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type of repossession that was performed (either legal
or black market). For example, a Level 5 repo man
such as Remy has reclaimed a large number of artiforgs.
His company-sponsored tattoo showcases five
hash marks to indicate that he is at Level 5. A much
greener (Level 1) repo man would only have one hash
mark on his neck.
Jake prepares to take out a target.
Perfecting Martial Arts:
Training Killers
As he believed it would inform their performances
mentally, Sapochnik felt that it was crucial that
his cast was very prepared physically. He reflects:
“The physical training made them feel their strength
inherently, without their needing to flaunt it.”
Because Law was tackling a very physical role, he
moved to Toronto several weeks before production
– 18 –
began and took part in an intensive training course that
included hours of training at Gym Jones. The trainers
behind the bodies in the film 300 put the actor through
a punishing four hours of fight training a day, followed
by four hours of rehearsal with the director.
Sapochnik marvels at Law’s commitment: “I
watched Jude physically transform to a point where it
changed the look in his eye, and that can’t be manufactured.
He discovered something about himself
through training that he didn’t know before, and he
channeled that into his character.”
“My trainer and I worked for about a month practicing
basic hand-to-hand combat before we started
filming,” recalls Law. “We also worked with sticks,
boxing and basic movement so that I could become
very natural using any weapon from a knife or a stick
to my fists.”
The arduous physical aspects of Repo Men were
also what helped attract Forest Whitaker to the role of
Jake. An avid student of martial arts, Whitaker
provides, “I initially worked with a fight trainer, and
then continued the weight training myself for the rest
of the film shoot.”
Sapochnik was very involved in the choreography
of the fight sequences and combat training. This skillset
development began with learning a Filipino style
of martial arts, supervised by fight coordinator HIRO
KODA, and it evolved into the performers’ learning a
hybrid of knife fighting, karate and kickboxing. Each
character developed his or her own style of fighting,
with all participants showcasing raw, acrobatic styles.
To prepare for her role, Braga spoke extensively
with Sapochnik about how to showcase her character’s
fighting style, which stems from surviving on
the streets by any means necessary. Says the actress:
“Miguel and I chatted about how we would have Beth
defend herself. It was important for my entire body to
feel as if I could survive by myself without anyone
protecting me because Beth doesn’t have anyone.
That’s what makes her strong.