How far would you go to get your movie made? Violet Vendetta director / co-writer Ted Hayden answers that question in his raucous action-comedy short. Luke (Brandon H. Lee) and Hunter (Hector Melgoza) are making a low budget martial arts action movie (also called Violet Vendetta). To fund the movie Hunter borrowed from a loan shark named Oscar (Scott Sheldon), and the note is coming due. Hunter was operating under the delusion that they would have released the film by now and already have inked a distro deal. His plan was to pay the bitcoin they owe Oscar and even have a big payday for themselves.
With the movie unfinished, and no bitcoin on hand, their dreams of fame and fortune are squashed, and the two find themselves in a jam when Oscar’s intimidating lieutenant (Merlin Ripley) comes to collect. You know he’s an a*****e with no sense of humor because he arrives in a Cybertruck. The filmmakers flee into a nearby golf course, pursued by Oscar’s goons. Luke and Hunter are suddenly immersed in their own martial arts drama. They are attacked by skilled hand-to-hand fighters, and a viciously efficient katana warrior (Ashley Kim). Luke holds them off while Hunter runs, carrying a drive with the only copy of their film.
“… the shady loan they took out to fund their movie is about to come due …”
Violet Vendetta captures the spirit of irreverent Indie comedy, along with intense martial arts action, in under 11 minutes. There are entertaining cameos and even an appearance by Hayden himself as a golfer asking the right question. As Hunter, Melgoza lands somewhere between Pulp Fiction’s Vincent Vega and any oblivious character by Nicolas Cage.
Lee is a real life martial artist. He whirls nunchucks (and golf clubs) with surgical precision, and delivers a flying bicycle kick that is a wonder to behold. We have to pause momentarily and consider his name: Brandon H. Lee. That “H” isn’t deflecting anybody. It takes brass balls to walk around the world of film and martial arts as Brandon Lee. The O.G. Brandon Lee (son of Bruce Lee,) was famously killed while filming the original (and best) The Crow movie in 1994. Hat tip to Mr. Brandon H. Lee for audacity. But, “it ain’t bragging if you can do it,” and he can. Lee is a Taekwondo champion, an experienced stunt performer, and is featured in the Netflix show Cobra Kai. He is making his bones. Also, he’s a fifth-degree black belt… so let us not piss him off.
Violet Vendetta is a hilarious blend of Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu theater and raw indie bonehead comedy. It could easily be expanded into a crazy fun feature length film. Hopefully Hayden has that in mind, but is also careful where the funding comes from. Stay for the credits, they are worth watching.
Learn more at the official Violet Vendetta website.
"…a hilarious blend of Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu theater and indie-film comedy"
