Scott Adkins. Questions and answers

08.04.2010EvilDollaR

Which of the on-screen fights you saw became your favorite and why?

CA: I'd pick Jackie Chan vs. Benny Urquidez in Meal on Wheels and Dragons Forever. You can almost feel the competition between these two going beyond the screen. Jet Li vs. Billy Chow in Fist of Legend. The whole film is beautifully directed and such a great ending. Also Jackie Chan vs Ken Lo in Drunken Master 2 is an epic fight. I have to mention Roddy Piper vs. Keith David in They Live. If you haven't seen it yet, watch it immediately!

In “The Pink Panther” did you play the role of a football player? When you returned to England did you support any football teams?

CA: For Aston Villa.

Have you thought that you are getting older every year, and your career obliges you to be in the best possible shape?

CA: I definitely know I'm getting older, but to be honest I still feel as fast as ever, but I'm getting injured more often and I think most of them are due to trying to maintain a fitness that isn't my own natural. It's hard to do acrobatics when you're 14 pounds overweight. I think most of my injuries are related to weight gain.

What do you do to always stay in shape and maintain the speed of performing techniques?

CA: I just train regularly and try to improve myself. There are times when I can get lazy, usually after I'm done filming a movie, but I make sure to spend plenty of time working out all year round. I often mix them up, sometimes I concentrate more on mixfight, in other cases more on extreme and flashy movements, sometimes on gymnastics, sometimes on muscle growth, this is how I maintain interest in the classes.

It seems like filming fights always has its own nuances. What do you consider to be the ideal conditions for filming the best final fight scene? Who would you take as your partner, director, fight choreographer, and how many days would it take to rehearse and film the episode?

CA: To be honest, we had almost perfect conditions in Undisputed 3, in which Marko Zaror was my opponent, Isaac was the director, and Larnell was the choreographer. We only lacked one thing - time. I'd like a larger set outside the ring, maybe something like a warehouse with different levels where we could do stunts. Isaac as director and J. J. Perry as choreographer. I would love to fight Tony Jaa or Donnie Yen, but I would have no problem working with Lateef Crowder, Marco Zarora or Michael Jai White. Ideally, we could rehearse for three weeks, and come not only with ready-made choreography, but also come up with several new techniques and movements, as well as pre-evaluate the fight before starting work. Then I would love to film the fight in one week. I get goosebumps when I think about the options. To give you an idea of how big budget films are made, I'll talk about the pool fight from Danny the Dog. It was filmed in two weeks. Jackie Chan spent three months filming the final fight in Drunken Master 2, and I'm sure Tony Jaa spent two weeks filming the market chase in Ong Bak.

Are you interested in remaking a movie like Bloodsport? Maybe with a slightly changed plot, better fights, a bigger budget?

CA: “Undisputed” is a continuation of the idea of “Bloodsport”, but only in a prison setting. It's very easy to make a martial arts movie with this premise because fighting is an important part of the storyline, so I believe we've already covered that option. I have a similar idea, but with a twist. Besides, I wouldn’t want to follow Van Damme’s lead, because there are already plenty of comparisons with him. When I first met Jean-Claude, he was talking about my participation in the television series “Kickboxer”. I refused because I was afraid of being a copy of him, but I was very flattered that he decided to choose me for this role.

Have you ever been interested in writing or directing?

CA: I'm working on writing at the moment. I'd love to start directing my own episodes and make that a starting point.

What pushes you to do what you do best? If you could study with any outstanding historical figure, who would it be? What advice do you have for your loyal fans and fellow fighters like you?

CA: I'm a huge Bruce Lee fan, and the fact that you put me above him on your list forces me to ask you to stop doing such nonsense. If I could learn from any outstanding historical figure, it would be Bruce Lee. He lived and breathed martial arts and I still find that to be good motivation. I'm driven by the fear of failure and not being able to do what I love, so I work as hard as I can and try not to satisfy myself because I don't want to look for a regular job.

I heard a rumor that you had the opportunity to appear in “The Expendables”. This is true? And, if so, can you shed some light on what happened? It would be cool to see you there.

CA: I was actually offered a role in “The Expendables,” but I had to turn it down for personal reasons. I was extremely upset at the time, but at least it allowed me to do Undisputed 3, which I'm very happy with. I've heard that "The Expendables" is a great movie and I hope it does well at the box office as I plan to bore the hell out of Sly (Stallone) for a role in "The Expendables 2". I had a lot of other high profile roles lined up that you've never heard of. This is all part of business and the ability to come to terms with unjustified hopes and simple bad luck.

How is work on the Turkish film “Dark Deal” going there? Could you describe your role a little and what we can expect in terms of action? What is it like working with Cyril Raffaelli?

CA: We haven't started filming yet due to production delays, but I really enjoyed the parkour training with Cyril and his team, it looks like I'm doing pretty well. In fact, Cyril won't be in the film, he's just a stunt coordinator. In terms of action, you can expect more solid realistic fights, shooting, chases and a little parkour.

In “Undisputed 2” and 3 you played the role of Yuri Boyk, a Russian fighter. I was impressed not only by your monstrous physical abilities, but also by the way you managed to capture a convincing Russian accent and act so menacingly. How did you, as an actor, prepare to play this character?

CA: I think the accent only works in the West, and I'm sure any real Russian would laugh at it, it clearly doesn't match the original. I think he did better in Undisputed 3 and will be better in Dark Deal. At the moment, it is problematic for me to recreate an accent that is different from Boyk's. Day after day, at the end of each day, you just have to work on the accent, you try and create the backstory of your character so that right at the beginning of the film he is fully revealed.

On the set of “Undisputed 3” did you weigh more than 92 kg? (In the photographs you look more ripped than in “Undisputed 2”.)

CA: I weighed less. Maybe 86 kg or something like that. In “Undisputed 2” I had more fat and a little more muscle, but in “Undisputed 3” I lost a little fat, so I looked more defined.

How many years did it take you to get into that physical shape? How many times a week do you go to the gym?

CA: I started lifting weights at about 14 years old, but really decided to get into it when I was 17 years old. If I want to gain muscle mass, I usually do these workouts three times a week. To look so tight in “Undisputed 3” I trained almost every day.

Tell us something about the movie (Re-kill) and your character. Is it a small role, like “The Wolverine” and “The Tournament” (4-5 minutes), or a larger one, like “The Last Bachelor Party” or “American Special Forces”?

CA: Sounds like a role in American Special Forces. In fact, the film is a shared achievement. There's quite a lot of me in it. I really enjoy watching it because it's shot in the style of a documentarian following a zombie extermination team as they clear out the outskirts of a city. The job was fun because we had to talk to the camera as if it were a character on screen. Let's see how this all plays out.

What is the budget of the film (Dark Deal) and your character? (screen time, whether it's bad or good, etc.)

CA: I'm the bad guy, but the role is akin to Hitmen, it's as big as Antonio Banderas. The budget is quite impressive, but I don’t have exact data.

Besides “Dark Deal”, “Re-kill” and “Undisputed 3” do you have any other projects?

CA: Don't worry, I have enough.

Can I buy DVDs of your seminars? If yes, where?

CA: No, you can't. But I was thinking about posting something similar on the Internet in the future. Guys, is this what you're interested in?

How long did it take you to reach your current level in gymnastics? I’m 30 years old now, to reach your level, is it too late to start? Somersaults, somersaults, etc... It will probably take years!

CA: I didn’t do gymnastics until I was 18 years old. It's never too late to start. Again, the more you practice, the more you achieve.

What supplements do you usually use for training, especially since you seem to stay so “lean” even when you gain weight?

CA: EAS, XYIENCE, MUTANTMASS

Can you tell us anything about your character in “Dark Deal” or the storyline?

CA: In “Dark Deal,” my character is a Russian hitman trying to kill a Turkish diplomat who is being protected by his old friend Hakan. They are forced to go against each other. There is a lot of action in the film.

What action movies would you like to see this year?

CA: “Kick Ass”, “Warrior”, “Ip Man 2”.

Which actors or martial arts stars would you like to work with?

CA: Sly (Stallone), Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa.

What are your favorite incidents/stories from your career?

CA: I really enjoyed working on Medallion and Wolverine in terms of enjoyment, but in terms of my favorite completed work it would be Undisputed 2 and 3.

Have you by any chance watched “Universal Soldier 3: Rebirth”? If yes, what do you think about it?

CA: I really liked it. I think John Hyams did a great job. I liked the atmosphere of the film and the fact that it didn’t try to explain everything that happened before. At one time there was talk about my role instead of Mike Pyle, but that was all over. When I saw the film, I was very upset that I didn't get this opportunity. I thought the action sequences were very well done, despite the obvious and widespread use of stunt doubles. Even though I knew they were stuntmen, I was impressed by their work. It will be very interesting to see John's next work. If I were a Hollywood producer, I would have caught him and handed him a sizable budget right away.

While filming “Ninja,” did you have to do any research or re-read any educational materials about ninjas, Sekio Fujita and their techniques, and if so, what was the most interesting thing that you didn’t know about before?

CA: I would have loved to have prepared more thoroughly for the role, but I just didn't have the time. I had one day off between finishing Wolverine and starting Ninja. I did my best to handle the sword, which I had never used before, but due to a very serious shoulder injury I received in Wolverine, it was difficult for me to even just hold it. My problem in “Ninja” was being beaten and tired at the beginning of working on the project. That's why we decided to make a school with more emphasis on Japanese martial arts rather than an exact ninja school, hence the opportunity to invite Fumio Demura. Plus, Isaac is obsessed with karate. Our idea was to keep the film realistic in terms of martial arts, no flying or teleportation. There was a bit of pressure from the studio to use fantasy elements like bat wings and such nonsense, the addition of which, in my opinion, was downright stupid.

How was it working with Tsuyoshi Ihara and Fumio Demura?

CA: Ihara was great. A very good actor and very good at on-screen fights. I learned a lot from him. Fumio Demura and his students are all excellent fighters, we were honored to have them take part in the filming.

How long did it take to apply the tattoos for Boyka in Undisputed 2 and 3, and which one is your favorite?

CA: Undisputed 2 took longer because they used adhesive ink stencils. They were applied to me every morning, however, they always came off during the fight, it was a nightmare. In Undisputed 3, things were better: I was covered in stickers, painted on the inside. The material was better and lasted longer, but in difficult battles the stickers fell off over time. It took about 30 minutes to glue them. My favorite tattoo is the one on my chest. This is a symbol of karate.

What are your plans for the future (career and personal life)?

CA: I would like more creative control in the films I do. The problem is that the future of straight-to-DVD action movies is in doubt due to piracy. People don't pay to watch these movies, so soon there won't be any. This is very worrying.

“Ninja” was the first film in which you played the lead role, and you had to carry the entire film almost single-handedly. Did you feel more pressure during filming than in your other films?

CA: Not really, I knew everyone on set. So many people you can trust are a pleasure to be around. Of course, I felt that I had the chance that I had been waiting for a long time, and I was determined to give my best. Unfortunately, I'm not sure Casey's personality fits well with mine. I've always tried to play my part, but I don't think I do a good job with this neatly trimmed type of hero that suits Van Damme very well. It’s easier for me to cope with extreme roles, like the role of Boyk.

Watching Undisputed 2 and Ninja, I was impressed by how Isaac and his team managed to make these films look better and more expensive than other straight-to-disc films with double or triple the budget. What is his secret?

CA: The secret weapon you're talking about is Ross Clarkson (cinematographer). He is able to give shots a Hollywood shine. The idea behind “Ninja” was to give him a “Dark Knight” look. In addition, Isaac gave many instructions every day and hurried the team. Many directors, spoiled by budgets, are used to longer time frames, so when they are given a low budget, they are unable to cope with the situation.

I heard you studied mixfight. Have you studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in particular?

CA: I'm learning Mixfight because I love the sport and when I moved from London back to Birmingham there was a great MMA gym that opened up within a 15 minute walk of my house. I prefer the striking technique rather than the grappling technique, but I use it little by little.

In any sequel or prequel to “Undisputed,” would you play the role of Boyk again?

CA: I'd love to play it, he's a great character. I don't like the backstory, most likely another sequel. I would love to see Boyka go to Thailand!

Are you interested in starring in more expensive films? It was nice to see you as “Weapon XI” in “The Wolverine.”

CA: Of course I'm interested. In fact, when I initially talked to the producers about playing Weapon XI, it turned out that Ryan Reynolds couldn't do it, so they decided that I should do it and I guess I convinced myself that it could. become for me the role of a kind of Darth Maul. I wasn't aware that they intended to reshoot Ryan in Toronto, but I can totally see why they did it since we were clearly two different people. I expected from the very beginning that I would wear a Deadpool costume, and it was only upon arriving in Sydney that I learned that it would only be prosthetic makeup. Let's say that for me it was at least a disappointment, but that's show business, friends!

Is it true that you will again play the role of “Weapon XI”/Deadpool in a separate “X-Men” project?

CA: I have another movie contract with 20th Century Fox, but I'm not sure if I'll do Deadpool's stunts for them since I'm under an acting contract. We'll see what they need for Wolverine 2, because my face didn't light up and I could easily play a different role.

You have worked with such world-famous fight directors as Stephen Tang Wei, Yen Woo Ping, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hungg, JJ Perry, Cyril Raffaelli and the Alpha Stunts team. I understand that every fight and every film is different, but which director was the most difficult for you to work with, and who pushed you to your limits?

CA: The hardest experience was working with Tang Wei. It was a “baptism by fire”, two days for the battle scene on the raft, 14 hours a day, very tiring. Working with Tang Wei, I learned all the basics. I worked with Corey Ewan to create the teaser trailer for Black Mask 2, it was very difficult, I had to do a long combination of kicks, and at one point I thought I was going to pass out, it was so hot in the studio, with this they brought me to the limit. I will say that J. J. Perry in “Undisputed 2” demanded even more from me. As soon as I show him the movement, he decides to improve it. For example, when I did a somersault, pushing off from Silvio’s chest, he said: can you kick him while doing the somersault? A spinning jump kick followed by a kick to the face was his idea. He squeezed all the juice out of me. I can’t wait to work with him again, then we’ll give ourselves free rein.

If you were given the opportunity to work with one of the following choreographers, who would you choose and why? Panna Rittikrai, Ching Xiu Tang, Jang Du Hang, Pat Johnson (just kidding, gee gee).

CA: My friend, I realized that you understand choreographers. I'd go with Panna because I'm sure he'd put a couple of jacked-up Thais in front of me and let me punch them in the face as hard as I could.

Has anyone considered you for the role that Darren Shahlavi played in “Ip Man 2”? You've said more than once that you want to work with Donny, and this role seems like it would be perfect for you.

CA: I was actually considered, but for some reason they chose Darren. I'd love to take the offer, but I'm happy for Darren, he's a good guy.

How do you remember the fights with Jet Li in the movie “Denny the Chain Dog”?

CA: Everything was very good. Jet is a true gentleman. There was a moment when we both had to throw a straight kick at each other at the same time. I weigh more than Jet, so during one of the takes I knocked him down. The stuntmen criticized me a little, but Jet took it calmly and tactfully. I liked the work. I also love working with Yen Woo Ping, he has to be the best of the best in fight choreography and filming.

After thinking about the great cast of fighters in “Undisputed 3,” I wanted to know if you guys found time to train together? I think I would happily spend hours training with you, Latif and Marco.

CA: Marco gave me a lot of useful training tips, which I still use today. He helped me adapt my exercises to create more power in my jumps to make me more explosive.

Once upon a time there was a rumor/speculation about a capoeira film in which you will fight capoeiristas. Do you still want to star in it?

CA: The capoeira script was very good, but I would adapt it less for capoeira than for the Brazilian Vale Tudo. I really hope that one day we will still film it, but part of the script ended up in the film “Blood and Bone”, and it was a complete surprise.

Source: scottadkinsfanz.co.uk
Translation: EvilDollaR