Ed Skrein The Transporter Refueled

Ed Skrein The Transporter Refueled

Cast: Ed Skrein, Loan Chabanol, Lenn Kudrjawizki
Director: Camille Delamarre
Genre: Action, Crime
Running Time: September 3rd, 2015

Synopsis: Meet the new Transporter.

Known to the French Riviera's criminal underworld as the best driver money can buy, soft-spoken Frank Martin (Ed Skrein) will deliver any 'package" for a price. He abides by three simple rules: no names, no questions and no renegotiations. But his rulebook goes out the window when he is tricked by gorgeous femme-fatale Anna (Loan Chabanol) into driving the getaway car for an ingenious bank robbery. Racing through the streets of Monaco in a state-of-the-art Audi, Frank unwittingly becomes entangled in a scheme to bring down Yuri (Yuri Kolokolnikov), the Russian human trafficker who forced Anna into prostitution 15 years ago.

Hell-bent on revenge, Anna and her blonde-wigged co-conspirators kidnap Frank's father, retired spy Frank Sr. (Ray Stevenson), to make sure the Transporter does their bidding. Frank, who for reasons of his own avoids firearms at all costs, employs a dizzying array of makeshift weapons and lethal street-fighting moves to take on Yuri's thugs. His situation is further complicated when his relationship with Anna becomes more than just business. A sexy, high-speed thriller full of hairpin twists and high-tech trickery, Refueled takes the blockbuster Transporter franchise to explosive new heights.

The Transporter Refueled
Release Date: September 3rd, 2015

About the Production

A Fresh Take On A Classic Franchise

 

The Transporter series has set a high bar for action adventure, having delivered some of the most memorable action packed sequences in the genre. Director Camille Delamarre voices confidence that the latest installment, with its new leading man, revenge-fueled women, brutal street-fighting brawls and metal-bending chase sequences, will more than exceed audience expectations. 'The Transporter Refueled is more than a reboot," he says. 'It's a whole new story."

As for the new Transporter himself, Ed Skrein takes unabashed pride in his character's journey through the mean streets of southern France. 'Rolling around on the floor wrestling and fighting with bamboo sticks and punching other guys with pads on and fighting in front of a moving car"the only time you want to be in situations like that is when you're on a film set," he says. 'I'm a complete pacifist myself, but when it's scripted that I get in a fight and win, it's fantastic."

About The Story

When French filmmaker Luc Besson decided to reboot his hugely popular action franchise with a younger cast and a fresh storyline, he turned to longtime collaborator Camille Delamarre, who had just made his feature directorial debut on the dystopian thriller Brick Mansions, to helm the film. 'I had edited Transporter 3 and directed action scenes from the -Transporter' television series, so I was already familiar with that world," says Camille Delamarre. 'It's always been a fun franchise to be involved with because there's so much action in a colorful setting, but the new script had even more of a James Bond style than the previous ones."

The script by Bill Collage, Adam Cooper and Luc Besson offered an entirely new take on the high-octane action series, which centers on a tough, tight-lipped, highly skilled driver-for-hire. 'Refueled is more filled out than earlier Transporter movies because we have several layers, several characters, lots of subplots and revelations that get slowly revealed throughout the film," observes Camille Delamarre. 'We developed Frank's character to be less of a caricature. Instead of the bodybuilding hero who never loses or takes a bad hit, Frank's character suffers. He hurts. And he also does his fair share of attacking."

Although it features plenty of the stunt driving, fight scenes and plot twists that have made the franchise an enduring favourite among moviegoers, the action is fueled by intriguing characters with compelling backstories. Frank is haunted by his wartime service and has a tense relationship with his father, a retired spy. Anna, a prostitute since an early age, refuses to remain a victim of her ruthless pimp. 'Besides having a new Transporter and lots of sexy elements, Refueled gives the audience a complex story full of new developments," says Camille Delamarre.

The original Transporter trilogy, released between 2002 and 2008, focused primarily on tough male characters. Refueled expands the scope of the storytelling by including a diverse roster of badass women. 'We've got four incredibly good- looking female characters who give the Transporter a hard time throughout the film," Camille Delamarre says.

About The Cast And Characters

To step into the iconic role of professional wheelman Frank Martin, the filmmakers knew they needed a talented young actor with the extraordinary physicality required to handle both the extensive fight choreography and the heart-stopping driving scenes that are so central to the franchise. Relatively unknown British actor Ed Skrein turned out to be the obvious choice, says Camille Delamarre, especially once he received the stamp of approval from legendary stunt coordinator Alain Figlarz (The Bourne Identity, Taken 2, Lucy). 'Luc Besson sent his initial choices for the role to Alain, who tested the actors for a few days to see if they could meet the challenge" says Camille Delamarre. 'He came to the conclusion that Ed was perfectly suited for the job."

Delamarre was sold too after watching Ed Skrein's videotaped audition with Luc Besson. 'Luc Besson taped his first meeting with Ed Skrein and I could immediately see that he took the role very seriously. Ed Skrein is straightforward and motivated"and solid as a rock with his training. He charges forward and so do I, so we were totally in sync from the very beginning."

Camille Delamarre's take on the lead character appealed on multiple levels to Ed Skrein, best known for portraying Daario Naharis on the blockbuster HBO series 'Game of Thrones." 'Frank's a quiet man," observes the actor. 'He's become accustomed to living by himself, although whether he's happy is another question. When the film begins, he's like an island, and his car is like his sidekick."

Ed Skrein drew on the character's dark backstory to inform his tightly wound performance. 'When he was in the army, Frank had to follow instructions," he explains. 'Now he makes his own rules. In the military, he was dirty most of the time, so now he wants to stay immaculate. That's why he sports this sleek, clean look: black shoes, black socks, a beautiful black Dior suit, a white shirt, and a black tie. Frank does not need to stress his masculinity. His attitude is reflected in the suit, the car and in his silhouette. Everything must be functional toward the job."

Another quirk that sets the character apart from typical action heroes is the fact that he refuses to engage in gunplay. 'It was very important for Frank not to use firearms directly," Ed Skrein says. 'I fight with an iPhone, with a shopping bag, with two rocks, with table legs and a table top, but not with guns. I disarm people and throw their guns on the floor, so it's dangerous, but Frank's a man of substance who's trying to maintain his humanity in this criminal underworld. I like the fact that my character's job is to transport and deliver, not to murder. Like a lot of people, Frank's morally conflicted, but he always wants to fight the good fight."

To contrast with Frank's quiet demeanor, the filmmakers sought to cast the role of his father, Frank Sr., with an actor who radiates outgoing charm. They found their man in veteran British character actor Ray Stevenson. 'Ray Stevenson and Ed Skrein make a nice team," says Camille Delamarre. 'It's a little bit like Sean Connery and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Ray Stevenson matches so well with Ed that we really get the feeling they are father and son."

Ray Stevenson, whose résumé includes Thor and the HBO series 'Rome," savored the interplay between father and son. 'Frank Sr. sells fizzy water but of course that's just a cover story; he's really an MI6 operative," he says. 'Frank Sr. and Frank Jr. are cut from the same cloth. The story brings out moments where all these cracks appear and emotions get played up. As they reveal more of themselves to each other, Frank and Frank Sr. start to realize how much they have in common."

'Frank Sr. is the funny guy to my straight guy," Ed Skrein adds. 'He likes to tease my character for being so pompous and serious all the time. I love how our relationship develops throughout the story and where we end up."

Father and son come together under duress thanks to the kidnappings, robberies and gun fights orchestrated by the cunning women who take charge in Refueled. Anna, portrayed by Paris-born actress Loan Chabanol (Fading Gigolo) is the leader of this pack of fierce beauties.
'Anna's mysterious, smart, manipulative and charming when she needs to be," says Loan Chabanol. 'She was born in the Soviet Union and was forced to become a prostitute at the age of 12. Now she's looking for revenge because everything has been taken away from her and she wants to get it back."

Danish model, singer and actress Tatiana Pajkovic plays Maria, Anna's seductive confederate. 'Maria grew up in a horrible environment so she's really tough," Tatiana Pajkovic explains. 'The only person she has any compassion for is Anna. What I love about Maria is she goes out in the field and lures the guys with her sexy red dress on"and her gun. That can be persuasive!"

Chinese actress Wenxia Yu, winner of the 2012 Miss World pageant, plays Qiao, a 26-year-old Chinese sex worker. 'She was taken away from her family and sent to a remote place to become a -party girl,'" Wenxia Yu says. 'Qiao's lucky to know Anna who has this plan to escape and get revenge on their pimp."

Frank Sr. falls for the beautiful Gina, played by French actress Gabriella Wright. 'Gina originally comes from the Basque country," explains Gabrielle Wright. 'She was kidnapped at the age of 12 by the Russian mob and developed a badass attitude. But she's also sensitive and has a soft spot for Frank Sr. Gina's not lethal but she does have a heart that can turn to stone."

Noémie Lenoir plays the villainous Maissa, gangster Yuri's prostitute-turned-business-associate. 'The other girls and I are part of the same mafia, but my character came in from the dark side," says Lenoir. 'Having lived through many hardships, Maissa has hatred in her so I didn't want to show even a little bit of kindness. Instead, I wanted the other girls to be scared of me. I really enjoyed the role because I'd never played a bad guy in a film before!"

About The Production

The Transporter Refueled was shot largely on location in Monaco and other parts of the French Riviera between Nice and Menton. To capture the picturesque Côte d'Azur's sun-dappled setting, Camille Delamarre brought on Canadian director of photography Christophe Collette.

'I met Christophe 10 years ago on my first music video and he worked with me on Brick Mansions as well," Camille Delamarre says. 'He's a very visual guy and really understands color. During pre-production I gave Christophe lots of mood boards because I wanted Refueled to have warm colors ranging from gold to red for the exteriors. The shots needed to reflect beautiful southern light that you find during the summer season on the Côte d'Azur."

The filmmakers took a contrasting approach for the interiors. 'We wanted to mix it up, so Christophe and I decided to shoot all of the interiors with cool, bluish colors. We used lots of neon lights to give the scenes a little bit of a graphic image, which really comes across in the beautiful sets designed by Hugues Tissandier, including the hotel rooms, the airplane cargo hold, the interior of a yacht or a nightclub."

To complement the film's luxuriant cinematography and production design, Anna and her posse were outfitted in fashion-forward ensembles sourced from high-end brands. 'The women in Refueled dress like sexy, very fashionable models," says Camille Delamarre, whose wife designs purses for an international fashion house. 'We had partnerships with several luxury brands who loaned us accessories, purses and dresses."

The Star Car

Although it features fresh faces and a new storyline, Refueled features plenty of the heart-pounding car chases that have made the Transporter franchise an enduring favorite among fans around the world. 'I admit that I have a weakness for cars," says Camille Delamarre, who filmed dozens of car-chase sequences and car commercials before taking the helm of The Transporter Refueled. 'When Michel Julienne staged the car scenes, we gave the big car wrecks everything we had, starting with the first sequence that takes place between Nice and Monaco."

Camille Delamarre's team put together computer-generated 3-D pre-visualizations to determine the best camera placements before shooting key car chases. 'We wanted to make sure we got -wow' shots," he says. But Camille Delamarre insisted on old-school 'in camera" action to maximize the impact of the film's big set pieces. 'I avoided using too much CGI because I really wanted crumpled metal. Sure, we could create that CGI, but it wouldn't have the same violence as a real car crash. We purposely crashed dozens and dozens of cars for the film because I wanted to provide truly sensational visual impact."

Ed Skrein became very fond of the Audi S8 2012 sedan that was his near-constant companion during filming. 'It's a very beautiful car and a joy to drive," says Ed Skrein. 'The only problem was that the Audi has such an intelligent computer in the engine that it won't skid or do anything other than be completely safe. The stunt drivers had to take bits out of the Audi in order to make things happen the way they wanted."

Before Ed Skrein got a chance to drive the car during production, he took a crash course in high-speed auto racing. 'The initial driving training we did was like a boy's dream," he says. 'They sent me out into an airfield and asked me to drive as fast as possible in this beautiful car that cost $175,000. I learned small details that turned out to be extremely important, like how to position my hands on the steering wheel. Then we got into the stunt car and did the spinning, which was really fun."
Ed Skrein put his newly acquired driving skills to the test on the second day of shooting. 'I had to race around a corner, skid, jump out of the car and do the dialogue," he recalls. 'I was driving a brand-new car that had a couple of very expensive cameras rigged up on either side. So I was very cautious for the first take. Then Camille Delamarre came over and said, -Go for it this time.' So I did and it felt great. I slammed on the brake and there was dust flying up everywhere. It was brilliant! So I got back in the car feeling like a million dollars and thought, -Let's do that again' and sped up even bit more. Except this time, I smashed one of the cameras."

A Fresh, Hard Fighting Style

When it came to shooting Frank's blink-and-you-miss-it fight moves featured in The Transporter Refueled, Camille Delamarre says his extensive background as an editor came in handy. 'I could see immediately while we were shooting what worked, what ran smoothly and what I was going to keep," explains the director. 'Obviously you have to film a lot for these kinds of scenes because you need lots of material when you edit. We went for techniques that were harder and more streetwise than the Chinese Kung-Fu style from the previous films. This kind of fighting is very precise so I didn't do a lot of jump cuts. I wanted the fights to be very clear so the audience could enjoy what they're seeing."

To train for the Refueled brawls, Ed Skrein subjected himself to a grueling regimen, working from ten in the morning to six at night, five days a week. 'I used to be a competitive swimmer and I've done a lot of endurance sports over the years, but since I had no martial-art experience, I turned up on that first day in the gym knowing that I really had a high mountain to climb."

He embraced the challenge of bringing together a variety of fight styles under the direction of fight choreographer Alain Figlarz. 'We wanted to create a unique system of fighting, different from the previous franchise and from all the other movies we've seen," says Ed Skrein. 'It was a mix of Krav Maga, Kali, Filipino stick fighting, English boxing and close combat. Alain Figlarz is a genius and he created the perfect environment for me to grow physically and mentally."

Frank's confrontations with Russian mobsters included several other hair-raising set pieces including a body drop from a jet plane into the roof of a speeding Audi and a six-against-one nightclub throwdown that ends with one security guard hanging upside down on a rope that's anchored by an unconscious thug on the floor.

But Skrein's favorite sequence takes place during the film's climax, when he jet-skis across dry land, crashes through the glass window of Yuri's car and chases him to a ridge overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. 'That final battle looked perilous because it was perilous." says the actor. 'Shooting it on the edge of a cliff with a helicopter circling around Yuri and me, it was almost like there were three of us doing this dangerous dance. I had to focus on the man opposite me and also on my footing to make sure I didn't slip and fall off the cliff. For me, that was an epic experience."

The Transporter Refueled
Release Date: September 3rd, 2015