total joint effort and he was the fuel that made the engine running.
Between 'Special Forces' and 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing' is a lapse of three years? What do you between your movies normally and how difficult is it for you to wait for the next production?
It's frustrating as I love doing films I do not like the waiting period. However sometimes I feel I need the time to recharge the batteries. I use to direct TV episodes in between (Power Rangers). Also I am a partner in Rising Sun productions that distributes and produce Instructional Martial Arts DVD strictly for the Martial arts practitioners. And having a large family four kids and a wonderful wife that is a full time physician, I am always always busy.
Five years ago you shot with 'U.S. Seals II' your last movie in Bulgaria. Nu Image invested a lot of money in the local studios in the last years. Did you feel big differences during filming 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing' compared to 'U.S. Seals II' ? Nu Images productions also often placed in South Africa. Would it attract you to work in South Africa again. In my opinion the locations are looking more attractive and unspent.
Actually I did the first film Nu Image did in Bulgaria (Bridge of Dragon with Dolph Lundgren). For me that film was a total mess because the shooting conditions were really bad. I liked Bulgaria and it's people but I was not sure I wanted to make there films again . Ever since then I did two more films there and visited the country five more times. It a total new experience I love working in Bulgaria the crew (same one from the first film) is really good and Sofia is a beautiful great city. And the studio there is running like a machine. The head of the studio David Varod is a good friend he was the production designers in Cold Harvest and Bridge of Dragon . David has a great managing instincts besides being an artist and a man who knows from first hand the craft of making films. It's always a pleasure to work in the studio. I also shot in Lithuania and South Africa. I have no problems to shoot anywhere as long as it's right for the film. -The film comes first.
You can feel the pulse of the b movie industry direct in Los Angeles. After a few rather unsuccessful years excellent films like 'Undisputed II: Last Man Standing' or Dolph Lundgrens 'The Mechanik' delight the fans and also veterans such as Wesley Snipes or Jean-Claude Van Damme find themself in better productions. Is there a optimistic mood to detect? How does your view in the future look?
I wish others would feel the same. As I find it, the main stream Hollywood is shying away from B-movie Hollywood. I discovered that being a straight to DVD director is ( just to quoteBoaz Davidson) ' worst then saying you have a Malaria...' I always say that until the French New Wave 'intellectuals' called the American B films that were made in the 30's 'Film Noir' the American looked down at these films. I always joke with my wife that probably after I'll be long gone some important film maker (from the mainstream) will say that he used to love the B films of directors like Steve Wang or Isaac Florentine when he was a kid...
Ok, the closing words are yours. If you want to say something to the your fans is this your opportunity.
I do not have fans - We're all fans!! We're all fans of the genre we love so much. I am maybe lucky to express myself in it and to do a film or two. however I really believe we're all in the same boat. If not for the action/ Martial arts films, especially Bruce Lee Sergio Leone and the Spaghetti Westerns, I would have never got the desire to become a film maker. - At the end with all I said I love it!! And I really like that I am getting good reactions for U2 and I hope to do better films in the future.
Misc
In contradistinction to a lot of b-movie directors with a very high output
you set a great value upon quality since many years. Especially 'U.S. Seals
II' and 'Special Forces U.S.A.' were a big success, so that I can say you
are one or maybe the best director since many years in this field with an
extraordinary and unique style. Your movies are consistently the
highlights and your skills are much better than many hollywood directors who waste
millions for a lousy effect show.
(read the full interview)
The time is long ripe, that a big studio knock at your door and assign you A big budget project. But until now you work frequently for Nu Image. Do you think there is a way for you to get a foot in the door and step into the a league? I know, that the divide between this two worlds is big, but do you have interesting offers for the future? Maybe as temporary Second Unit Director like Spiro Razatos (I don't know, if you know him)?
Thank you for kind words. I met Spiro once a few years ago through a mutual friend. The problem in Hollywood is that once you have been marked as a 'straight to video' director no one really wants to talk to you and no one in the studio wants to see the work. And as unfair as it sounds it is the reality. This is why there is a separation between the studios and the B films. Up till the 70`s a crossover was possible; however in the Hollywood of today, which is run by committees and not really by film makers (or film lovers) this transition is nearly impossible. There is a difference between second unit director and a director. As the main director sets the style and the second unit director is in bound by that style. However if an offer like this will be extended to me I will consider it.
In the younger past the biggest part of b-productions were filmed in Eastern europe. I read in the Impact Magazine - Interview, that you were one of the First directors there. Which are the reasons for this step from America to Eastern Europe? Only the financial aspect? Especially Nu Image produces almost Only there. What is your opinion about his strategy. Would you prefer to work On exotic countries like Thailand or is this for you a perfect environment?
Eastern Europe was chosen because of the low cost, however since 1988 when the first film was produced there, the level of their crew increased and is now really good! I have no problem working anywhere in the world as long as the movie we`re doing is right for the country we`re shooting. As an example 'Special Forces' was supposed to be done in India, I went there, and the story was supposed to happen in Afghanistan. The script was tailored to be done in Ramoji Studio in Southern India, almost scene by scene. Two days before going to India the deal fell through and then the only option was to go to Lithuania which is a Baltic country, a total opposite of India. At that point we changed the script from Afghanistan to a Balkan / caucasoid style country, and from a slaughter of muslim women by the talibans to an ethnic cleaning WW2 style tragedy or from a blind religious cleric that is the head of the state to an ex soviet style bureaucrat etc. We had to modify to the new reality, and to do it fast as the dates were already set and could not be changed.
You have worked with many martial arts fighters like Olivier Gruner, Dolph Lundgren, Gary Daniels, Michael Worth, Hakim Alston, Michael Jai White and last but not least Scott Adkins. Is there an actor about you would say. Hey, I would gladly make a movie with this man. How do you see the currently situation for new actors? An old and plump Steven Seagal plays three or four roles every year and younger talents like Scott Adkins don't get their chance.
It all goes back to the business aspect of film selling and distribution - You see, I love this genre and I love doing those films. However film companies are selling films according to actor`s names. That is why some actors will work again and again and others, no less talented, will not get the same chance. I had the luck to work with some talented actors of this genre. I believe in collaboration, that is why my working relations with the actors ended up really well.
'Undisputed 2' will be released next year and the trailer looks great. I think this will be a new highlight by you. Tell a little bit about the movie. Have you speak with Walter Hill about the sequel or thinking about to cast Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames again? Your frequently composer Stephen Edwards (I think the best and most talented in the b-business) composes again, Michael Jai White and Scott Adkins are excellent fighters. This couldbe your ultimate breakthrough. How much action we can await and did you have problems with the budget or the locations in Eastern Europe?
I believe this is the best film I`ve ever done! By chance or by luck. It has the right balance between a story that really works, good characters, good acting by everyone and really good fights. The fight choreographer was J.J. Perry and he did a great job. Both Michael Jai White and Scott were fantastic. I never talked with Walter Hill about it (I am a big fan of him, and 'Streets on Fire' is one of my favorites). However I did not want to do a boxing film but a mixed martial movie and my producers at Nu Image allowed me to do whatever I want.
Do you see a way to work again with Gary Daniels (one of my favorite actors)? I wrote you, that he answers me, that he think about to retire from film because nobody offers him interesting projects. But he is a so sympathic actor and extremly good fighter. Since the nineties the business has changed and more and more retire. A real pity!
I love Gary, and I am dying to do another film with him. However I am not really an auteur but a hired gun, so I really do not initiate my projects. I take a film and then I`ll twist it in a way that`ll make it mine. That is why I need the right project to fall into my hands to convince its producers of whoever is needed to work with, this actor or another.
In your interview with Impact Magazine nobody talks about 'Cold Harvest', So here my questions. It's a sci-fi-movie and not typically for you after the more fantastic 'Bridge of the Dragons' but with the usual high quality. How did it happen? The movie has funny italo-western attributes, a cool spirit,amazing fights and plausible dcor. Were these all your ideas? An entertaining and very unconventional movie, which juts out of the business.
Cold Harvest was probably one of the few films I initiated. I love the Italian Westerns, I think that the Italian Westerns reinvented the action genre and are also the biggest influence in the Martial Arts genre. In many aspects - the way the stories were told and their heroes are unique. (Django is not really a typical American western hero. He`s more like a Samurai arriving to town. And of course 'A Fistful of Dollars' was done as a 'Yujimbo' set in the Wild West). The first third world hero came from the Spaghetti Westerns (Kuchio - Tomas Milian in 'The Big Gun-Down' and 'Run Man Run') It`s because of these films that another third wold hero, Bruce Lee, could become a super star. Going back to 'Cold Harvest' when I told Nu Image that 'Cold Harvest' will be a futuristic western, they kind of brushed it off. When they saw the dailies they wanted to kill me. They told me that they never really thought that I literally meant that I`d make a western, but at that point it was already a done deal. During those years, the convention on futuristic films was to go into 50`s retro. I decided that we`d go to Spaghetti Western retro. Even now, one of the heads of the company Danny Dimbort always is reminding me of this; when I had the bad guy in 'Special Forces' appearing on oa horse, my producer, Boaz Davidson, told me 'I already hear Danny Dimbort saying that Isaac is doing another westernÉ.'
Why do you work since many years only for Nu Image?
Nu Image is a company that does the walk and not the talk - things happen for real and not in the air. When they decide to do something it`s now!! And I like this approach.
Do you have already new projects in pre production?
I am superstitious when it comes to film making, so I prefer not to answer this question. I believe that a film really happens only when I am in the set and I hear the camera rolling.
At least time for you. If you want to say something to your fans out there here is your chance.
Movie making is a work for dreamers. I got the love for films from my mother and my older brother (My father was never a movie fan) . However until I saw the 'Good, the Bad and the Ugly' as a kid, I never had the desire to be become a film maker, but that film changed it all and since then Sergio Leone has been my favorite director. Also, until I saw Bruce Lee in 1972 (in Fists of Fury) I never thought that Martial arts would be such an important part of my life. I believe that I got the desire to achieve my dreams from my Karate training. Coming to America and making action films was a dream and doing it for real is still like magic to me. Furthermore, the fact that people like my films is very rewarding for me. I love this genre and I do the films that I would love to see as a fan of the genre, that is the real true. I am very touched that other people respond to it. I think that more Europeans like my films then in the US, maybe it's because though I've been living in the US for almost 17 years, I grew up in Israel , which is a culturally bubbling melting pot, influenced more by Europe then anything else. Though the Martial Arts genre is Asian by origin and I am doing 'American' films the European flavor is still in my films. I want to thank you very much for thinking about me interviewing me and asking those questions. I am very curious to see what others think of Undisputed 2. Thank you.
(read the full interview)
The time is long ripe, that a big studio knock at your door and assign you A big budget project. But until now you work frequently for Nu Image. Do you think there is a way for you to get a foot in the door and step into the a league? I know, that the divide between this two worlds is big, but do you have interesting offers for the future? Maybe as temporary Second Unit Director like Spiro Razatos (I don't know, if you know him)?
Thank you for kind words. I met Spiro once a few years ago through a mutual friend. The problem in Hollywood is that once you have been marked as a 'straight to video' director no one really wants to talk to you and no one in the studio wants to see the work. And as unfair as it sounds it is the reality. This is why there is a separation between the studios and the B films. Up till the 70`s a crossover was possible; however in the Hollywood of today, which is run by committees and not really by film makers (or film lovers) this transition is nearly impossible. There is a difference between second unit director and a director. As the main director sets the style and the second unit director is in bound by that style. However if an offer like this will be extended to me I will consider it.
In the younger past the biggest part of b-productions were filmed in Eastern europe. I read in the Impact Magazine - Interview, that you were one of the First directors there. Which are the reasons for this step from America to Eastern Europe? Only the financial aspect? Especially Nu Image produces almost Only there. What is your opinion about his strategy. Would you prefer to work On exotic countries like Thailand or is this for you a perfect environment?
Eastern Europe was chosen because of the low cost, however since 1988 when the first film was produced there, the level of their crew increased and is now really good! I have no problem working anywhere in the world as long as the movie we`re doing is right for the country we`re shooting. As an example 'Special Forces' was supposed to be done in India, I went there, and the story was supposed to happen in Afghanistan. The script was tailored to be done in Ramoji Studio in Southern India, almost scene by scene. Two days before going to India the deal fell through and then the only option was to go to Lithuania which is a Baltic country, a total opposite of India. At that point we changed the script from Afghanistan to a Balkan / caucasoid style country, and from a slaughter of muslim women by the talibans to an ethnic cleaning WW2 style tragedy or from a blind religious cleric that is the head of the state to an ex soviet style bureaucrat etc. We had to modify to the new reality, and to do it fast as the dates were already set and could not be changed.
You have worked with many martial arts fighters like Olivier Gruner, Dolph Lundgren, Gary Daniels, Michael Worth, Hakim Alston, Michael Jai White and last but not least Scott Adkins. Is there an actor about you would say. Hey, I would gladly make a movie with this man. How do you see the currently situation for new actors? An old and plump Steven Seagal plays three or four roles every year and younger talents like Scott Adkins don't get their chance.
It all goes back to the business aspect of film selling and distribution - You see, I love this genre and I love doing those films. However film companies are selling films according to actor`s names. That is why some actors will work again and again and others, no less talented, will not get the same chance. I had the luck to work with some talented actors of this genre. I believe in collaboration, that is why my working relations with the actors ended up really well.
'Undisputed 2' will be released next year and the trailer looks great. I think this will be a new highlight by you. Tell a little bit about the movie. Have you speak with Walter Hill about the sequel or thinking about to cast Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames again? Your frequently composer Stephen Edwards (I think the best and most talented in the b-business) composes again, Michael Jai White and Scott Adkins are excellent fighters. This couldbe your ultimate breakthrough. How much action we can await and did you have problems with the budget or the locations in Eastern Europe?
I believe this is the best film I`ve ever done! By chance or by luck. It has the right balance between a story that really works, good characters, good acting by everyone and really good fights. The fight choreographer was J.J. Perry and he did a great job. Both Michael Jai White and Scott were fantastic. I never talked with Walter Hill about it (I am a big fan of him, and 'Streets on Fire' is one of my favorites). However I did not want to do a boxing film but a mixed martial movie and my producers at Nu Image allowed me to do whatever I want.
Do you see a way to work again with Gary Daniels (one of my favorite actors)? I wrote you, that he answers me, that he think about to retire from film because nobody offers him interesting projects. But he is a so sympathic actor and extremly good fighter. Since the nineties the business has changed and more and more retire. A real pity!
I love Gary, and I am dying to do another film with him. However I am not really an auteur but a hired gun, so I really do not initiate my projects. I take a film and then I`ll twist it in a way that`ll make it mine. That is why I need the right project to fall into my hands to convince its producers of whoever is needed to work with, this actor or another.
In your interview with Impact Magazine nobody talks about 'Cold Harvest', So here my questions. It's a sci-fi-movie and not typically for you after the more fantastic 'Bridge of the Dragons' but with the usual high quality. How did it happen? The movie has funny italo-western attributes, a cool spirit,amazing fights and plausible dcor. Were these all your ideas? An entertaining and very unconventional movie, which juts out of the business.
Cold Harvest was probably one of the few films I initiated. I love the Italian Westerns, I think that the Italian Westerns reinvented the action genre and are also the biggest influence in the Martial Arts genre. In many aspects - the way the stories were told and their heroes are unique. (Django is not really a typical American western hero. He`s more like a Samurai arriving to town. And of course 'A Fistful of Dollars' was done as a 'Yujimbo' set in the Wild West). The first third world hero came from the Spaghetti Westerns (Kuchio - Tomas Milian in 'The Big Gun-Down' and 'Run Man Run') It`s because of these films that another third wold hero, Bruce Lee, could become a super star. Going back to 'Cold Harvest' when I told Nu Image that 'Cold Harvest' will be a futuristic western, they kind of brushed it off. When they saw the dailies they wanted to kill me. They told me that they never really thought that I literally meant that I`d make a western, but at that point it was already a done deal. During those years, the convention on futuristic films was to go into 50`s retro. I decided that we`d go to Spaghetti Western retro. Even now, one of the heads of the company Danny Dimbort always is reminding me of this; when I had the bad guy in 'Special Forces' appearing on oa horse, my producer, Boaz Davidson, told me 'I already hear Danny Dimbort saying that Isaac is doing another westernÉ.'
Why do you work since many years only for Nu Image?
Nu Image is a company that does the walk and not the talk - things happen for real and not in the air. When they decide to do something it`s now!! And I like this approach.
Do you have already new projects in pre production?
I am superstitious when it comes to film making, so I prefer not to answer this question. I believe that a film really happens only when I am in the set and I hear the camera rolling.
At least time for you. If you want to say something to your fans out there here is your chance.
Movie making is a work for dreamers. I got the love for films from my mother and my older brother (My father was never a movie fan) . However until I saw the 'Good, the Bad and the Ugly' as a kid, I never had the desire to be become a film maker, but that film changed it all and since then Sergio Leone has been my favorite director. Also, until I saw Bruce Lee in 1972 (in Fists of Fury) I never thought that Martial arts would be such an important part of my life. I believe that I got the desire to achieve my dreams from my Karate training. Coming to America and making action films was a dream and doing it for real is still like magic to me. Furthermore, the fact that people like my films is very rewarding for me. I love this genre and I do the films that I would love to see as a fan of the genre, that is the real true. I am very touched that other people respond to it. I think that more Europeans like my films then in the US, maybe it's because though I've been living in the US for almost 17 years, I grew up in Israel , which is a culturally bubbling melting pot, influenced more by Europe then anything else. Though the Martial Arts genre is Asian by origin and I am doing 'American' films the European flavor is still in my films. I want to thank you very much for thinking about me interviewing me and asking those questions. I am very curious to see what others think of Undisputed 2. Thank you.