Q&A With Ara Paiaya
When I last spoke to Ara he'd just finished Dubbed and Dangerous and was about to start on his next project. Since then he's gone on to complete two feature length movies featuring appeances from Bey Logan, Robert Tai and Robert England. I thought it was about time I caught up with him again to find out how these films had been received and what he's currently working on. Ara kindly found time to answer the following questions.
When we last spoke you'd started work on Dubbed and Dangerous 2 and have Since also completed Dubbed and Dangerous 3. How were those two films received ?
Very well, so much so I'm amazed how much worldwide interest and following these films have received. From cinema audiences, TV shows, SKY Movies, Magazines, Newspapers, Critics and a number of mainstream distributors. They are a part of my everyday life. Always topics of conversation with either fans, random people or the press.
I remember you saying that D&D1 was primarily a collection of fight scenes filmed over 4 years. Were the second and third films intended to be action showcases or did you try to develop other skills as a filmmaker ?
Thats correct, D&D 1 was a test. A very successful one at that. D&D 2 was to develop on the action, characters, comedy and the overall filmmaking. Again D&D 3 was bigger in every sence and was the feature length film that completed the series
How did you manage to get Robert Englund to appear in D&D3 ?
In one hand I had a flyer for Dubbed & Dangerous 2 that was playing in the cinema across the street. In the other I had a contract for D&D 3. We talked, he signed, we filmed the rest is D&D history! Robert Englund is great guy, his lovely wife Nancy was very helpful. We had a good laugh and there are lots of hidden little references in the scene itself
And the same question about Bey Logan ?
Bey Logan is a friend of mine, he is a great guy. He recorded audio commentaries for the D&D 1-2 films. Still to be released in the Trilogy set. We were having dinner in China Town in London in a small group and were talking about movies. He was joking around and saying that Robert Englund looked very surprised in the teaser trailer for D&D 3 and that I had filmed him 'Bowfinger Style' without him even knowing he was in the movie. Anyway we got talking and I suggested why don't we do a fight scene, as he says I work the Chinese water torture method untill someone agrees with my plan. The next day we filmed a scene for D&D 3 which was to be called in the chapter selection 'The Beytrix' lots of Bey Logans in a number of corridors fights in this posh London Hotel. The scene looks different in the final cut but kept all the comedy. It always gets the laughs in the cinema. 'Mr Ara, surprised to see me!' Bey Logan is in Night Driver also and Death List
Did Bey have any filmmaking advice to offer after his experiences in the Hong Kong film industry ?
Ofcourse, Bey was always full of great ideas. Due to the time we had it was a case of film some action, film some comedy, does it fit, was it funny. Thats a rap. All my films are very fast, when we are on location and have limited time in the certain location.
Your latest film Night Driver has been out for a while, how has that been received ?
Again, I'm very pleased with the results and the response.
Where did you film it ?
Scotland, London, Spain, Hong Kong, Taiwan.
It's got a very flashy trailer, I take it you managed to get a budget together for it ?
Again like all my films, I produce them on my own budget.
Can you tell us a bit about the plot ?
A professional assassin is double crossed and left for dead. Only to be saved by a mysterious organisation who team him up with the baddest car on four wheels. Night (Ara Paiaya) now working as a vigilante who ruthlessly destroys, the drug dealers, thief's and rapists who poison today's society. Justice becomes secondary to revenge after the murder of his martial arts master.
From the trailer Night Driver looks like a much bigger production than your previous films, what were the main challenges in working on a production of this size ?
Casting hundreds of extras, getting big locations closed for filming, props, and organising the huge amount of exotic cars featured in the film.
How has the action developed from Dubbed and Dangerous to NightDriver ?
More violent, bigger fight scenes in and around bigger more expensive props that can be destroyed.
What were your influences when planning the action scenes in NightDriver ?
Fight scenes featuring real glass stunts and making full contact.
How did you get Robert Tai involved in the film and what part does he play ?
Through a friend of mine Toby Russell he is a great guy!. Robert Tai plays the part of Master Tai who after finding out Master Night has a new student, sends out the ninjas to assassinate him. He is also in Night Driver and Death List. Along with Toby Russell. The ninjas are coming !
Did Robert help to choreograph any of the fight scenes and were you able to learn anything from him ?
No, he was not involved in the fight scenes. They were filmed at another time and location.
At the moment I see the films are available on DVD from your site, are there any distribution deals in the pipeline ?
Yes. Even so they will still be available from my site, people like the fact you can get a signed copy directly from the maker.
Are you working on any new projects at the moment ?
Death list, Lock Down, Kung Fu Kingdoms.
If you could get the funding to make your dream project, what would it be ?
Night Driver 2.
Thanks again for taking the time to answer these questions and best of luck for the future.
'Dubbed and Dangerous 3' and 'Night Driver' are both available on DVD from Ara's website at : http://www.ara.me.uk/.
