Episode 646 - Jordan Cann
Jordan Cann is a Martial Arts practitioner, professional dancer, actor, and filmmaker.
Because I was a dancer, it made me a better Martial Artist. It made me understand my body a little bit more and how to move it in certain ways. It also helped me improve my technique when it comes to punches, straight lines, and things like that…
Jordan Cann - Episode 646
Being a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is not unusual for us here in our community. The same is true for our guest today, Jordan Cann. Growing up watching TMNT has attached Jordan to Martial Arts, however, he was a dancer first before becoming a Martial Artist. Little did he know, being a dancer will only make him a better Martial Artist. In this episode, Jordan Cann talks about Martial Arts and how it paved the way for him to get projects in Hollywood.
Show Notes
Check out more about Jordan Cann, follow him on Instagram.
Show Transcript
You can read the transcript below.
Jeremy Lesniak:
How's it going everybody? Welcome you are listening to whistle kick martial arts radio, Episode 646. With today's guest, Jordan Cann. My name is Jeremy Lesniak, I'm your host here for the show, I founded whistlekick, because I love traditional martial arts. And well, I wanted to make it my job, I have the best job in the world, I get to talk to martial artists and call it work. But it's not the only thing that we do over here, we do a lot more than this podcast. And if you want to see the other things that we do, like the books and the training programs, and the apparel and just all of it go to whistlekick.com now, there is a store yet we do have to pay bills. One of the things that we do to pay bills is we sell some stuff. And if you use the code PODCAST15 in the store, it's going to get you 15% off, helps support the show and some cool stuff, check it up. Now, also to check out whistlekickmartialartsradio.com. That's the home for this show, we break it out. Because there's so much going on with the show, we put out transcripts of episodes, we give you the photos and the videos and the links for each and every episode to give you more depth on, well, all the stuff related. So go check that out, sign up for the newsletter stay up on everything that we've got going on.
Now, why do we do all this? Well, the goal of the show is to connect and educate and entertain traditional martial artists of the world. Because, well, my personal philosophy is that the average person is a better person with some martial arts training. So, let's help facilitate that. Martial Arts journeys come in all shapes and sizes, because our personal journeys are different. But there are similarities and one of the things I love about hearing different people's journeys, you know, when we bring them on the show, is it they're relatable. I'm able to relate to every martial artist we've ever had. And I suspect that you too can find some point where you'd say yeah, you know, I see what some of myself in there in today's guest is no different. Jordan’s journey isn't the same as anyone else's. But it's also got a lot in common. We talk about his travels some of his tribulations and where it looks like martial arts in life is really finally taking him after a lot of work. So, let's talk Jordan Cann, welcome to whistlekick Martial Arts Radio.
Jordan Cann:
Yo, yo. Thanks for having me.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Thanks for being here. Appreciate it. You know audience most of the time I get a few minutes to chat with the guests before we start recording you know once in a while, we just kind of from the moment they jump on. I just take them and run and sometimes you know it's 5-10 minutes we're into the show before they even realize we're in the show. But today we had Jordan. I had a few minutes to chat you know just make sure everything is running right on the tech side and I got a feeling this is going to be good. I think it's going to be different in the best possible way. It's just a voice in my head. We're going to talk about you today. The next hour is all about you. And in order for us to talk about you one of the things we just talked about audience was stories and if you're a longtime listener to this show, you know that I love stories that the whole hallmark of this show is stories. If you go to the website what's the tagline. What's your story? We tell martial arts stories and martial arts stories any story needs a beginning. So, Jordan what's your beginning?
Jordan Cann:
You know, I'm an 80s baby raised in and around those times you know we have these four mutant individuals greenish skin tone, I think they went by the names of Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello and, did I say Michelangelo already?
Jeremy Lesniak:
You did.
Jordan Cann:
Who's the last one? Leonardo.
Jeremy Lesniak:
There you go. Guys are going to give out another beat before I jumped in to help you out.
Jordan Cann:
You know why, luckily, you're not out because everybody wanted to be Leonardo
Jeremy Lesniak:
That’s true. They did. I want to be done. Others didn't get the same love.
Jordan Cann:
Now, but Michelangelo got mad. Like Donatello was last on the totem pole because smart guy but I don't know dude. Like, I love to tell I wanted to beat on television. The reason why I also picked up a bonus that we'll talk about that later. But that was literally my introduction to martial arts. Cartoon characters aside from Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, you know, these are the guys that I was watching coming up. I actually didn't find out about Bruce Lee, maybe little, t's my teenager. Wow, these were the guys that introduced me to the martial arts, American Ninja Delta Force to you know, please right here was like, oh, what is this that they're doing? Learn it. Sidekicks, three ninjas, you know, the classic that era of martial arts saturation, you know, kind of the 70s, 80s movie.
Jeremy Lesniak:
It was a golden era to be a kid who wanted to practice, “practice” what they saw on TV, in the living room. Yep, we had no shortage.
Jordan Cann:
No, shortage at all.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Okay. So, where'd you grow up?
Jordan Cann:
I grew up in Queens, New York. It's a Southside Jamaica, Queens, New York. I only had like, maybe eight years out there. And then from there, I moved, my parents moved down to the south, you know, to try to get out of it more of a slow tempo. You know, it was kind of rough area. The neighbors were involved in some big old drug circuit. And they were running clothes...
Jeremy Lesniak:
In the 80s?
Jordan Cann:
Yeah. Major way, you know, looking back, I did not know it. But they're the mother. She ran a sewing business but the sewing business was a cover up and they will use the boxes and everything for the clothes and stuff like that smuggled the stuff in. And I guess it went something went wrong one night. They drove by lit up the house everything. Unfortunately for me, I was asleep. My parents they woke up and they saw they actually saw this and my mom saw that she was like, “Oh, no, this is it. We got to go”. I mean, you know, I don't know if my kids are going to be able to go with high school and survive there. So, she went down south for like, a month or so was like, okay, this is what we're going to station ourselves. So, I was pretty much born in New York, but raised pretty much in Hampton, Virginia.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Okay. All right. And so based on the timeline, you know, you would have started watching these shows in New York, can watch and while you were down there.
Jordan Cann:
Watching.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Her parents paid attention, most of them to what kids are doing. So, I would imagine that at least your mother saw you doing what you were doing. Are you jumping off coffee tables? I was jumping off coffee tables.
Jordan Cann:
Knocking off coffee table, jumping off trees, beating pillows.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Yeah. I didn't have the brother to beat up. I was beating up trees. What would she have to have to say about all this?
Jordan Cann:
Jordan? Stop, Jordan. Jordan, go outside. You know, it was weird. Because I was begging for martial arts. I was a big martial arts class. And they never they never did, like they never did. And so, I had to say why? I mean, they never knew why I think it was more probably like maybe a financial issue. And you know; I didn't really understand it at that age. But you know, I said, “Forget it”, you know, I'm still going to do this, I'm still going to go in the backyard and try these kicks. Try these acrobatics and things like that. But eventually, she came in and she got me on Taekwondo lessons. So, I started to take one on top, taking Taekwondo. And unfortunately, I hated it. I absolutely. I was probably like, I would say probably like nine or eight, somewhere in line, probably 9/10, or somewhere around there. And as with what I looking back, I wanted to do what I saw in the movies.
Everything was fast paced, a lot of kicks, a lot of jobs, explosions and things like that. You think, okay, if I take classes, I'm going to do exactly what I'm saying. These guys are doing the movies, and it was the complete opposite. I didn't like forms. I didn't like cars. I didn't like the speed. And so naturally, as a kid, I got bored, I got bored, I didn't want to do this. I don't want to do this, like this is not what I thought it would be. But I continue to train I continue to train. And you know, as I got became an adult, that's when I went back actually took the structure class because I was more disciplined and more able to sit through, you know, take these techniques and take my time and learning this craft.
Jeremy Lesniak:
It's such an interesting thing. You know, so many martial arts schools, take the adult curriculum and just teach it the same way to kids. And it doesn't work. You know, kids are there for different reasons you wanted. You wanted to be a superhero. Yeah. Thank you, kids want to be a superhero. And you know, we've got a bunch of school owners and instructors that listen to this show, and some of them are nodding along right now. They're like, yeah, when I realized I had to teach kids in a different way that I teach adults, it completely changed our kids' program. Or we probably have some others listening who say, you know what, I don't want to change my curriculum, and that's why I don't teach kids.
Jordan Cann:
Hmm, just perfect. Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak:
So, you make it for a little while it's not for you. How old were you when you went back? You said you were an adult? How big of a gap do we have in there to unpack?
Jordan Cann:
As far as let's say technically train I went back to technical training back probably in my mid 20s.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Okay, so we've got 15 years in there. Okay, so it doesn't sound like you lost the interest.
Jordan Cann:
No, way.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Whoa. So, how did you scratch that itch?
Jordan Cann:
This is what I did. So aside from the martial arts, I was also very into gymnastics and dance. And I actually pursued dance career for 20 something odd years I actually moved out to Los Angeles to become a hip-hop dancer. And I had a lot of success in commercials just a few artists and things like that but in the back of my mind I was like okay, this is what I'm going to come to LA become a dancer and then on the side, I'm going to get into stunts and I'm a trained and more into martial arts and you know out here in LA it's a caters today, you know, we got dance studios everywhere, we got martial arts to do that. We got gymnasiums over there, everywhere, we got some of the best martial artists and stuff, man. In a realm, you can get these classes, you can rub shoulders with people, and things like that. It just motivates you or motivates a guy like me to really go hard at it. So, occupy a lot of my time with hip hop dancing, and...
Jeremy Lesniak:
Can we go back on the dance? Yeah, yes, sir. When did you start dancing?
Jordan Cann:
Okay, so I started dancing around the time. Technically, I would sing. Going to say a lot, probably like 11 or 12. Okay, so not too long after I stopped taking the martial arts class.
Jeremy Lesniak:
There's an important thing that I want to discovery here. So, I'm going to ask them maybe weird questions, as well, 11, you know, adolescence, as kids as, especially as males were really trying to bond with our peers. Young girls seem to be a little more willing to go their own way. Versus boys at that age. Was there a culture of dance in your school?
Jordan Cann:
You know, it really wasn't... It was civil, so rare that I actually had to like, at that time to end it was just kind of starting out. So, I had to kind of like, really research to see what other people were out there that like me, but I was just influenced by some of the artists that I was also watching knows I was big on, it was either music, entertainment or martial arts. And, you know, I just dove into that. And I was a lone ranger for a long time. You know, I did a lot of talent shows and I was doing these things by myself.
Jeremy Lesniak:
You started dancing solo the same way you started martial arts solo, correct. That's okay. All right. Because what struck me was the idea that dance would have gone differently for you than martial arts. But because dance is generally presented in a similar way to martial arts, you know, you're not starting off day one, choreographing some super cool routine. Just as day one martial arts, you know, you're not jumping through fiery explosions to defeat 46 bad guys in the finale of a film.
Jordan Cann:
Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak:
So, what was it about dance that you leaned into that versus martial arts? In any sense?
Jordan Cann:
I don't know. I just think it was a part of my destiny. I think it was supposed to happen. You know, I really fell in love with it. At that time, it was martial arts, dance and acrobatics. So, I was able to take my dance and acrobatics and incorporated some of it with my martial arts as far as incorporating the ability to do choreography and things like that and be able to translate that back into martial arts choreography. And I think, because I was a dancer, I am a dancer, it made me a better martial artist and maybe be able to understand my body a little more and how to move in certain ways and also helped me improve with my technique when it comes to my punches, straight lines and things like that.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Yeah, there's a lot of synergy between dance and martial arts, you know, understanding the body in space, you talked about lines, straights, angles, etc. And there's really something to be said, when we've had guests on the show, who have a secondary problem. Your secondary background and additional background in dance or in your case acrobatics, gymnastics, there's a different quality to their martial artists, their martial arts, they are capable of different things now it doesn't necessarily mean better. But quite often, I think they're able to pull from a broader understanding of what their body can do. Doesn't have to be stunt work. It doesn't have to be gymnastics, competition style forms. But anybody who's trained, usually a kid, but a martial artist, who spent some time as a dancer knows that martial artists can do some things usually sooner than most of their peers. Alright, so you move out to LA you see some success as a dancer you're doing some work. I'm going to guess you're enjoying it. But from what you said earlier, you never shook the desire to bring martial arts back in maybe even make it the forefront of what you were doing. How did you get from where you were? To there? What were your next steps? That's a better question.
Jordan Cann:
But more so, I always have martial arts. In the background, like I had two primary goals. My goal was I was going to like a south and come to LA, I was going to become a professional dancer. And eventually, I was going to break into action films. And you know, take my martial arts to the forefront as I was able to do with my dance. And eventually that did come no time where I was dancing so long traveling all over the world doing auditions and I kind of got to a point I was like, “okay, I'm done”. You know, I did it. I did. I've been doing it since I was 16. And it was just like, I've done everything I've wanted to do. You know, of course it was a couple of things that I necessarily didn't hit, but that's okay. I've set appointments to 10 so it was like, “Okay, how can I take my martial arts into the next direction?” Ironically, I found his gym. A lot of guys train here too. I forgot the name of the gym but shout out to Matt, he runs the entire gym and he actually, I was just looking for some good work and he brought me in to teach gymnastics.
So, with that's what he called it, but I kind of I called it tricking. I mean, because at that time I was introduced to tricking, maybe not even that long ago, maybe like 10 years ago. I saw it for the first time and I was just mesmerized. It was like martial arts meter gymnastics. And it was just, wow, I got to pick this up, add this to my work repertoire. So, I added that to my repertoire as a dancer but yeah, so I got back into a gym, and I was teaching martial arts tricking. And while I was teaching after my classes of teaching martial arts tricking, I would turn on mass society. And what was it he taught that kiddo. I don't know if I've got which form it was, but he taught martial arts basically. And I trained with him and he also gave me access to the gym it was boxes in there and more Thai fighters and I'm seeing all this. I'm rubbing shoulders with these guys and so we're doing sessions so I'm getting back into my groove and I humbly say this but I realized Okay, I've never lost.
And I just kept building on the side train for maybe two years straight and that gym every other day to train and get my kicks back, getting everything back and then when I wasn't in there. I was outside and field working on my acrobatics keep microbatic strong and go. Have you heard of the gym?
Jeremy Lesniak:
No.
Jordan Cann:
It's a big gym this popular gym in Reseda, California. Everybody goes here every sad guy goes through there every big martial artist they have so many sessions there. it's a really popular gym. You should look it up on YouTube but I would you know go there and train as well and you know this than it was okay. It's time to make a transition into this direction and take these martial arts as far as I can kind of like what I did with my dance career.
Jeremy Lesniak:
You're there for a couple years. You're around all these people did that create some opportunities for you?
Jordan Cann:
Oh yeah, I will say, yes, you know that's like us, I got to meet some people that actually shot a movie at the gym. I was training that so I got featured in that movie called Street that was like one of my... I wouldn't say my first but definitely one of my martial arts-based film that I was able to be featured in and that was cool and then you know it was just mainly. Just getting an opportunity where I can meet people, I train with remember Don “The Dragon” Wilson. I met him, his son was actually my roommate a little while.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Oh, cool.
Jordan Cann:
We got together we talked about working on a film together never happened but we did talk about it and things like that and I got to meet Cynthia Ross Brock, was out there I forget my guy's name so there are a lot of people out there. They will come into gyms actors, will come in a gym and you know it was cool. It was very cool time. And I didn't really appreciate it at that time because at that time I was also going through a transition and you know my finances weren't exactly where I want them to be and things like that but looking back, it was cool time. A lot of times, you don't appreciate things till we look back my old man like huh that was actually okay it wasn't as bad as I thought it was...
Jeremy Lesniak:
You know a lot of stories have a moment. Where there's a let's say external factors suggesting that you stop, you quit, you give up, you go do something else but the good story is there's a voice in your head or something else saying, “what you just mentioned about transition was that one of those transition you said”. You mentioned finances. A lot of you guys go out to LA looking to you know pursue their dream and you know three years later they're still bussing tables and they you know, they tap out.
Jordan Cann:
It's the truth and I went through it. I get through it man. I remember that I got there to pursue. I didn't see anything probably for the first few years and I actually went out there got an agent and I'll say, “oh, yes I’m good bro. I'm in there”. And it was probably to another year that's when I actually started getting work this as a dancer and then after 5/6./7 years later on you know something happened in my life. I don't know if you've ever heard about sudden returns. I don't know how true it is. My friend showed it to me. I was reading up on it.
Jeremy Lesniak:
A sudden return generally happens around 29.
Jordan Cann:
Yeah, and they were just like certain things in your life will just wake up, you want to change your progression, your career, your life, might get out of relationship. I was just listening all these things and I was like, oh, I kind of was going through that and I wanted to make a whole complete shift. And but that shift was what it wasn't the smoothest shift you know, because I started focusing more towards the martial arts and I started getting more into film and acting so I use my martial arts and so the dancing gigs kind of just pulled away from it wasn't like something I consciously kind of did it with just my life to say okay, I'm going to have to make some type of change you. It's going to be a little painful you know, but this this is what growing pains is all about.
And I look to a very, very dark things and I lost almost everything, my car, my apartment, you know, some of my friends at and I actually was had to leave California for a little while, and that's when I went out to Atlanta. And I was like, Okay, I'm going to reach out. I'm going to redefine myself and reinvent myself come out. As a martial artist, actor and filmmaker. Just I had just spent two years in film school. So, I took that all that like, if somebody comes film producer, martial artists and acting. I'm going to take all that I'm going to define myself. And after, after a year to Atlanta, kind of shape and everything I wrote my first movie, which is Street: Dreams Los Angeles and that's actually streaming out right now on multiple platforms. Play this cop was kind of grew up in the hood and he has dreams of becoming as big time FBI all these obstacles everything's just to make it and we actually got the film distributed so like it says on a couple of platforms right now and this is been steadily growth. You know, it was always hills and mountains, valleys that we had to overcome to get where we think we want to be or where we ultimately fell in our heart is our destiny to become or to where to be, you know?
Jeremy Lesniak:
Yeah, for sure. I'm taking a peek at the movie right now. I'm going to guess because it would be too perfect and would connect all the various aspects of your life far too well, that you didn't get NAS to contribute Street: Dreams to the sound.
Jordan Cann:
Funny, not that song was kind of done inside the title. Didn't really. Yes, I was driving my car. And I remember this song and I just kept popping. I was like, yeah, so I'm going to move.
Jeremy Lesniak:
It's a great song. And he's from Queens.
Jordan Cann:
Yeah, he's from Queens. That's my [00:24:47-00:24:50]
Jeremy Lesniak:
What was it like putting that movie together? Cuz you're not the first person who says you know what, I'm not making a go of it in other people's films. Screw it. I'm going to make my own.
Jordan Cann:
That's exactly what's part of our motivation man, you know like those roles are particularly out there that I wanted you know to represent me for as a martial artist and or action actor so you know I reached out to my one of my cousins and you know he said, “hey man, I believe you watch for a long time. I know you're hard working, you're going to get it so I'm going to invest in you” and you know, it wasn't a huge investment but it was enough just getting started and you know, I have a business partner that I work with and shout out to Patrick. We have our production company, film productions and we went through hell and high water to get that movie made in this initially started off kind of rough but then we kind of got a grasp of things and then once we got to production man, the first day was cool after the first day just started going downhill. We've worked so many hours on that and trying to get things to coordinate right and then like I said, since the budget was so strange. It just made the workload harder but we eventually got to it after that we wanted to post reduction. We sat in post-production for a year and it got because the finances ran out of money. My buddy called every production company we knew like “hey man, we got to sell. We got this trailer”. Hey, give us 100,000, 50,000, 20,000 to help us get it out of there.
So, it's set in post-production for a minute then I had personal things going on in my life actually had to go back home to my mom and dad and that really hit me hit me in the gut my ego was took a major hit here. I hit my left ego to Hollywood California to some big dreams started working and then stopped working and now I'm back in my parents' home at my age. It took a real hit my self-esteem here once you know I stayed in there. I kept going. We worked on film kept coming back to LA trying to work as you work back out here came back out here and my life just after that just hit. I broke through so to speak you know I broke through financial and things like that wasn't in a position where I had to keep struggling and sleeping on couches and sleeping and people's floors and things get by.
And I was also able to finish the movie so we got through that we found distribution that you know that was a hustle in itself was able to pay our actors and most people won't approve and the film is out there and now, we got a sequel picked up and we're going to do a much bigger so it was like it makes me kind of feel like okay maybe the work was all worth it. Wasn't all in vain so you know we're just going to see how this all unfolds but making that movie was it took a piece of my soul man it took a piece of my soul and that art does.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Yeah, it does. Art does. It's why I think some of the best artists of any genre past soon I think the best ones run out your soul their souls tapped.
Jordan Cann:
Yeah, you're right. Looking back that you say that makes a lot of sense.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Any genre. I think about anything anybody. They died before their time, well look at what they left. I took a whole career and they boiled it off into three years, five years, ten years. What I'm hearing the common thread through all this is that you do your own thing. I don't know if rebel is the right word but independent is probably the right word. Yeah, is that fair if I sat down talk to your school.
Jordan Cann:
I never saw it like that I mean, I just don't want to seem like Hollywood and all that you know like because that's definitely not the case but yeah, I guess that independent rebel. I don't know. I mean rebel sounds cool.
Jeremy Lesniak:
But you know, I'm going to guess you know if we took a look if I sat down with your agent and we unpack the span of what you did prior to this movie that he would tell me you know what? There were some things that I asked Jordan to do that he didn't do roles that he didn't want to take some gigs that he was right.
Jordan Cann:
I don't know. I don't know. I guess I can't be played. I didn't play the game. When the ancients like me, hey, I need you to be here. I need this video. Like I did it. Like, I said, I'm not trying to be bragging but my work ethic is top notch like, I got it from my mom and dad and like if this is what I had to do to play to get this role, not necessarily doing all these things that compromise my integrity and values, but you know, things that I had to do to get the role as far as okay I need to make this video, I need to do this at this location. At this time, I need to talk to this casting director you know I did it.
Jeremy Lesniak:
What's the takeaway? If you were to go back to 18-year-old Jordan, you know, you sit down, have a cup of coffee, say “look younger me. Here's what I need you to do”. So, you can get there sooner than I did. Like what advice would you be giving yourself, 18.
Jordan Cann:
I would have told myself at 18 I leave now because I didn't leave my location Virginia till, I was about 25 I wish I would have told him to leave I would have told him to be patient for one house I mean that's the only thing I can think of because I felt like I mean I maybe I made that I feel like I did everything I was meant to do you know I felt like I was on time I was at the right place at the right time.
Jeremy Lesniak:
It's just a question of time grinding it out and the longer you're grinding out, the more likely you're going to... Something's going to happen, is that fair?
Jordan Cann:
I don't think honestly, I'm thinking like I can I told myself. Hey, I want you to go meet this person but probably done that yet probably serve people. I want you to you know, shake this person hand off, respect this person to follow up with this person a little more maybe things like that but or be more be more outgoing and that's how I was really shy maybe a little more outgoing and things like that but I don't know. I really don't know if I went back, I don't know certainly. I could do probably just tell him “Hey, play this lottery number this at least get you.”
Jeremy Lesniak:
That's a good question a bunch of times nobody's gotten the lottery. I like that. Let's talk about the film because we've had a few people who've been involved in in film and TV. You know, not a ton of people who've created that it was their vision. I'm assuming because of who you are. There are some fight scenes in this film. What was it like the first time not that you saw it on set but the first time you saw that fight scene from your film on a film?
Jordan Cann:
For that film, it was really cool. Because I had to edit the fight as well. I work a big budget so I had to edit everything. So, I saw it develop the more solid thing. I kind of wish I did have cinematographers who understood fight scenes amid more like I work with. I wish I had turned I've worked. I felt like I did pretty good with what I had. Sure, but I felt pretty good you know, I mean, who doesn't like to see themselves you know, their hard work you know, kind of turn out the way they envisioned it to come out on strength and like then I felt like I had two to five seasons. I found that I'm actually enjoying now and I'm actually somewhat product one of them I feel like I could have been a little wider. I should have my cinematographer a little wider so I can see a little more my legs and kicks were doing.
Jeremy Lesniak:
But you're in the film as well.
Jordan Cann:
Yes, sir.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Oh man, you're like the one-man band of cinema. You wrote it. You directed it, co-directed, coded it, edited, starred or at least acted in you were like best boy and chief grip as well. I do a lot of hats man. I can relate.
Jordan Cann:
It's not because like I want to be that guy. It's not because sometimes because of my situation. Any indie filmmaker will tell you that they have to wear multiple hats because it's just we're not Hollywood. We're not given $200 million to make a movie you spread this out and sit back and have such a such do that we're working to that point but I think any honestly any indie filmmaker will tell you “Yeah, man I wore like five hats but I had to produce this. Had to write this as the best boy.” I even had to stop and hold the boom up for certain scene like that.
Jeremy Lesniak:
You did the choreography.
Jordan Cann:
I had to. I had a choreographer for one scene. One of the other scenes me and the main antagonist, we actually came up the choreography together. That's one of my dreams is to really have a tight knit by choreographer with me on my scenes because it's like, I can only be so creative and I have another great mind coming in. Hey, maybe if you try this right hook here, put this a high block here and then do this toss here, you know, things like that. Like it will really amplify the production bite because there's only so much you've been doing your own it's only because like okay, I'm in this moment. I'm in this scene. I have to focus on the fight for you. I have to focus on the emotion but I need you to focus on that. Lighting needs you to focus on that camera. I need you to make sure that this move is looking good, is actually selling on camera. These things are actually selling on camera.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Since you've worked on this and see what it's like on the other side you know you went to school, you're not suggesting this was your first experience with us. Has it changed the way you look at fights on screen?
Jordan Cann:
I think just being in the industry in general has changed the way I look at film TV altogether like is no more smoke and mirrors. It's the way you see it as a regular viewer that's gone because that's partially because I dissect everything when I watch a film. I can't just watch like a regular person. But yeah, of course, as you see fight scenes and things like that you kind of see how it's done. And you even get inspired like I love how nowadays the guys; they're playing with the camera. You know, they're putting the camera in places that they normally didn't do back in the day or how they're tracking certain movements to really sell. A fight choreographer version of directors’ name is Christopher Cohen if you get a chance you should look up some of his work. I think first unit director by Koreans and I think he's going to really redefine how fight scenes have shot. Yeah, I think he recently just done work on Shengshi but this is game changing, you know, and it's just more so it's a lot of its inspiring, it's very inspiring, and these guys on social media, you can go on like Instagram and YouTube and you just see how these indie guys are just shooting the fight scene. It's just like well what Hollywood needs to take notes. What's going on? He's got to shoot this stuff better than Hollywood.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Yeah, yeah, I think there's really something to be said for you know, you talked about it as the center was cinematographer the more the people involved in the process, understand martial arts and what the scene is going for the better it gets, right because we've all even in the top level, those of us who've been training for a while. We enjoy fight scenes. We've all watched a movie or a TV show and seen a fight scene and thought what just happened with that handoff screen these little bits and you're in you're watching and the cameras tracking the action but you as a martial artist you're looking at you're going I wanted a wider angle. I want to see what's going on here. They look like they're off balance there. Right? And yeah, there's a lot that you can do in editing to make something look better to the layman. But if that person holding the camera, also trained and the person doing the choreography understood what the training protocol for the actor looked like. Right? Like you get a better result and I think that's why you end up with these stunt teams. Yeah, that they're working together. Intensely long periods of time so they know you know it's more of a controlled environment.
Jordan Cann:
Yeah, they can work with as fast as facts. Okay. So, the sequel, what are you going to do different? Well, the sequel we are we partnered up we have a big partner on the bow of your script. He does like an annual screenplay contest that basically looks for upcoming screenwriters and things like that, but he's getting involved that we're adding onto the cast, we're going to shoot this film in Miami. It's just going to be is we got a lot of big process for I am returning back as my character. This time, he's more on. He's seeking more so a vengeance for an incident that occurred to him out to someone close to him in the first film, he had a baby, he was inspired by a mentor, so to speak, who inspired him to want to get out in the street life and become a federal agent, so to speak. And something happens to mentor, and something and he goes out to avenge this, his mentors a situation. And it's also tied into, we have incorporated things such as drug trafficking and sex trafficking. And so, it's a pretty cool story that ties together that's going to tie together into the first one. And we're going to have some big Academy so that's my biggest thing. So, we're this one, I think. I'm going to say thanks. This one I know will definitely break into the mainstream.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Oh, that's great. I'm excited for that plot. Some aspects of that plot sound very old school kung fu. You
Jordan Cann:
Yeah definitely.
Jeremy Lesniak:
You just disrespected... You killed my master now you must die.
Jordan Cann:
Yeah, definitely has some elements of that.
Jeremy Lesniak:
I love it.
Jordan Cann:
Yes, sir.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Back in the early days of this show, before I was a better interviewer, I leaned really hard on the questions, the ones that we sent over to you. Those are our fallbacks. I don't refer back to them very often. But I think it's really appropriate to ask you some of your influences on film. Now, you know, like you mentioned, choreographer that you think really highly of what about fight scenes, like scenes itself? You know, we've heard from various people in the industry over the years, and they've told us about some of their favorite fight scenes, you know, and they're not always ones that you expect honestly, when that comes up time and again, the sword fight and The Princess Bride is held up as one of the best performed fight scenes at least among folks who have been on our show or their fight scenes that you really look at and respect and say, you know, I aspire to produce something of that quality.
Jordan Cann:
Now where do I start? Tony Jaa really liked a lot of... This is one scene he didn't think it was [00:41:16-00:41:17] where he broke everyone's bones. I don't know if you remember that when he was. It was like 100 dudes and all black. He was fighting them one at a time breaking everybody's limbs. I love that death facing. I like the fight scene. It was Ninja with Scott Atkins and 10 men. I think their last fight scene. I thought that was incredible is just so clean. It was just so clean. I love the way it was shot. Man, you ever seen Chocolate?
No.
Forgot her name. She's like kind of like the Tony Jaa’s female protege that she was trained by [00:41:54-00:41:57]. I pronounce his name incorrectly. But in chocolate she did some incredible feisty. I think she has like some sort of disability in the film. She has a fight this this kid. I think he has autism. But he's like his moves when he's fighting. He incorporates the autism until it moves. It almost looks like a drunk in style mixed with B boy. And it's so sick. So, check that out. Black Mass was one of his one of my all-time favorites, man. I love that film. It's a fight scene. And there he did in the graveyard with I don't know the actor's name in there. Jet Li also, Fist of legend, that was the one he did with. I don't know, I don't think it was Fist of Legend. It was one of he had a son. I forgot the name of it. But he had a son in a town. And they did a fight scene at the end. And they had, you know, gently because he used the rope. I don't know the name of that weapon. But it's basically a lot of rope technique and stuff like that. And he did a corporation with a son. Ah, man, I just have too many.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Then you're in the right industry. That's a good thing.
Jordan Cann:
Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Let's imagine we reconvene in, you know, five, six years, ten years, you've been killing it. And you get the opportunity to put together a film, your dream film. And forget about plot. Budget can be whatever it is put all that stuff aside. You get to pick five martial arts actors for your film, and they're all getting they're going to say yes, it's just so much money that nobody would say no. Who are you picking?
Jordan Cann:
Let's go, Tony Jaa. Wesley Snipes. Yeah, they get Michael Jai white. Okay, I'm going to get Scott, of course. One more... I'm going to get a female. Okay. I want to say Cynthia Ross Rob, but I don't know how she moves now. I don't know. I haven't seen her lately. How she moves no disrespect. I love her. Her content. But there's a young lady coming up. Her name is Siena, Siena McKenna. She's been on a couple of crises. She is so sick. I'll probably pick her up. Sounds like a good film man.
Jeremy Lesniak:
I would definitely go see that I would put down my money. I would put my money down on a Kickstarter project to buy a dozen tickets sight unseen with that film with that cast man. I wish nearly more choices because I wouldn't load that list.
Jordan Cann:
I know. Because the industry.
Jeremy Lesniak:
You know the people and you're going to make; you're going to pick great people. I mean, those are all great people. I don't know the name of that young lady that you mentioned there. I'm going to go look her up because if you're including her film with those four, she must be something special. But yeah. Now you mentioned, I got one more and we're going to start to wrap up and tie some of these knots together. You've mentioned you know before we went live talking about Marvel and what's going on. I get the feeling you're a fan of those films, of course. Okay, are you in general a comic book fan too?
Jordan Cann:
I'm not necessarily a big comic book fan. I mean who didn't really care but it was more so the movies attracted me and things like that. Actually, started me and my girl we have in the past. We've been watching the whole entire Marvel franchise from the first one so that we're in a mission right now. Nice to the end-to-end game.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Some great stuff great stuff. I think years from now we're going to look at Guardians of the Galaxy as the breakouts of those. To me the guardians of galaxy and two. Were just so different in such a wonderful way. But my question to you let's imagine there's this massive reboot so we can wipe the table and you know again your careers hit you get you know, your Tom Cruise level. You could pick what you do. What character out of the Marvel universe would you love to play?
Jordan Cann:
I always dreamed up about blade prequels. I can younger earlier days. Okay, that would be amazing. I think I mean at this to see because it was a snippet. It was actually a deleted scene. I see him blink. We're actually met late if you can find on YouTube somewhere. I always wanted to like because I kind of have a young look. But I don't look old enough to play like you know the sensei or something like that. Maybe I feel kind of like, he's learning. I'm going to teach him he's got to be big. He's coming of age a type of man. So, I think that will be cool. I mean, who what black I would not say black. Come on like that. You know, but those are big shoes to fill you shoes. I wouldn't even want to do that. Honestly, it's like, Chadwick Boseman has really cemented that role. Anybody who comes in after that they really have some big shoes to give me it'd be great to see another one. But I don't know if we're quite ready. But, um, but as well, the character. Somebody I know now that... I'm thinking, oh, who's this? Who's that kid's name, man. Got his name? I think my things. I forgot his name. But I might have to come back to you on that.
Jeremy Lesniak:
But okay, that's all right. That's right. Yeah, sure. We'll drop it in the show notes. Yeah, so let's see, you know, your journey here, you know, we can look at it in a number of different ways. But even though your martial arts path is not a conventional one, it is still a martial arts path. And what I'm finding fascinating is it has all of the same hallmarks, you've got the plateau, leading to the breakdown, leading to the resurgence, and the powering through, you've got the false start, you've got the seeking for the right place to be you've got the stepping away for a while. And then back in and kind of shaking it out. And the way you said it, I still have it. Yeah, you know, which a lot of us have experienced. So, when we look at your journey like that, the first off... I don't want anybody to ever say, you know, this is not a martial art journey. This is as martial arts journey as one has ever had. But what I wonder, is what's next, you know, not the film part. Not so much the acting part, and not even the physical part. Because when I hear about a journey like this, as martial arts, as it is, you know, you clearly developed some tools, you know, probably some within your disciplines, I'm going to call them collectively call them disciplines, dance, gymnastics, martial arts, as well as outside. But how do you take those pieces that you have, that have clearly given you a lot? How do you build on them?
Jordan Cann:
Hmm, that's a really good question. You know, just want to make my dream right now as a martial artist is just to continue to grow to learn moves bigger moves and to also be able to sustain my ability to move. As I come into age you know I would if I can be still 60-75 still performing a nice clean roundhouse kick or sore side kick in the butt that nice 45-degree angle with my heels that would be for me that would be like that would be good that would satisfy me as a martial artist just mainly just being able to still maintain the skill.
Jeremy Lesniak:
The common thread through all the things you do are physical expression you are an artist yes and you know, I hope you're able to find balance you know putting your soul into stuff without you know to throw back to earlier burning out yes or no that would that would break my heart. I don't want to read anything about that you know, you've got some more films in you in a bunch of ways. I'm sure this sir. Where can people go to check out that movie?
Jordan Cann:
Well, we got Street: Dreams Los Angeles is currently streaming on Amazon Prime but I know it's on Amazon. It's awesome to be on. It's also Fandango. Now it just got picked up the distribution company just did a deal with another web and networks. So, we will be launched. We will be announcing that what other platforms that will be streaming on. If you want to find out more about that you know you can always follow my Instagram pages which is our Mr. Jordan Cann. I have also had when you're up to have a gang of tutorials and special kicks, basic kicks that you can learn. Also follow my website at JordanCann.com. I was updated on new films movies that I have come now. But that all else fails. You know, you can get on your Apple TV or firestick and type in my name Jordan Cann, CNN and it'll show up all the movies that I'm either in or working on. I'm not sure when I'm working with them. But no show where you can find the films so we were suddenly building and on YouTube. We got a bunch of stuff. Of course, we got a bunch of stuff up there as well.
Jeremy Lesniak:
That's awesome. I just fired it up. Excuse me. Yeah, I see Voodoo. And I see amazon prime. So, give people some choices. Nice. And is there a timetable for the sequel?
Jordan Cann:
The sequel, we were scheduled to go into pre-production more so at the top of the year. Okay, I'm hoping we can start by summer I'm ready to go. I'm sure the script is going to need a couple of rewrites things like that. But it's pretty much a green light,
Jeremy Lesniak:
Nice. But it'll be a couple years.
Jordan Cann:
It will honestly make I would say maybe the most maybe two. He's fired up. He's ready to go. Nice. So, he's ready to go. And also, while I'm here, I'm also going to also have a science fiction pilot that I'm releasing it's called The Elemental. Let's see Dragon ball Z meets Avatar meets Hunger Games. Because something like that new revolution of beings who have the powers of each of the elements of the earth. I wrote this and I produce this with Eric Michael Fetterman upcoming actor, producer and we've been working on this now we just finished all the videos the effects are going to look amazing you guys probably going to be one of my proudest short films that I've done so far. We're looking to build this into actual make 13 episodes series so we're going to release the pilot see what everyone reacts to that I'm also going to send you a copy.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Yeah, yeah, I want you had at your fusion there if you had me. Yeah, it sounds awesome. Yeah, I want to watch this.
Jordan Cann:
Definitely got to look out for that. So, hopefully. I'm not going to say helpful. We're going to really step out entity or entity here we kind of had a slowdown with the pandemic or like that, but we're there we're in like the last phases of it. And then we're going to have to release a trailer. And then we're going to have to release the entire film to get that feedback. Great.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Awesome turn I appreciate coming on. Yeah, appreciate final words to the folks listening. You know, you got different people, different disciplines, different lengths of time training different professions all over the world. So, I want to say to him, hey, do you want to close up?
Jordan Cann:
Stay consistent in what you do know at the end of the day, nobody has you. Except you know, you're going to meet people who are going to make you some promises and say some things that “oh, I can help”. Put this up with that ultimately at the end day it's up to you. You are your business or your brand. You are what's going to make everything around you work so to speak yes, it is a team at the end of the day you are your best friend. So, love yourself, take care of yourself be patient with yourself accept yourself and just continue to build on that.
Jeremy Lesniak:
I had a great time. I'm looking forward to checking out the movie. The other movie, the other stuff he's got going on. Man, this is somebody I can see a lot of myself in right like doing a whole bunch of really cool different stuff. And threading through a lot of it is martial arts. So, Jordan, thanks for coming on the show. I'm sure we'll talk again and audience, I want you to know that Jordan and I just spent close to 30 minutes after the show just chatting, just chatting about life about music. You know what a great guy I really hope you go check out the stuff he's got going on. He's going places. I've got a good feeling on this one.
If you want to go deeper on the show, go to whistlekickmartialartsradio.com. Check out the show notes. it's Episode 646 check out the links in the videos and the photos and the transcripts and all those other things sign up for the newsletter and once you're done with that head on over to whistlekickprograms.com. Don't forget we've got a number of, right now have four different training programs starting at free that you can check out to make you a better martial artist. Strength, Speed, Endurance. Flexibility. Yup, flexibility once free. So. check that out. And then if you want to go even deeper follow us on social media, we’re @whistlekick.
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