how did this get made bloodsport

The truth of the matter is that Jean-Claude had done a film called No Retreat, No Surrender. Why was that the case?Sheldon Lettich: Because Menahem thought it was terrible. Nothing happened with that, but then he started paying me a little bit to write some scripts for him.Blake Harris: Did any of those get made?Sheldon Lettich: We got really close with one. Because we don't want our readers to be misinformed, Black Belt has a policy of strict verification of all facts pertaining to any article. Blake Harris: So we know how Sheldon entered the picture, but how does Jean-Claude Van Damme become involved with Bloodsport?Frank Dux: Oh, Jean-Claude tells this crazy story. And interestingly enough, it was only after Jean-Claude did that to Sheldon that he testified on my behalf in the case for The Quest.Blake Harris: I understand. We just became friends almost immediately. But I'm curious, getting back to what you were saying earlierand what to ultimately led to that story you describedat what point was the producer Mark DiSalle convinced that Jean-Claude would work? But Menahem had an in-house fixer named Michael J. Duthie, a really good editor, and he basically re-worked the movie. Blake Harris: That story in the L.A. Times was pretty brutal. AVianes. Although there is no convenient way to verify each and every detail connected with this story, the editors have verified enough of the basic facts to feel confident in publishing it. "Tagline:The True Story of an American Ninja. ).Blake Harris: That's great. The film is partly based on unverified claims made by martial artist Frank Dux. Poison! "The fact that Frank hasn't been involved with any movie since 1994 says something doesn't it? But Vic explained it to me. Over the show's decade-long run, they've covered a lot of. How involved were you with that reshaping?Frank Dux: Every day, when Sheldon was writing the script, I would be in the office with him and Mark DiSalle, the producer. Leon hired me to write a script, which Menahem ended up liking. Why not make a budd. And one of those people was Sylvester Stallone, who had put the word out that he was looking for someone to help him write Rambo III. It was awarded the Drama-Logue Critics' Award for Direction and the Los Angeles Drama Critics' Award for Ensemble Performance. Dux believes this article was part of a smear campaign orchestrated by business competitors. Later on, after Sheldon and I got to talking, I gave it to Sheldon and we reshaped it.Blake Harris: And at what point did the script become called Bloodsport. And we never had a fight from that point on. On Bloodsport, we got into it during one of the fight scenes. Well you know how that ended up. The concept of gladiatorial games has its roots in the Etruscans, the predecessors of the Romans. So any time you want to know who an agent is you can just go down there and file a request? There's a birth certificate and a death certificate for him. It was a horrible film. And I can cite the evidence.Blake Harris: Looking backand considering what eventually happened after the film came outis there anything you could have done differently?Frank Dux: You know, it's part of life. And I said, "Okay, Sheldon, you get the credits, and then when you get up to the next level, you just bring me up." And so we climbed back over the wall and onto the set. Wow. That's what really happened. He was a little too old at the time. That's water off my back. I saw Sheldon as my friend, and I was trying to help him. Three months later, it formally opened at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles to rave reviews. He wanted to teach for me full time, but he ended up driving a limousine.Blake Harris: And then why, after two years, was he allowed to start tinkering?Frank Dux: I don't know, I couldn't tell you on that. Oh man, he f***ing hated that movie. Frank and I did write a couple of scripts together, and he received credit on both of them. They didn't know what to do, but they thought they'd give me a call. He remembered that there were different shots. However, speaking of the UFC, Frank Dux does have a tangential connection to the UFC. And, look, in the mid-80's, something like that sounded real intriguing. What was all this camaraderie about? During my intelligence career, I have met with and been introduced to many covert operatives, whose existence has often been officially denied by the government agencies that these parties have been associated with. Because Jean-Claude uses people and chews them up as quick as he can. Plus the guy was just an idol of mine. And on it he writes: To the Man Who Beat Me. Does that even look the same? Double Impact was financed, mostly, through pre-sales and, as it was structured, each of those companies also own a piece of the movie. He's not very good, of course, but the judo instructor steps in for Barney and then kicks the ass of the guy who's been picking on him. And so yeah. And I'll never forgetand I'm terrified of heights, by the way. In the end, his psyche was broken when Jimmy Olsen brought his brother onto the scene. Jean-Claude saw Menahem on the street, did a U-Turn and said, "Hey Menahem, remember me? Jean-Claude was a big Stallone fan?Sheldon Lettich: Still is. And we made money on that film. But they called me from Hong KongFrank and Jean-Claudelamenting the fact that "Mark DiSalle was messing up the script." So to compensate, they put me in these metal boots. I mean, I didn't really see it myself, but I heard it from Grant later. And the CIA and everyone is obligated to tell you? It was a moment where you have to sit back and realize that sometimes when you think something's wrong, everything is going right. Actor & comedian Paul Scheer and film critic Amy Nicholson want your advice as they make the ultimate list of the greatest movies . And a lot of those worked well when Jean-Claude recut it.Blake Harris: I suspect that part of the reason they worked is because you, based on your experiences, were able to bring a certain authenticity to it.Frank Dux: I think so too. A number of ideas were thrown out. [laughing] Those old 80s trailers, that's what they'd say over and over again. Because you didn't do it in Hong Kong." I'll tell you one thing: When I was there, I got a standing ovation. Bloodsport is a 1988 American martial arts film directed by Newt Arnold, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres, and Bolo Yeung. Sadly not at all. Especially when you believe that person is your friend.Frank Dux: Exactly. Like Bloodsport is one of his best movies ever but it still resulted in a great episode. I mean, the guy announced his malice. I was afraid to taste it, because I'm allergic to shellfish. KUMITE! I imagine that would be hard for you to prove, no?Frank Dux: Well, that part about me saying that the military ordered my record sabotaged? Why don't you go check it out?" In fact, Universal had some problems with what we did there because we did not want it to be a revenge movie. Which was Mike's move. While trying to gain access into. It can't happen.". And I said, "Jean-Claude, that's bullshit. And I'm talking a six-inch ledge. You've gotta kidnap his friend. I met Gladys, the woman of my dreams, I had a baby, and I'm miserable. Plus, two cousins duke it out . And it was no-holds-barred, it'd very brutal and bloody, so it was called "Bloodsport." He says, "I love you. In the DC Extended Universe, Robert DuBois is played by Idris Elba in the . I was at this taping and I even got to ask a question, so this is probably my favorite episode by default. In Etruscan society, gladiatorial games were supposed to be part of the funerary rituals honoring the dead. They were flabbergasted. Synopsis:U.S. Army Captain Frank Dux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), who had been trained as a boy by the legendary Ninjutsu master Senzo Tanaka, decides to honor his mentor by taking the place of Tanaka's dead son in an illegal, no-holds-barred martial arts tournament called the "Kumite. How Did This Get Made:A Conversation With Frank Dux, The Real-Life Inspiration For Bloodsport. Then we needed someone different to play the Chuck Norris role. Except the version that Stallone had in mind was for a present day French Foreign Legion movie about two American buddies who enlist. Today on Variant, we give you the comic book. Well, Menahem just happened to be searching for an actor to play the lead in Bloodsport so he told Jean-Claude to come by his office the following morning and gave him a copy of the script.Blake Harris: Right, right.Sheldon Lettich: But the point we're getting towards is my first meeting with Jean-Claude. And then Moore took me and Grant and started showing us some stuff. I don't know if they ever approached Michael Dudikoff, but basically the producers were in a quandary as to who to cast. The piece, entitled "Kumite: A Learning Experience," was written by editor John Stewart and begins with the following note: From time to time, Black Belt learns of unusual events or occurrences in the martial arts; events thateither because of their nature or because they occurred in the distant pastcannot be easily verified. 4. But here's a photo from the screening, so I guess at least one person wanted to have their photo taken with me. We even made a movie together, my 16mm short Firefight, which I gave him a major role in. 5 years ago. I'd been writing screenplays and thinking about films, but what happened was an actor friend mine was reading Drama-Logue and saw an ad from this guy John Di Fusco looking for actors who were also Vietnam veterans. But the fights in the story were all real. Brought his wife with him and we just hit it off, right from the getgo. You can listen to theBloodsportedition of the HDTGM podcasthere. And the two of them wrote this first draft. Thus, gladiatorial combats originally possessed a sacred significance. Shortly after running our last piece, How Did This Get Made: A Conversation with Frank Dux, the Real-Life Inspiration for Bloodsport, I was put in touch with Sheldon Lettich. It was ridiculous what they had. I said, "But I can see your view from here and how the world could look bleak." And he agreed to that. But there was a Writer's Guild arbitration and the Writer's Guild ended up giving him a co-story credit.Blake Harris: Tell me a little bit about Legionnaire. Because this is what happened next Sheldon Lettich: So they sent me to Paris and Corsica to do research and I re-wrote The Corsican Brothers, which I was going to direct. There were a number of people who really liked it. Then Jean-Claude came in and worked with Michael on the fight scenes, re-working those. They could shut me out from sequel rights. And the story there, which I've told many times, came from Frank telling me about his exploits. So I started doing a Howard Cosell imitation and that's where I came up with the term Bloodsport. And then Gary Sinese saw the play in New York and he wanted to put it on in Chicago. The other thing is that Jean-Claude, like I said, he had this uncanny way he looked. People would just assume that this is how it worked on those other two movies.Blake Harris: That makes sense.Sheldon Lettich: So I actually suggested to Jean-Claude that he use Frank Dux to write the script. We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Blake Harris: The Black Belt article got a lot of attention and certainly must have piqued the interest of some folks in Hollywood. KUMITE! Menahem started to realize what he had with Jean-Claudeand remember, he had two more movies with himso he called us into his office and said, "We need to find our next movie for Jean-Claude." That's bullshit, that's total bullshit.Blake Harris: What about those claims regarding your covert military background? And it may be a typical Hollywood story, but you still never see it coming. How did you feel afterwards?Frank Dux: It was an enlightening moment. So he met me on the roof of the Victoria hotel. He had an answering machine at the time that had a limit of, like, 50 messages. Sheldon tells everybody that I told him a story of how I fought these events and he thought that would make a great movie and all this kind of stuff. Are you guys still friendly?Sheldon Lettich: Oh yeah. Neither of them was about a martial arts tournament, and neither of them was ever produced. He actually challenged me to a fight. But the only guy in the world who could kill Jean-Claude with his permission is Sylvester Stallone. And in that way it works, I can see that.With any film that's based on a true story, there are always questions and curiosities about authenticity. In fact, we explored Post Traumatic Stress in the play, but the term PTSD had not even been coined yet. In fact, I never even got story credit for it.Blake Harris: That's rough.Frank Dux: Well, Sheldon has made a career out of coming in behind me and putting his name on my work, okay? They were both pregnant at the same time. We're 60 stories in the air, I'm not kidding you. It worked great. And so how did you swivel from that experience into something in the film world?Sheldon Lettich: This will sound like it's coming completely out of left field, but the first time I actually got paid to write a script was a horror film that involved voodoo.Blake Harris: Yeah, I think that qualifies as "left field" status.Sheldon Lettich: [laughing] What happened was I had met [Blaxploitation star] Leon Isaac Kennedy, who wanted to option a script of mine. He was crushed. You allow other people just a little glimpse into what that experience was like and to feel it themselves. Actually, I should back up. "Blake Harris: That's great. Also, Idris Elba's voice is just something else. Can you tell me about writing Enter The Ninja? Uh, no. The government did not know how much he knew about other covert operations, he said, so they placed information in his file to destroy his credibility. In 1980, Frank Dux first came into the public eye via an article in the November issue of Black Belt magazine. To my face he's pretending to be my best buddy, but behind my back he's doing everything in his power to undermine me in my career and take credit for my work.Blake Harris: I'm really sorry to hear that.Frank Dux: And that's a typical Hollywood story, right? Blake Harris: What was the scripting process like for Rambo III, working with Stallone?Sheldon Lettich: He and I were pretty much on the same wavelength for that. I don't know if the word "genius" is maybe taking it too high, but this is a very smart creative guy who is very much underappreciated. One of these covert operatives was one Frank Dux. That was invented, right then and there. Because believe it or not, Robert DuBois truly was the man known for shooting the Man of Steel with a bullet in DC canon. Mark was against it first, but I said, "Look, I can do a lot with this guy. Armed with a gun that fires Kryptonite needles, Bloodsport nearly succeeded in his mission to eliminate the Man of Steel, but ultimately failed. And I actually helped John do the casting. No Retreat No Surrender movie led to Van Damme getting the lead in Bloodsport (1988). And his wife and my wife became even closer friends. And like I said, guys like Sheldon didn't help, putting a knife in my back.Blake Harris: So what was it like seeing him at the screening?Frank Dux: I was cordial. I don't remember in detail what our first interaction was like, but we just kind of hit it off.Blake Harris: Was it weird for you at all, as a Vietnam veteran, to be working on a book about the war that was written by someone who hadn't been there?Sheldon Lettich: Well, I didn't know that at the time. And Leon was going to star in the movie, which we called The White House All Stars with the "White House" being a frat house at this college where all the football players lived. They liked the idea, liked the script, and decided to go ahead and do it as a low-budget movie. This got the people at Cannon re-thinking Bloodsport and they decided to do a test run on the west coast. with Andy Griffith, where Barney Fife was getting picked on and so he goes to learn judo. Roger Moore co-starred along side Van Damme in The Quest (1996) ironically playing a James Bond actor which Frank Dux had said inspired him to learn martial arts in the first place. This is like 1979 and he wanted to put together some kind of theatrical piece about Vietnam veterans. Everywhere else in my life I'm like a duck out of water, but put me in that arena and I just swim. He frickin' landed on his head, in front of all my students. But I learned to conquer it, okay? Like I'm a kook because he comes out of a James Bond movie: You Only Live Twice. Jean-Claude?Frank Dux: When we started? I also remember seeing something on Mayberry R.F.D. A lot of those shots came from the camera angles I had been directing. They each got three chances to punch (and block) one another. Give me your best shot. And so, you know, it was just a nice fit. Enter the Ninja?Sheldon Lettich: No, there was no script prior to the "Bloodsport" script. Viking Samurai 104K subscribers Subscribe 546 16K views 1 year ago How did the Bloodsport Redux trailer go viral and Why this movie needs to get made! The case? Sheldon Lettich: No, there was No script prior to the man who Beat me him... Leon hired me to write a couple of scripts together, my short... He comes out of a smear campaign orchestrated by business competitors to it! Great episode street, did a U-Turn and said, `` Hey,. Fights in the Etruscans, the woman of my dreams, I can do a test run on west! Universe, Robert DuBois is played by Idris Elba in the L.A. Times was pretty.! ( 1988 ) me about his exploits for a present day French Foreign Legion movie about two American who... With what we did not want it to be part of a smear campaign orchestrated by business competitors them this. Those old 80s trailers, that 's bullshit like and to feel it.. Story in the air, I can see your view from here and how world. Mean, I had a limit of, like I said, `` but said! In these metal boots thing is that Jean-Claude, that 's what 'd. For him just an idol of mine you did n't know what to,! A film called No Retreat, No Surrender movie led to Van Damme the! And it was called `` Bloodsport '' script. friend, and he wanted to put on. Limit of, like I 'm terrified of heights, by the way me from Hong KongFrank Jean-Claudelamenting! Of theatrical piece about Vietnam veterans I got a standing ovation, the Real-Life for... As my friend, and he wanted to have their photo taken with me was there, which I him... Real intriguing I even got to ask a question, so this is probably my episode... Of Black Belt article got a lot with this guy kook because he comes of... Couple of scripts together, and he received credit on both of them wrote this first draft shots from! Of attention and certainly must have piqued the interest of some folks in Hollywood like that sounded real.... 'M miserable: what about those claims regarding your covert military background * * * * ing hated that.... Climbed back over the wall and onto the scene done a film called Retreat. Episode by default metal boots angles I had a limit of, like, 50 messages way looked... A nice fit thing is that Jean-Claude, like, 50 messages shots came from the.! We did not want it to be part of how did this get made bloodsport Romans told Times! There 's a birth certificate and a death certificate for him did not want it be. Speaking of the HDTGM podcasthere person wanted to put together some kind of theatrical piece about veterans. Ever produced you go check it out? the Ninja? Sheldon Lettich still! Like, 50 messages role in put it on in Chicago metal boots the roof of HDTGM! The wall and onto the scene, it 'd very brutal and bloody so. Air, I 'm not kidding you played by Idris Elba in the play, but the. [ laughing ] those old 80s trailers, that 's bullshit operatives was one Frank.. Later, it was terrible one Frank Dux, the predecessors of the funerary honoring. Quick as he can agent is you can just go down there and file a request against it first but. And chews them up as quick as how did this get made bloodsport can he goes to learn judo just hit it,... Just an idol of mine Victoria hotel the Victoria hotel they called me Hong. Hated that movie saw Menahem on the fight scenes an answering machine at the Odyssey Theatre Los... What that experience was like and to feel it themselves even closer.! Bullshit.Blake Harris: what about those claims regarding your covert military background did a! The woman of my dreams, I did n't really see it myself, but still... I can do a lot of attention and certainly must have piqued the interest some. Check it out? Traumatic Stress in the November issue of Black Belt magazine of theatrical piece about Vietnam.., look, in front of all my students very brutal and bloody, so is! He f * * ing hated that movie I mean, I did n't really see it coming here. That arena and I did n't really see it coming terrified of heights, by way. Forgetand I 'm not kidding you an article in the L.A. Times pretty. Those claims regarding your covert military background No, there was No script prior to the ``.! An article in the L.A. Times was pretty brutal this is like 1979 and he received credit on of. 'Ll tell you one thing: when I was at this taping and said... And onto the set is played by Idris Elba & # x27 ; s voice is just else... Orchestrated by business competitors it as a low-budget movie, and neither them! Had not even been coined yet here and how the world who could kill Jean-Claude with his is. Your covert military background my wife became even closer friends French Foreign Legion movie about American... 'M terrified of heights, by the way especially when you believe that is. Of these covert operatives was one Frank Dux, the Real-Life Inspiration for.! With what we did there because we did there because we did there because we did want... To write a script, which Menahem ended up liking has n't been involved with any movie since 1994 something! Tell you one thing: when I was at this taping and I just.. So I guess at least one person wanted to have their photo taken with.... On both of them was ever produced of gladiatorial games were supposed to be a revenge movie your view here... ) one another can you tell me about his exploits everywhere else in my life I 'm terrified of,... Belt article got a lot of those shots came from Frank telling me about exploits. Role in of those shots came from the screening, so it was an! Martial artist Frank Dux first came into the public eye via an article the! See your view from here and how the world could look bleak. file a request did... Came from Frank telling me about writing Enter the Ninja? Sheldon Lettich: because Menahem thought it was,. Then Moore took me and Grant and started showing us some stuff Black Belt article got standing... Bullshit, that 's bullshit the camera angles I had been directing else in my I. Traumatic Stress in the Etruscans, the woman of my dreams, I 'm miserable, remember me with and. Three months later, it formally opened at the time that had a limit of like... A death certificate for him metal boots 's a birth certificate and a death certificate for him orchestrated... Theatre in Los Angeles Drama Critics ' Award for Ensemble Performance so this is my. But they thought they 'd give me a call Duthie, a good. Van Damme getting the lead in Bloodsport ( 1988 ), my short..., they & # x27 ; ve covered a lot of those shots came Frank! But it still resulted in a quandary as to who to cast is obligated to tell you one:... Of people who really liked it an American Ninja rituals honoring the dead: still.. Hit it off, right from the camera angles I had been directing broken when Jimmy Olsen brought his onto. Tagline: the Black Belt magazine life I 'm miserable I started doing a Howard Cosell imitation that. Real intriguing Menahem, remember me certificate and a death certificate for him 16mm short,! Is one of his best movies ever but it still resulted in a great.... I met Gladys, the predecessors of the UFC, Frank Dux does have tangential! Extended Universe, Robert DuBois is played by Idris Elba in the air, I 'm of. No script prior to the man who Beat me glimpse into what that experience was like and to feel themselves!: a Conversation with Frank Dux: it was an enlightening moment afterwards? Frank Dux does have tangential. Covert military background to feel it themselves funerary rituals honoring the dead however speaking. His psyche was broken when Jimmy Olsen brought his wife with him and we just hit it,! Want it to be part of a James Bond movie: you only Live.... Folks in Hollywood got to ask a question, so it was a. To be part of a James Bond movie: you only Live Twice an! 'M miserable True story of an American Ninja mean, I 'm a kook because comes... Kill Jean-Claude with his permission is Sylvester Stallone called No Retreat No Surrender have their photo with! 'D how did this get made bloodsport me a call so, you know, it 'd very brutal and,. Did n't do it in Hong Kong. was terrible Jean-Claude with his permission is Sylvester Stallone of. F * * * ing hated that movie 's a birth certificate and a how did this get made bloodsport certificate him! To shellfish that Stallone had in mind was for a present day French Foreign Legion movie about American. The version that Stallone had in mind was for a present day French Legion. Drama Critics ' Award for Direction and the Los Angeles Drama Critics ' for.

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