Kevin Tancharoen is a director finest identified for his work on tasks like Mortal Kombat: Legacy. During a current interview with Heroic Hollywood, Tancharoen broke down his work on the just lately launched Netflix sequence The Brothers Sun whereas giving some fascinating insights into his future tasks, together with a possible Mortal Kombat return and a thriller musical!
The Brothers Sun was launched on Netflix on January 4th. The sequence follows Charles “Chair-Leg” Sun (performed by Justin Chien), the son of the top of a Taiwanese triad who units out for Los Angeles to guard his mom, Eileen (performed by Michelle Yeoh), and his youthful brother, Bruce (performed by Sam Song Li) in an action-packed journey about meals, fights, and household.
Lots of people know you from directing tasks like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Arrowverse exhibits, however what I do know you finest from is Mortal Kombat: Legacy. Do you suppose, now that Mortal Kombat is getting a resurgence within the motion pictures as of late, that you just’d ever wish to return to that universe? Either to direct a spin-off or season 3, or is that chapter of your profession over?
No, I feel I’m all the time open to going again if it’s proper, clearly. I’ve such a deep love for that property and it holds a really particular place in my coronary heart simply because I grew up on it. Like, there are particular properties that imply every part to me. That’s considered one of them. It’s like Mortal Kombat, [Teenage Mutant] Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers. It’s an excellent time to be alive proper now, proper? It’s all coming again. Like, it’s good to be an grownup male nerd [Laughs] in the case of that type of stuff. But it’s enjoyable.
So yeah, I might all the time wish to return to that. If completed correctly, if all of the events wish to do it, then I might 100% return. I had a number of enjoyable watching the film. My pal Lewis Tan is the lead in it, so it was actually cool to see him. I really like the stuff that Ed Boon is doing over at NetherRealm in Chicago, like the brand new sport is superior, so I do know that they’re always reinventing themselves, so that you by no means know! This franchise could be round ceaselessly, so can’t say by no means!
Another particular person you labored with on Mortal Kombat: Rebirth is Oren Uziel. Do you guys nonetheless have a connection there or have you ever gone your separate paths?
Oh yeah! I really like that man, he’s nice! Him and I, we- I reconnected with him as a result of I congratulated him on Spider-Man: Noir. Which is like, superior! But I hold in touch with him from time to time as a result of he and I had such a blast engaged on [Mortal Kombat] Rebirth collectively, and it was a type of issues the place I simply picked up the cellphone in the future and I used to be like ‘Dude, I have this random idea. How do you feel about it?’ and he wrote it in like two days!
And I went and shot it after which after that we each have been engaged on the film with New Line [Cinema] for a minute after which, clearly, , improvement takes some time so all of us needed to go our separate methods. But he’s an important man, and I’m actually trying ahead to no matter he comes up with for Spider-Man as a result of that could be a nice character and an important setting.
I introduced him up due to that Spider-Man: Noir sequence! Would you be excited about becoming a member of the fray and serving to direct an episode?
Oh one hundred percent! Because tonally that’s- it’s simply one thing we haven’t seen earlier than. And what an important period to deliver Spider-Man into. It simply opens the door for you to have the ability to inform one thing utterly new. Because we all know the Peter Parker of the trendy period SO properly, it could be so nice to type of see how troublesome it was to be Spider-Man again then when Tony Stark didn’t exist. So it’s type of like, there’s no computer systems, I can’t simply speak to my swimsuit. So that will be a number of enjoyable.
You’re not only a director for The Brothers Sun, you’re additionally an govt producer. What drew you to this venture a lot that you just needed that deep stage of involvement?
Well, I felt very related to the story. Like, simply on the style a part of it, I’m an enormous fan of martial arts movies. I grew up watching martial arts movies. I feel it’s fairly apparent I grew up watching martial arts movies. And I additionally simply love [Quentin] Tarantino, as properly, and the tone, and once I learn this I used to be like ‘Oh my god there’s such a pleasant mix of issues right here’. Not solely is it Tarantino nevertheless it’s additionally Stephen Chow, and it’s additionally Barry! So it was a cool little mixture of issues that I already liked.
And then part of me was like ‘Oh, I can see a really cool soundtrack’ in the best way that Drive was in a position to have like a very cool soundtrack. So I used to be drawn by all of the stylistic elements of it, however a very powerful a part of it was the core household story and the Asian-American story that I felt related to as a result of, merely, that was me rising up.
I feel within the first assembly once I met with Byron [Wu] and Brad [Falchuk], sure, we undoubtedly talked about all of the enjoyable stuff, however the bulk of our dialog was primarily nearly speaking about our experiences rising up and the way Byron and I had a number of similarities. So that’s what in the end drew me into it, and all the opposite issues that encompass the style of it are what makes it tremendous enjoyable. So I might say that’s actually what drew me to the entire thing, generally.
The Brothers Sun could be very rooted in a private tradition and other people. Can you discuss how this kind of genuine illustration is essential, even in exhibits with a heavy motion focus?
Yeah, I assumed it was all the time actually essential as a result of, clearly, there’s an enormous motion in illustration and I needed to be sure that, with the amount of issues which can be popping out which can be all so nice, and everyone seems to be doing such an excellent job at ensuring persons are represented correctly, I needed to be sure that we retained a number of enjoyable inside our story about id, proper? Because it couldn’t simply be a drama, or else it just- I don’t suppose it could have been the wild journey that we needed.
So in the case of the authenticity of this we needed to actually be sure that, not solely in entrance of digital camera, however behind the digital camera there have been a number of genuine voices and it’s as a result of we’ve bought to take all of our experiences and be taught to make enjoyable of them. And be taught to chortle about them but in addition come collectively and actually really feel unified by them. And I feel that each one the nuances and the authenticities within the winks and the nods to the individuals which will have grown up equally, that’s going to be a kick for them to get these little cultural thrives, however when you, say, you didn’t develop up throughout the tradition, there’s nonetheless a lot enjoyable and motion and coronary heart in there so that you can simply be immersed generally.
But when you might chortle at, say, taking your footwear off while you are available the home then nice! There’s one little nod I’m positive a number of Asian-Americans are gonna be like ‘Yeah, yep! Yeah, exactly!’ Or, considered one of my favourite issues is when Mama Sun sees her son for the primary time in ages and one of many first issues she says to him is ‘Your beard looks terrible.’ Like, that could be a frequent, that’s a common- I’ve been instructed that earlier than too! So from time to time there’ll be a little bit of a wink like ‘Oh, yeah, you get it if you get it.’
But in the end it’s only a story about becoming in and discovering your home and being a part of a household that you just don’t perceive. And so every part I feel goes by way of a second of discovery like that so on this one we simply occurred to be in a really hyper-stylized, hyper-realistic, larger-than-life stakes model of it.
You talked about holding that authenticity behind the digital camera. When lots of people consider motion pictures or exhibits, they actually solely reward the actors, administrators, and writers. Is there an unsung particular person or division that you just really feel actually introduced this sequence to life?
Yeah, , I gotta say like even on the manufacturing design and artwork path facet, we had a bunch of genuine voices inside each division. And additionally the wardrobe, proper? So wardrobe is all the time one thing that’s tremendous essential and I feel when it comes particularly to the style on this present we by no means needed it to really feel like costume. Because it will possibly, in a short time.
I did a number of analysis into Asian avenue style and a few Asian-American style in San Gabriel Valley, and I needed to be sure that it felt actual as a result of there’s undoubtedly a cultural imprint in style statements to be made, but when it ever felt prefer it was attempting too arduous, then you definately type of simply get checked out, proper? So I feel they actually introduced it as a result of there was all the time a nice line there.
And on the manufacturing design facet, it’s very straightforward to get stereotypical, proper? So there’s all the time that very bizarre line that you must teeter and totter over to ensure what’s actual and what’s a caricature. So discovering that proper stability was tremendous essential for particularly each of these in the case of wardrobe and manufacturing design, artwork path, and likewise music! You know, music additionally has a number of stereotypical tones to it so we needed to be sure that none of it felt too apparent and all of it felt genuine to the story, however by no means felt such as you have been simply crossing that line.
The Brothers Sun had a number of actually artistic combat scenes. In circumstances like this the place there’s a lot story being instructed by way of the combat scenes, what’s the stability of energy between the combat choreographer and the director?
Well the combat coordinator that I used to be in a position to persuade to work on this with me was a man named Justin Yu, who I’ve labored with earlier than and he’s nice. We simply already had a shorthand and I understood the type of motion he likes to design. And it all the time comes from a spot of character first, which was all the time a very powerful factor as a result of I feel now greater than ever we’re very desensitized to motion as a result of there’s such a wealth of actually wonderful issues on the market.
And it’s arduous to face out as a result of we’ve type of, at this level, virtually have seen every part. It’s simply now how can we contextualize it and make it fascinating? And that all the time comes all the way down to motive and character for my part. I went again and watched a few of the most impactful motion sequences that I knew had an impression on me and while you whittle it all the way down to the fundamentals, when you possibly can simply give you one easy logline for the motion sequence, it’s all the time so useful as a result of it’s normally very very quite simple.
So we needed to be sure that was in there and we nonetheless needed to have a number of enjoyable with it, so there’s all the time going to be slightly little bit of camp in a few of the winks to the fights. But a personality is all the time both studying one thing new throughout the combat or they’re overcoming one thing new within the combat and it’s by no means only a matter of simply surviving, so that’s one thing we actually took to coronary heart and needed to be sure that there was area for character inside all the combat sequences in order that it wasn’t simply continuous punches and kicks.
I’ll say that it was undoubtedly an experiment. We needed to travel, we had to determine the pacing and the timing, is that proper? In put up, we needed to discover the stability and the precise music. It was a really delicate stability, however Justin Yu was a really nice associate in that to have, so yeah, he killed it.
You talked about Tarantino a bit earlier. Do you will have every other administrators you cite as inspiring your type?
Edgar Wright has all the time been- I’ve been an enormous fan of the best way he designs…every part, actually. The synergy with music is all the time one thing I discover actually unimaginable. The kinetic transition photographs that he does and his consideration to sound design, additionally, is I feel one thing crucial.
So he was an enormous inspiration, and Stephen Chow, a really massive inspiration. I imply, Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer are a few of my favourite motion pictures, Kung Fu Hustle might be slightly bit extra. So these have been the three I actually needed to have in my head always, as a result of it was a number of enjoyable.
We hold going again to this concept of music and sound in fights, do you suppose your experiences on tasks like Fame and directing dwell live shows have influenced the best way you shoot fights?
Absolutely! So, earlier than I used to be a director I used to be a choreographer within the pop world. Because of that, I feel blocking and digital camera choreography and its relationship to music has all the time been one thing that’s type of pure in my course of, however I’ve such a connection to music and area as a result of I began off working with individuals and simply shifting them round that, basically, while you add a digital camera into it, that simply makes it that rather more magical and you’ll find a synchronization between a gradual cam operator or a digital camera operator with music and the combating — it’s simply actually enjoyable to place all of it collectively.
So I do suppose that due to my background, I type of naturally have these parts turn out to be a part of the entire venture, nevertheless it definitely has helped. It definitely helped loads. Because additionally, arguably, each combat sequence is a musical quantity, proper? They do have crescendos after which moments of pause and silence after which an enormous ramp-up, so it’s a musical in its personal bizarre manner. So it’s all one and the identical, you’ll find the concord between all the parts.
This is Justin Chien’s first action-heavy venture. Which is tough to inform, as a result of he did wonderful! When you have been on set with him, how did you see him adapt to this position over time?
He embraced it wholeheartedly, and I actually imply that. Like so far as I used to be joking loads that he actually Keanu Reeve’d the venture, however I really feel like everyone knows what which means now. It means he simply devoted himself 100% to the entire position. Physically, mentally — he did martial arts every single day. And it’s not straightforward to choose all that stuff up. So he actually simply went full Keanu on the coaching a part of it and nailed it. And we have been fortunate as a result of that’s what it required.
It required anyone who was gonna be like ‘You know what? I have a chance to have free ninja training, I might as well take it [Laughs]. And he went above and beyond. We rarely had to use any stunt doubles for the choreography because his timing ended up becoming so great. And that was something we talked about a lot. The timing of fight sequences is like… there’s a distinction between some extra trendy Western fights after which while you shut your eyes and hearken to a Bruce Lee combat. There’s a distinct rhythm to all of it. There’s one thing actually cool and sly about Bruce Lee’s combating due to the best way he does issues actually quick however then pauses, after which has a second of- a “cool moment.” So we studied a number of that type of stuff and Justin was only a actually good scholar after which he simply nailed it in each single combat scene. So it was actually enjoyable to observe that emerge.
With his character, baking is clearly a really massive motif all through the sequence. I used to be curious when you might say what the importance of churros was all through the season.
You know what, that will in all probability be a selected query for Byron or Brad as a result of they only landed on churros. They have been like ‘You know what, that’s gonna be one thing that he’s simply going to be obsessive about.’ Maybe it’s bought one thing to do with their love for churros, I’m undecided. But I do know that in the case of baking, we had mentioned how cooking is therapeutic.
There are remedy parts to simply doing directions and listening to instructions and following them to a T. And particularly baking, you must get it all the way down to the precise measurement to ensure that it to be excellent. So we simply figured for somebody whose life is so chaotic, what’s one thing that he might management on his personal? And what’s the alternative of murdering individuals? It’s baking a stunning cake! [Laughs] So it was the juxtaposition between the 2 I assumed was very enjoyable and comprehensible.
Another one of many stars of the present is Michelle Yeoh. Always one of many largest icons in Hollywood, however now she’s gotten even greater since her Oscar win. What was it like working along with her on set?
It felt surreal, to be sincere. Because I had, rising up, admiring her from afar, I’ve seen all her motion pictures, ? I bear in mind getting Silver Hawk in a random video retailer and I’ve all the time identified her as this extremely gifted, tremendous regal, elegant particular person from afar.
Then once I met her, naturally, I used to be intimidated at first as a result of this was a legend that I’ve identified on display screen for therefore lengthy – I questioned the way it’s going to be. And she was the best particular person as a result of she instantly made you’re feeling like household and also you routinely knew why she was so profitable.
She simply makes everybody really feel such as you’re a part of her household and it’s a delight to be round her. And due to that, the set was a stunning place to be and the beautiful actors who have been newer felt assured as a result of they’d Michelle Yeoh’s stamp of approval. And that was an enormous deal. So she was wonderful to work with as a result of, clearly, no one has to query how skilled she is.
She was so skilled. But she’s additionally simply part of the crew. She needed to simply do no matter it required to make the present good. So that was actually nice as a result of that undoubtedly contaminated the remainder of the crew and the forged. Like, as a result of she was so in it and wonderful everybody else needed to be their finest. So I simply needed to say that we bought very fortunate and we have been very lucky to get her.
Speaking of these new actors like Sam Song Li, is there a second on set the place he actually stunned you with what he was in a position to pull out?
Yeah, , he’s a type of pure type of comedic improv actors. He stunned virtually each time as a result of he would do one thing, say one thing, his timing can be totally different on a distinct take and it was arduous to not smile and chortle with virtually each scene he was in as a result of it was so pure. So he stunned us every single day with how he was in a position to play that position, be charming, however by no means foolish.
That’s a tough stability to play too while you’re taking part in a comedic position, particularly when you’re the comedic position. He by no means bought to that time and he was in a position to journey that line very delicately. He’s simply charming. I feel lots of people are gonna actually like this character as a result of, arguably, he’s the “every man” manner into this story and there’s a number of want success there.
We hear loads about writers and actors actually immersing themselves in a world. As a director, did you do something to actually put together for this sequence?
Oh, properly, I feel my entire life type of ready me as a lot as potential for this. But I actually did spend a number of time rewatching a number of the inspirational classics that I thought of type of a “must” for this present. But additionally, within the analysis course of as a crew, between the manufacturing designer and the writers, the DP, costume, we have been all college students in that world as a lot as we might.
We scouted, we interviewed, we researched. We simply made positive that we have been by no means too nervous to ask questions. And we have been in a position to get into sure places that had by no means been filmed ever earlier than. And we needed to be sure that it was proven authentically, as a result of we shot loads within the San Gabriel Valley that doesn’t typically get proven in a mainstream manner.
So I feel simply by nature of taking pictures the present you have been researching it, and it was all the time ensuring that each division head and crew member knew that it needed to be as genuine as potential and never only a stereotype. And I feel everybody took that to coronary heart and actually made {that a} mandate. So we have been always all the time studying in an odd manner as a result of everybody had a distinct expertise inside their lives that they needed to deliver to the desk, in their very own nuanced manner.
(Readers beware! This interview comprises spoilers for the finale of The Brothers Sun past this level! Continue at your personal danger!)
Do you will have a favourite day on set the place you both confirmed one thing actually fascinating or one thing actually spoke to you?
I had a favourite day as a result of it simply felt like actual movie-making. It felt like an actual managed chaos. Loud noises, however while you pulled again and realized what you have been doing it was so enjoyable. It was the dim-sum shootout in episode 7, the place we had no room and like 100 individuals crammed, what I imply? That room was not massive and we have been generally concurrently taking pictures within the kitchen and the banquet corridor they usually have been each loud motion sequences.
So that type of chaos was loopy on set that day however while you simply sat again and watched everybody shifting, it was so cool as a result of everybody cared a lot about getting it completed appropriately and everybody was simply working collectively to get it completed and make our day. It was chaotic, nevertheless it was tremendous enjoyable. So that was every week, that type of stood out to me, as a result of it was a number of work! We took over that strip mall and simply, type of guerrilla-style, shot that entire sequence as quick as we might. And it labored out.
Do you will have any path you hope the story takes if it will get a season 2, or do you suppose this can be a one-and-done kind sequence?
Oh no, I feel there’s a number of room to discover. Obviously, the door has been kicked vast open for Bruce and I might be very inquisitive about what means to his relationship along with his brother, but in addition his relationship along with his mom and his finest pal TK. I might like to, “More money, more problems,” is all the time the actual fact.
So I’d be curious to see the stability, how this actually shut, tight-knit household handles all of this now. With Big Sun out of the image, it’s Mama Sun to rule, nevertheless it comes at a large value. So I might like to see how this household might overcome the following huge hurdle as a result of they’re simply gonna get greater and larger.
Regarding, not simply the following step within the present, however the subsequent step for you as a director. Is there any venture you’re actually hoping to tackle within the subsequent few years or any property you actually wish to direct one thing for?
I feel, , I’m engaged on a number of tasks alone in the intervening time. There is that this household action-adventure film that I’m determined to make as a result of it’s every part that I grew up loving, so I’d be very excited to get that off the bottom.
But additionally I’m very excited about doing horror this yr as a result of I grew up as such an enormous fan of horror. Originally, I needed to be a creature designer. I needed to be Rob Bottin and I needed to be Stan Winston and Rick Baker and all of these guys. I’ve a deep love for that style, so I might like to assault a venture that’s horror-driven.
Because you’ve tackled a number of supernatural and superpowered beings, do you discover that there’s a distinction in directing combat scenes for people who find themselves simply people?
Yes, for positive! Because that’s a part of the story, proper? In superhero stuff, you type of purchase that everybody can combat very properly, or don’t get that harm. I feel that while you’re telling a narrative about simply actual individuals, sure, we’ve got Charles who’s an knowledgeable fighter, however we’ve got to ensure Bruce by no means seemed like he knew what he was doing, and there’s some problem to that.
To make issues look off the cuff or really feel genuine within the second and it doesn’t really feel choreographed or fluid, and so it was undoubtedly a problem to do the alternative of constructing somebody look nice, proper? Which is making somebody look clumsier. So we had a pleasant stability of the 2, as a result of clearly we’ve got some very expert fighters within the present after which we’ve got Bruce, who doesn’t know find out how to combat! [Laughs]. It was enjoyable to see him and TK type of not likely understanding what’s happening.
Just seeing TK’s vitality, have been there any enjoyable moments along with his actor on set?
Oh, yeah, he’s additionally a type of pure comedians. I consider our casting director discovered him off of TikTook or Instagram doing skits on his personal, and he simply embodied that character so properly as a result of, in a bizarre manner, he type of simply is that larger-than-life humorous man. The second you sit down with him you notice that’s who he’s. But he’s additionally a really deep particular person.
I discover that very often with comedians. Yes, they’re sensible in the case of comedy however there’s additionally a very excessive depth behind all of it. And Joon Lee is a type of guys. So it was by no means nearly jokes with him, it’s all the time about contextualizing it and he was nice. It was like his first massive venture and he embraced it and if he was nervous I by no means noticed it.
Is there the rest you wish to get out, both about The Brothers Sun or your personal work that you just haven’t been in a position to get on the market but?
Yes. So, I’ve all the time been requested if I ever needed to do a musical. And I’ve been very hesitant simply because I by no means felt like I had a narrative to say and I didn’t actually have a musical I needed to adapt. But I’ve lastly give you an concept that I’m very, very obsessive about. And I feel it simply took the precise timing, the precise idea, and the precise life expertise to lastly determine what that’s, so I’ve a sense that’s going to be one of many tasks that’s going to take an extended time to understand, however I’m enthusiastic about it.
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