In an industry saturated with action flicks dependent on repetitive tropes, veteran stunt coordinator Mark Hicks’ maverick production outfit Stunt Supreme definitely bucks convention. Founded on principles of diversity, emotional truth and exhilarating choreography, the company creates high-octane crowd pleasers minus stereotypes.
For Hicks, the genesis of Stunt Supreme came from frustration. Having long witnessed the discrimination minorities faced in Hollywood firsthand, he despaired at action films that failed to showcase characters of all backgrounds respectfully. Vowing to shift the narrative, he launched his own shop – one that would let him “represent all people in all lights. Positive and negative because that is what the world is.”
This guiding mandate has defined Stunt Supreme’s output. On screen, their films showcase a mosaic of complex personalities across ethnicity, age and gender. Behind the scenes, Hicks intentionally assembles hungry crews almost as diverse as on-camera talent, creating an environment of inclusivity from top to bottom.
But more than just fulfilling quotas, Stunt Supreme puts crafting emotionally truthful characters first. Against bone-crunching fight sequences and death-defying practical stunts, leads confront harsh realities – navigating moral quagmires rather than personifying outdated tropes like the socially sanctioned antihero.
Recurrent themes of redemption and compassion emerge as violent men find spiritual awakening, while women assume roles equal to their male counterparts both physically and in narrative importance. All the while retaining crowd-pleasing flair.
If this makes Stunt Supreme’s films sound more high-minded than escapist, make no mistake – pulse-pounding spectacle remains the draw. Hicks oversees intricate, extended action setpieces unmatched in their lifelike brutality. His genre pedigree encompasses everything from gritty, R-rated crime thrillers to fantastical family-friendly superhero sagas; through it all, Stunt Supreme retains a singular flair blending athleticism and emotional resonance.
Critics agree, heaping praise on the production house’s ability to balance blockbuster thrills with social conscience. But the road to getting recognition has been long and fraught for the independent company. Like all dream-fueled passion projects, scrounging financing posed early stumbling blocks. For over 20 years, Hicks has subsisted in true guerrilla-filmmaking fashion – funneling profits from previous micro-budget successes back into his dream projects; taking personal loans and second mortgages to see a vision through.
But the incredible films speak for themselves. And now with several beloved cult hits under Stunt Supreme’s belt, momentum builds. Mainstream eyes turn toward what this renegade outfit achieving so much with so little might create with proper backing.
Their latest production “Retribution for Cory” represents their most ambitious foray yet. Hicks directs and stars alongside Phylicia Lloyd in this brooding meditation on guilt, revenge and salvation. Jaw-dropping fight choreography drives the story toward a cathartic finale. Early footage left even impartial critics awestruck by its potential.
Yet for all the increasing plaudits, Hicks’ quest to secure distribution deals for “Cory” at major studios continues. He battles persistent industry biases that niche action flicks – particularly led by minority casts – lack commercial prospects. But underestimating Stunt Supreme’s offerings has proven a mistake before. Where skeptics scoff, Hicks channels that doubt into motivation to prove naysayers wrong yet again.
Because if the company’s early days struggling in obscurity taught him anything, it’s that vision paired with an indomitable do-or-die spirit sustains you until the world takes notice. Thankfully audiences have gradually woken up to Stunt Supreme’s trademark cocktail of propulsive plots, social conscience and show-stopping spectacle. The only question now is how much longer industry gatekeepers cling to outdated norms before embracing a production house anchored in themes of unity and courage regardless of race, gender or creed. A mantra that resonates widely in our fractured modern landscape.
Indeed, Stunt Supreme’s catalog already demonstrates proven mass appeal hiding in plain sight. So while “Retribution for Cory ” may yet face theatrical roadblocks, expect it’s only a matter of time before their stories reach the world stage. Because the production house’s renegade ethos won’t rest until shattering prejudice with films proving that old maxim true: open hearts and minds will always triumph over division in the end.
Published by: Martin De Juan
