Concrete and Crashpads: Stunts in New York

'Concrete and Crashpads - Stunts in New York' is a documentary film that offers a glimpse into the invisible world of New York's booming stunt community. The life of a stunt performer is lived in the shadows, without fanfare or recognition. This film peeks into the lives of some of the men and women who put their bodies and lives on the line, or aspire to do so, for an audience that may not know they even exist.

"Concrete and Crashpads was a great sneak peek of the industry and overview of the basics. To someone that has no clue about what a stunt performer does, or is, it's an insightful look at the nuts and bolts of our work."
- James Armstrong, Stunt Coordinator (Fear The Walking Dead, Amazing Spiderman 2)

  • Stephen Koepfer
    Director
  • Matthew Kaplowitz
    Director
    Girl Fight: A Muay Thai Story
  • Stephen Koepfer
    Producer
    Girl Fight: A Muay Thai Story; New York MMA,
  • Matthew Kaplowitz
    Producer
    Girl Fight: A Muay Thai Story; 911: A Fighting Spirit
  • Tim Lajcik
    Key Cast
  • Jeremy Sample
    Key Cast
  • Mack Kuhr
    Key Cast
  • Chazz Menendez
    Key Cast
  • Anthony Mecca
    Key Cast
  • Joanne Lamstein
    Key Cast
  • Tina McKissick
    Key Cast
  • Federico Berte'
    Key Cast
  • Wendy Gutierrez
    Key Cast
  • Anthony Hoang
    Key Cast
  • Hannah D. Scott
    Key Cast
  • Matthew Kaplowitz
    Cinematography
    Girl Fight: A Muay Thai Story
  • Matthew Kaplowitz
    Editing
    Girl Fight: A Muay Thai Story
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 12, 2016
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2016 HBO/Cinemax's Urban Action Showcase and Expo
    New York City, NY
    United States
    November 12, 2016
    Festival Premier
    Official Selection
  • 2017 Best Shorts Competition
    La Jolla, California
    United States
    April 4, 2017
    Award of Excellence
  • 2017 Iron DragonTV ActionFest/IDTVFlix Fest
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    Winner: Audience Choice
  • 2017 Rahway International Film Festival
    Rahway, New Jersey
    United States
    Official Selection
  • 2017 Movies4Movies Summer Festival
    Dobbs Ferry, NY
    United States
    Official Selection
  • 2017 YofiFest, Yonkers Film Festival
    Yonkers, New York
    United States
    Official Selection
  • 2017 Manhattan Independent Film Festival
    New York City, NY
    United States
    Official Selection
  • 2017 New York State International Film Festival
    Albany, New York
    United States
    Official Selection
  • IIPMF 2017

    Italy
  • 2017 Action On Film Festival
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    United States
    Nominated, Best Editing of a Documentary
  • 2017 SAG-AFTRA Foundation - The Business
    New York City, NY
    United States
    Screening
Director Biography - Stephen Koepfer, Matthew Kaplowitz

Stephen is a lifelong New Yorker and martial artist. He holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and a Master of Sport in Combat Sambo. Stephen has competition experience in various combat sports; including a San Shou World Open Bronze Medal and Shuai Jiao US Open Gold Medal. As head coach of New York Combat Sambo, which he founded in 2003, Stephen has coached his team to multiple victories in both national and international combat sports including Sambo, Catch Wrestling, Combat Wrestling, BJJ, Grappling, Shuai Jiao, San Da & MMA. He was a for the 2008 US World Sambo Team as well as Head Coach for the 2015 & 2016 US Combat Wrestling World Team.

A filmmaker and SAG-AFTRA stunt performer, since childhood Stephen has dreamed of working in the film and television industry; even having attended film-making camp during several summers of his youth. As he grew older he continued to experiment with film-making. At first with an old super-8 camera of his father's and later with modern digital technology. After high school, where Stephen focused on visual art, he attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City on a full scholarship for Advertising and Graphic Design.

While Stephen's professional life after college took him away from film and television, it was his life-long involvement in martial arts that brought him back to his original love. Recognized for his expertise, Stephen served as a technical adviser for Human Weapon (History Channel, 2008) and the season one finale of Dhani Tackles the Globe (Travel Channel, 2009), where he also appeared as himself. Stephen's inauguration as a Producer came in 2011 with the acclaimed feature documentary New York Mixed Martial Arts (2011). Since that time Stephen has been in front or or behind the camera on several television, film and web-based projects in various roles including producer, director, actor, stunts and fight choreographer.

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