Film Fights With Friends

Film Fights With Friends

Best Podcast at the 2024 Dramatic Action Awards! What do you get when you mix movies, fights, & friends? You get the FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS podcast! Paul and Steve are career martial artists, stuntmen, and filmmakers who co-founded Breakfall Studios in 2015. In this action filmmaking podcast, they take to the airwaves with an industry guest each episode for a deep dive into a singular fight scene from a film or television production. THE HOSTS: STEPHEN KOEPFER Stunt performer, filmmaker, renowned coach and martial artist. Stephen is the head coach and owner of NY Combat Sambo in NYC. As an independent filmmaker, he has produced and directed several documentaries and short films that reflect his passion for collaborative storytelling. PAUL VARACCHI Martial artist, stunt and motion capture performer, celebrity chef and has worked extensively in television production in various roles from PA to department head. At the age of 8 Paul’s dad took him to see Robocop and the rest is history! ® Film Fights With Friends, LLC

  1. APR 24

    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/ The Exit State IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38453653/reference/?ref_=fn_t_1 Callie Schuttera IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3620962/?ref_=mv_close Gabriela Ledesma IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5860037/?ref_=fn_t_1 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/ Blades of the Guardians Review: https://youtu.be/NYmV2BXixK8?si=lhLL-5Rf1Qvvg5Ut Support our food drive: Support our food drive: 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 Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve Steve’s IMDB: 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 Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact https://stuntcontact.com/ Stunt Access 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

    1h 3m
  2. MAR 27

    224: Rising Sun

    Eric Sun is Steven Yeun’s stunt double on Netflix’s The Rip. Eric, Steve, and Paul have a long history together in the stunt business, starting 10 years back when all were rookies in the industry and training together in NYC. In this season’s finale episode, we sit down with Eric and chew the fat about his work on The Rip and the decade-long journey that has brought him from a potential life as an accountant to where he is today in Hollywood. MENTIONS: Feeding America Drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/NYCombatSambo The Rip Final Fight: https://youtu.be/73IW-cWfzNs?si=oMHhCz21qWFjwjfw The True Story Behind Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s The Rip: https://time.com/7346935/the-rip-true-story/ Eric Sun IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8405030/?ref_=ttrv_fcr_20_46 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 Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve Steve’s IMDB: 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 Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact https://stuntcontact.com/ Stunt Access 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

    1h 12m
  3. MAR 13

    223: Watch the Show or on the Go?

    As Paul and Steve conclude their second season, they review their episode rankings, comparing episodes favorites between their audio listeners and YouTube viewers. What killer episodes are these different audiences missing out on? MENTIONS: Feeding America Drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/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 Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve Steve’s IMDB: 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 Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact https://stuntcontact.com/ Stunt Access 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

    52 min
  4. FEB 27

    222: Writing with Friends

    As Paul and Steve come to the conclusion of their first feature screenplay’s 3rd draft, share their nearly four year writing experience, how it evolved from short film to feature, their goals, and how they overcame the challenges of putting ego aside and story to paper. MENTIONS: Feeding America Drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/NYCombatSambo Those Who Face Death: https://www.markgrdovic.com/ Austin Film Festival Interview with Rian Johnson: https://youtu.be/0EKO38_kuqQ 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 Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve Steve’s IMDB: 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 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/ Stunt Access 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

    1h 16m
  5. FEB 13

    221: Put Your Big Foot Forward

    Garrett Schulte is known for his role as Wilmot Dow in the western drama about a young Teddy Roosevelt, ELKHORN (2024-2025). Garrett also appears in THE SKY’S FOREST (2025), which he also wrote, directed and edited. THE SKY’S FOREST is now available on-demand on Amazon and Apple. Schulte has a background in engineering and is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego. He has been involved in various projects, including volunteering with Fresh-Go to donate food during events. MENTIONS: Feeding America Drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/NYCombatSambo Garret IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8183653/?ref_=ttrv_fcr_2_1 The Sky’s Forrest YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSkysForest 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 Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve Steve’s IMDB: 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 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/ Stunt Access 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

    1h 30m
  6. JAN 30

    220: Dropping Stories Like a Toilet Seat

    Robert Radler is the director of the cult classic Best of the Best (1989) starring Eric Roberts, Phillip Rhee and James Earl Jones. Numerous guests have cited this film as a pivotal moment in their martial art and film careers, not the least of which are our two co-hosts! This film, Radler’s debut feature, was also a launching pad for the likes of debut stunt coordinator Simon Rhee and performer James Lew. Rhee went on to receive SAG Award nominations for Heroes in 2008 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 2012. He won for Heroes in 2009 and Inception in 2011. Similarly, Lew took home the 2017 Emmy for Outstanding Stunt Coordination of a Drama Series for Luke Cage. Outside of Best of the Best and its 1993 sequel, Radler went on to direct Showdown (1993), several episodes of Jerry Bruckheimer’s Soldier of Fortune, Inc., and countless episodes of television, including Hercules, Silk Stalkings, Police Academy: The Series, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo and LA Heat. A guitar player himself, he has directed music videos for George Thorogood & The Destroyers; Jackson Brown; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Survivor as well as the award-winning Turn It Up (2014), a celebration of the electric guitar. Radler’s passion project since quitting NYU grad school for film (some might say an obsession since first setting foot on the ship in 1975) has been an ongoing documentary series about the SS United States beginning with SS United States: Lady in Waiting (2008), SS United States: Made in America (2013) and the forthcoming Superliner: The Enduring Legacy of the SS United States, to be released in 2026. MENTIONS: Feeding America Drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/NYCombatSambo Robert Radler IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0705675/?ref_=ttrv_fcr_1_1 Final fight between Simon (Dae Han) and Phillip Rhee (Tommy Lee): https://youtu.be/AYGvR8tWOBY?si=uVU-FZDr-qDPi0BM Best of the Best bar fight: https://youtu.be/RI_1e8XMIeQ?si=M_nITbFC1fDIVBAy Best of James Earl Jones in Best of the Bets: https://youtu.be/NXanR80AtQQ?si=lVxH0RiXjF3OdfgH SS United States: Lady in Waiting (full film): https://youtu.be/9pNdyTKz_8g?si=aSlttblepcuQdH34 SS United States: Made in America (full film): https://www.ssusc.org/made-in-america SS United States documentary to show ship's journey from Philly to sea floor: https://www.phillyvoice.com/ss-united-states-documentary-2026/ Turn it Up (full documentary): https://youtu.be/AlE-2TISwBw?si=deGOTGDqa9oHN42K Bads to the Bone Music Video: https://youtu.be/IyhJ69mD7xI?si=h_FQ-Wz_BlDnqDLz Southern Cross Music Video: https://youtu.be/Bw9gLjEGJrw?si=XTo8ddVK3OVv54DE 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 Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve Steve’s IMDB: 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 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/ Stunt Access 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

    1h 14m
  7. JAN 16

    219: What is the Future of Action?

    As a stunt coordinator on student films from nearly every film school in NYC and guest lecturer at the School of Visual Arts Masters in Directing program, our co-host Stephen Koepfer has noticed that up-and-coming filmmakers seem to be more attracted to practical action than ever before. This seems contrary to what one might assume to be the case in today’s film industry. There is a weird paradox in the action filmmaking community. Practical action has never been more popular. It is actively used to promote and market big budget productions. Behind the scenes videos go viral on social media. As a result more people are trying to become stunt performers than ever before. Young filmmakers are craving practical action. Yet simultaneously, existing performers in the industry are petrified of being replaced by digital stunt doubles, generative AI, declining numbers of productions, etc. So, we wanted to dig into the issue of practical vs. AI and the future of action film. To do so we invited a group of emerging filmmakers on the show. Joining us on are Darren Tun and Jeffrey Colangelo of Code 10-10, the NYC stunt team that won the 2025 installment of 87 North’s prestigious Stunt Design Showdown. Also on the show are Bryan Uvaldo and Amanda Whyte. Bryan’s NYU thesis film, Playin’ Around, took best stunt performance at the Art of Movie Making Film Festival as well as honors from other festivals. These accolades are due in very large part to Amanda’s incredible performance in the film. Together we peer into the mind of these emerging filmmakers and answer the question: What is the future of action? MENTIONS: Feeding America Drive: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/NYCombatSambo Code 10-10’s 87 North Stunt design Showdown winning previs: https://youtu.be/_jtwMLJ4RY8?si=GCPSUPBcBFIiKS6Q Variety Magazine’s Stunt Showdown coverage: https://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/pete-davidson-david-leitch-stunt-design-showdown-1236563986/ Playin’ Around. TAMMIES winning NYU thesis film: https://youtu.be/_W2Kq_nPOPg?si=iBbSAkc6pLiHcHhE Playin’ Around website: https://www.bryanuvaldo.com/directorial/playin-around 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 Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve Steve’s IMDB: 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 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/ Stunt Access 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

    1h 7m
  8. JAN 2

    218: Live Long and Dance

    Laiko Foroughi has been stunt-doubling Christina Chong (La'an Noonien-Singh) on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds for the run of the show. She joins us on Film Fights with Friends to break down the epic dance-fight scene with Spock in S3 Ep8 (a throwback to the Spock vs Khan fight in Star Trek Into Darkness). Laiko is a career martial artist, stunt performer, and actor who has also appeared in What We Do in the Shadows, Gen V, The Handmaid's Tale, Murderbot, The Boys, Scream VI and many other productions. She is a 5th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and part of the 2017 & 2018 Canadian National Taekwondo Teams. No stranger to dance herself, Laiko has over a decade of competitive dance experience. She trained at CDM (Conservatory of Dance & Music) for 10 years, was a dance Major at Earl Haig Secondary School, and has trained Ballet (RAD Intermediate), Jazz, Contemporary, Acrobatics, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. MENTIONS: Laiko IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11346671/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk Dance/Fight with Spock: https://youtu.be/otCoTJxQ0NY?si=Km0zlGzE9mtlLbxR Pakleds (scavenger) fight scene with Pike: https://youtu.be/h1hoEoT-Vmg?si=-7yBLU5hn_af6c7b (sorry for the fan voiceover edit) Strange New Worlds S3 stunts BTS video: https://youtu.be/irkyXKTmY8M?si=ZVB6Qg585VqgD2gQ Spock vs Kahn Fight from Star Trek: Into Darkness: https://youtu.be/b690L5LhKSQ?si=h5N_T4b-dzFRN_Ha 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 Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod Steve’s Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sambosteve Steve’s IMDB: 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 Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts SPONSORS Stunt Contact https://stuntcontact.com/ Stunt Access 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

    1h 18m
5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Best Podcast at the 2024 Dramatic Action Awards! What do you get when you mix movies, fights, & friends? You get the FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS podcast! Paul and Steve are career martial artists, stuntmen, and filmmakers who co-founded Breakfall Studios in 2015. In this action filmmaking podcast, they take to the airwaves with an industry guest each episode for a deep dive into a singular fight scene from a film or television production. THE HOSTS: STEPHEN KOEPFER Stunt performer, filmmaker, renowned coach and martial artist. Stephen is the head coach and owner of NY Combat Sambo in NYC. As an independent filmmaker, he has produced and directed several documentaries and short films that reflect his passion for collaborative storytelling. PAUL VARACCHI Martial artist, stunt and motion capture performer, celebrity chef and has worked extensively in television production in various roles from PA to department head. At the age of 8 Paul’s dad took him to see Robocop and the rest is history! ® Film Fights With Friends, LLC