Actor, martial artist, and stuntman Marko Zaror chatted about his new film “Fist of the Condor” and playing the villain in “John Wick: Chapter 4.”‘
‘Fist of the Condor’
The synopsis is: Upon the empire’s fall to invading conquistadors, the 16th-century Incas quickly concealed a sacred manual containing the secrets behind their deadly fighting technique.
After centuries of careful safeguarding, the manual is again at risk of falling into the wrong hands, leaving its rightful guardian to battle the world’s greatest assassins to protect the ancient secrets within.
Zaror plays the role of Guerrero in the film. “What I love about ‘Fist of the Condor’ is that it’s a very personal project and I am able to play both sides of myself: the introverted and extroverted sides,” he said.
“This gives me the opportunity to experiment with two personalities and put them on the screen and that was the most fun,” he added.
“I hope people have the opportunity to see this film and to enjoy it,” he said. “I hope ‘Fist of the Condor’ will spark good conversations with the audience.”
Director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza
He noted that this marked his fifth time working with director and screenwriter Ernesto Diaz Espinoza. “This is a very special movie for us because it came at a moment when we thought it was going to be our last movie together due to the quarantine,” he said.
“We wanted to do something very personal, and this was our love letter to the genre of martial arts. We wanted to tell a story that could feel like a classic of the genre but with our culture. We wanted to tell our story of the genre,” he added.
Gina Aguad and Eyal Meyer
Zaror had great words about working with his co-stars Eyal Meyer and Gina Aguad. “Gina is actually my mother, and she is a martial artist. For me, it was amazing to work with her, and she always wanted to be an actress, so for me, it was a son’s dream to give her the opportunity to do what she loves to do,” he revealed.
“Also, Eyal is a very talented guy. He is a dramatic actor and a martial artist. I was lucky to find Eyal, he is an incredible martial artist, and he has a very particular style of fighting that brought something very fresh and different to the movie,” he added.
Motivations
On his daily motivations, Zaror said, “To keep on learning and growing. I never want to stop being the student in life. I love that.”
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’
On being a part of “John Wick: Chapter 4,” where he played the nefarious Chidi, he said, “That was an amazing experience. It allowed me to work with such talented people. Keanu Reeves is such an inspiration, he is such a nice guy, and simply the best. Keanu is so giving and he cares about you and everyone on his set. The director, Chad [Stahelski], is a martial artist too and I felt his passion for the genre. Watching Keanu and Chad work together was really inspiring.”
“My character in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is totally different. It’s fun to play the villain, and I like that,” he said. “I wasn’t the typical villain, they allowed me to experiment with the character, and I brought life to Chidi. The character had some sarcasm and irony, and they let me bring the Latino flavor to it. I was able to make Chidi my own and that was very cool.”
The digital age
On being an artist and a martial artist in the digital age, Zaror said, “I think it’s great because there is much more content and a lot more opportunities. Now, there is a streaming service for the martial arts genre, and our film will be on Hi-YAH!”
“I also love the experience of a theater because movies should be a shared experience,” he said.
Natalie Burn
He also praised actress and stunt performer Natalie Burn for being extremely gifted. “Natalie is so talented, and she even has a ballet background. I was very impressed with her talent. We hope to do a movie in the summer with the same team of ‘Fist of the Condor’,” he said.
Career-defining moments
On his career-defining moments, Zaror shared, “The moments of the ‘red apple’ have helped define me. Those moments in life really shaped me. I received big, nice offers that sounded convenient but they would threaten my path.”
“Luckily, I was able to listen to my intuition and my gut instead of my head, and I always continued on the right path such as the decision of leaving Chile and Mexico.”
Advice for hopefuls
For young and aspiring actors, Zaror said, “Listen to your intuition and just do it. Don’t wait for the perfect scenario. Express yourself in any way you can. Grab a camera or a cell phone, where you can do a short and put it out there. We are defined by our actions not our words. We are co-creators of our future. Dream, do, and also create.”
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Zaror said, “Gratitude.”
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, Zaror remarked, “Spending time doing things that you love to do, and having the ability to do that.”
To learn more about actor, stuntman, and martial artist Marko Zaror, follow him on Instagram.
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