I consider Laurence [Fishburn], Keanu [Reeves], both very acclaimed actors, I mean so good. Chad Stahelski More Quotes by Chad Stahelski More Quotes From Chad Stahelski We're under Rigan Machado, who I think is one of the best jiu jitsu instructors at least in Los Angeles, if not in the world. We have a lot of his instructors here, as well as Japanese jiu jitsu, Japanese judo, and sambo. That was Keanu's [Reeves] recipe [in John Wick 2]. Chad Stahelski recipes world thinking Keanu and I were in New York, I was prepping John Wick 2. And when Keanu [Reeves], [writer] Derek Kolstad, and myself sat down and wrote the character, it was completely, one hundred percent based on Laurence Fishburne. Like, in my head I saw this guy. Chad Stahelski guy new-york character Laurence [Fishburne] is a great example of how to communicate to the audience as you're acting with another actor. Chad Stahelski actors acting example Laurence [Fishburn] helped redo some of the dialogue [in John Wick 2], he and Keanu [Reeves] workshopped it. And he couldn't have been more respectful couldn't have been more brilliant on set. I said, "look, I'm gonna have to work you a little bit here cause I only get you for three days." He never left set, was always engaging, always working on his lines, it was awesome. Chad Stahelski lines three looks When I first met Laurence I was Keanu's [Reeves] stunt double on the first Matrix. So, a little evolution there with career status. But then cut to the thirteen/fourteen years later where now I'm asking Laurence Fishburne to trust my directorial capacity [in John Wick 2]. Chad Stahelski cutting careers years I spent a lot of time with both [Laurence Fishburn and Keanu Reeves], obviously, on the Matrix trilogy. Worked a lot, on a day-to-day level, with Laurence Fishburne. And then we'd bumped into each other through the film community for years and years. Chad Stahelski levels community years Honestly, when you think of any great action hero or any great hero out there or great character actor, you kind of transcend the character. You just don't love the character, you love the guy. In any of the great action stars, you see the guy doing the work. Chad Stahelski stars hero character With John Wick we wanted to do something like that. So rather than punching, kicks - and for the kind of way we wanted to shoot it, which is longer takes - our initial instinct was let's go with a throwing or grappling arm. Chad Stahelski punching arms way I think what we want to do is - when we choreograph, when we design choreography, we try to take it from a character standpoint first. Obviously you write a script and it's like, a Jason Bourne or a John Wick or something like that, you don't start choreographing double twisting wire moves and backflips, or doing the splits. You try to keep it so it fits the character, or the tone of the film. Chad Stahelski writing character moving Character imperfection is the important thing to keep them from being superheroes. Chad Stahelski superhero imperfection character I think we're all kind of alike when you do your first film. You have great hopes, but you don't hope too much. Chad Stahelski too-much firsts thinking I'm an audience member too, man. I hate shitty sequels. Chad Stahelski members hate men I have a very strong belief in what I like, or a very strong opinion in genre films that I like to watch. Chad Stahelski strong belief watches In fact rules are more important in our underworld than they are to the regular citizen who works within them. Chad Stahelski citizens important facts The art of stunt-making is not about falling down; it's about getting the shot. Creating stunts is creating heroes. Chad Stahelski falling heroes down art If I'm the smartest guy in the room, I'm in the wrong room. Chad Stahelski smartest room wrong guy I guess I have kind of a type. Pretty much anybody who shows up in a black leather overcoat, I've doubled for them. Chad Stahelski pretty who leather black For me, it's about surrounding myself with the best, most talented team out there, and not ever being afraid of being the worst guy in the room. It's ego-crushing, yeah. Every day is ego-crushing. But it keeps you sharper than you can imagine. Chad Stahelski best day myself me Production wants a miracle on every movie. They want us to do something new and amazing - but then they give you a 55-year-old actor with sciatica who doesn't want to train. Chad Stahelski amazing new you want Say you can't put one foot in front of the other, you punch like a child, and you're not flexible at all. We'll show you some aikido, some ground jujitsu, some gun stuff, some knife moves. We can make a pretty good-size dent with that. Chad Stahelski knife child you gun
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