Join us for a screening followed by a Q&A with Stephen Koepfer (EP/co-director/stunt performer), Matthew Kaplowitz (producer/co-director/DP/editor), and stunt performers Joanne Lamstein, Wendy Gutierrez, and Federico Berte'.
Moderated by Arda Ocal, MSG Hockey Show host.
SYNOPSIS
Concrete and Crashpads - Stunts in New York is a documentary film that offers a glimpse into the invisible world of New York's booming stunt community. The life of a stunt performer is lived in the shadows, without fanfare or recognition. This film peeks into the lives of some of the men and women who put their bodies and lives on the line, or aspire to do so, for an audience that may not know they even exist.
PANELISTS
Stephen Koepfer
Stephen is a lifelong New Yorker, martial artist, filmmaker and rookie Stunt Pereformer. Since childhood Stephen has dreamed of working in the film and television industry; even having attended film-making camp during several summers of his youth. As he grew older he continued to experiment with film-making. At first with an old super-8 camera of his father's and later with modern digital technology. After high school, where Stephen focused on visual art, he attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City on a full scholarship for advertising and art direction.
Though his professional life took him in a different direction after college, in 2007, it was his life-long involvement in martial arts that brought him back to his childhood dream of working in the television and film industry. Recognized for his expertise, specifically in the Russian martial art of Sambo, Stephen served as a martial arts adviser for television's Human Weapon and Dhani Tackles the Globe, where he also appeared as himself. His inauguration as a Producer came in 2011, with the acclaimed feature documentary New York Mixed Martial Arts. In 2014, Stephen was a Producer on Matthew Kaplowitz's award winning feature documentary Girl Fight: A Muay Thai Story. Concrete and Crashpads: Stunts in New York is Matthew and Stephen's first directorial collaboration. As a rookie Stunt Performer, Stephen has been fortunate enough to work on John Wick: Chapter Two, The Blacklist and The Punisher.
Matthew Kaplowitz
Matthew Kaplowitz is lifelong practitioner and fan of martial arts, he began working for combat sports websites and magazines starting in 2006. In 2009, he started TheFightNerd.com, a news website dedicated to the sport with a focus on video production, which has become a reliable source for information & entertainment.
In 2012, Matthew became a Production Assistant with Original Media, where he worked on the weekly live Spike TV sports talk show, MMA Uncensored Live. After the show ended a year later, he became an Associate Producer at Matador Content, and worked on over a dozen shows for Spike TV, including the Frank Shamrock: Bound by Blood documentary, several documentaries in the Unrivaled series, pay-per-view specials and the Rampage 4 Real reality series. In 2014 Matthew produced, directed, shot and edited his first independent feature documentary, Girl Fight: A Muay Thai Story, which went on to become an Official Selection at over a dozen festivals nationwide and win Best Editing of a Feature at the Rahway International Film Festival.
Joanne Lamstein
Joanne Lamstein’s first memory of wanting to be a stuntwoman was at 11 years old, while watching Raiders of the Lost Ark. 13 years later, Danny Aiello III hired her for her first stunt job. For over 20 years, Lamstein has been fortunate enough to meet and work with some of the best Stunt Performers and Stunt Coordinators in the industry. She has doubled for award-winning actresses such as Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand and Isabella Rossellini. Joanne is a member of the award winning for The Bourne Ultimatum ensamble that took home the innaugural SAG Award for Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture.
Wendy Gutierrez
Wendy Gutierrez is a lifelong martial artist who has been a working Stunt Performer since 2002. She is known for her work on Drunken Parents, The Purge: Election Year, American Odyssey, Orange is the New Black, Dare Devil and Punisher. Wendy has been fortunate enough to double Salma Hayek, Tawny Cypress and Victoria Janicki.
Federico Berte'
Federico Berte' is a lifelong martial artist, actor and Stunt Performer. Federico was born and raised in Italy and is known as expert practitioner and teacherof Kung Fu, Wushu and related weaponry.He expertise wasso noted that in 2006Berte' was chosen by Director Enzo Cosimi to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin. For several years,Federicolived and trained extensivelyin Shanghai, China, where he was introduced to fighting for film, stuntsand choreography. After many years' residency inChina,Berte' moved to Los Angeles where he continued to build his skill as an actor and Stunt Performer. Now residing in New York, Federico continues his acting, choreography and stunt career. He is known for his work on Gotham, Iron Fist, Bull and CSI: NY.
