Sounds like we have some fun stuff ahead in the new season! Please spoiler tag discussion as necessary.
Non-spoilerly stuff:
In the third season, STRIKE BACK continues to utilize consultants who work in the field of counterterrorism to add to the authenticity of the series, providing essential background on stories, characters, training and settings, while the lead actors do most of their own stunts.
The six-month production began on location in South Africa in January and moved to Budapest in March, where it wrapped at the end of June. South Africa was the location for scenes in Colombia and Lebanon in the first four episodes, while Hungary filled in for several Eastern European nations in the second half of the season.
Continuing the military training of previous seasons, the actors started production with a grueling boot camp. The training focused on a fitness regimen, weapons training and military maneuvers with real specialists in the field. This enabled the lead actors to do the shows demanding stunts, which have increased in frequency and intensity this season.
Military advisor Paul Hornsby explains, We trained the cast to hone their abilities, but also we train them for safety; its only realistic to do stunts that the actors can do themselves. We focus on their physical training, tactical training, armed combat training with live weapons. I also work with the directors and stunt coordinators helping to make the action sequences more realistic.
We would train them as if we were training a close protection team or a special forces unit, he continues. I think that teaches actors to have respect for the weapons, and we mostly use real weapons on the show. All the cast spent a lot of time hanging out with ex-special forces, ex-policemen who passed on their experiences, so they were soaking up that varying knowledge from different people.
We do nearly all of our own stunts in the show, Winchester explains. We did a lot of fun things in Johannesburg
I got my scuba certificate and we did some diving this year for water sequences in episodes one and two, shot it in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. I spent a lot of time in the water taking over a boat from a drug cartel, escaping their high-speed pursuit and surviving major explosions. It was really intense but fun.
Stapleton describes some of the big action sequences in the new season, noting, We start off with this boat chase down a river. Its pretty spectacular theres constant grenades and explosions. Recently, Philip and I attached ourselves to the end of a rope with one carabineer at our waists, and got lifted up by a helicopter, a couple hundred meters in the air. It was fun.
STRIKE BACK is already one of the best action shows on TV so my challenge was to try and raise that bar even higher, says writer, director and co-executive producer Michael J. Bassett. We wanted to put the audience in the heart of the chaos, so that they're alongside our heroes and living the story as they do. We aimed for a cinematic level of mayhem and energy which can only really be achieved with a team working at the fullest extent of their skills and actors who are utterly fearless. Luckily, I had both those things.
In the commentaries on season 2 they go into how crazy their pyrotechnics and squib people are. Sully gets perforated by splinters from squibs in wood paneling in the hotel in episode one and in the Sudan one exploding barrels fly much higher and further then would be considered safe for normal shoots.
Philip Winchester is a huge gun enthousiast, he loved working with a RONI, a thing that turns a Glock pistol into a rifle so much he got one and his wife gave him 30-round extended magazines as a present. He also explained they use military blanks, the ones they use to fire rifle grenades instead of the usual Hollywood lightened ones which gave the weapons as much kick and muzzle flash as live rounds. Most of the stuff could never have been done in Hollywood or Canada but in South Africa they can do pretty much anything they can come up with.
I finally finished watching Project Dawn last week during my flights to and from Japan and man, what a show. Can't wait to start on Vengeance/season 3 one of these days. The fact that this isn't a monster hit is a shame -- HBO really should include Cinemax shows on HBO Go because it would give this thing a much-needed shot in the arm as far as notability is concerned.
I finally finished watching Project Dawn last week during my flights to and from Japan and man, what a show. Can't wait to start on Vengeance/season 3 one of these days. The fact that this isn't a monster hit is a shame -- HBO really should include Cinemax shows on HBO Go because it would give this thing a much-needed shot in the arm as far as notability is concerned.
I finally finished watching Project Dawn last week during my flights to and from Japan and man, what a show. Can't wait to start on Vengeance/season 3 one of these days. The fact that this isn't a monster hit is a shame -- HBO really should include Cinemax shows on HBO Go because it would give this thing a much-needed shot in the arm as far as notability is concerned.
"Strike Back" the drama series that follows a covert counter-terrorism military unit, returns to Comic Con with a panel on Sat., July 20 (7 p.m.) in Room 6DE. Fans can join the conversation at #SDCCStrikeBack.
The "Strike Back" panel will be moderated by Mike Schneider of TV Guide. Writr, director and co-executive producer Michael J. Bassett will be on the panel along with cast members Philip Winchester (Michael Stonebridge), Sullivan Stapleton (Damien Scott), Dougray Scott (James Leatherby) and Milauna Jackson (Kim Martinez).
Quarry sounds amazing. The Soderbergh one doesn't (to me), but I'm assuming it will come out better than it sounds. The Hunted spinoff should be good and Kingpin also looks decent.
Here is an easy way to keep up to date with Cinemax news.
Quarry sounds amazing. The Soderbergh one doesn't (to me), but I'm assuming it will come out better than it sounds. The Hunted spinoff should be good and Kingpin also looks decent.
Here is an easy way to keep up to date with Cinemax news.
Quarry's source material is absolutely glorious and the actor is perfect casting for this role. I have huge hopes for it. Definitly one of my most anticipated tv shows.
Cannot wait. I just hope that the new season will be a bit more consistent than the last one. It was a bit all over the place. I have the suspicion that Spotnitz played in a huge role in what made Project Dawn so good. Not sure if Bassett getting more involved is a good thing or not. Anyway, hope we can get yet another season after this one. It never feels like Cinemax tries to push the series beyond the audience it has already found.
