Gareth Evans shares Life of Action II
The Raid, Apostle and Gangs of London helmer Gareth Evans took to social media to share his copy of Life of Action II. He gives a great, career-spanning interview in the new book, available now.
From Life of Action II…
Born and raised in Hirwaun, Cynon Valley in Wales, Evans discovered a passion for film at a young age and developed a true appreciation for cinema. Watching early Jackie Chan favourites like Police Story and Armour of God, the seeds were already sewn to one day write and direct his own martial arts calling card, The Raid.
Writing scripts as part of his studies, he graduated from the University of Glamorgan with a BSc in Media and Technology and an MA in Screenwriting. Then, taking a break from regular work, he embarked on his self-financed debut film, Footsteps, which re-sparked his determination to make movies.
With family ties to Indonesia, he was hired to direct a local documentary on the martial art of silat, a career move which launched his fascination with Indonesian martial arts and culture. During the documentary, he immersed himself in local customs and traditions which in turn inspired the next big step in his career. Significantly, he spotted a local martial arts practitioner named Iko Uwais who would become a star through Evans’ subsequent work.
Launching the idea for a traditional martial arts movie with a local flavour, he honed his filmmaking skills on Merantau, his first Indonesian movie, which teased audiences on what was to follow. Next, he would, in no small way, change the face of action cinema with his game-changing hit, The Raid. Unravelling a visceral, intense story of survival against the odds, this film grabbed the attention of both die-hard fans and critics through complex – yet clean and aesthetic – crowd-pleasing action and taut, cinematic storytelling. In The Raid 2, he expanded this universe even further into a sprawling gangster epic with greater scale, new characters and even more wince-inducing action.
Flipping the script once again, Gareth returned to the UK to write and direct Netflix horror/thriller Apostle, his first home-grown film since his debut, once again drawing on an eclectic taste in cinema. He also embarked on his debut TV series, Gangs of London, while still keen to explore new genres and working territories.
Throughout his work, it’s clear that Evans’ tastes and ambitions are many, indicating in the best possible way that there is a great deal more to follow. Adding to his cinematic storytelling, world class action and meticulous approach to choreography, he has also helped establish Indonesian film on a global level, introducing audiences to a culture and tradition rarely seen on screen.