While we only see the final product, this week’s new streaming movies are the result of countless hours of intense preparation, from grueling physical training to deep psychological character work. Let’s speculate on the incredible effort that went into bringing these stories to the screen.
For Ballerina (Starz, today), Ana de Armas surely underwent months of rigorous physical conditioning and martial arts training. To perform the complex “gun-fu” choreography of the John Wick universe, she would have worked with world-class stunt teams, mastering everything from weapons handling to intricate hand-to-hand combat, all while likely incorporating elements of dance to fit her character.
In The Surfer (Hulu, today), Nicolas Cage’s preparation would have been more internal. To portray a man’s descent into madness, Cage would have done a deep psychological dive into his character’s psyche. His process is famous for its intensity, and he likely spent weeks exploring the emotions of fear, rage, and obsession to deliver such a raw performance.
The production of Karate Kid: Legends (Netflix, Saturday) would have involved choreographing complex fight sequences that blend multiple martial arts styles. The actors, including the young Ben Wang, would have trained extensively to perform the tournament scenes convincingly, while Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan worked to mesh their characters’ distinct philosophies.
Creating the android battles in M3GAN 2.0 (Peacock) is a marvel of technical preparation. It would involve a combination of physical performers, puppetry, and cutting-edge CGI. The precision required to make these robotic fights look both realistic and stylish is a testament to the skill of the visual effects and stunt teams.
For tomorrow’s premiere of All of You (Apple TV+), Imogen Poots and Jenna Coleman’s preparation would have focused on building a believable chemistry. As two best friends with a lifetime of shared history, they would have spent time developing their characters’ backstories and the subtle, non-verbal cues that define their powerful bond.