Summer Film Role For Martial Arts Student
22 September 2011
Student Eddie Lee landed a role over the summer as a martial arts stunt performer in new film, 47 Ronin and worked alongside actor Keanu Reeves.
Programme leader Charles Spring giving a martial arts display in the Buxton Dome
A stunt-man student of the University of Derby Buxton spent his summer doing a holiday job with a difference; filming a new martial arts movie alongside Hollywood star Keanu Reeves.
During a break from studying towards a BA (Hons) degree in Martial Arts Theory and Practice, Eddie Lee, 22, from London, landed a role as a martial arts stunt performer in new film, 47 Ronin, the story of a band of Japanese Samurai who set out to avenge the death of their master.
Eddie was asked to audition for the film after impressing an agent with live martial arts performances on the promotional tour of a new computer game.
To prepare for the film, in which Eddie played a number of roles including an 18th Century Samurai warrior, he spent two weeks learning from experts at an intensive Japanese Sword Fighting boot camp. Some of the training was led by Hollywood actor and stunt performer Roger Yuan, whose films include Shanghai Noon and Blade.
Eddie and the other stunt performers then spent seven weeks at London's famous Shepperton studios performing choreographed fight scenes alongside top stunt men, and actors Keanu Reeves and Hiroyuki Sanada.
Eddie said: "Being part of a martial arts film and learning how action sequences and fight scenes are choreographed and put together was such an interesting experience, but the best bit for me was learning Japanese Sword Fighting from some the finest practitioners of the art - including the Japanese swordsmen who starred in the film 13 Assassins.
"It was great to hone my martial arts skills; learning from and working with some of the very best in the business."
After his taste of fame, Eddie returns to the University of Derby Buxton this September to begin the final year of his degree. 47 Ronin is now in post production and due for release in late 2012.
Eddie added: "I've seen some scenes that were shot in 3D as a bonus preview of the film and it looks great, I'm excited to see how it all looks post production with all the CGI added. I've always considered working in films as an actor or stuntman, and after this experience I'm considering learning each discipline required to join the British Stunt Register."
The University's Sports Programme Leader and Martial Arts expert, Charles Spring, said: "Eddie is a fantastic student and martial arts practitioner and thoroughly deserved this chance to show the world his skills.
"The fact that one of our students spent the summer filming a martial arts movie will certainly impress everyone on the course and across the University, and we hope the film inspires more people to get involved in martial arts."
The University of Derby Buxton runs a number of sports programmes in coaching and development, and psychology. It also has strong links with martial arts through coaching certificates developed for martial arts coaches and practitioners. For more information about these programmes visit www.derby.ac.uk/udb
