Firepower (1993 film)

Firepower marked the acting debut of professional wrestler Jim Hellwig, best known as "The Ultimate Warrior," who underwent training with karate instructor Richard Rabago and the film's fight coordinator Art Camacho for three weeks in advance of the shoot.^[1][2] It was Gary Daniels' fourth film for PM Entertainment, and his first in a top billed role. The Briton originally turned down PM's offer, as the salary was not to his liking, and he had no interest in doing another deathmatch movie. But after their execs insisted he read the script, he realized that the role was sizeable, with more fun banter than his bread-and-butter work. After consulting with his agent, he decided to sign on.^[3] He also requested that his fights be choreographed by his own martial arts instructor, Winston Omega.^[1][4]

Filming started on March 1, 1993, and continued for the rest of the month.^[5][6][7] The exterior of the Death Ring's venue was represented by the historic Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, but there is no indication that the fights set inside were actually captured there. It was the first PM film shot at their brand new studios in Sun Valley, California, although other parts took place at a third-party facility, the Lacy Street studios, also in Los Angeles.^[1] The 2nd Street Tunnel between Hill and Figueroa was the location for the film's opening setpiece.^[8] The second chase features a GM Futurliner, one of the model's very few appearances in live action fiction, and possibly the only one.^[9]

While PM's trademark vehicular stunts required entire streets to be blocked off at night for up to a week, the martial arts sequences received less attention. All the Death Ring scenes were crammed into the last two days, and all the masters were done in a single day. The actors had to perform the whole fight in a continuous take in front of the same three cameras, which starkly contrasted with the minutia Daniels had witnessed in Hong Kong.^[1] The Londoner enjoyed collaborating with Hellwig, although his size and wrestling background made him a much slower performer than he was used to.^[10][11] While Daniels did not personally have issues with Chad McQueen, director/producer Richard Pepin was dissatisfied with the latter's work ethic.^[12][13]

Although Gary Daniels was Chad McQueen's sidekick, the PM gave him a preferential place on the poster based on how the film had turned out.^[14][15] It was a strong seller at the 1993 Cannes Film Market, even though no workprint could be completed in time for the event.^[1]

Firepower was premiered domestically on VHS through PM Entertainment on January 26, 1994.^[16] Image Entertainment also released a LaserDisc version on August 6, 1994.^[17]