THE CHALLENGER 6: BORN TO KILL - June to September 2014

        After "The Challenger 5", we felt that if we were going to do another one we really had to go back to our roots.  In the "Dark Triad" we felt that we had to end in a way where we didn't need to comeback. That film was supposed to be our series finale and with that came the responsibility of having big action scenes that are engaging to an audience that will make them stay until the end. We did that, but we did it in a way where it was a tad out there and unrealistic. We were content on continuing with that root with a "Lawman" spinoff. The script was ready and set to be filmed when one of our lead actors dropped out and with that the script was re-written and ultimately cancelled. After the way the "Dark Triad" ended we felt that instead of doing a spinoff we should comeback with another "Challenger' film. We wanted this to be different from the last one so we went through several different scripts until we came up with "Born to Kill." This story is going back to our roots in a good and different way. Our goal was to bring back the cinematography of the forest scenes from 'The Challenger 2:Unlimited' with the character story elements that we used for "The Challenger 3: Urban Outlaw" & "The Challenger 4: Urban Legend," along with the realistic fights from "The Challenger 4."  We also didn't want to have the same villains from the last 4 films and with two of them being killed off, we had the opportunity to explore never before seen villains.

     We came up with a character named Damien Black. Black (like 'Sledge') is out for revenge for the death of the people he loved. 'The Challenger' killed his family and he wants him dead. This is bad karma for "The Challenger" as he experienced what it was like to loose the people he loved through his endless war with Lucas Wolf.  But the difference from Sledge's story to Blacks story is that Sledge's family was innocent, Blacks family was not. Black is the main antagonist in this film although he is not much of a villain as he just wants justice for his family. The man who portrayed Mr.Black is Justin Paul Moses. Believe it or not, he is not the first to play this character. Like several others of the cast members, we had another guy (who will remain nameless) who originally was casted for this role. He filmed several scenes with us and then dropped out to join a movie production. So we recasted and Justin landed the role and things worked out for the better. Justin is a fight coordinator so he really helped with the realism in the fights and it benefited the film in a big way.

        Holly Rawls, an assassin working alongside the criminal enterprise that created the 'Dark Triad' is a character in the film which is more of an introduction role. She has a few scenes that really start to show the way she rebels against the boss and really makes you wonder about what is to come... Holly was originally casted and we were forced to recast as the actress had some off-set problems and so we casted the amazing Cynthia Stone. She brought a lot to the table and really took the character in a different direction than the way we wrote it which really worked out for the better. Next on the list was the new don of the Ricci family and his name was Giovanni. Adam Bossio portrays this character, but funny enough he was originally casted as the leader of the drug cartel who's name is Mendez. But after plans with the original Giovanni fell a part we switched Adams role and once again it worked out perfect.  He played Ricci in a way where it was a
mixture of the guys from the movie "Goodfella's" and Pauli from "The Sopranos." He took the role into a more Italian direction which was a change from the way Antonio Ricci JR was played and thats a good thing. If everyone were to act the same it would be boring, but when your surprised it really works out.

      Mendez, the leader of the drug cartel in Mexico was played by Ben Passmore and he did a great job. It was the smallest role of the film, but the way he played it made it a memorable role. Aryn Sky, leader of the Irish mob was supposed to be played by Agata Waclawska, but due to a personal matter she couldn't make it to set and her role was cut, but her character will be introduced in the next film (2015).  Another new cast member is Cassandra Potenza as the new Brooklyn. Liia Kajak (2nd brooklyn) portrayed this role for films "4" & "5", but due to scheduling she couldn't return and we were forced to recast. Cassandra had a new
approach to the character which really worked well for those flashback scenes and they're definitely something to remember. As for returning cast members we have Angelo Di Pardo returning as Provenzano.  Provenzano is the leader of crime and he has been teased since the very beginning and now he has his chance to shine. What is unique about this antagonist is that "The Challenger" doesn't know he exists, which makes him a hard man to track.

           Another character who is getting more screen time is Barbara played by Mikayla Pacitto. Barbara is a corrupt cop from the LAPD who's job was to keep watch on Sledge, but since he quit she works closely with Provenzano.  Darius Ban returned as Lucas Wolf but since he met his demise in the last film he was in
the flashbacks. So for the first time since the third film we were able to continue the Iraq story which really adds to the series. Dino Mazza returns as Ricci in the first scene of the film which is a continuation of the cliff hanger from film 5. Will Ricci survive? Find out next month...As for the main original cast, Mike Covello will make a cameo as Mora, Rick Sledge battles to stay alive against the criminal empire and Gunnerson battles his demons in the shape of the bottle as he tries to track down 'The Challenger.'

This film will premier on November 1st and its more like a prelude for what is to come in January 2015.

- Andrew Di Pardo

The Challenger 5: Dark Triad - FULL FILM

THE CHALLENGER 5: DARK TRIAD - November 2013 to July 2014

      November 2013... A project was already in production (Innocent Gun) and two more were being thrown into the mix, The Challenger 4 & The Challenger 5. We were going to film all the interiors for both of those films simultaneously, since it was winter outside and we couldn't make it look like LA.  Before filming began, we cut the first 7 pages of the script right out!  Aramis and I looked at these scenes and realized there was no real purpose to it, other than its an action scene. It was going to take up a lot of screen time and it would have made the film a movie, something we didn't want to do yet. So with that cut, we filmed the first scene of the film where Rick Sledge (Aramis Pacitto) approaches captain Mora (Mike Covello) and quits the LAPD because theres something he has to fight crime. Of course he didn't tell Mora this, because Mora wants The Challenger in cuffs and saying that would do just that. During that same day we filmed another scene where Mr. Blacks (Villain that has never been on screen yet) thug kidnaps Mora. Next step was back to the past in December where we filmed Liia Kajak's cameo as Brookyln Astor. The scene takes place in 2002 right before Sledge joins the army. That was it for the 2013 filming...

         January 2014, production resumed with a scene featuring Ricci (Dino Mazza) giving a speech to Mora that reveals secrets that the captain was unaware of. We also had Sledge & Gunnerson on set that day and we filmed a death scene. Which of the three hero's fell you ask? You'll have to wait until September 6 to find out. The rest of January we were filming "The Challenger 4: Urban Legend." Then in February, we were back on set with Lucas Wolf (Darius Ban). It was a really good scene, The Challenger pays him a visit in his cell and says one of his most iconic lines of the film... " Whats more deadly? The Gun or the thought?"  Onto March... On the 11th of the month, new cameraman Matthew Johnson came to the set and filmed the final battle between, Lawman (me), Wolf, The Challenger & Walker (Chika Mafiana). It was a great scene, two fights going on at the same time... Plus an emotional death.

        Towards the end of the month, we filmed another scene in the cellar. A fight that is featured in the trailer between Wolf, Walker and The Challenger. It's in my opinion the best fight of the film. Then in April, we returned to the "Ricci Lair" for the first time since "The Challenger 3:Urban Outlaw."  We filmed all the scenes with the Dark Triad in one day, featuring their agreement to make form the unit and their inner conflicts. We also filmed a scene where the Lawman (AKA Gunnerson) and The Challenger go after Ricci to get some info... Sorry no more details can be reveled about that scene. On that day we also filmed a scene that I refer to as Provenzano's (Angelo Di Pardo) return to power... We would go back to the lair one more day to film Ricci's final scene of the film.

        On June 8 we returned to the cellar where Rick Sledge, trains Gunnerson for combat. The scene features target shooting and pull-ups. Aramis and I worked out for a few months to get into shape for this scene. Aramis got to the size he wanted and he told me how to get to the size I needed for the scene. Another scene we filmed later that month was a fight between Wolf and The Challenger in the woods. It was a great fight scene and one of the best of the film. In July we wrapped filming with a few scenes with the 1973 Dodge Charger. We have night driving power-slides and day driving. That was one of the things "The Challenger 4" was missing and that was the car driving. The car driving plus the character growth of the villains and the heros plus the amazing fight scenes is why this film is a must watch. You can't miss it, its our best film yet and it will be released on September 6. This has been marketed as the series finale... But lets just say it's not a series finale, its a season finale.

     - Andrew Di Pardo

THE CHALLENGER 4: URBAN LEGEND - November 2013 to June 2014

         In November of 2013, during the "Innocent Gun" filming sessions, Aramis Pacitto and I had finished writing "The Challenger 4" & "The Challenger 5" scripts early. So we decided that before snow falls , that we should begin filming early. We originally planned to begin filming in January with interiors for both "the Challenger 4" & 5, but with winter starting late we figured, why not knock out a scene early. The first scene we filmed was in mid-November with a new member of the cast, Liia Kajak who portrays Rick Sledge's dead girlfriend, Brooklyn.  Brooklyn was last seen on screen in "The Challenger 2: Unlimited" and was played by a different actress, Madeline. We were unable to bring the original actress back so we recasted her. Liia Kajak got the role and was given a bigger part than Madelin had in film 2, as we witness Brooklyn on a date with Rick Sledge years before he became "The Challenger." Theres two flashback scenes with these two that ultimately leads to Sledge's proposal. You may not realize this by watching the scenes, but it was a cold day in Toronto, minus 10 or 12 that night and it was a tough shoot because of the weather conditions, but we got through it. That was the first and last exterior we did until winter ended.

             The next scene we filmed was on December 2nd 2013 with Mike Covello (Captain Mora). We filmed all his scenes that day for both films, 4 & 5. The scene we filmed for 4, was the part of the film where Mora tells Sledge that the man that killed his father, girlfriend and partner is back. It was an easier shoot than usual with Captain Mora, as both Mike & Aramis brought their A game. After that day we took 25 days off to continue filming "innocent Gun." Then on December 27th, we were back on set in "The Challenger's Cellar" to film a fight scene between Lucas Wolf (Darius Ban) and Sledge. It was their first fight scene of Urban Legend to be filmed and it was a great one. That scene there was shot way better than any fight scene we've done and that includes all of our films ( The Challenger 1-3, Man of War, Life Is Hell & Innocent Gun). The fight looked real and some parts were as Aramis Pacitto went home that day with a bruise on his right cheek. I also made my return as Gunnerson that day in scene that followed the fight scene. Two d

ays later, we were back in the mansion which we classify as "our studio," to film a scene where Lucas Wolf tells the city of LA whos boss. That house that we film in is about 85% of where our interior scenes for "The Challenger" is shot. It has all the sets from The cellar, Wolfs hideout, Prison cell, workout/target area and many more.

       On December 29, we also filmed the final scene of the film where Wolf is being held "off the books" by "The Challenger." The scene would later be re-shot because it was too "Challenger One like." That tells you what we think of our first "Challenger" film. That was the final scene we filmed of 2013. Then on January 13th of 2014, Dino Mazza and Chika Mafiana made their returns to our "Web Series" for their two cameo appearances of the film. For that scene, we brought back the famous "coming out of the shadows" sequence where Walker (who's inside Ricci's cell) appears to give Ricci a heads up about the Lawman and Wolf. We also filmed a part of the final sequence that sets up "The Dark Triad film (which premiers on September 6)." On January 11, Alex Stacey (played a thug in "Innocent Gun") made his first and final debut in "the Challenger" series. He played a tech guy named Quan. The first part we filmed with him was the scene where me, the Lawman AKA Gunnersons pays Quan a visit seeking help at gunpoint.On January 18, we brought in another new cast member to Portray a new character by the name of Detective Savannah. Kendall ( Known for "Innocent Gun") took on the role. That scene is a set up scene for what is to come in "The Challenger 5: dark Triad." Towards the end of January, we filmed the Lawman fight along with the final fight of the film.

            The Lawman fight was the first fight scene that I've taken place in, in these "Challenger" films. My character pretty much stood no chance vs Lucas Wolf as the fight lasted 30 seconds. We had a new cameraman for that scene, Dominic Licorish. Dominic brought some good cinematography to the fold and he used it for both the Lawmna fight and the final fight. The final fight between Sledge and wolf was good and fast fight scene that was filmed in sequence. Aramis and Darius were very persistent on doing as many takes as possible. They had to do the same thing over and over for 20 takes, something Aramis regretted the next day when he became sore.  On February 1st we filmed the opening scene and at the midway point of the

month we filmed Angelo Di Pardo's return as Provenzano (the man behind the curtain of the crime in LA, in other words, the Ring lord). That was it for the interiors, next was onto the exteriors in April. We filmed the first and last scene with the 1973 Dodge Charger. The scene was well shot by Aramis and the tripod that he put the camera on. The other highlights of the film process was when I had to punch a thug (Matthew Quan Yin), making my return as Mr. V (for the first time since the first film) and a scene thats too good to describe, Marc Sameuls as the Barracuda and James dinella as Blake.

           With filming done, all that was needed to be sorted out was a few issues in the editing room. Aramis added some new effects, gun shots and cinema bars. But the issues were with the Brooklyn flashbacks. Some of the lines  that were in the scenes were cheesy, so I helped cut them out without making it noticeable. Another problem with those scenes was the visual aspect. It was in color, but it didn't look that appealing so we tried a few things and eventually got around to doing a surveillance type look but with better quality. After those problems were fixed, this film has by far beaten every film we've done and the surprising part about all of this is that... The best is yet to come...

- Andrew Di Pardo

The Challenger: Urban Legend

INNOCENT GUN - October 2013 to January 2014

         The idea of a film based on our "Life Will be Hell" concept started in April 2013 during the filming of the "Life Is Hell - Short film." The "Life  is Hell" Tv series concept is a series that has two shows in one. The comedy portion which is titled 'life Is Hell" & the action portion titled "Life Will Be Hell." Both "Life is Hell - Short Film" & "Life Is hell 2: The Injured Man" feature prequels to a "Life Will Be Hell" film. When we began writing a script (for which is now titled "Innocent Gun" apposed to "Life Will be hell"), we had a completely different story. Originally it was going to be a film where Spear trains a rookie operative known as Stone for a potential suicide mission where they're going after a USB that a villain named Smith had. Agent Hunter was not in the original draft. Half way through the writing of the draft I had an idea. I thought to myself, why don't we do a film where Spear is a rookie and at some point he's forced to work with Hunter? I liked that idea and i went ahead with it. When I told Aramis Neal Pacitto about it, he thought it was good, as long as we could cast someone to play Hunter.

         So I began writing the script and I kept the USB storyline and modified it in a way where the USB is something that could get majority of corrupt criminals world wide behind bars. Smith was going to use it as leverage. Aramis thought that we should name it something different than "life Will be Hell" since it was too close to "Life Is Hell." I agreed and we came up with "innocent Gun." The film basically became a prequel to the "Life will be Hell's" that were featured in the "Life Is hell films." So its still a "Life Is hell" spin-off, but its more of a loose spin-off. On October 22, filming began in downtown Toronto. We used Toronto but made it double for New york. It was pretty much a day where we filmed all the exterior scenes with Spear talking on the phone with Cutter in New York. For close to a month we didn't film anything until we casted Kendall H as Hunter. Since September we were trying to find someone to play Hunter and we had a little bit of trouble finding someone who fit the role and who wanted to do it. But luckily we found a good actress who was able to pull her off. On November 16, Kendall made her debut as Hunter. We wrapped all her scenes in one day and it turned out better than expected. The film wouldn't have been the same without Hunter thats for sure.

               Our next filming day was November 22 with a new cast member Alex Stacey as a thug named Matthew and Darius Ban (known for Lucas Wolf in "The Challenger Short Film, The Challenger 3 & 'The Challenger 4") as Stone. Darius plays a thug named Stone that eventually will become a operative for the USA government. Our original script had Stone in that position. The scene we filmed that day is my favourite fight scene that we've ever done... Well not my favourite, the one in "The Challenger 4: Urban legend" is. But you'll have to wait until June for that... But that scene that we filmed on the 22nd was our most brutal fight scene with Spear. He shoots two people and then hits a guy over the head with a gun.  A few days later, we filmed a scene where Spear enters an Italian restaurant and we hear him basically beating information out of people. That scene was very "Person Of Interest." On November 29 we filmed a scene where Spear took out two thugs. Dominic Licorish & Marc Samuels played those two guys and pulled it off well.  After that we took a few days off to begin filming "The Challenger 4: Urban Legend" & "The Challenger 5: Dark Triad," we were back filming 'Innocent gun' on December 9. That was the day I made my acting debut as Smith the antagonist in the film.

                Smith is a cross between Elias from "Person Of Interest," Silver from "Skyfall (007)" & Ricci from "The Challenger." It was a fun role to play, very different from Andrew DiNardo (Comedic version of myself in "Life Is Hell") & Ronny Gunnerson ( Detective in "The Challenger"). It was fun to play and not particularly as hard as i thought it would be. A few days later we were supposed to film the opening scene of the film, but the camera fell of the tripod and filming was cancelled. We quickly bought another camera and filming was back on December 12. We filmed the opening scene with Chika Mafiana (known for Walker in "the challenger 2: Unlimited" & "The Challenger 3: Urban outlaw"). Chika played a agent known as Patrice who (SPOILER ALERT), got killed in the first scene. Matthew Quan- Yin acted as 5 thugs that day and filmed the climax between Spear & Smith. Filming was complete, Aramis Pacitto edited it and it was released on January 11. The future of "Innocent Gun" is still in question. A sequel is possible as the script is currently being written by me, but threes no guarantees.

You might also be wondering, whats next for Suit & Stubble. Next is "The Challenger 4" & "The Challenger 5" which will feature new cast members in Kendall H. from "Innocent Gun" as detective Savanna & Liia Kajak joining the crew for the first time as Brookyln. "The Challenger 4" will debut on June 6 2014.


- Andrew Di pardo



Life Is hell films:

"Life is hell - Short Film (Innocent Gun prequel included):" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ87m94biDQ&list=PLRP2JYMLvhzcPAN-tHL0Hr3x8uvQXJ-FY

"Life Is hell 2: The Injured Man (After credit scene ft. a "Innocent gun" prequel):" http://vimeo.com/81253888