BUDO & BANTER Steve Rowe Steve Rowe talks to Mick Tully about his life, training, and teaching Steve Rowe is a well respected martial arts teacher based in the UK. His training started in the 1970s, he is a sought after international teacher; 9th Dan Karate, 3rd Dan Iaido, 2nd Dan Jodo, 1st Dan Ju Jitsu International Tai Chi Teacher Surviving Injuries & Time What surgeries have altered his training and life? What does Budo mean now? How do you cope with death? How do you survive endless sepsis? How do you cope with amputation? How do you cope with prostate cancer and treatment? www.shikon.com Interviewer Mick Tully is a JKD Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto and Rick Faye. He runs MKG Coventry and is preparing for his BJJ black belt. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/c/womatelevision/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON Mark Dacascos Mark Dacascos talks to Andrew Staton about how a DM on Insta began his involvement in the movie. He reveals what drew him to the role, and how he was part of the original pitch for the Power Rangers, and how he knew Brandon Lee, and so much more. Review by Anders Bjorn Torbjorn, World of Martial Arts Television resident Viking Some men are born to rule. Others are forged in battle. And some poor bastards discover that even a hero can wake up one morning with the whole world wanting his head. Listen closely, for I have seen the heart that lies beneath the shining armour of Legend of the White Dragon, and it is a heart worthy of any Viking saga told beside a dying fire. Directed by Aaron Schoenke and Sean Schoenke, this superhero adventure stars Jason David Frank as Erik Reed, a fallen hero struggling to reclaim his life, with Mark Dacascos bringing his formidable martial arts credentials to the picture. This is no simple tale of a warrior slaying a dragon and returning home to a warm hearth. No. This is a tale of a man hunted by his past, trapped in the machinery of a world that has turned against him. And in my experience, friend, the world is a far crueller beast than any dragon. Erik Reed is a man whose former glory has turned to ash. Once celebrated, he now finds himself blamed for catastrophe, pursued by enemies and forced to confront the consequences of his previous life. The city becomes his frozen northern wilderness, its streets a battlefield of suspicion, betrayal and desperation. There is something deliciously noir about this predicament. The hero is no longer the shining knight riding towards the sunrise. He is the hunted man stumbling through the shadows, wondering whether justice is merely another word invented by those who hold the swords. The film's central idea has the makings of a powerful modern saga: what happens when the man beneath the mask becomes more important than the symbol he represents? For a Viking, this is familiar territory. Reputation is everything until the moment it becomes a noose around your neck. Then there is Mark Dacascos. Here is a performer who understands that action cinema is not merely a collection of men throwing punches at one another. There must be rhythm, precision and the unmistakable impression that the combatants know precisely how dangerous they are. Dacascos brings the credibility of a genuine martial arts screen veteran to the picture. His presence carries the promise of physical intensity, the kind that makes a fight feel like a personal reckoning rather than a rehearsal conducted for the cameras. Yet Legend of the White Dragon is not simply a showcase for martial arts. Its ambitions lie in the troubled psychology of the fallen hero, the burden of responsibility and the possibility of redemption. The challenge is balancing these elements. Superhero mythology demands spectacle; noir demands moral ambiguity. One wants the heavens illuminated by lightning, while the other prefers a solitary figure beneath a streetlamp, contemplating his sins. When those two traditions collide, the results can be compelling. The White Dragon's journey belongs to that ancient tradition of warriors who must first defeat themselves before they can confront their enemies. The costume and superhero mythology provide the modern armour, but beneath it lies an older question: can a man who has fallen from grace ever become worthy again? This is where the picture's strongest ideas reside. The enemies outside the hero's skin may be formidable, but guilt, public disgrace and the loss of identity are nastier opponents still. The film's independent-production roots are evident in its ambitions and execution. It may not possess the limitless resources of a major studio superhero epic, but its appeal rests in the personal investment behind its creation and the enthusiasm of its action performers. Legend of the White Dragon offers an intriguing mixture of superhero adventure, martial arts action and the darker mythology of the disgraced warrior. Mark Dacascos adds welcome fighting pedigree to a story concerned with the cost of heroism, while Jason David Frank's Erik Reed embodies the struggle to rise after a devastating fall. The night is long. The enemies are many. The past waits patiently in the shadows. Watch it and know, A true warrior does not need the world to believe in him. He needs only the strength to rise when the world has finished knocking him down. A HERO WALKING THROUGH HELLMARK DACASCOS: A WARRIOR WHO KNOWS THE LANGUAGE OF PAINMASKS, MONSTERS AND THE PRICE OF REDEMPTIONTHE FINAL VERDICTSkål! Synopsis: Legend of the White Dragon follows Erik Reed, a former hero forced into hiding after a devastating battle destroys part of his city and exposes his identity. Once celebrated as the White Dragon, Erik is now blamed for the destruction and cut off from the life and family he left behind. As corruption spreads through Virtuo City, Erik is drawn back into saving a world he is no longer trusted to protect. He must now confront his past and decide whether the White Dragon still belongs in a city that has already judged him, while facing an enemy who wields the same mysterious energy that once defined him… Starring Jason David Frank (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Aaron Schoenke (Deadliest Warrior), Jason Faunt (Powers Rangers Time Force), Rachelle Brooke Smith (Bring it On: Fight to the Finish), Michael Madsen (The Hateful Eight, Kill Bill), Andrew Bachelor (Adult Swim), David Ramsey (Arrow), Mark Dacascos (John Wick 3), Cerina Vincent (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy), Jenna Rae Frank (6 Rounds of Chloë), Kevin Porter (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story) and Chalet Lizette Branna (Renegades: Ominara). Blu-Ray Extras: Filmmaker Commentary Cast Q&A Legend of the White Dragon will be available on; Digital HD from Sept 28 DVD & Blu-Ray from 26 Oct Distributed by Signature Entertainment Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/c/womatelevision/join Thanks for reading & watching, we hope you enjoyed it, please LIKE, SHARE and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to World of Martial Arts Television for more great content!! You can also FIND, FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to a huge World of Martial Arts Television here; Main site - https://www.worldofmartialarts.tv Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/www.woma.tv Twitter - https://twitter.com/Willwitter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/worldofmartialartstelevision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
FIGHTING BLIND MMA Taekwondo Chris Telesford HE CAN’T SEE THE PUNCH COMING… BUT HE’S WALKING INTO THE CAGE ANYWAY Chris Telesford talks to Mick Tully of Coventry Martial Arts Centre, UK. Blind MMA fighter takes on a sighted opponent in a jaw-dropping contest that asks one extraordinary question: WHY IS HE DOING THIS? He’s not meant to be here. Not according to the obvious logic. In a sport where fighters watch shoulders twitch, read hips, track hands and react to the smallest movement, what happens when one man can't see any of it? He’s blind. His opponent isn't. And yet, when the cage door shuts, there will be nowhere to hide. No visual clues. No watching the eyes. No spotting the kick before it comes. No seeing a punch loading up. Just sound, movement, touch, instinct — and the split-second decisions that separate victory from defeat. So why on earth is he fighting? Because the blind fighter isn't stepping into the cage looking for sympathy. He's stepping in to compete. MMA is brutally honest. There are no excuses once the bell rings. Both fighters have trained, both are prepared, and both know exactly what is at stake. But there is an extraordinary difference. The sighted fighter can see his opponent. The blind fighter has to feel him. Every shuffle of a foot. Every change in breathing. Every grip. Every impact. Every sound bouncing around the cage becomes information. What most fighters take for granted — vision — simply isn't available to him. And that makes this more than another MMA bout. It becomes a fascinating test of adaptation, courage and competitive instinct. Forget the easy story that this is simply a blind man fighting. He is a fighter who happens to be blind — and he's chosen to test himself against somebody who possesses the very advantage he does not. He can't see what you can see. He can't see what his opponent can see. But he can still fight. When the cage door closes, and the crowd falls silent for that split second before the opening bell, one question will hang in the air: HOW DO YOU FIGHT AN OPPONENT YOU CAN'T SEE? The answer will come from the fighter himself — one movement, one grip, one strike at a time. He's not meant to be here. That's precisely why everyone will be watching. Chris Telesford "As someone who is registered blind, I’ve always embraced challenges, and I often find myself competing—and yes, sometimes winning—against sighted opponents. For me, this event is about more than just the competition—it's about demonstrating that a visual impairment doesn't have to limit what you can achieve. It's about breaking down barriers and showing others that they too can reach their goals, no matter the challenges they face." Moorfields Eye Charity does incredible work supporting eye research, innovation and education at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. They fund grants and PhDs to find better treatments, cures and faster diagnoses, providing hope and empowerment to the sight loss community. This black-tie event will not only celebrate the spirit of resilience and community but will also raise vital funds to support their mission. https://www.instagram.com/chris.telesford.1 https://moorfieldseyecharity.org.uk/ Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/c/womatelevision/join Thanks for reading & watching, we hope you enjoyed it, please LIKE, SHARE and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to World of Martial Arts Television for more great content!! You can also FIND, FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to a huge World of Martial Arts Television here; Main site - https://www.worldofmartialarts.tv Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/www.woma.tv Twitter - https://twitter.com/Willwitter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/worldofmartialartstelevision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ZULU DAWN UHD/ Blu-Ray UNBOXING Andrew Staton unboxes the Blu-Ray of ZULU DAWN and finds the GOOD STUFF inside; SPECIAL FEATURES · EXCLUSIVE: 100-Page Collectors Book With New Articles By Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · EXCLUSIVE: 6 Collectors’ Art Cards · EXCLUSIVE: Double-Sided Poster DISC 1: 4K UHD - ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (118 mins) · Audio Commentary With Anglo-Zulu War Historian Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · Theatrical Trailer DISC 2: BLU-RAY – ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (118 mins) · Audio Commentary With Anglo-Zulu War Historian Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · War Cry of the Zulu – The Making Of ZULU DAWN, A Feature-Length Documentary Narrated By Dai Bradley Featuring Producer Nate Kohn, Co-Producer & Actor James Faulkner And Many More · Trailblazer: The Simon Sabela Story – A Documentary On The South African Actor/Director · The Saga Of Bob’s Last Stands – Bob Hoskins’ Death Scene · The Scene That Never Was – The Eclipse At Isandlwana · Theatrical Trailer DISC 3: BLU-RAY – U.S. THEATRICAL VERSION (98 mins) · The Symbol Of Sacrifice (1918) – The 1997 Reconstruction Of The Historical South African Film · Saviour Of The Symbol Of Sacrifice – Interview With Mayer Levy, producer of the restoration of The Symbol of Sacrifice · The History Of The Zulu Wars – Featurette With Zulu Rising Author Ian Knight · Recreating The War – Interview With Historical Advisor Midge Carter · A Visit To The Battlefield – Author Ian Knight Visits The Location Of The Battle Of Isandlwana · Outtakes Andrew Staton unboxes the Blu-Ray of ZULU DAWN and finds the GOOD STUFF inside; SPECIAL FEATURES · EXCLUSIVE: 100-Page Collectors Book With New Articles By Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · EXCLUSIVE: 6 Collectors’ Art Cards · EXCLUSIVE: Double-Sided Poster DISC 1: 4K UHD - ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (118 mins) · Audio Commentary With Anglo-Zulu War Historian Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · Theatrical Trailer DISC 2: BLU-RAY – ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (118 mins) · Audio Commentary With Anglo-Zulu War Historian Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · War Cry of the Zulu – The Making Of ZULU DAWN, A Feature-Length Documentary Narrated By Dai Bradley Featuring Producer Nate Kohn, Co-Producer & Actor James Faulkner And Many More · Trailblazer: The Simon Sabela Story – A Documentary On The South African Actor/Director · The Saga Of Bob’s Last Stands – Bob Hoskins’ Death Scene · The Scene That Never Was – The Eclipse At Isandlwana · Theatrical Trailer DISC 3: BLU-RAY – U.S. THEATRICAL VERSION (98 mins) · The Symbol Of Sacrifice (1918) – The 1997 Reconstruction Of The Historical South African Film · Saviour Of The Symbol Of Sacrifice – Interview With Mayer Levy, producer of the restoration of The Symbol of Sacrifice · The History Of The Zulu Wars – Featurette With Zulu Rising Author Ian Knight · Recreating The War – Interview With Historical Advisor Midge Carter · A Visit To The Battlefield – Author Ian Knight Visits The Location Of The Battle Of Isandlwana · Outtakes Andrew Staton unboxes the Blu-Ray of ZULU DAWN and finds the GOOD STUFF inside; SPECIAL FEATURES · EXCLUSIVE: 100-Page Collectors Book With New Articles By Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · EXCLUSIVE: 6 Collectors’ Art Cards · EXCLUSIVE: Double-Sided Poster DISC 1: 4K UHD - ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (118 mins) · Audio Commentary With Anglo-Zulu War Historian Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · Theatrical Trailer DISC 2: BLU-RAY – ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (118 mins) · Audio Commentary With Anglo-Zulu War Historian Ian Knight And Film Historian Simon Lewis · War Cry of the Zulu – The Making Of ZULU DAWN, A Feature-Length Documentary Narrated By Dai Bradley Featuring Producer Nate Kohn, Co-Producer & Actor James Faulkner And Many More · Trailblazer: The Simon Sabela Story – A Documentary On The South African Actor/Director · The Saga Of Bob’s Last Stands – Bob Hoskins’ Death Scene · The Scene That Never Was – The Eclipse At Isandlwana · Theatrical Trailer DISC 3: BLU-RAY – U.S. THEATRICAL VERSION (98 mins) · The Symbol Of Sacrifice (1918) – The 1997 Reconstruction Of The Historical South African Film · Saviour Of The Symbol Of Sacrifice – Interview With Mayer Levy, producer of the restoration of The Symbol of Sacrifice · The History Of The Zulu Wars – Featurette With Zulu Rising Author Ian Knight · Recreating The War – Interview With Historical Advisor Midge Carter · A Visit To The Battlefield – Author Ian Knight Visits The Location Of The Battle Of Isandlwana · Outtakes Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/c/womatelevision/join Main site - https://www.worldofmartialarts.tv Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/www.woma.tv Twitter - https://twitter.com/Willwitter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/worldofmartialartstelevision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
KNIGHTFALL: BOND WITHOUT THE BENTLEY Geoffrey Moore Geoffrey Moore talks to Andrew Staton about his latest film KNIGHTFALL. Ian Ogilvy, Geoffrey Moore and Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott go head-to-head in a lean, mean British spy thriller where biological weapons, family secrets and assassins turn a quiet country house into a battlefield. Forget the Aston Martin. Forget the tuxedo. Forget the shaken-not-stirred martinis. Knightfall is what happens when you take the classic British spy movie, rip away the Hollywood bling and replace it with country houses, secret agents, family feuds and people who actually know how to handle a gun. And you know what? It works. Geoffrey Moore is one of the film's great pleasures. He brings relaxed charm, but importantly, doesn't spend the movie desperately trying to be his father. There are no silly Bond impersonations. No raised eyebrow every five seconds. No desperate attempt to make the audience shout, “Look! It's Roger Moore's son!” Instead, Geoffrey plays Hugh as a confident, capable intelligence operative with a touch of old-school sophistication. Absolute pleasure to watch the action unfold. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/c/womatelevision/join Thanks for reading & watching, we hope you enjoyed it, please LIKE, SHARE and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to World of Martial Arts Television for more great content!! You can also FIND, FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to a huge World of Martial Arts Television here; Main site - https://www.worldofmartialarts.tv Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/www.woma.tv Twitter - https://twitter.com/Willwitter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/worldofmartialartstelevision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
KNIGHTFALL Movie Interview Action Star Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott talks to Andrew Staton about her latest film KNIGHTFALL. Ian Ogilvy, Geoffrey Moore and Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott go head-to-head in a lean, mean British spy thriller where biological weapons, family secrets and assassins turn a quiet country house into a battlefield. Forget the Aston Martin. Forget the tuxedo. Forget the shaken-not-stirred martinis. Knightfall is what happens when you take the classic British spy movie, rip away the Hollywood bling and replace it with country houses, secret agents, family feuds and people who actually know how to handle a gun. And you know what? It works. The veteran star plays Charles Knight, a retired spy catcher who has clearly spent a lifetime being suspicious of absolutely everyone. When his estranged daughter Ros — played by Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott — finds herself caught up in a deadly biological-weapons conspiracy, Dad is dragged out of retirement. Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott carries the film as Ros, and she gets the unenviable job of standing between two formidable male performers while also carrying the plot's scientific and emotional weight. Ros isn't simply the damsel waiting to be rescued. She's central to the conspiracy, and her relationship with Charles gives the movie its human heartbeat. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/c/womatelevision/join Thanks for reading & watching, we hope you enjoyed it, please LIKE, SHARE and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to World of Martial Arts Television for more great content!! You can also FIND, FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to a huge World of Martial Arts Television here; Main site - https://www.worldofmartialarts.tv Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/www.woma.tv Twitter - https://twitter.com/Willwitter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/worldofmartialartstelevision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
KICKBOXER QUEEN OF JKD Rochelle Ashana The Martial Arts Actress Who Shared the Screen with Jean-Claude Van Damme Rochelle Ashana, fresh from filming in Cannes, France, and attending the Fighting Spirit Film Festival in London, talks to Andrew Staton about her life, martial arts journey via JKD, Arnis, Kickboxing, and being an action star and stuntwoman. For fans of the golden era of martial arts movies, Rochelle Ashana occupies a fascinating place in action cinema history. Best known internationally for her role as Mylee in the 1989 martial arts classic Kickboxer Ashana appeared opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme at a pivotal moment in the Belgian star's career. The film helped establish Van Damme as one of the defining action heroes of the late 1980s and early 1990s, while Ashana became part of one of the period's most memorable martial arts casts. Born Maria Rochelle Mendoza on September 24, 1960, in San Francisco County, California, Ashana came from a Filipino family. Her background was not originally rooted solely in the movie business. She studied art and design at UCLA, graduating before moving to Maui, Hawaii, where she developed a career in photography. This artistic background would remain an important part of her life alongside acting and martial arts. Ashana's route into entertainment developed during a particularly exciting period for action cinema. The success of Bruce Lee in the 1970s had created a worldwide appetite for martial arts movies, while the 1980s saw Hollywood increasingly combine Asian fighting disciplines with American action-film storytelling. By the time Kickboxer arrived in 1989, the genre was ready for a new generation of stars. That generation included Jean-Claude Van Damme. Kickboxer Directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth, Kickboxer was built around the physical abilities and screen presence of Van Damme. He played Kurt Sloane, a martial artist whose brother Eric is brutally injured during a confrontation with Thai champion Tong Po, played by Michel Qissi. Kurt subsequently travels to Thailand, where he begins an intensive training regimen before seeking revenge. Rochelle Ashana played Mylee, becoming one of the film's important supporting characters. Her association with Van Damme places her directly within one of the landmark productions of the martial arts boom. The American Film Institute's catalogue confirms Ashana's credit as Mylee in the 1989 film, while the film's full cast records place her alongside Van Damme, Dennis Alexio, Dennis Chan, Michel Qissi and Haskell V. Anderson III. More Than Just Kickboxer Although Kickboxer remains Ashana's best-known film, it was not her only connection with genre cinema. Her screen career included appearances in productions such as The A-Team, Hooperman, Fright Night Part 2, 227, The Sword of Bushido, Fear of a Black Hat and Carjack. Her involvement with action and genre productions continued beyond conventional acting. Ashana also received stunt credits, including work on John Carpenter's Escape from L.A. and the 1998 comic-book action movie Blade, demonstrating that her relationship with physical and action-oriented filmmaking extended beyond her most famous role. She continues to work across action films around the world. Her career is particularly interesting because she sits at the intersection of several different worlds: acting, martial arts, stunt work, photography and visual arts. A Lasting Place in Martial Arts Movie History, Martial Arts and Action Cinema Ashana's association with martial arts was not simply a matter of being cast in a martial arts movie. She trained in Jeet Kune Do and Escrima, reflecting the broader martial arts culture that surrounded the American action-film industry during this period. That environment was changing rapidly. Martial arts performers were increasingly expected to bring authenticity, physical confidence, and athletic ability to productions rather than simply playing characters who happened to be involved in fights. The audience wanted to believe that the performers could actually fight. Ashana's career alongside performers such as Van Damme therefore belongs to an era when martial arts and action cinema were becoming increasingly intertwined. Fighting Spirit Film Festival celebrates martial arts cinema as entertainment and inspiration, promotes martial arts culture, and recognises, connects, and supports those who have chosen it as a career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
CULT MARTIAL ARTS & HORROR FILM MAKERDean Meadows: Fighting His Way Through British Cult Cinema Cult film director Dean Meadows talks to Andrew Staton about his latest productions and being mistaken for Jason Statham and Bruce Willis all while creating some of the most standout films of the independent movie industry. Dean Meadows' approach to filmmaking doesn't hang around. His movies are built around action, martial arts, horror, exploitation and the kind of larger-than-life genre storytelling that has traditionally thrived outside the Hollywood mainstream. A writer, director, producer, editor and cult-film historian, Meadows has carved out a distinctive position in British independent cinema through Pentagram Pictures, creating films that wear their martial arts and genre influences firmly on their sleeves. His first feature, Scarlett Cross: Agents of D.E.A.T.H., announced exactly what audiences could expect. Released in 2022, the film follows a collection of deadly female assassins and the mysterious Scarlett Cross, combining action, thriller and exploitation elements. Meadows wrote, directed and produced the picture, which subsequently enjoyed an impressive international festival run, including 19 festival selections and 11 awards and five honourable mentions according to Pentagram Pictures. At New York's Urban Action Showcase, the film picked up the Best Weapons Sequence award. For Meadows, however, the martial arts content was never intended simply as decoration; he explained that he wanted the fight sequences to avoid simply copying the familiar Hong Kong action formula. Instead, the choreography was designed to be hard-hitting and gritty, drawing influences from both old-school martial arts cinema and the more visceral violence of contemporary action and horror. That attitude is revealing. Meadows clearly understands that martial arts movie audiences have seen the tricks before. His objective is not simply to reproduce the genre but to throw different influences into the ring and see what survives. His fascination with martial arts cinema also extends into his documentary and interview work. Through his association with World of Martial Arts Television, Meadows has filmed interviews with some of the most significant figures in martial arts and action cinema. One particularly heavyweight assignment involved legendary kickboxer, martial artist and screen performer Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. Meadows filmed an interview with Urquidez at the UK Martial Arts Show, discussing the fighter's remarkable career and his work alongside figures including Jackie Chan, Patrick Swayze, John Cusack and Shannon Lee. For anyone raised on the martial arts films of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, that is serious territory. Urquidez represents the bridge between genuine combat sports and movie mythology — precisely the territory in which Meadows operates. Then came Dracula: Rise of the Vampire, released in 2025. On paper, it sounds like a radical departure: Dracula, satanic cults, vampires and horror. But Meadows again found a way to bring martial arts and action into the equation. He wrote and directed the film, produced it and starred as disgraced detective Gabriel Lee. Crucially, he also served as the martial arts and stunt coordinator. The result is a film that deliberately refuses to sit comfortably inside a single genre. Horror, action, comedy, martial arts and drama are thrown together in the same cinematic blender — something Meadows himself described when discussing the film's appearance at Horror-on-Sea. There is also a clear affection for British genre traditions behind the project. Dracula: Rise of the Vampire has been described as a modern British horror film paying homage to the Hammer tradition, while Meadows' broader filmmaking philosophy is influenced by independent movie legends such as Roger Corman, Larry Cohen and Menahem Golan. That tells you plenty about Meadows. He is not attempting to make safe, committee-designed cinema. He comes from the school where filmmakers had to be resourceful, audiences had to be grabbed quickly and every punch, monster and explosion had to earn its place on screen. His next action project, Death Machine, pushes that philosophy even further. Meadows is writing, directing, producing and starring as assassin Matt Harper, a professional killer attempting to escape his violent past before being dragged into one final assignment involving an international army of assassins. The film is currently listed as in production for a 2027 UK release. Taken together, Meadows' work reveals a filmmaker with a particular affection for physical storytelling. His characters fight, bleed, run, shoot and survive. His films are populated by assassins, martial artists, vampires and people who generally have very bad days. But beneath the blood and bruises is something more traditional: a genuine love of genre cinema. From Scarlett Cross to Dracula, from independent action filmmaking to sitting across a camera from Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, Dean Meadows is continuing a tradition that martial arts fans understand instinctively — make it physical, make it memorable and, above all, make it your own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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