I can talk the talk and have walked the walk. I lived it…
I see location, stunts, sound design, editing as the basic elements of this thing we call Action.
How we arrange it all is the beauty of it.
Action is many things. How you go about creating it is the Art & Science of it. The car chase. The fight sequence. Most of us can instantly recall our favorite scenes or movies. They're part of our lives.
As a filmmaker and practitioner of action, I combine the dynamic principles of action, speed and heightened emotion. My point of view is built from decades of training in diverse fields - racing and martial arts; working in camera, music and stunts; moving into directing and editing; and recently, a deep dive into sound and an embrace of budgeting.
My unique approach lies in the realism of Action. Action Realism. I aim to create a visceral engagement that is unencumbered by hyper CGI or fantasy. There is a reason Bullitt has lasted so many decades.
I want to make action sequences like your favorite songs. With a beginning, middle and a strong ending! I have experimented with the best sound and music people on the planet. We work on the harmonics of each image and action sequence. They are my collaborators - the producers and engineers of Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as Oscar winning sound designer and mixer Bob Beemer (the Bourne franchise) and my beloved friend Mark Mangini (Fury Road and Dune).
The art of action is the collaboration of it. Each action performer or element has components that if one thing doesn't function right, it loses impact.
From decades of practice, I know instinctively what element to prioritize. AKA where to spend the money. As action practitioners we need to understand what our audience wants, and that changes based on geography, culture, age, interests, trends. As artists, we have to implement our point of view in the creative process. I take a disruptive stance as the best action sequences are borne out of vision.
The great artists of the past were masters of their craft. They could imbue an aesthetic into each brush stroke or instrument. I see location, stunts, sound design, editing as the basic elements of this thing we call Action.
How we arrange it all is the beauty of it.
LAWRENCE RIBEIRO
Lawrence’s personal style combines art with grit.
Director and Action Design expert Lawrence Ribeiro has created over 100 action sequences—from fist fights to car chases.
In early 2021, Lawrence plans to release his latest project “Part Deux: The Chase,” the sequel to his award-winning short film “The Chase.”
In 2019, Lawrence released his latest book, "Action Realism: The Art of Action." MovieMaker Magazine reviews, "Action Director Lawrence Ribeiro's new book goes beyond its scope as a technical production manual to become a holistic treatise on creativity... ‘Action Realism’ is a great overview of an intimidating aspect of the moviemaking process."
In 2017, his film “The Chase” won 8 Best Action and Cinematography Awards. It exemplifies what can be done through raw stunt work, camera movement, locations, sound, and editing.
You can look forward to his bold collaboration with three cinema legends. A unique project with Hollywood VFX legend Doug Trumbull (2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner). An exceptional artistic endeavor with cinematographer legend Chris Doyle (Hero, In the Mood for Love). Lastly, a hush-hush project with a Hong Kong martial arts icon.
Lawrence is a contributor to MovieMaker and Filmmaker magazines, Promaxbda, Film Independent and BCMA (Branded Content Marketing Association). He has served as a finalist judge for the Emmy Awards and the Venice Television Awards.
Adforum states, "Lawrence's mission is to educate clients, agencies and production companies about how a combination of the right team and the right techniques can result in genuinely thrilling content that doesn’t cost a fortune.”
ACTION DESIGN
How do you take the your project to the next level?
We have a global love affair with action movies. Just think of your favorite fight and car chase sequences! From Paris to Istanbul to LA to Shanghai to Mumbai, every market starts from a sound understanding of local culture to produce content that kicks butt!
It’s not about winning awards. It’s about winning your audience.
ACTION REALISM: THE ART OF ACTION
What makes an action sequence? Using the art and science of an innovative new approach, critically acclaimed Action Director Lawrence Ribeiro gets to the heart of creating action. This book was written for two reasons: to live life while developing your own point of view and to bring back realism -- Action Realism. Start by retraining your eyes how to see. Discover opportunities for speed. Follow the book as it breaks down the components of creating speed, from location scouting to camera choreography to physical movement and much more! Use each tool individually or learn to integrate them to produce an exciting rush of imagery. Written for veteran and novice filmmakers alike, with or without a big budget. Learn how to translate life experience into exciting visual sequences. By the end, you will gain the ability to shape dynamic sequences, from motorcycles to cars to fights!
Keynote Speaker
Story is only one driving force.
The language of film and television is the language of movement. Its components are camera movement, editing, fight choreography, and more. This language brings viewers to tears and to the edge of their seats. It gets their heart pumping and their pupils dilated.
Conveying story onscreen demands a fundamental understanding of this language.
