Sam Kefi Abrikh - Action Designing from France to Japan to Vietnam (Action Talks #44)

Sam Kefi Abrikh is a stuntman, fight coordinator, and second unit director based out of France, who got started Japan. He's known for Princess, Fury, and Furies, but has done a load of quality indie action material. You can see his imdb here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3768608/

Edited by Joey Min

Action Talks on YouTube:    • Action Talks with Eric Jacobus  
Action Talks on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7D289Yt...
Action Talks on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

My studio SuperAlloy: www.superalloyinteractive.com
Blog: www.ericjacobus.com

Timestamps
0:02:04 Where it all began
0:04:37 Japanese influences
0:07:45 French action films
0:11:38 Indie filmmaking
0:13:09 Learning to move HK style
0:14:35 Making his team for indie films
0:18:04 What techniques did you use to make shorts?
0:21:22 Rhythm diff between HK and Japanese action? French action? US action?
0:25:03 What was it like going to Japan?
0:30:39 What did you take from Shibahara's method?
0:32:23 What was the rhythmic difference?
0:37:08 Was there any overlap between JP language and the JP movement style?
0:38:18 JP movement might come from animation and theater
0:40:20 huge contrast between acting and normal talking
0:41:18 "Developing his skills in JP "
0:43:35 After Japan, what came next?
0:48:06 Was it hard going back to stunts after being in Japan?
0:51:38 Could you apply your skills to Luc Besson films?
0:54:14 What do you look at as a stunt double?
0:55:10 Did you ever perform music?
0:56:17 How are you applying your skills to indie projects?
0:58:23 Bourne style might lose the audience...
1:01:13 Filming the action on District 9 and Bourne series
1:03:45 Working on the Princess
1:06:17 Training actress vs hiding the double
1:07:18 How did he get involved in Furie?
1:09:50 Approaching the action of Furie
1:11:15 Preproduction on Furie
1:15:37 Any stories about when you had to improvise?
1:17:56 Any inspirations for shooting style?
1:19:33 Do you think about camera and editing before shooting?
1:22:15 Do you try to break expectation in action?
1:23:59 What films have succeeded in looking un-choreographed?
1:25:32 Do you apply yourself most to your own projects?
1:26:25 What are you watching now?
1:31:48 What's your approach to female-led action film as opposed to male-led?
1:33:18 Do you have to pull back with Veronica if she was too good?
1:35:40 Toning down big guys against smaller performers