Let's Talk - Cobra Kai

Filmography - Robert Mark Kamen (Writer - The Karate Kid)

September 08, 2021 Just Curious Media Episode 68
Let's Talk - Cobra Kai
Filmography - Robert Mark Kamen (Writer - The Karate Kid)
Let's Talk - Cobra Kai +
Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
Starting at $3/month
Support
Show Notes Transcript

Let's Talk - Cobra Kai
Episode 68: Filmography - Robert Mark Kamen (Writer - The Karate Kid)

Jason Connell and Sal Rodriguez discuss the filmography of writer Robert Mark Kamen whose credits include The Karate Kid, Transporter, and Taken.

Original Episode: S03E27

Recorded: 06-30-21
Studio: Just Curious Media
https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
https://LetsTalkCobraKai.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfekAT0gN4to-6j2iKhGQw/

Follow:
https://www.facebook.com/LetsTalkCobraKai/
https://www.instagram.com/LetsTalkCobraKai/
https://twitter.com/TalkCobraKai/

Hosts:
https://www.instagram.com/MrJasonConnell/
https://www.instagram.com/SalvadorLosAngeles/

Support:
https://www.patreon.com/LetsTalkCobraKai/

#justcuriousmedia #letstalkcobrakai #mrjasonconnell #salvadorlosangeles #cobrakai #thekaratekid #daniellarusso #johnnylawrence #mrmiyagi #senseikreese #ralphmacchio #williamzabka #patmorita #martinkove #allvalleykaratechampionships #martialarts

Support the show
Jason Connell:

Welcome to Just curious media. This is let's talk Cobra Kai. I'm Jason Connell.

Sal Rodriguez:

And I'm Sal Rodriguez.

Jason Connell:

All right, Sal, we are back for a really special, special episode.

Sal Rodriguez:

This one is very special. I'm very excited about this one. I've been looking forward to it all day. Because I found out some stuff. I mean, there were some jaw dropping moments when I researched this episode.

Jason Connell:

Yes. And we are going to do a deep dive into the filmography of one Robert Mark came in.

Sal Rodriguez:

Oh, so exciting. And you know what, Jason, exciting and long overdue?

Jason Connell:

Absolutely. Yeah. You had recently brought it up. And it was in my mind like, yeah, you know, came in we love Him and we know his work, but he probably doesn't get enough credit even for Cobra Kai. I mean, it all started here with gaming. Well, if you don't know this already, Robert Mark Kaman wrote The Karate Kid.

Sal Rodriguez:

Oh, yes. Yeah, he's got it all in motion. Yeah. Thanks to him. We would not be here today. Were it not for him?

Jason Connell:

Exactly. I mean, we might be doing a different podcast, but we won't be doing. Okay.

Sal Rodriguez:

No, no, we will be doing a different podcast. But uh, I know, my life would be different because my life has taken a turn as a result of Cobra Kai. So were there no, Robert Mark Kaman. Were there no Karate Kid, my life would be in a different place in a little bit of a different direction.

Jason Connell:

That's a good point. I probably would not have gotten into martial arts. I mean, maybe but probably not. And then I sure as heck wouldn't have revisited martial arts when we started doing let's talk Cobra Kai. So he definitely has a hand in my life. Oh, yeah, sure. So many others. So yes, this is going to be fun. All right. So Sal, we're gonna jump into the filmography. But before that, let's give this the littlest background on Robert Mark Kaman. He was born in 1947. He grew up in the Bronx. Maybe he's a Yankees fan. We don't know. The Bronx bombers. He graduated from New York University in 1969. And then went on to receive a PhD in American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, which is a pretty renowned school, I would say,

Sal Rodriguez:

Oh, sure. And then whenever I think of people being in college in 1969, a holy cow what was that? Like? It was just a whole different world then.

Jason Connell:

Yeah, absolutely. And if we're ever lucky enough to get Mr. kamin on the podcast, we can ask him all sorts of questions that we are not privy to tonight. Yeah, really.

Sal Rodriguez:

What I want to know is I want to know some psychedelic stories. Are there any any Robert Mark came in psychedelia? I'd love to learn about

Jason Connell:

Yeah. So Sal came into never actually directed a movie. But he's really just a renowned writer, essentially. screenplays. And there may have been books. I don't know, I kind of was hoping that was a Karate Kid book and not the book that they put out based on the movie, which I actually read. By the way, I read The Karate Kid book, you know, the studio puts them out. But it's almost like the screenplay, but in a different format. And in the book, as I said, on our special episode of The Karate Kid, which I highly recommend anyone to listen to. I talked about how in that book, they end it with the beginning of the credit card, part two. Yeah, in the book, and I was like, Whoa, what's this? I just saw the movie. This is not in there yet. And that scene would finally come to life a few years later, so weird how they did that, but I was kind of hoping there was a The Karate Kid book that the screenplay was based on like when I read the actual Peter Benchley novel jaws. There's some different scenes, there's some different arcs. The story goes this way. Hooper has an affair with Brody's wife. Like what? That's not in the movie. So you know, there's no one gets it. I almost wish there was a Karate Kid book that had other little side stories would not be incredible. Sure. Well,

Sal Rodriguez:

that would almost be like a Director's Cut. Right? But instead of writer's cut.

Jason Connell:

Yeah, well, the book the book got trimmed down to create the screenplay that made the movie you know, you can't usually fit the whole book into a screenplay. So but that doesn't exist, and I'm getting ahead of myself. So Robert Kaman. His first credit was on the film taps 1981 Screenplay credit, directed by Harold Becker, who went on to make a great movie called Vision Quest. And the cast had George C. Scott Timothy Hutton, Rodney Cox, Sean Penn and a super young Tom Cruise before Tom Cruise became a mega stars his pre outsiders and obviously pre Risky Business and Top Gun. So I love this movie growing up. Have you ever seen it?

Sal Rodriguez:

You know, I heard of taps. I knew of taps, but only saw the trailer just today and thought I need to see this. I mean looks really neat. And George see Scott stick. I love George see Scott, you know, as a horror fan. He was fantastic. And exorcist three. Yeah, he was great in exorcist three. So believe me, I definitely want to see taps. Oh, patent. Hello.

Jason Connell:

Yeah. So this is a little bit of patent. So he's in charge of a military school. Yes. And all of a sudden something happens to him and so the kids lock it down because out of respect for their great leader And so it's a really great story that Ronny Cox is trying to get them to surrender and Timothy Hutton is leading them. And Sean Penn is awesome in it as always, but I used to watch this on HBO all the time, because it's like, wow, Could this really happen? So it's a really great little film and hate credit to Cayman for writing it. I don't know where it inspired it. I don't know if he has a military background or military school background or whatever. But hey, that's where it all began, and a movie that I'm very familiar with.

Sal Rodriguez:

And before this, he did sell a screenplay that was never produced, which will relate to one of his cool trivia. That screenplay that was never produced has a huge effect on a very important part of Caymans life today.

Jason Connell:

Yeah, that is exactly true. So the next movie was split image 1982 Screenplay credit directed by Ted couchsurf. Now he would go on to do first blood. Incredible movie played at the Festival in New York one year holds up wonderfully lead to the franchise Rambo First Blood Part Two, there was a part three part four. And man of course, so what else did he make Weekend

Sal Rodriguez:

at Bernie's?

Jason Connell:

Yeah, that was almost a trilogy was a sequel? Well, hey, I saw the theater. It was a lot of fun.

Sal Rodriguez:

You know what Weekend at Bernie's went meta became a dance a few years ago, the Bernie it actually became a hot internet dance.

Jason Connell:

Now this movie I didn't see. So I didn't either. I didn't see it had Michael O'Keefe, Karen Allen, Peter Fonda. But hey, here comes came in his second credit, and it's got big cast. And so you know, he's a working screenwriter. And of course he's coming off the success of this and this leads to what Phil The Karate Kid. Oh, yes, he has written by credit. This launched it also directed by John G. Albertson, rest in peace, who also did Rocky and also rocky five and other movies and composed by Bill Conti, which also did Rocky. And the cast of course really was Pat. Marita was the heavy he went on to be nominated for an Oscar and then Ralph Maggio. And they were really the main stars in the Karate Kid.

Sal Rodriguez:

I just want to mention just for the record, I find it quite interesting. The teamwork of John G. Albertson and Robert Mark Kaman. Now, each of them, directed by Abelson written by Kaman. Each Karate Kid movie Karate Kid. Karate Kid two Karate Kid three. So I poked around, and there's actually not a lot of movies, aside from maybe the godfather. The Coppola Puzo team up yeah, there's not a lot of trilogies that have the same director writer on them. That's actually kind of rare.

Jason Connell:

I totally agree with you. I was gonna say that as we get further down the list of the filmography, please, you start doing sequels or trilogies? Quite often you see different directors or writers and you're absolutely right in the franchise moves on. So yeah, it's very good point. also throw in the mix Bill Conti, who have worked on the original Karate Kid, part two and part three. So put that in the mix. How many times do you have the director, writer and composer maybe never very reminiscent

Sal Rodriguez:

of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman, you know, you find somebody you can collaborate with. You have success, and you just keep trying to replicate that. But Tim Burton never made a trilogy? Well, no, but I mean, when I think of Timbo, yeah. And music, I think of Danny Elfman, right. And when I think of Danny Elfman, I think of timber.

Jason Connell:

So when I was researching this today, I found this nugget, which I love, and I just think in spite of not finding a Karate Kid book, which doesn't exist, I found this so the Karate Kid is actually semi autobiographically based on Cameron's life. When he was 17, he was beaten up by a gang of bullies. After the 1964 New York World's Fair. He thus began to study martial arts in order to defend himself. Now Cayman was unhappy with his first teacher Sensei, who taught martial arts as a tool for violence and revenge. Sal sounds familiar? Oh, yes, yes, he moved on to study Okinawan Goju karate under a teacher who did not speak English, but he had been a student of Cha Jun, Miyagi.

Sal Rodriguez:

You know, what's very amazing. I mean, as I was reading this today, and learning more about Mr. kamin, I'm telling you my jaw dropped because this is where you start to get into those. Holy cow. This is where the origins came believable. This is the folklore. So Robert Mark came in based crease on his first Sensei and Miyagi honest second Sensei,

Jason Connell:

and there's the name I mean, when he was probably trying to come up with a name. He thought, what Miyagi it's perfect. Yeah, he lived it. He was bullied. Then he was like, I'm gonna learn karate. They get that Charles Atlas book, remember that beef up and I'm gonna I'm not gonna be picked on and someone's gonna throw sand in my face. So he goes off and but he doesn't just get strong. He seeks out martial arts. What do you put that on his radar? What's out in the 60s that makes you think I'll do that? I mean it it'd be years before kung fu with David Carradine was on the air that came out in the 70s. So these are questions for came in himself. I don't know. I'm fascinated. So he goes off and finds a teacher and good for him for realizing it's not a good fit. You know, good for him.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah, yeah. The first guy was too extreme was all about violence. In fact, the way that he got his black belt was really weird because he earned his black belt under this first teacher, the crease type teacher, right. And the way that he gave his black belt is they went out and his teacher started a bar fight literally started a bar fight, and then left him know he made came and fight some guys like over a woman, a woman's attention. They got out to the parking lot. And he gives them his black belt in the parking lot after this bar fight. So very unorthodox, and definitely all about violence, and even starting, I mean, they started a fight. So you know, that's not Miyagi. Yes. That immersing? Oh, yeah. Because one of the mottos of Goju Ryu karate, is there is no strike first. Yeah. So then if that's their model, then the opposite of that the antithesis of that would be strike first. Hello, Cobra Kai.

Jason Connell:

I wish I knew the name of that dojo.

Sal Rodriguez:

That first one. Yeah, yeah, we don't have a name. We have the teacher's name you can research that there is the teacher's name that first guy apparently very six foot tall ex military guy.

Jason Connell:

There it was. It was all right there. Now the story goes on from there as a Hollywood screenwriter. So now you know this is in his youth and now he's writing scripts and came in was mentored by Frank price. Longtime Hollywood producer writer, who told him that producer Jerry Weintraub who I'm a huge fan of Sal read his autobiography Rest in peace, Mr. Weintraub, but an incredible producer. So he worked with the colonel and produced Elvis Presley concerts. He then worked with all blue eyes and put some events together for Frank Sinatra, and then produce movies like Ocean's 11. And of course, Jerry Weintraub was responsible for the Karate Kid trilogy. And he had optioned a news article about the young child of a single mother who earned a black belt to defend himself against neighborhood bullies. So I guess, you know, producers option things, you probably read this article and said, Yeah, I'll put an option that paid somebody a fee. So came in then combined his own life story, which we just talked about with this news article. I don't know if this is with or without wine shops permission, because it's unclear. But he used both of them, kind of put them together to create the screenplay for the Karate Kid.

Sal Rodriguez:

Very interesting that a news article was part of this also, because I'm always reminded not to reference the exercise again. But the exercise was originally a news article. Yeah, there was an article in the paper about a boy possessed. And they took that William Peter Blatty built on that. And now we have the exorcist. So similar concept, and you have a news article, and then you blend it with real life situations. And boom, there's a story that we all know and love.

Jason Connell:

So so here we go. Third movie, and this thing is a massive hit, as you know. And so filmmaking in general is difficult but to be a screenwriter. Well, here's somebody who's got taps is played in the theaters split image, I'm not sure the box office, and now you have a hit on your hands, which immediately is you know, this as we've talked about, Weintraub, they were already in production of the sequel. Only 10 days after the original was in the theater. So yeah, so Kanan was probably already writing to when they knew they had a hit with one. So you know, he has work and we're only two years into the career.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah, you know what I read some interviews with Cayman and he believes that he has had a great career he's not one of those guys who like the gist of Cayman was that he does believe that he kind of got lucky cuz he's had such a great career. He understands that it's not like that for everybody it's not like that for all struggling writers. He's had a good and he acknowledges that

Jason Connell:

Yeah Right Place Right Time absolutely is the right guy. This story was about to break America was probably we were ready for a younger Rocky is kind of what the Karate Kid is. But yet it also brought martial arts and the influence of that wonderful tradition and there it was, it was right there and the right guy with the right voice created the right characters had he had a different since he had he had the wonderful sensei first the one all about Zen and the Miyagi sensei first, who knows maybe he's not the writer that puts us into atmosphere for us all to enjoy. So of course, this leads to as we just said, The Karate Kid part two which comes out in 1986. He gets a written by credit as well and you start to see him get this other credit, which is characters created by now remember that because that's a theme. Sure. And the next movie will so there's a little bit of a gap, but maybe writing these bigger movies takes time. And then we have the credit card, part three now also written by characters created by of course, I've gone on record saying it's the weakest of the trilogy. But it's probably hard to top oneself because you and I both appreciate to it's very different than the original Karate Kid. But I don't know, I hate to say that everyone just took a pay day. I'm not sure what happened. But the magic was a lesson to some degree.

Sal Rodriguez:

I think when it comes to sequels, there's the pressure to try to outdo the previous one. Right? And I guess you could say, we're not always successful at doing so you know, you're, you do your best. You want to try to be bigger, better than the last, but it may not happen.

Jason Connell:

Yeah. And I think since two was such a diversion from the first one, three, they almost tried to dial it back and retell the first story in a different way with new villains. And there are some cool moments in it. But inevitably, it falls short. Now I appreciate some of the blemishes now but side by side now it's a very weak effort. It had credit card three been the first one well, there would not be a two and three and we wouldn't be a Cobra Kai show and all that stuff, right.

Sal Rodriguez:

never visited that Jason don't go there. Don't even go there.

Jason Connell:

Let's like Rocky five when Alison came back and did rocky five it was such a different thing. It doesn't really line up with the other ones. They don't even have a big fight. It's like a street brawl with Tommy Gun, Who's Tommy Morrison from Oklahoma shout out. I've actually seen him fight years ago. But it just wasn't the same thing. And then they made Rocky Balboa which fit the franchise much better. Anyway, so now we move forward. Okay, now we're into the Karate Kid animated series, ah, 13 episodes. 1989 He gets a character is created by credit BSL, he didn't write that crazy show.

Sal Rodriguez:

No, but you know what, when I saw this again today, I was thinking, oh, yeah, we got to watch this. And we still have not seen the Karate Kid animated series. And now I want to

Jason Connell:

Well, I watched part of the first episode on YouTube, and I'll just say that it's not good.

Sal Rodriguez:

Well, was it aimed at kids? Was it Yeah,

Jason Connell:

it's definitely aimed at kids and the character it's just a cartoon. And so take a look at YouTube. If you love that first episode, maybe I'll give it a second viewing.

Sal Rodriguez:

Okay, I'll tell you what I will have a look at the animated series is but something that's long overdue. Talk about things that are long overdue, you know, honoring Robert Mark Kaman talking about The Next Karate Kid and talking about the Karate Kid animated series, something that needs to be visited. Yeah, definitely. I'm gonna have a look at it.

Jason Connell:

Okay, so now we're into 1992, a movie called Gladiator. He got story, credit and screenplay credit, directed by rowdy Harrington, who also did Roadhouse fine film I might add, cast included James Marshall, a young Cooper Gooding Jr. and Brian Dennehy Rest in peace, always one of my favorites now, so I saw this movie and really enjoyed it. A great little boxing movie had an edge to it really, really good stuff.

Sal Rodriguez:

We're not to be confused with the Russell Crowe Gladiator.

Jason Connell:

Not the Russell Crowe movie that came out in 2001 Best Picture. This was a smaller movie had an edge, but it also shows you came in, you know, martial arts boxing, kind of a theme

Sal Rodriguez:

here. Yeah, I got to see that one. I haven't seen Gladiator. Now. I want to go down Mr. Cameron's entire body of work because you know what I bet you can see, you could probably see a lot of common themes. You could probably see little nuggets and some of his movies that you now know and love in Karate Kid and Cobra Kai. So there's probably lots of cool hidden things that we're going to see when we explore more of Caymans movies when you watch it.

Jason Connell:

Now if I was still working at Blockbuster, Sal and say it was still a thing. I would have came in section and all the movies would just be there for you to come over and grab

Sal Rodriguez:

Nice. Sounds good.

Jason Connell:

I love doing that. No, I

Sal Rodriguez:

liked that. That's fun. Of course.

Jason Connell:

I'm not gonna be working at Blockbuster now. But my youth it would have been cool. Well, you can

Sal Rodriguez:

stand by the red box and direct people. There you go. Hey, you guys

Jason Connell:

heard him gaming. So now we move on to the power of one also a 1992 Screenplay credit directed by John G. Ellison. Yes. Yeah. Cast included Stephen Dorff. Morgan Freeman. I actually saw this a long time ago. It's that the World War Two era and a young Stephen Dorff and he's a boxer again. fames and really good movie. I should probably revisit this. Okay, so next Lethal Weapon three. Also a 9092 Screenplay credit. So I'm a huge Lethal Weapon fan and Lethal Weapon one and two are definitely the bass but hey, three and four are fun, all directed by Richard Donner incredible director who did Superman and the Goonies incredible. Yeah, of course. It starred Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci. But I didn't even realize that until today that he did the third one.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah, that's interesting, because I only saw I think the first two Oh, and it's kind of out of the blue. I mean, if you look at his resume, you see Lethal Weapon three, almost out of the blue all of a sudden, yeah, because he this was the first time he was brought in, in one of the sequels. You know, like he kind of came in versus being there from the beginning.

Jason Connell:

Yeah, but hey, I mean, this guy's banging out hits. It's okay. Can we get Kaman think of all the jobs he turned down?

Sal Rodriguez:

Look at a lot of the movies made around that time and you'll probably exactly he probably was going to be attached at some point.

Jason Connell:

And then he has these First now again you're writing all the time and maybe you didn't write them all the same year or the year before but you have gladiator the power of one elite, the weapon three all come out the same year. So now we go two years ahead and sell. This is the stepchild to the franchise, the Karate Kid and that would be

Sal Rodriguez:

The Next Karate Kid. 1994

Jason Connell:

now he got the characters created by credit. So way to go Cayman, and it would have been better if he had he did not write the next credit kid. No, no, he did not. And nor was it directed by John G. Robinson. Instead, it was directed by Christopher Kane, who also did the young guns, which I actually liked that movie.

Sal Rodriguez:

I love all the intertwining. Yeah, with the actors and the directors. And when you look at a filmography, and you see all the roads intertwining and criss crossing, I love that.

Jason Connell:

It is it's amazing. And of course, this movie also had Pat Merida portraying one Mr. Miyagi as well as Hillary Swank. And again, there's a lot of talk of Hillary Swank potentially joining Cobra Kai, still love to see it. The show's famous for bringing characters in. And although this was not one of the creations I know, that came into getting characters created by but Hillary Swank was a new character in this particular film.

Sal Rodriguez:

And I read some news some gossip about Cobra Kai maybe having Hilary Swank on going toe to toe with Daniel son. Oh, that'd be interesting. That'd be very interesting.

Jason Connell:

We shall see. We shall see. So now we move on to now there's a lot of movies as we go through this list of some we're just going to quickly move through because I'm just less familiar. And we want to hit some of the higher notes. So lock in the clouds came out in 1995 Screenplay credit. I remember this movie being advertised sale. It was a Keanu Reeves movie. I never saw it. So yeah, not on my radar. Moving on a bigger movie in 1997, the fifth element, he had screenplay credit, but he also co wrote it with Luke Bisson. Now, this is his first collaboration with the very well known director who also directed the fifth element. But of course, he did movies like The professional, also known as Leon, I think abroad, and La Femme Nikita. And I've been a big fan of his Well, since I saw the professional and they would team up a lot. But this was the first collaboration.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah. And this began a long standing relationship that I think there's still colleagues and friends today.

Jason Connell:

Yeah. And what did you say before we started recording that came in says about the sun

Sal Rodriguez:

came in as quoted in interviews as calling Luke the sun, a genius. So if Kaman calls Bussan a genius, I believe

Jason Connell:

I do, too. Now, of course, the fifth element was a big movie big production, and it had Bruce Willis Mila Jovovich and Gary Oldman. Of course, Gary Oldman was in the professional, he's incredible. If you haven't seen the professional and even if you have watched it again, it's that good.

Sal Rodriguez:

Oh, yeah. Well, and also, Luke Bussan ended up marrying Mila Jovovich and they had a relationship for a while.

Jason Connell:

Well, I did not know that sound dropping out on me. I remember Mila from dazed and confused. This is the first time I saw her the Richard Linklater film. Then there was kiss of the Dragon 2001 Screenplay credit, again, co wrote with Luke the song, and this was based on a story by Jet Li The movie also starred gently. Then comes Sal, I would say, what would become his second trilogy?

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah. Well, they created a masterpiece with Luke besom and also put Jason Statham on the map.

Jason Connell:

Yes, and that would be the transporter 2002 came in had written by credit along with Luke Bisson, directed by not beside this time, co directed by Louis Leterrier and Corey, Ewan. And of course, as you just said, it stars one Jason Statham. And this was one of the big breakout roles for him. Right.

Sal Rodriguez:

So the fun story I read about today and found out about is that after working with Bruce Willis on the fifth element, and apparently Bruce Willis is notorious about being hard to work with. I've heard this Okay, so look this on and Robert Mark came and got together and said, quote, we need to create our own stars, and brought on Jason Statham and built Jason Statham to who we know today.

Jason Connell:

I never heard that. That's a wonderful story.

Sal Rodriguez:

It's a funny story. Absolutely. I never knew that about Bruce Willis honestly.

Jason Connell:

So I asked that because it feels like that was a big vehicle for Jason Statham. However, Sal, I remember him from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels that Guy Ritchie movie that came out in 1998. Now it was an ensembles piece and he wasn't one of the main guys but he was memorable. Yes, along with Vinnie Jones and a few others but then it was like I would see the posters for the transformer and like hey, he was in lock stock but now I mean he's a huge star and obviously continued so next came in would be part of TV series. Black sash shortly lived came out 2003 He had creator story writer credit don't know much more about it. But right after that 2005 It's time for transporter to another written by credit, a characters created by credit and also co written by Luke BISSELL. Exactly. Now they have already got Jason Statham he's back at it, of course. Well, then they brought the same director in, and that was Lewis, Latoya, but this time it was by himself. And just so you know something about that director, he would go on and do the Incredible Hulk, the one with Ed Norton. I know there's a lot of incredible hulk movies floating around, but that's the one that he did. And of course, besides Jason Statham, it started Amber Valetta who is kind of a big deal in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sal Rodriguez:

She's from Tulsa,

Jason Connell:

we were in high school the same time she went to you know, a different high school across town but yeah, she started to get like notice and pop up and things that was always a really big deal back home. So yeah, so you're right, so look a credit to their plan. Sal, they now have as far as came in in Busan, they have two hits transporter one transporter two, why not make it a trilogy Sal, but before we get there, there's a couple of other movies which we'll go over, but there was Bandidos 2006 also a co written with Busan directed by Joachim Ronning. And Espen Sandberg now The cast included Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Steve's on who I love, by the way, I never saw this movie. I remember it being advertised and didn't even realize it was a caiman in Busan. Production.

Sal Rodriguez:

You're telling me that I could see Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek on the same screen. Hello, I'm there. I never heard of this movie. I got to see it.

Jason Connell:

Well, next up was a movie I saw in the theater loved talked about and that was taken 2008

Sal Rodriguez:

This is one of those moments where my jaw dropped because I remember that famous line from taken by Liam Neeson. I have a particular set of skills. And I'm telling you, I'm getting goosebumps. Those lines were quite possibly coined by Robert Mark Kane, and really, I'm serious. I have goosebumps. I'm not lying to you.

Jason Connell:

Such a good movie. And yeah, I'm in a theater going, Oh my god. This is of course we're talking about the Liam Neeson movie also started Mikey grace and fam key Janssen. But I'm in the theater going. Lee Mason's a superhero are not a superhero, but like a hero, like oh my gosh, like he just turned a corner. And then we'll just continue to make movies where he's the lead in this kind of film, the gray and of course, there's a trilogy in the works as well as we're talking about, and many other movies. And of course, this was co written again with Kaman and Bisson. And this time they brought in a different director, Pierre Morel, who also did the gunman was Sean Penn. So this will be just worked on so many levels. Sal,

Sal Rodriguez:

this is absolutely true. Jason, this is I swear to you as God is my witness. Today as I'm reading about taken, I'm reading the script I'm reading those lines by Liam Neeson. I go onto Facebook. I crack a funny joke on a friend's page. What I think is funny. The friend comes at me with a Liam Neeson taken GIF. No, I'm telling you it was within like a two minute timeframe.

Jason Connell:

Oh my god.

Sal Rodriguez:

And I'm thinking holy cow, Robert Mark Heyman is meta as hell

Jason Connell:

he is so meta. Well, he's not done for 2008 Sal, because it's time for transporter three, written again, by came in and look the song. And of course, they get characters created by credit as well. Now this time, they brought in a different director. So they've gotten away from the terrier. And they bring in Olivia megaton love that name, by the way. Now, he would also do a couple more movies, but I'll save it. I don't want to get ahead of myself. And of course, the star Jason Statham again, and complete the trilogy. So I didn't even know they were involved with this. This was huge. So he made the credit kitna, that's a long time ago now at this point in time. 2008. And this is pre Cobra Kai. So now this is the biggest thing on his radar. Oh, and by the way he asked had taken the same year. So Cayman was just having an enormous amount of success. Well,

Sal Rodriguez:

I would definitely say that Cayman has the Midas touch. Yeah, he has luck on his side. I mean, talent is there. Obviously talent is there. But he's a lucky man.

Jason Connell:

Yeah, I want to work with Cayman on a trilogy. Oh, anything. So then two years later, out comes the remake of The Karate Kid 2010 story credit. That's it, no characters as well. So because it's kind of a reimagining of the Karate Kid. This one had Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson, and directed by Harold Zwart. He also did agent Cody banks now. I saw it Sal, I have not seen it since Cobra Kai has come out and there's you know, things are is different. I saw it right after it came out on DVD. And I thought, you know, I love Jackie Chan. He's great. And I liked that there in China. There is some takeaways that I should probably go back and revisit and you should probably see for the first time and Hey, we should probably cover it at some point, but came in didn't do it. He just got paid that story credit, whatever that's worth Sal.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah, I would be genuinely curious to know. And I love to whip out my inflation calculator and see how much he's getting in the name of residuals.

Jason Connell:

Yes. So then comes colombiana and 2011, written by came in CO written by Bussan. But directed by

Sal Rodriguez:

Olivia a mega ton. What a name Jason. What kind of name is that? Sounds like it'd be like a Superman villain or something.

Jason Connell:

Yeah, Olivier. Megatron is here. So they like work with the same people again, it makes things fun, especially if you had a good experience. Now this movie, I never heard of South stars. So a Zell Donna who's fantastic, but I don't know much about it. But it's another chance for them to team up. You know, they're just writing things and whatever they write seems to turn into gold. It gets made to have a big cast. And then in 2012, Sal taken two comes out written by based on characters created by that's kind of a new tag that all of a sudden their credit has grown that way that must be the new way writers are credited, I don't know. But that became the norm of the standard moving forward. And this is also co written by Luke Bissau and directed

Sal Rodriguez:

by Olivia megaton

Jason Connell:

so yeah, they're just printing money making movies of course the star Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, fam ki Jensen again. And I saw the sequel in the theater. They got my money.

Sal Rodriguez:

I'm guilty Jason. I've only seen taken I have not seen taken to or taken three. I've only been taken once. I haven't been taken two or three.

Jason Connell:

One is the best. This the plot was so great. But anyway, it was tons of fun. And now they go on and then there's a transporter the series nine episodes 2012 2014 And he gets it based on characters created by credit now, he had nothing to do with the show. Beyond that. I never even heard of the show, but it lasted two years. nine episodes.

Sal Rodriguez:

Had you seen it? I never heard of it. And I don't even know it was Jason Statham a part of no no okay, well never heard of it.

Jason Connell:

So then taken three comes out two years later 2014 written by based on characters created by CO written with Luke Bissau and directed by Olivia a mega ton. Of course it starred Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace and this time force Whitaker now I never saw taken three but now knowing Caymans involvement style, I will be seen taken three. But again, this is what happens. You're having fun studio likes to greenlight things. This director is working for us. I'm loving my time with Busan. And we're just creating those characters that we love. They made Liam Neeson a hero.

Sal Rodriguez:

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. An action star. I mean, because what before that? What do we have Love Actually, right?

Jason Connell:

Yeah, exactly. When he's been in lots of movies. Don't get me wrong. It was in the incredible Steven Spielberg film Schindler's List. He was in of course, Love Actually, like you just said, Michael Collins. Lots of movies, but he wasn't the action hero just yet. These guys did it. And it worked. So then the Transporter Refueled comes out in 2015. And he gets a character is created by credit with Luke Bussan. It was almost like a spin off of the movie. I never heard of it. And I'm not sure it went anywhere. But it was a pay day. Yep. And then came enter the Warriors gate 2016 written by and of course co wrote with loop. Bussan hadn't heard of that one either. No. Never heard of that. It sounds like an old Bruce Lee movie or something.

Sal Rodriguez:

It does. I love going on these deep dives. Because so much comes into your vision you never saw before. He never heard of it before. Now there's all this new stuff that came in is affiliated with that I got to see.

Jason Connell:

Exactly Now this I did look up the trailer and it's very martial arts driven film looks pretty cool. The visuals. He wrote it. I don't know much more about it. But yeah, exactly. It's all the more reason to do a deep dive when you're scrolling through Netflix or Amazon Prime and trying to decide what to watch. You have this hitlist and of course then this leads to taken the TV series out 26 episodes 2017 to 2018 he had based on characters created by credit now this was not Liam Neeson. This was a TV show and it started Clive standing. Jennifer Beals from Flashdance and Adam Goldberg, who I also really like was also an Dazed and Confused never heard of this owl but it lasted two years taken TV series you

Sal Rodriguez:

know never heard of this TV series. No, not at all. Then this leads

Jason Connell:

to a bigger movie. Angel has fallen 2019 Screenplay by Directed by Ric Roman Wah also the shot caller which I really liked. And this dark Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman and it was about someone trying to assassinate The President which was played by Freeman, which was the first time I believe he's played the President in the movie, but this is a big movie sale. And hey, if you get Kailyn on board maybe it was a hit now I didn't see it but have you seen it?

Sal Rodriguez:

Well, first of all, I love Gerard Butler from Phantom of the Opera you know, he wasn't a trained singer but he really did a great job in The Phantom of the Opera movie. But as far as angel has fallen this is part of that series The has fallen series that began with Olympus Has Fallen I believe, and unfortunately no I have not seen any of them.

Jason Connell:

So so I didn't realize that angel has fallen was part of the Olympus Has Fallen London Has Fallen franchise so again, much like Lethal Weapon three came in kind of joined a pre existing franchise.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah, because Robert Mark came and we learn is what I would call a writers writer, because you will not only write his own scripts and credited for his own scripts, but he will come in as what I like to call cleanup crew. He'll come in and tighten up other scripts script doctor. Yes, exactly. He'll revise people's scripts, sometimes uncredited. So here's what definitely what I would call a writers writer.

Jason Connell:

Yeah, so anyway, I haven't seen it. I maybe should watch some of the house Fallens I just have not been on my radar. But perhaps this one then went in 2019. I would give a watch. So of course now this brings us all the way full circle to Cobra Kai TV series back home, back home 30 episodes and running 2018 through 2021. And still going let's hope that Cayman gets based on characters created by credit. And let's give the creators of Cobra Kai. Their credit as well. Go ahead.

Sal Rodriguez:

Josh Heald, John Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg

Jason Connell:

kudos fellas kudos, indeed. Now what they didn't do salaries. They didn't try to get as far as we know, our didn't get came in to come on board. You know, it's probably hard to kind of come back and they were bringing new life and vision into it. But hey, we would not be here without the great work of Robert Mark came in. And it does come full circle and sow as we said on a recent episode, many spin offs are floating out there. So Caymans work could reach even further.

Sal Rodriguez:

Well, I read an interview with Cayman and he gives lots of props to healed her wits and Schlosberg. Oh, sure. He marvels at what they've done. Yeah, with his story, all the takes and turns they've gotten with it. He is impressed. Yeah.

Jason Connell:

Why wouldn't he be they make great decisions. They honor the original. And they're not off making The Next Karate Kid. So yeah, if I'm caveman I'm like, these guys are in good hands. And he just sits back and does sees them live on. So amazing. I'd love to hear that. I definitely read some things as well. And I know that he hopes this happens with other franchises of his, you know, like, Hey, can that next taken TV series, like hit their stride and go for many, many seasons or the next transporter TV series. But I have no idea what Kevin's doing now. As far as movies and writing. I know he's in his early 70s. Obviously, he's not doing it for the money. But what an incredible filmography, even if he does nothing else, how people would die to have just a fraction of these credits.

Sal Rodriguez:

You know, I know the name because of the Karate Kid. But I did not know the extensiveness of his resume. I didn't know how far reaching his talents have gone. I had no idea until just today.

Jason Connell:

Yeah, that's amazing. And so I'd like to hit a few trivia points if I could just because I came across them in my findings. And you might have some as well I take it you have a big secret guy learn

Sal Rodriguez:

something today, which absolutely floored me, and I hope it floors you and I hope floors, our listeners because I'm telling you, I was beside myself when I learned this today.

Jason Connell:

Alright, so small trivia not very much. Now. Robert Mark came and used his daughter Alexandra's nickname Ali, for the role of Elizabeth shoe and the Karate Kid.

Sal Rodriguez:

Nice. So Alessandra gets to live today saying that a character in The Karate Kid and now Cobra Kai, named after her very neat. Yeah.

Jason Connell:

Ferrini and a great name. Always loved it. very memorable. And yeah, so that's where that came from. Now also, there was a couple of credits that we didn't mention, because a lot of times it happens in Hollywood sell your uncredited for something sure, like either someone was in something or quite often writers don't get credit, which is just ridiculous. So came and rewrote the Punisher 1989 The Dolph Lundgren film, it was also Caymans feature producing debut, but he would not do that again and he was uncredited for that for whatever reason. Sometimes there's a contract with the original writer you bring in somebody but they don't get credit. I still don't understand And that sound but it happens to this day.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah. Well, it seems when you follow his career, Mr. kamin is interested in writing and that's about it. He doesn't seem like he's trying to direct it doesn't seem like he's trying to produce much. He is a writer and he wants to write,

Jason Connell:

and the next actually heard about this quite often, so he helped write the screenplay for the Devil's Own the 1997 film starring Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford. But due to numerous disagreements and rewrites, he did not receive a screenwriting credit. So in a Newsweek article, Brad Pitt stood by caimans original screenplay. And so I read and heard a lot about this. I was actually working at a movie theater at the time that the devil zone came out and saw it and thought, yeah, it's just a little misguided, kind of clunky. But there was much contention on the set. Brad Pitt wanted at one way Harrison Ford wanted another way. I had no idea that came in was behind all of that.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yep. I never even heard of the movie. But I. I'd love to see it, though. I mean, it sounds great. Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, written by Cayman. I'm on board. I want to see it.

Jason Connell:

Well, had they done Caymans screenplay, it would have been much better. Yeah, the last one I had before you get into your mic drop in 1980 after being paid $135,000 for his first screenplay, which was never produced what you kind of hinted at earlier, came in use the cheque to buy 280 acres of rocky land on Mount Veeder in Sonoma County, California. Today, his Cayman estates wines vineyard produces limited quantities of high quality, Cabernet seven young and serraj wines. He

Sal Rodriguez:

is living the life Robert Mark Heyman is living on a vineyard writing. I mean, he's living the life. He's like Coppola. Yeah, Coppola making wine too. Exactly. Yeah.

Jason Connell:

So what's your big job? Okay,

Sal Rodriguez:

so what I learned today, and I read this in two different interviews, because the first time I read it, I thought, No way. The second time I read it, I thought, I guess this is legitimate. Straight out of Robert mark. Caymans mouth, only delayed by COVID. There is a Karate Kid musical set to be a Broadway production. Yes, indeed, folks. The Karate Kid on Broadway coming soon. Oh, my God.

Jason Connell:

Is he involved with it? He wrote it. Oh, my goodness. I cannot lie.

Sal Rodriguez:

I'm telling you. I almost fell out of my chair when I read this. First of all, I love musicals. As I referenced. Gerard Butler in The Phantom of the Opera. The Karate Kid musical. I cannot believe this. I can. No I'm not.

Jason Connell:

That's gonna be incredible. I can't wait to see who they cast.

Sal Rodriguez:

It's amazing. I can't wait to see it. So yeah, COVID got in the way. It would probably be on Broadway as we speak. But yeah, it's coming. Folks. Get ready. The Karate Kid musical. I'm telling you, you can research this. Don't take our word for it. Look it up yourself. Robert Mark Heyman is quoted as saying Karate Kid musical on Broadway coming soon.

Jason Connell:

So that really begs the question south because after Cobra Kai has come out and we've seen a new Gianni emerge and also we look at the past very differently. Well, this musical take the original film's storyline and you know, Daniel was picked on and bullied and Johnny is the bad guy, or will it be a hybrid or I'm really anxious to see how they take it.

Sal Rodriguez:

I'm going to assume it's just going to be the original Karate Kid movie adapted for a musical I'm not expecting the storyline to be different. I don't think he's going to flip the script necessarily for the original movie. I think he's going to hold true to that. So we're gonna see Daniel singing. We're going to be seen Miyagi singing Auggie Holy Cow like I'm telling you, I cannot wait and Jason the first time I hear about this the first press release I see. I'm letting you know. Yeah, we're gonna

Jason Connell:

cover that for sure. You know if it's a success and it seems like it would be maybe they'll do part two and then we could bring in Sato.

Sal Rodriguez:

I love doing Sato. Miyagi, come out. Oh, well.

Jason Connell:

Anyway, this has been so much fun to do a deep dive on the very talented, prolific screenwriter Robert Mark came in learn some things today that I didn't know already. I have more on my hit list of things to watch. And now you have really set the stage for the next thing I'm looking for from Mr. kamin is this musical so? And if he's involved in You said he wrote it, it's sure to be a success.

Sal Rodriguez:

I can't wait. And in the meantime, I will be on the lookout for Cayman vineyards. I got to try his wine now. Yeah, I

Jason Connell:

think you and I should definitely try his wine.

Sal Rodriguez:

Jason If Lady Luck is on our side. We will have Robert Mark Cayman on as a special guest on Let's Talk Cobra Kai,

Jason Connell:

as you said on a previous episode from your lips to God's ears, so I can't tell if this comes true.

Sal Rodriguez:

No, I'm telling you. I mean, I can't believe just now. I'm becoming a bigger Cayman fan. Just today,

Jason Connell:

it doesn't even seem possible, but it is.

Sal Rodriguez:

Yeah, I'm telling you I learned so much, especially the musical. His involvement with taken I had no idea. I just hadn't researched. You know, unfortunately writers are taken for granted. It's not like TV. You know, in TV. It's all about the writers in the movies. It's all about the directors. So unfortunately, even though we love Elvis, and we kind of gave him a front of the line pass over Cayman, we will visit Allison, I believe at some point in his career and his legacy. Yes, but No, very excited to be here today talking about Robert Mark came in my pleasure. Absolutely. So go watch taps. That's your homework. I will see taps I do want to see that. So thank you so much for listening and please be sure to subscribe to Let's Talk Cobra Kai, wherever you get your podcast. You can also really help us by giving the show a five star rating on Apple podcast. And for all your listeners that enjoy sharing your thoughts. You can leave us a review on Apple podcasts, send us a direct message or post a comment on our social media which is at let's talk Cobra Kai, as well as at just curious media. If you're

Jason Connell:

a dedicated listener of Let's Talk Cobra Kai, consider supporting the show on Patreon. This greatly benefits us on many fronts and offers you access to exclusive content and much more. We also highly recommend checking out our other podcast and visiting just curious media.com

Sal Rodriguez:

No Mercy

Podcasts we love