#1995 - Chad Stahelski

Episode Timestamps

• 00:01:29

  John Wick movies.

  • The guest talks about the latest John Wick movie and how it differs from the previous ones.
  • They joke about how many people Keanu Reeves kills in the movies and how it's "murder porn."
• 00:02:25

  How the John Wick movies came to be.

  • The guest talks about how he got into directing after starting as a stuntman and how he became involved with the Matrix movies and the Wachowskis.
  • He also discusses how he got involved with the original John Wick script and how it evolved into the movie we know today.
• 00:12:32

  Taron and Hand-Eye Coordination

  • The director and host discuss martial artist Taron's exceptional hand-eye coordination and the possibility of autism playing a role in it.
• 00:14:02

  Evolution of Martial Arts

  • The director and host delve into how martial arts have evolved in the last 30 years and marvel at the physical and mental abilities of today's elite athletes.
  • They discuss the specific skills required for modern MMA and how it differs from earlier styles.
• 00:17:23

  John Wick's origins;

  • John Wick Stuntman eventually became a director after John Wick
  • Michael Nightquest was in the original movie and died later
  • Alfie Allen played a role and is a nice guy off screen
  • Scene when Alfie Allen was at the bar pouring the drink
  • Described how they came up with a fairy tale like aspect and Baba Yaga scene
  • Used color differentiation to mark the switch from reality to fantasy
  • Focused on creating a mythology and neon noir aspect
• 00:22:07

  Muscle cars in John Wick;

  • Joe Rogan wanted more muscle cars in John Wick
  • Director texted Joe Rogan and asked what his favorite muscle car was
  • Joe Rogan chose the 71 Barracuda, recommended avoiding the 69
  • The exact car they found was the same one Joe Rogan sent a picture of
  • Loved how they could tear it apart and rebuild it how they wanted
  • Described how Tanner Faust helped with the drifting scenes
  • Destroyed more cars than they should have on the movie, but it added to the excitement
  • Discussed the popularity and impact of the Mustang and Chevelle in the movie
  • Found many collectors of muscle cars in Europe
• 00:25:22

  The creation of John Wick

  • A big whiteboard was used to brainstorm all the ideas the team wanted for the film
  • The team brainstormed what they liked and disliked about action movies
  • John Wick was created with the intention of bringing class back to the action movie genre
  • Inspiration was taken from other popular action movies, including James Bond and Mission Impossible
• 00:28:36

  The reception of John Wick

  • The team behind John Wick did not expect the movie to be successful
  • The movie received mixed reactions initially from viewers and studios
  • The movie went through several regime changes at Lionsgate before gaining success
  • Keanu Reeves was instrumental in getting John Wick 2 made, and the team was thrilled to be involved
• 00:34:39

  Training Keanu Reeves for John Wick

  • Reeves had a few weeks to train with trainers to get into fight shape
  • Within three months, he was taught Aikido, Aikijitsu, and Jiu-Jitsu
  • Reeves needed to be proficient in many physical aspects for the movie
  • The training was based on dance drills, not martial art drills
• 00:37:00

  Filming the fight scenes in John Wick

  • Grappling was chosen for the fight scenes due to time and budget constraints
  • Actors had to be trained to keep opponents on balance
  • The scenes were made to look like they were dancing
  • Plug guns were used to avoid dangerous blanks, and blood was added digitally
• 00:42:42

  Directing John Wick 1

  • The first John Wick was the director's debut film.
  • The pressure was high, but the team tried not to suck and just get through it.
  • The process of blending storytelling and action was different than just focusing on action.
• 00:46:39

  Editing John Wick

  • The process of editing John Wick required pacing the movie to keep audience attention.
  • Editor's experimented with different versions to find the right pacing.
  • The process was both terrifying and exciting, but ultimately rewarding when the team found the right version.
• 00:51:05

  The danger of paying too much attention to criticism

  • People can get lost in criticisms or comments.
  • Negative comments can affect creativity.
  • It's okay to be aware of criticism, but not let it control your work.
  • Taking chances is necessary in entertainment.
• 00:52:29

  Creating a unique franchise

  • The speaker and team try to create a franchise with dogs, ninjas, muscle cars, guns, archery, sword fights and more.
  • The aim is to bring some nutty and wacky back unto movies in a more modern/developed way.
  • The look of the John Wick movies is crucial.
  • The aim is not to phone it in and to take risks.
• 00:58:07

  Training and Using Dogs for Stunts in John Wick

  • Dogs used in John Wick can jump over walls and fly through the air
  • The dogs are 65 to 75 pounds and need to be restrained by two trainers during filming
  • Dave Camerio, who trained Keanu for the Judo and Jiu Jitsu in number four, did over 100 dog hits
  • The surprise of getting hit by a 75-pound animal going at 20 miles an hour takes down even the strongest stuntman
• 01:02:01

  Halle Berry's Physical Training for John Wick 3

  • Halle Berry met with the director and asked him to write a part in John Wick for her
  • She started training on the same day, and they had to slow her down because she over-trained
  • Halle Berry is so fit that she looks 35 even though she is in her 50s
  • Berry training is choreographed, but she memorizes it so well that it becomes effortless and adds her details to it
• 01:10:58

  Going Over the Top

  • Over-the-top action scenes in John Wick 4 are discussed.
  • The need to outdo previous movies necessitates increasingly crazier stunts.
  • Inspiration from silent movie actors like Buster Keaton is mentioned, with admiration for their real-life stunts in early filmmaking.
• 01:15:15

  Buster Keaton and Real-Life Stunts in Early Filmmaking

  • The director and interviewer discuss the significance of Buster Keaton's real-life stunts in early filmmaking.
  • Various Keaton stunts are mentioned, with awe at the daring and risk involved.
  • The contrast between Keaton's stunts and the technology and safety measures used in modern filmmaking is discussed.
• 01:17:14

  Blends of practical stunts and digital composition

  • Discussion of the use of CGI and digital stitches in stunts
  • Importance of physical effects for enhancing audiences' emotions
  • Expressions of admiration for the blend of practical stunts and digital composition
  • Example of a blended shotgun effect used in the film
• 01:20:53

  Appreciation for practical special effects

  • Discussion of the difference between practical special effects and CGI
  • Excitement for the subtlety and scariness of practical special effects
  • Example of American Werewolf in London and its great transformation scene
  • Importance of blending practical and digital effects
• 01:25:37

  A.I. Influence in Writing and Illustration

  • The writer's strike includes negotiations about A.I. influence.
  • The emergence of technology that could replace human-generated content is concerning.
  • The introduction of A.I. generated art raises issues of licensing and control.
  • The creative industry may need to cherish handmade products as A.I. generated content becomes more prevalent.
• 01:31:21

  Mind Reading on the Horizon

  • The development of Neuralink and similar technologies could lead to mind-reading technology.
  • Early applications will likely involve human testing.
  • MKUltra and Jolly West's experiments in the 70s raise concerns about the ethical implications of mind-reading.
  • The unpredictability of human behavior and thoughts make it challenging to determine how mind-reading technology will be received.
• 01:33:33

  Research on Charles Manson

  • The researcher was doing too much and had to give money back.
  • An editor was brought in to help and a masterpiece called Chaos was born.
  • Chaos is the definitive book on Charles Manson, the Manson family, and their ties to the CIA.
  • The book reveals that the CIA discredited the hippie movement.
• 01:35:55

  Technology and artificial life

  • Technology's event horizon is artificial life.
  • Human beings are obsessed with innovation because they are leading the way for intelligent life forms.
  • The fear is that AI will replace human beings.
• 01:45:16

  The possibilities of digital technology

  • The possibilities of digital technology are rapidly evolving, with AI and deep faking becoming increasingly advanced
  • The ability to digitally alter a person's appearance and even performance raises ethical questions about authenticity
  • Despite these concerns, the potential for digital technology in enhancing films and creating new entertainment experiences is enormous
• 01:46:28

  The uncanny valley and the future of digital technology

  • The uncanny valley, which refers to a digital character's resemblance to a real human, is becoming less of an obstacle with advances in technology
  • With enough time and money, it's possible to create a digital character that looks completely real and authentic
  • The future of digital technology raises important questions about how people will engage with entertainment and how much they will rely on it for social interaction
• 01:53:20

  Discipline and technology

  • Most people lack the discipline to manage technology
  • Technology is becoming stronger and more addictive
  • The use of technology becomes a distraction with wrong people
  • Reference to YouTube as the new encyclopedia botanica
• 01:54:27

  AI and the creative industry

  • AI is replacing industries and making tasks more efficient
  • Potential copyright issues with AI-generated ideas
  • Original ideas are hard to come by and require zero to one thinking
  • Potential stealing of ideas in the comedy industry
• 02:00:39

  Intellectual Property Theft in Entertainment Industry

  • Existing IP stays popular in entertainment industry due to fear of theft
  • AI poses a threat to IP theft as it can access stored data in the cloud
  • Creative people with good ideas are more likely to be poached
  • Need to consider how to protect against IP theft in the industry
• 02:01:31

  Future Projects in the Entertainment Industry

  • Working on projects such as Highlander, Ghost of Shishima, and Rainbow Six
  • Excited to redo Highlander with new ideas
  • Ghost of Shishima is based on a video game and features a great storyline and cinematography
  • Highlander and Ghost of Shishima are being worked on with Sony