An oral history of the action classic Blood and Bone

One fateful faculty weekend, ActionMax, the style spinoff of Cinemax, programmed three down-and-dirty action movies in a back-to-back marathon of cable curation that may change my life.

First was Common Soldier: Day of Reckoning, a one-in-a-million mix of science fiction, horror, and R-rated action. Then Undisputed II: Final Man Standing, a milestone second for the up-and-coming Scott Adkins. However the coup de grâce was 2009’s Blood and Bone.

Directed by Ben Ramsey (Dragonball Evolution, author of The Huge Hit), Blood and Bone is a crisp, 93-minute underground struggle film led by Undisputed II’s Michael Jai White, who surrounds himself with a litany of high-profile skilled fighters, together with Bob Sapp, Kimbo Slice, Gina Carano, and Matt Mullins. The forged and stunt group is full of action film legends (Gene LeBell, Robert Wall, Ron Yuan, Zoë Bell), main trade players-to-be (Extraction franchise director Sam Hargrave, The Continental stunt coordinator Larnell Stovall, Day Shift director J.J. Perry, Black Panther struggle coordinator Clayton J. Barber), and proficient trade veterans who stay underappreciated to this present day (Jesse V. Johnson collaborator Luke LaFontaine, and Sauron himself, Sala Baker).

Blood and Bone is an unforgettable show of our bodies in movement. Anchored by way of a satisfyingly easy story about an ex-con seeking to dominate an underground preventing ring to satisfy a promise to a lifeless buddy, the action choreography and fist-to-face sound results mix to kind pure cinema. Ramsey’s film had opened me as much as not only a complete new world of films, however a complete new method of watching them.

On the event of its fifteenth anniversary, and at a time when all of its main gamers really feel both important to action films or underappreciated for his or her artwork, Polygon spoke to many of these concerned with Blood and Bone to grasp how they pulled it off.

Michael Jai White, “Isaiah Bone” and co-producer: [Blood and Bone] was just about a revisiting of ’70s moviemaking, as a result of I might do all the things on digital camera. There’s no digital camera stunts or methods or what have you ever. I like being pure to that, as a result of Blood and Bone was about it — that was a struggle film. That was an homage to Exhausting Occasions [starring Charles Bronson and James Coburn] in a up to date style. In order that’s what that was supposed to be. So it needed to be this actually mano-a-mano street-fighting sort of factor.

Ben Ramsey, director: It began with Mike [Jai White]. He was in search of a director [for this project], and I had recognized Mike for fairly a number of years earlier than we determined to do that. We had been fellow martial arts fanatics, and all the time talked about doing one collectively. So he got here to me with the script. And I used to be like, Yeah, come on, let’s go. Let’s do it. And we bought the funding, and the relaxation, as they are saying, is history.

J.J. Perry, second unit director, martial arts director, and stunt coordinator: Me and Mike Jai White return to 1990. After I bought out of the military, he was simply getting [to LA] from New York. He was a kyokushin nationwide champion. I used to be the similar in taekwondo. We had been each, like, high gamers in our respective martial arts. He’s fairly a bit greater than me, he’s a distinct weight class, however we hit it off straight away.

I did Undisputed II with Mike. We had been already pals, however that’s after we created a really skilled working relationship. And that’s when he requested me to return do Blood and Bone with him. I used to be tremendous honored.

Sam Hargrave, “Manuel” and co-fight coordinator: It was early days in my profession. J.J. Perry was a stunt coordinator I’d labored with. We had finished X-Males Origins: Wolverine in Australia, and I used to be simply beginning to make a reputation for myself. He requested me to return on [the project], serving to him struggle choreograph, and taking part in a small character function. And so I helped him design the action, and I did a small stunt half the place I bought crushed up by Michael Jai White.

David Chan Cordeiro, “Carlos” and stunt performer: The celebrities had been aligned. I wished to do stunts since I used to be little. A buddy of mine knew J.J., and he arrange a gathering. It actually modified the course of my life.

Hargrave: I don’t suppose [you know how special it is] while you’re in it at the time. All the individuals I used to be working with had been extra established than I used to be. J.J. and Clayton [J. Barber] and Sala [Baker] had finished a lot greater films for for much longer than I had. I feel I used to be most likely too younger and caught up in the second to appreciate who’s who, the record that I had the honor to be in the midst of. However you look again and go wow — in case you mix all of the resumes of these individuals, it’s one of the most spectacular lineups in action cinema history.

Ramsey: We used to brag that we had the baddest forged on the town.

Cordeiro: I used to be starstruck.

Perry: We shot in a short time. And we employed lots of badasses. We beat up 50,000 motherfuckers in like 5 days with three cameras.

White: That’s what we needed to do. To have the ability to do it now, like even with [my recent movie] Outlaw Johnny Black, I’m creating the struggle scenes as I’m on my technique to set. Actually, as a result of I don’t have the time.

Larnell Stovall, “Trey” and stunt performer: This was throughout a time when the MMA craze was variety of nonetheless peaking. The place UFC was nonetheless rising and legends had been nonetheless being created. So any sort of underground preventing had an expectation behind it now. Individuals wished to see extra actual strategies. They wished to see jiu-jitsu, they wished to see Muay Thai, they wished to see karate. So lifelike types had been included in that.

Hargrave: As a result of [MMA] was in the public’s consciousness, individuals had been used to seeing that and then you definately’re taking it and including in what we might name “movie fu.” Like, Sure, it’s MMA, however with an thrilling twist. So it’s the issues which might be the most dynamic, however nonetheless associated to the rules of the approach. That period was positively a demarcation and a shift of choreography for martial arts action films.

Ramsey: We had such a short while to shoot. Loads of large martial arts films famously had like a complete week or two weeks doing one struggle scene, and we might get on set and simply have a number of hours, and we had about 20 days [total] to shoot in a complete bunch of places, and simply shy of $4 million on finances. So when it got here time to do these struggle scenes, that they had labored it out so nicely that we might go and simply shoot.

Hargrave: What I keep in mind is the night time shoot, after I was interacting with Michael, getting my butt kicked. But additionally time spent in the gymnasium with all the stunt performers. It was pretty early in my profession, 2009. And I’d solely been doing it for about 4 years professionally. And in order that camaraderie of working with the performers, with the ability to see the magic on this type of degree — it was a enjoyable, lower-budget, gritty, get-it-done, “work with the fellas and do fun stuff with your friends” [project]. And I simply keep in mind the camaraderie of the stunt group on set.

Perry: I solely have fond recollections of these days of doing these run-and-gun, $2-to-$5-million budgets in 30 days the place it’s you and your homeboys. We’re taking pictures seven days per week, and we’re sleeping in our vehicles, and we’re simply going for it. I feel that’s what prepped me for [bigger Hollywood movies]. As a result of in case you can struggle over your weight class in a film like that, and rating, while you get on an enormous film, and you’ve bought cash and time, it’s a must to shoot farther, it’s a must to see farther. I’m tremendous grateful for all of these films, as a result of that’s the highway that bought me to the place I’m now.

Hargrave: Decrease-budget films drive you to work rapidly and make daring decisions and act on these decisions. Which means you don’t have lots of time to second-guess your self, you don’t have lots of time to shoot a bunch of totally different protection, you simply [ask], What’s the handiest technique to inform the story with the digital camera there? and get it finished with confidence.

Cordeiro: Me and Sala bought knocked out fairly early in a struggle scene. However then there are different beats the place Michael goes as much as the chief of the gang and grabs him. So Sala and I needed to play lifeless for possibly two or three nights in a row. Sala would put his palms on my ankle and begin tickling. And I’m lifeless, and I’m making an attempt to maneuver away with out ruining the take. I discover it humorous, as a result of Sala is an enormous dude, he used to play rugby, an enormous human, however he’s the kindest, most humorous individual.

Stovall: One of my favourite recollections was the showcase struggle scene the place he took on fighter after fighter after fighter. Watching that, it was like, Yeah, that is gonna be particular.

Hargrave: That second when David Chan Cordeiro bought deadmanned out of the air with a Michael Jai White facet kick. I used to be exhibiting that to someone the different day!

Cordeiro: I had seen a YouTube wushu reel at the time, and I stated, “I have a proposal, and I’d like to show you.” And Michael noticed the kick and goes, “Oh, that’s amazing.” And I requested, “Do you mind if I [am the one who gets kicked]?” As a result of I figured they’re going to present it to a extra seasoned stunt performer. And [co-fight coordinator] Fernando [Chien] was so good. He stated, “No no no, David, you suggested it, you keep it.” And I’m like, Oh my God, that is my large second. On the day we do it, I get kicked with the kick — clearly, Michael’s being secure, so the kick wasn’t full-on, he variety of grazed me, and I didn’t get pushed again. So I stand up, and I say to Sam, “Can he kick me harder?”

Fernando introduced me a [stunt vest], and there’s a small tarp on the flooring, so I had possibly an inch of padding. And he did kick me arduous, and that’s the soak up the film. After which everybody simply applauded and congratulated me. To be sincere, I didn’t care if I bought knocked out after I fell on the floor. I simply wished to promote that kick.

I used to be actually nervous that day. So many large names. I assumed to myself, All these guys, they most likely wished to be on this spot, so I actually must go 100%. However to be sincere, I by no means felt any jealousy from them. They had been tremendous supportive, and after I requested for suggestions, all of them stated, “Bro, you’re looking good, keep yourself safe.”” That was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had my complete life.

Stovall: We had Tanoai Reed in that, who’s The Rock’s double. He was the man with the gold tooth that will get knocked out actually quick. And what’s humorous is, I like the concept of subverting expectations. Now, I didn’t don’t have anything to do with the story. However as an action designer, it teaches me to concentrate to issues. Perhaps it’s essential to carry the viewers’s expectations to a sure level, and then go left. As a result of while you see a man like that, you’re like, Oh, he’s this dimension, he can transfer. OK, that is gonna be a very good struggle. After which WAPOW! and it’s over. Like, wait, what the — what simply occurred? At the finish of the day, issues like that I feel stand out extra.

So inside Blood and Bone, I appreciated the concept that they constructed the character up so strongly, that by the time someone [gave White’s character a real challenge] — whether or not it was Bob Sapp, or whether or not it’s our ultimate character, the struggle scene with Matt Mullins, it was a greater payoff by the time you bought there.

Hargrave: In the ultimate showdown, we had choreographed a sequence the place [Mullins] will get swept and falls to the floor and does this large fall. We had one other stunt man double him for that, Steve Upton. He took such a tough fall, and then simply bought again up and stored going. I keep in mind my eyes coming out of my head, and going, like, Holy smokes. So yeah, Steve Upton, doubling Matt Mullins, he will get swept and does the final taco fall, he mainly falls and folds in half past 90 levels. I used to be in awe of that, the skill to maintain going, that caught out to me. And I truly will reference that or present that to new stunt performers and go, “This is what stunt people do in a fight, when they do their acrobatic falls.”

Stovall: Michael Jai, who’s a beast, he’s like my large brother. I’ve finished a number of movies with him. It was nice to see him get off in that.

Hargrave: Michael is improbable. He’s a real martial artist from method again, and attending to work with someone together with his management, pace, approach, and appearing expertise is an honor, and it makes our job simpler, proper? Since you don’t have to carry their hand by way of the course of. It’s like a dance with a associate who’s way more superior than you might be at that individual dance. So working with him, it was nice. It was by no means a way of feeling like, Oh, gosh, you’re at risk, you’re gonna get harm. As a result of he demonstrates this all the time, he might cease a punch inside centimeters of your face. Simply a lot management, a lot expertise. It was actually an honor to work with him.

Ramsey: That was a every day course of for him, wowing me. The wonder of taking pictures with an actor as expert as Mike is that you just don’t must depend on doing lots of cuts and protection. We deliberate and determined that we’re going to do lengthy takes and as few cuts as potential.

The opposite factor Mike was actual large on, being a real martial artist, was exhibiting the character’s technique. How he would do issues like, when a man jabbed he would drop his left. Mike studied that. He throws a jab, drops and comes throughout with a proper cross, knocks him out, POW. Or there’s a man that would depart his ribs open. So Mike lifts up his arm and exposes his ribs. So there was variety of like this throughline, , that he was all the time taking part in chess. He was additionally a strategist when he was preventing, in order that was one thing that we wished to point out.

Cordeiro: I feel it really works as a result of it’s Michael. It wouldn’t have labored if it was anybody else. He has an aura. Loads of what you see on Blood and Bone is Michael being Michael, variety of like Bruce Lee on Recreation of Dying. Had it been another person, you could possibly most likely inform if it’s being too pretend or too compelled.

Perry: Mike has all the time been a pricey buddy and a fan. And I’ve all the time been an enormous fan of Michael Jai White. He’s an actual one, not simply as a martial artist, however as a human being and an actual gem. What a G. Man, , I’m 10 days older than Mike Jai, lots of individuals don’t know that. Yeah, I want I seemed like I used to be solely 10 days older than Mike, goddamn.

Hargrave: He’s bought the look, the physicality, and the charisma. He’s made a profession out of it. It’s simply curious the method the cookie crumbles in that regard generally.

Cordeiro: I want we had Michael and [Mark] Dacascos after they first began out, now, in 2024, with the viewers that now we have, with the administrators that now we have. They had been the pioneers. They opened the trade for us. And so they had been too far forward of their time.

Cordeiro: [White never becoming an A-list action star] is one of the issues that actually breaks my coronary heart. Clayton [J. Barber] all the time stated, “Action heroes, your career is very short-lived and very ungrateful. You don’t get to make a whole lot of money. Like, you’re not gonna get filthy rich. You’re always gonna be doing like a lot of B movies, and it’s the risk of injury.”

Stovall: Blood and Bone, that one wants a sequel.

Cordeiro: I can not discuss sufficient about how a lot this influenced my life. And I had no concept that the film would stay on so lengthy. Even these days in São Paolo, individuals might be like, “Aren’t you the guy in Blood and Bone?”

Perry: Do I wish to return and do one other Blood and Bone? If it was Mike and Scott Adkins, bro, I’ll go. I’ll go as a result of these are my homeboys. Let’s go.

Ramsey: It’s variety of died down just a little bit, however for the longest time, it could occur nearly daily. Anyone would ask me about Blood and Bone 2. That’s a Mike and a Sony query. I used to be only a employed gun. I’m semi-retired proper now from showbiz, variety of doing my very own factor. But when the name got here and Mike stated, “Come on, we’re going to do Blood and Bone 2,” I’d be there.

Blood and Bone is accessible to look at on Netflix, totally free with advertisements on Tubi, or for digital rental on Amazon and Apple TV.