302: The Pope of New York

305: Is This Podcast Real?

Rob Alicea is the Director of Serena (2026), a critically acclaimed science fiction screenlife thriller in which a down-on-his-luck rock star (Steven Strait - The Expanse) becomes a beta tester for a revolutionary new chat bot (Andi Matichak - Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends). Serena premiered at CineQuest 2026 to rave reviews. Rob was nominated for Best First Feature at the 2026 Miami Film Festival. At the age of 19, Rob wrote and directed his first film, End of Our Day, based on the Howie Day song of the same name. His breakthrough pilot Adulthood (2017), which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in, took home Audience Favorite at 2017 TMFF and Best Ensemble Cast at the 2017 Bilbao Film Festival. He would then go on to co-write, direct and produce The Hat Man (2022) and the upcoming feature Operation Fastlink, Directed by Jerry Careccio. MENTIONS: Rob Alicea on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2236012/?ref_=fn_t_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2236012/?ref_=fn_t_1] Serena on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35047940/reference/?ref_=nm_knf_t_1 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35047940/reference/?ref_=nm_knf_t_1] Serena on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenathefilm/ [https://www.instagram.com/serenathefilm/] Rob Alicea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robalicea/ [https://www.instagram.com/robalicea/] JoBlo Review of Serena: https://www.joblo.com/serena-review/ [https://www.joblo.com/serena-review/] Learn more about the TSP: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/index.html [https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/index.html] Support the TSP: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/inv_in_innovation/sponsor.html?v=eUNc33MfXgI [https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/inv_in_innovation/sponsor.html?v=eUNc33MfXgI] Support our food drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo [https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo] FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS Do you listen to our show as an audio podcast? Give video a try. Subscribe to our Youtube for the video version with awesome behind the scenes pics and video! https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1] Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast [http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast] Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [http://instagram.com/FightsWithFriendsPod] Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [facebook.com/@FightsWithFriendsPod] Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve [http://Instagram.com/sambosteve] Steve’s IMDB: http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer [http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer] Paul’s on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/KravMagaChef Paul’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1] Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact (use discount code FFWFPOD for 25% off a daily subscription and 15% off a weekly) https://stuntcontact.com/ [https://stuntcontact.com/] Stunt Access https://stuntaccess.com/ [https://stuntaccess.com/] PRODUCERS Executive Producers: Stephen Koepfer Paul Varacchi Produced by: Press Record Studios -Matthew Kaplowitz -Richard Butler -Andrea Levine http://www.pressrecordstudios.com Video Editor Matthew Kaplowitz Original music by: Ahrue Luster Brought to you by Breakfall Studios ®Film Fights With Friends LLC

304: I Will Retire When the Phone Stops Ringing

Falling Into Film by Paul Weston. If you are interested in the stunt industry and action filmmaking (and as a fan of this show, we know you are), you will want to pick up this book. Paul is a legend in the film industry, and his book is, in our opinion, one of the best on the business and history of action filmmaking. He has hundreds of stunt performer, coordinator and second unit director credits spanning Casino Royale (1967), The Dirty Dozen (1967), A Bridge too Far (1977), Superman (1978), Raiders of the Lost Arc (1981), American Werewolf in London (1981), Return of the Jedi (1983), Aliens (1986) to contemporary classics like Skyfall (2012), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), The Batman (2022), Bond, Bond and more Bond films, Paul has seen and done it all! This is a conversation you will not want to miss! MENTIONS: Pick up a copy of Paul’s book at https://www.paulwestonstunts.com [https://www.paulwestonstunts.com] Paul Weston on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0923001/?ref_=fn_t_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0923001/?ref_=fn_t_1] Paul Weston’s Show reel: https://youtu.be/gBzi7bnukhc?si=bBshq3vstaTpQqy6 [https://youtu.be/gBzi7bnukhc?si=bBshq3vstaTpQqy6] Paul Weston on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulwestonstunts/ [https://www.instagram.com/paulwestonstunts/] PRODUCTIONS AND SCENES DISCUSSED A Bridge Too Far Trailer: https://youtu.be/yPPycZo8H7c?si=oQ_X-knZqHaGOSZG [https://youtu.be/yPPycZo8H7c?si=oQ_X-knZqHaGOSZG] A Bridge Too Far Paratrooper Scene: https://youtu.be/pP_ffdiz4y0?si=PJ-Ev9IdNd-_C7h6 [https://youtu.be/pP_ffdiz4y0?si=PJ-Ev9IdNd-_C7h6] Pink Panther: Does Your Dog Bite? https://youtu.be/SnXtuktNdlM?si=TVBRhvDi33UNtUNJ [https://youtu.be/SnXtuktNdlM?si=TVBRhvDi33UNtUNJ] An American Werewolf in London Subway Scene: https://youtu.be/_ss0nT5DGHw?si=cK9ouqPmhWDVh0Lh [https://youtu.be/_ss0nT5DGHw?si=cK9ouqPmhWDVh0Lh] An American Werewolf in London Piccadilly Circus Scene: https://youtu.be/WjlGsCIqFH4?si=m1YjKiXV04NTizKM [https://youtu.be/WjlGsCIqFH4?si=m1YjKiXV04NTizKM] Return of the Jedi Han Solo Rescue Scene: https://youtu.be/E7JhJAthwhg?si=oSlFmJ8S2wfmWSCN [https://youtu.be/E7JhJAthwhg?si=oSlFmJ8S2wfmWSCN] License to Kill Fire Burn: https://youtu.be/AgNscTkMAu8?si=kRQlDu7Hkl96BVGf [https://youtu.be/AgNscTkMAu8?si=kRQlDu7Hkl96BVGf] Learn more about the TSP: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/index.html [https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/index.html] Support the TSP: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/inv_in_innovation/sponsor.html?v=eUNc33MfXgI [https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/inv_in_innovation/sponsor.html?v=eUNc33MfXgI] Support our food drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo [https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo] FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS Do you listen to our show as an audio podcast? Give video a try. Subscribe to our YouTube for the video version with awesome behind the scenes pics and video! https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1] Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast [http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast] Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [http://instagram.com/FightsWithFriendsPod] Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [facebook.com/@FightsWithFriendsPod] Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve [http://Instagram.com/sambosteve] Steve’s IMDB: http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer [http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer] Paul’s on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/KravMagaChef Paul’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1] Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact (use discount code FFWFPOD for 25% off a daily subscription and 15% off a weekly) https://stuntcontact.com/ [https://stuntcontact.com/] Stunt Access https://stuntaccess.com/ [https://stuntaccess.com/] PRODUCERS Executive Producers: Stephen Koepfer Paul Varacchi Produced by: Press Record Studios -Matthew Kaplowitz -Richard Butler -Andrea Levine http://www.pressrecordstudios.com Video Editor Matthew Kaplowitz Original music by: Ahrue Luster Brought to you by Breakfall Studios ®Film Fights With Friends LLC

303: Jude Poyer Punishes New York

Jude Poyer is the 2nd Unit Director and Action Designer for Marvel Television’s special presentation The Punisher: One Last Kill (2026), his first time shooting in New York City. From his early days as a performer in Hong Kong, and throughout his career, he has shared the screen with some of action film’s greatest, including Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Yuen Biao and more. Since his emergence in the 1990s as a stunt performer, Jude has established himself as a top action designer and filmmaker. Demand for his collaborative mindset and creative skill has carried him around the globe performing and stunt coordinating in China, the UK, France, India, the Middle East and the United States. If you are a fan of Netflix’s Havoc (2025) or AMC’s Gangs of London (2020), you have enjoyed Jude’s incredibly gritty action design. MENTIONS: Punisher: One Last Kill Trailer: https://youtu.be/THB2nAJUFC8?si=GzbfpCN9MDv1OW4v [https://youtu.be/THB2nAJUFC8?si=GzbfpCN9MDv1OW4v] Havoc Speargun Scene: https://youtu.be/TTYlG5mWAm8?si=XK9dRerZB50Jg3hT [https://youtu.be/TTYlG5mWAm8?si=XK9dRerZB50Jg3hT] Gangs of London pub fight: https://youtu.be/1e42hE6L7PA?si=HbC86iKSs_pKHUnR [https://youtu.be/1e42hE6L7PA?si=HbC86iKSs_pKHUnR] Gangs of London house shootout: https://youtu.be/GvAx9hts1ps?si=-a2PniXBbY1sHEV2 [https://youtu.be/GvAx9hts1ps?si=-a2PniXBbY1sHEV2] Jude Poyer IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694706/?ref_=fn_t_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694706/?ref_=fn_t_1] Jude Poyer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reelpowerstunts [https://www.youtube.com/@reelpowerstunts] Jude Poyer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelpowerstunts/ [https://www.instagram.com/reelpowerstunts/] Jude’s Website: https://www.reelpowerstunts.com/ [https://www.reelpowerstunts.com/] Eugene the Marine on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/journal/unreleased-gems-letterboxd-video-store-april-2026/ [https://letterboxd.com/journal/unreleased-gems-letterboxd-video-store-april-2026/] Order Paul Weston’s book: https://paulwestonstunts.com/ [https://paulwestonstunts.com/] Learn more about the TSP: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/index.html [https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/index.html] Support the TSP: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/inv_in_innovation/sponsor.html?v=eUNc33MfXgI [https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/inv_in_innovation/sponsor.html?v=eUNc33MfXgI] Support our food drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo [https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo] Havoc’s Sunny Pang on Film Fights with Friends: https://youtu.be/FdLKE2dD2Js?si=g1S6394N5y3LXOIp [https://youtu.be/FdLKE2dD2Js?si=g1S6394N5y3LXOIp] Havoc’s Michele Waterson on Film Fights with Friends: https://youtu.be/kES1-5SJk78?si=UOtcYwj2CZdeOe46 [https://youtu.be/kES1-5SJk78?si=UOtcYwj2CZdeOe46] FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS Do you listen to our show as an audio podcast? Give video a try. Subscribe to our Youtube for the video version with awesome behind the scenes pics and video! https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1] Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast [http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast] Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [http://instagram.com/FightsWithFriendsPod] Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [facebook.com/@FightsWithFriendsPod] Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve [http://Instagram.com/sambosteve] Steve’s IMDB: http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer [http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer] Paul’s on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/KravMagaChef Paul’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1] Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact https://stuntcontact.com/ [https://stuntcontact.com/] Stunt Access https://stuntaccess.com/ [https://stuntaccess.com/] PRODUCERS Executive Producers: Stephen Koepfer Paul Varacchi Produced by: Press Record Studios -Matthew Kaplowitz -Richard Butler -Andrea Levine http://www.pressrecordstudios.com Video Editor Matthew Kaplowitz Original music by: Ahrue Luster Brought to you by Breakfall Studios ®Film Fights With Friends LLC

302: The Pope of New York

S3 Ep2 – The Pope of New York Stephen Pope is an Emmy winning stunt coordinator (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, 2024) and 9-time SAG Award nominee. His most recent Emmy nomination, Outstanding Stunt Coordination for Drama Programming, was for HBO’s The Penguin. Our discussion starts with the challenges of coordinating The Penguin and proceeds to dive deep into the importance of mentorship, leadership, set culture and ongoing changes in the stunt and film industries. MENTIONS: Car Chase and Fight Scene/Oz vs Sofia's Henchmen – Episode 1: https://youtu.be/luxZ6HBXEHE?si=q5yS8jrlwpd8AgFt [https://youtu.be/luxZ6HBXEHE?si=q5yS8jrlwpd8AgFt] Oz Kills Taj and Nadia - The Penguin Episode 5 Fight Scene: https://youtu.be/cf-84-RsKoI?si=jQK6jBUpabtrW0pz [https://youtu.be/cf-84-RsKoI?si=jQK6jBUpabtrW0pz] Oz VS Sofia Final Fight - The Penguin Episode 8 Sofia Gigante Got Arrested: https://youtu.be/vXGktiisTkg?si=p9WMekKgNYSRQ336 [https://youtu.be/vXGktiisTkg?si=p9WMekKgNYSRQ336] Stephen Pope IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0691189/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0691189/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk] Leftovers fight shot for shot remake: https://youtu.be/aUIbIa2zC-M?si=xfMp10T6igf_QXQn [https://youtu.be/aUIbIa2zC-M?si=xfMp10T6igf_QXQn] Support our food drive: Support our food drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo [https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo] FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS Do you listen to our show as an audio podcast? Give video a try. Subscribe to our Youtube for the video version with awesome behind the scenes pics and video! https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1] Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast [http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast] Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [http://instagram.com/FightsWithFriendsPod] Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [facebook.com/@FightsWithFriendsPod] Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve [http://Instagram.com/sambosteve] Steve’s IMDB: http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer [http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer] Paul’s on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/KravMagaChef Paul’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1] Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact https://stuntcontact.com/ [https://stuntcontact.com/] Stunt Access https://stuntaccess.com/ [https://stuntaccess.com/] PRODUCERS Executive Producers: Stephen Koepfer Paul Varacchi Produced by: Press Record Studios -Matthew Kaplowitz -Richard Butler -Andrea Levine http://www.pressrecordstudios.com Video Editor Matthew Kaplowitz Original music by: Ahrue Luster Brought to you by Breakfall Studios ®Film Fights With Friends LLC

301: Enter the Exit State

Callie Schuttera and Gabriela Ledesma are the married couple behind the award-winning production company Poison Pictures. Callie is an actress, writer, and producer, known for her breakthrough role in Zach Cregger’s, WEAPONS. Gabriela is a director, writer, and producer who has directed 3 feature films, as well as multiple short films and music videos. In this interview, we dive into their new co-written and produced feature film, THE EXIT STATE. Set in a United States spiraling toward authoritarian collapse, The Exit State follows a group of Americans fleeing south toward Mexico as violence escalates and sweeping policies turn their own country against them. Hoping to disappear quietly, the group takes refuge in what they believe is a safe house. That sense of security doesn’t last long. The shelter quickly reveals itself to be anything but safe, forcing the group to confront the horrifying reality that escape will come at a devastating and terrifying cost. Rather than leaning into speculative sci-fi tropes, the film positions its horror in recognizably modern fears. Poison Pictures is a queer-led indie production company created by Callie and Gabriela. Their first feature, BLUE, was acquired by Gravitas Ventures and received top indie prizes, including Best Feature and Best Actor at the Austin Revolution Film Festival. Their extensive resume as a production company also includes big-budget, visually striking music videos for major artists like Ava Max and Jason Mraz. MENTIONS: Poison Pictures: https://www.poison-pictures.com/ [https://www.poison-pictures.com/] The Exit State IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38453653/reference/?ref_=fn_t_1 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38453653/reference/?ref_=fn_t_1] Callie Schuttera IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3620962/?ref_=mv_close [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3620962/?ref_=mv_close] Gabriela Ledesma IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5860037/?ref_=fn_t_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5860037/?ref_=fn_t_1] School of Sexuality Documentary: https://givebutter.com/school-of-sexuality-documentary [https://givebutter.com/school-of-sexuality-documentary] 'Weapons' Cast Reunites for Political Horror Thriller 'The Exit State' (Collider): https://collider.com/weapons-stars-reunion-political-horror-the-exit-state-images/ [https://collider.com/weapons-stars-reunion-political-horror-the-exit-state-images/] Blades of the Guardians Review: https://youtu.be/NYmV2BXixK8?si=lhLL-5Rf1Qvvg5Ut [https://youtu.be/NYmV2BXixK8?si=lhLL-5Rf1Qvvg5Ut] Support our food drive: Support our food drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo [https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/NYCombatSambo] FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS Do you listen to our show as an audio podcast? Give video a try. Subscribe to our Youtube for the video version with awesome behind the scenes pics and video! https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1] Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast [http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast] Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [http://instagram.com/FightsWithFriendsPod] Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod [facebook.com/@FightsWithFriendsPod] Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve [http://Instagram.com/sambosteve] Steve’s IMDB: http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer [http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer] Paul’s on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/KravMagaChef Paul’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1] Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact https://stuntcontact.com/ [https://stuntcontact.com/] Stunt Access https://stuntaccess.com/ [https://stuntaccess.com/] PRODUCERS Executive Producers: Stephen Koepfer Paul Varacchi Produced by: Press Record Studios -Matthew Kaplowitz -Richard Butler -Andrea Levine http://www.pressrecordstudios.com Video Editor Matthew Kaplowitz Original music by: Ahrue Luster Brought to you by Breakfall Studios ®Film Fights With Friends LLC