Red Dawn Rising-The Abbot's View

By now you have read Bey Logan’s earlier blogs on Red Dawn Rising and have seen our photos.  I defer movie commentary to his blogs as he never ceases to amaze me being the living anthology of the Kung Fu Movie Genre.

All I can give you is the Abbot’s View

And it was breathtaking.... being opposite Phoenix.  Yes, I know, it is tough being a spiritual master as you give up certain activities when you don the robes.  I first met Phoenix when I dropped in on one of her workout sessions at the Hit Hut under Ken Ip and German Cheng.  Yes, coincidentally, I had decided to begin training there and by no means am I anywhere close to what I was to observe during Red Dawn Rising.  In my case it is when the Master is ready the Student shall appear.

The demands on precision and stamina are high, but under Ken Ip’s direction Phoenix is our Prima Ballerina in Red Dawn Rising’s ballet de la guerre.  This is to be a must see feature.  All that I can reveal at this moment is that our Heroine is that in classic terms-charged with the mission to protect and serve (thanks to my “Brobots” brother Aaron Palermo, who just the week before gave me the crash course on archetypes).   My prior ability to analyse film is from the money paying consumer perspective of-I want to be entertained NOW!  Red Dawn Rising promises to fulfil this.

My role as Abbot came about at the requirement for the part of an ageless Asian bald monk and through the use of an ancient technique used by Asian mystiques, which Lucas had misattributed to “a Jedi mind trick”, I simultaneously placed my image into both Bey and Anthony’s conscience.  Seriously, it did occur to them both and once I received a call from Bey, how could I say no.  

Working with Director Anthony Szeto was such a learning experience over and above being involved with his Vela 734 project.  In fact during Vela he mentioned to me how much more useful I could be as an actor if I had training in martial arts-so there closes the circle.  Anthony is calling upon all resources available at Ace Studio’s to make the action and visuals high impact extreme entertainment.

Be  entertained or die.