Forget about Bridgerton and Downton Abbey. It is time to watch something different by leaping right into an action-packed SG-UK short film collaboration entitled “The Hitman And The Assassin”. The action film which was directed by William Axtell, stars UK action actor Colin Squire and Red Dot Island’s own action actor and film-maker, Jonathan Cheong.
Colin Squire, also the producer of the film, fell in love with action movies when he was a young child. From then on, Colin learned and tried different kinds of martial arts, including karate, kickboxing and taekwondo. His foray into acting came by when he took a workshop by British action star Mark Strange during the pandemic lockdown. When the lockdown was lifted, Colin was given the chance to star in a couple of Mark Strange's short action films, including “Combat Zone”. “Combat Zone” went on to win a string of awards at film festivals.
8 years ago, local actor Jonathan Cheong started out Raging Fire Productions, with a vision to uplift genre films in Red Dot Island. Inspired by his idol and role model Donnie Yen, Jonathan strives to produce realistic fight sequences coupled with engaging story-telling. To date, Jonathan has worked on several movies, short films, TV shows, promotional gigs, web series and more. Some of these titles include the celebrated “Star Wars fan film Legend Of Hope: A Star Wars Fan Film” (2020), awrd-winning “Bullet For Vengeance” (2023) and a memorable role as Bearded Man in Kuman Films' viral dystopian movie “Pendatang”. For most of these own productions, Jonathan provides the choreography for the action sequences .
After meeting at the Fighting Spirit Film Festival last year, Colin and Jonathan bonded over their passion about action movies and discussed about doing a short film together. The result is a fun (and also, funny) action short film where a Singaporean Assassin bids for the same victim as a Brit Hitman. Will they end up eliminating each other? Or will they become deadly frenemies?
“The Hitman And The Assassin marks the first time I'm part of a project in the West,” says Jonathan Cheong. “What's fun and unique is that I'm not playing an English but rather a Singaporean Hitman that happens to somehow be on the soil of England. And it just so happens that another local Assassin is there to do his job!
The film may seem to be really simple and direct, but it sets up alot of potentials for the future sequels to come! What's another interesting aspect is in the title itself. The Hitman and the Assassin! The film literally plays the stereotype we think of in movies of which the Hitman being better dressed than an Assassin! There is alot of humor but really intense action scenes coupled with!”
Colin Squire added, “The Hitman And The Assassin gave me a huge opportunity to learn and work with the talented Jonathan Cheong, and brilliant Will Axtell. Jonathan approached me with a great first concept which was a bit more serious but it soon evolved naturally in to a shorter action comedy with I believe turned out for the best.
The story has been done many times, but I think our fun, short film has some great action sequences and has laid the foundations for all of the three characters to evolve. Ben created a fun character spontaneously because in the original version he was not even meant to talk, if the opportunity allows us it will be interesting to see how the Hitman and the Assassin's relationship grow.”
“The Hitman And The Assassin” premiered at Bristol’s Forbidden Worlds Film Festival. Even though the film did not win an award in that festival, it garnered several awards in other notable film festivals in 2024. These awards include Best Action and Best Poster at No Country For Old Film Festival, Best Action Short at Paris Film Awards, and Best Poster and Best Comedy Action at International Film Festival.
Look out for the film as it is set to premiere internationally on director Will Axtell’s Youtube channel on 19 January 2025.
Colin Squire and Jonathan Cheong will also be appearing as special guests of the next Live With Red Dot Diva happening this Sunday (15 December 2024), at 11 PM SGT (3 PM GMT) on Red Dot Diva’s Facebook Page and Youtube channel. Join in to catch clips from the movie, chat with the actors and you get the chance ask them questions about the action film industry.
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