| Maitland mouths off! Ian Freeman talks
Sucker Punch. |
| After a hugely successful
career as Britain’s top MMA fighter, Ian Freeman diversified into
television presenting and promoting and now ‘Sucker Punch’ offers
him his first major acting role. This is what he had to say about
the film on completion of principle photography. |
| How did you become involved with sucker
punch? |
| The writer/director Malcolm
Martin called me and asked if I would like to play Coburn in a movie
he wrote and I said, 'Sure, send me the script.' The story line of
the script was fantastic but Coburn only had a relatively small part.
Malcolm spok to me a week later and asked how I liked the script and
I said, 'Yeah it's great.' Malcolm was like, 'So we can count you
in then?' And I said, 'No, the part is too small, it wouldn't take
me long to remember seven bloody lines would it? Play me as Maitland,
one of the lead roles and you have a deal.' With an offer like that
Malcolm couldn't refuse but insisted I had a screen test to play the
part. If I was no good then it was back to Coburn. After only two
takes, Malcolm knew he picked the right man for Maitland..... but
of course I knew that! |
| What was it about the script that made
you want to do it? |
| The script was not like your
usual gangster type movies that are made in the UK. It was funny but
serious at the same time. I liked the way the comedy was thick at
the beginning and the action was lean, as the movie progresses, the
action gets thicker and the comedy leaner. I had never seen this in
a movie and it works very well. Maitland stood out for me as character-he
was not too much different from me ... although I am not a porn baron
in real life (Disclaimer: just in case the wife is watching). |
| You
have been in front of the camera on many occasions including presenting,
how different is acting? |
| I love the camera, I never freeze, I
just blossom in front of it. Give me a camera or a microphone and
I am a superstar. I have never acted in such a big role as Sucker
Punch, but I did a similar job presenting on Sky TV called Britain's
Hardest. Although very different from each other, they had similarities-
tough, hardman, cock sure of himself.... oh and sexy. |
| Tell us about
Maitland as a character-he's not traditionally 'evil' is he? |
| Maitland is a no grey area kind of guy-
it's black or white as far as he is concerned. He only has to ask
and his wish is his command. A powerful man that no one crosses, he
does however play the game, if he is loses then he pays, but if he
wins he wins big time and he very rarely loses. He is a high roller-
Drinks the best champagne and smokes the best cigars always has a
sexy woman on his arm, even if it's not his girlfriend. Ah, a man
after my own heart. |
| How much
input were you allowed in bringing Maitland to life? |
| Ah man, Malcolm was so open with all
the cast- he allowed us to put all or any input we liked. I would
be asked to say a line and then think, 'Maitland wouldn’t say that,
he's say this.' and Malcolm would agree. He is such a great guy to
work with and would direct you to play your character, which made
it so easy for us. |
| How much
of you is similar to Maitland or is it all acting? |
| Maitland is a retired fighter come fight
promoter. I am the same. He is a no nonsense kinda guy, I am the same.
He is a porn baron, I am hung like one, and we’re both sexy as hell.
But apart from that, Maitland rarely smiles and I cannot stop fooling
around. If you’re not laughing at me, you’re laughing with me. People
that don’t know me don’t realise how funny I am until they meet me.
|
| As one of
our greatest fighters what do u honestly think of the fights in SP?
|
| I sat in the edit suite with
the director one night and looked at the fight scene with Paul Newby
(Big Jim) and Gordon Alexander (Buchinsky). It had just been edited.
I was screaming at the TV monitor with excitement. It rocked! Fast,
furious and very entertaining. Sure, it's not like a real fight, that
could make it boring, but every fight on Sucker Punch has been filmed
in a different way to make them exciting and entertaining. With Gordon
Alexander having a martial arts background, he is the fight choreographer,
all the fight scenes look great and realistic. There is none of this
high flying, back spinning Jackie Chan shit either. |
| How different
is screen fighting to the real thing? |
| Obviously real fighting is real fighting,
but man, I was knackered filming my fight scene. I have never received
so many knocks, bumps and bruises in a real fight compared to acting
a fight scene. The repetitive hitting, kicking and blocking in the
same spot on your body takes its toll. I couldn't walk properly for
a few days after and my arm had a lump on it so big... oh, erm, I
was fine honest! |
| Did you have
any input on the choreography? |
| Gordon alexander is a great fighter and
choreographer, but he allowed me to put as much input into my fight
as I wanted. So you will be pleased to hear that my fight scene has
Ultimate Fighting throughout. I have guillotines, leg locks, takedowns,
throws, escapes and more. It's rough and gritty. I have had hundreds
of street fights in my time so I know a mean fight when I see one
and this one is mean. |
| What
sets SP apart from other British films? |
| Sucker Punch, I believe, will stand out
from the crowd. It is a breath of fresh air as a British movie goes.
It's nice to see an action movie without guns and drugs. It's also
funny and Danny John Jules (Harley), along with Jimmy Kent (Weed),
make a double act that'll make you cry with laughter. I think not
only fighters and tough guys will watch this, but every day folk too,
as the movie has an entertaining and funny story line for everyone.
|
| What are
your hopes for the film? |
| Ah man, I have been acting in this movie
for over a year and a half, so I wish it to do very well. I want more
acting off the back of it, I love acting, I love the camera, I love
to entertain. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has worked on this movie
out of the love for it. Malcolm Martin lived in the gym during shooting
to keep budget cost down, Gordon Alexander sold his house and used
the money from it to help pay for this movie, All the actors don’t
get paid till the movie sells and Joe Long, (News and the producer),
well, he just stuffed his face full of food. If anything, due to all
the hard work that everyone has put into the movie, whoever looks
at it will see how professional it is and how we have done it on friendship
and hard work. |
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