For your attention, the second part of the interview with Dennis Ruel for resource Martial Arts Movie Junkie. You can read the first part by going to this link.
- "Unlucky Stars" by style rests for films of the 80s and 90s. Why do you think this era is so good for martial arts films?
I'll try to answer briefly! My friends and I are fans of films from this period. After all, many new stunt solutions appeared then. I was talking about this recently with Steven Yu, and he mentioned that during a time when Hong Kong was mostly pushing films from the classic kung fu period (which I'm a fan of, by the way), Sammo, Jackie, Biao and their stunt performers rose above the typical throwaway films , incorporating falls, car/motorcycle chases, stunt driving, shootouts and explosions into their creations.
I feel that this period really took Hong Kong films to a new level, making them appealing to the whole world. The scripts began to include modern stories about the police and gangsters, in short, plots familiar to us, in which they still managed to demonstrate the incredible ability of martial arts and choreography, opening a new era after era Shaw Brothers.
In the action films of the 80s and 90s, the emphasis shifted from classic kung fu to modern hand-to-hand combat, sharper and more dynamic. Which made me the biggest fan of the films of that era. Fighters mixed some scenes of “old school” fights with “modern” ones (like Yuen Wa vs. Sammo in "Eastern Condors"), I will always like them precisely because of the dexterity with which they mixed tradition with new trends.
- The view of indie films is constantly changing, how do you see indie films in the future, will they change the current film market?
We all really hope so. Independent films are becoming better and of higher quality, because technology also does not stand still. There are excellent middle-class cameras with gorgeous pictures that are close to studio quality.
But in addition to the camera, you also need a decent budget. After all, without proper funding, independent films will not be able to truly compete in the market. A decent budget can give directors the opportunity to hire famous actors and invest in marketing and advertising - both of which are huge factors in the success of films. So if independent cinema has the budget, I think it can impact the market to a large extent!
I'm guessing low budget indie films like "Unlucky Stars"You'll have to rely on rumors to get attention. Luckily, the internet has worked wonders in getting the word out about us around the world. We've only just begun our climb, so I hope to answer this question again in a few years with a positive outlook!
- Now that it's all said and done, are you planning on doing anything else like, "Unlucky Stars"?
NEVER! It's a joke, almost. I'm definitely planning on making a sequel! But the team and all the talent that was involved in filming the first part probably won't be able to do it unless we get decent funding. We don't need millions of dollars to make another film, but we need enough money to pay for the work and bring the script to life.
Based on the reaction it caused"Unlucky Stars", I am confident that we have a good chance of finding the financial support needed for the next film. And the more people who help us with advertising, the greater our chances!
Since we are talking about another big project (financing aside), I am planning it, since this is my dream. Throughout the filming process"Unlucky Stars", our stunt family has grown! We are lucky to work with such masters of our business as Simon Rea, JJ Perry, so we cannot stop halfway! We now have contacts with more talented actors and stuntmen who deserve to be showcased, and we have more stories to tell, so we have to keep making more films like"Unlucky Stars"!
- Finally, what advice would you give to those who want to follow a path similar to yours?
The main thing is a motivated team that will help you finish everything you start!!! The ending is the most difficult part of any creative endeavor - especially when there is not enough money. There is so much talent out there, but not enough people to see the project through to completion. I've been extremely lucky with the cast and crew and I'm eternally grateful for their dedication and commitment, so it's hard to recommend anything to people on small or large ambitious projects.
In hindsight, it probably would have been easier to create a smaller project, with a smaller budget, so we could have finished earlier, there would have been fewer planning problems, and there would have been more time to focus on the technical aspects of the film. But we had faith in the team and, fortunately, this faith did not let us down!
I'm sure that no matter the size of the film, you will have your ups and downs. But if you started something, if you dreamed of doing it yourself and showing it to others, in any case - FINISH THE FILM. Just don't shoot for too long - your friends might send you away!
Source: Martial Arts Movie Junkie
Translation: Maxim Kovalishen
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Tags: Unlucky Stars, Vlad Rimburg, Dennis Ruel, Ken Quitugua, Stephen Yu
Tags: Unlucky Stars, Vlad Rimburg, Dennis Ruel, Ken Quitugua, Stephen Yu
Thank you, Maxim!
I suspect that the film will reach us only when it is available on DVD, which is not very soon. You shouldn’t even have much hope for the screen if it is shown purely at film festivals.