Photo Credit I AM WATER
Austin is home to a flourishing film industry, but now Cap City has become a breeding ground for stunt performers and fight choreographers. Austin filmmakers have abundant local resources and BAM Academy is the new hot spot to rehearse action sequences.
“The facilities alone are amazing and the people that keep it running are just genuinely spirited,” says actor/fight choreographer, Aaron D. Alexander. “They’re just as crazy and hungry for new things as the people they teach.”
When you add a 42×24 ft spring floor and open gym nearly every day, the result is three stunt teams calling BAM their new home. Let’s take a look at the residents.
I AM WATER
If you come to open gym, you’re sure to see these guys in action.
I AM WATER was founded by actor/stunt performer, Robert Steven Brown and actor/stunt performer, Jason Atz. “The mission is to form a diverse team that can adapt to any situation..To work with and not against one another while constantly pushing the team’s ability to be formless, shapeless, flow and crash – like water,” says Robert.
Patrick King as the ‘Summer Soldier’ -PK Cosplay
I AM WATER will perform eight live-action sequences at Comicpalooza in Houston on May 23. The fights will include 22 comic book characters, unique super heroes and video game characters in full costume. GM Photography sponsors the event and performers include local cosplayers Mika Nicole, Alison Carrier and Patrick King.
“We agreed to perform at Comicpalooza in hopes of bringing something new and exciting to the world of Comic Con. Our live action stunt performances would be something that we as Comic Con fans would be excited and thrilled to see at the event.” -Robert Steven Brown
BAM Academy is the official training location for I AM WATER. “The BAM facility gives us a safe and controlled environment for performing such stunts as falls, wire work and other action/fight sequences..” says Robert.
You can get a sneek peak of the action by stopping by the I AM WATER stunt class every Thursday at 8:00 p.m. Also keep an eye out for the June release of “Run Home Jack“, an Enlight10 Media production that features seven I AM WATER performers.
‘Run Home Jack’ – Jody Zung Photography
Faux Fighting
If you’ve ever visited BAM, you’ve met a Faux Fighter and probably didn’t even know it.
Faux Fighting was created by actor/fight choreographer, Aaron D. Alexander. Aaron has been teaching stunt classes at BAM since it opened and decided to form his own team. “I established Faux Fighting to actually feed a hobby of wanting to get a group of like minded individuals who loved martial arts action together and just create foolishness.”
Aaron developed a showcase for his team’s talents. “I created the “Show Down” series from a personal need and want. I needed to prove to myself that I could do what I said I could do. The series premiered with a 3-part battle based on “Bad Boys” rephrased as “Not So Good Gentleman“. “I wanted to have a random event that had little to no dialog but did an amazing job of telling a story…” The fight stars Aaron and fellow actor/stunt performer, Donald Brooks.
‘Not So Good Gentleman’ – Ben Moody
Keep an eye out for the next release in the “Show Down” series, “A Better Workout“, starring yours truly. You can also check out Aaron’s stunt class at 3:00 p.m. on Sundays at BAM.
Ballistic Blade Entertainment
If you see a film crew at BAM, you’ve just witnessed the ‘Blood On the Breeze.’
Ballistic Blade Entertainment was founded by Cinematographer/martial artist, Benjamin N. Redic II and Writer/martial artist, Edwin Quinones. “We started BBE as a childhood dream of being able to make movies,” says Edwin.
The best buds formed a production company that provides full-scale media services from concept development through post-production. With two features and over 25 shorts under the belt, the BBE team is kicking the Austin film scene into high gear.
Photo Credit Ericka Bundy Redic
“We really want to show people that you don’t have to go to Hollywood to make a good film. This is a chance for us to show that the great state of Texas can produce quality action films as well as any other place in America.” –BBE Website
BBE’s current project is a new take on old school Kung Fu with, “Chinaman Wu-Ping: Stranger Out of Canton“. The film captures the journey of a young martial artist in China, who returns to the U.S. in order to retrieve a stolen artifact. He finds himself facing off against an entire city of criminals.
Chinaman Wu-Ping: Stranger Out of Canton – Ballistic Blade Entertainment
“Wu-Ping differs (from other indie films) in the simple fact that we want to include other teams to bring their talents to the project…as well as be Austin’s first exclusive martial arts movie.” -Edwin Quinones
Photo Credit Chinaman Wu-Ping
The BBE team has been working on the project for the past two years and will continue with production throughout this year. BAM is the official training location for the film and I AM WATER is one of the primary collaborators.
If you’d like to support the “Chinaman Wu-Ping” project, check out their website. You can also catch BBE’s web series “ROB” showing at Austin WebFest June 25-27.
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