Film Fights With Friends
Film Fights With Friends
Film Fights with Friends is the premiere action filmmaking podcast and film festival. Join filmmaker stuntmen Paul Varacchi and Stephen Koepfer on a show that was nominated for Best TV/Film Podcast at the 2025 Podcast Awards and won the Dramatic Action Awards for the past 2 years running! In 2015 Paul and Steve founded Breakfall Studios, New York’s top action design studio. Get a view behind the camera as they sit with industry guests, break down cinematic fight scenes and action sequences, explore the filmmaking craft, and share their own filmmaking journeys. STEPHEN KOEPFER Stunt performer, filmmaker, renowned coach and martial artist. Stephen has stunt doubled for the likes of Jonanthan Banks, Eddie Marsan, Henry Winkler and Tom Hollander as well as performed stunts on productions including Ray Donovan, Caught Stealing, The Beast in Me and John Wick 2 & 3. As a filmmaker, he has produced and directed several narrative films and documentaries that reflect his passion for storytelling. PAUL VARACCHI Martial artist, stunt & motion capture performer, and celebrity chef. Paul has appeared in such shows as Daredevil, The Punisher, Walking Dead: Dead City and World Beyond, The Night Agent and Gotham. Behind the camera, Paul has many years of production involvement in roles ranging from PA to department head including extensive Health and Safety experience at Marvel and Disney. At the age of 8, Paul’s dad took him to see Robocop and the rest is history! ® Film Fights With Friends, LLC
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June 20, 2025

204: Avaah Blackwell’s Treks and Wrecks

204: Avaah Blackwell’s Treks and Wrecks
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Season 2

Avaah Blackwell is a multilingual actor and versatile stunt performer. Classically trained in Europe, Blackwell began her career as a performer after graduating from Prague Film School's "Acting for Film" program at the top of her class. She has appeared in such productions as The Handmaid’s Tale, What We Do in the Shadows, 12 Monkeys and The Umbrella Academy. Avaah is most noted for her continued presence in the Star Trek universe including 28 episodes of Star Trek Discovery in such roles as Lt. Ina, Osnullus, and many other characters; 14 episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as Rebecca Romijn’s stunt double and other roles; and most recently Star Trek: Section 31. Avaah is a longtime martial artist, which she has carried into her career as an actor and stunt performer. We start this interview with a breakdown of the Una vs La’an fight from episode 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. When not working on screen, Avaah can be found supporting her love for film by working for TIFF and Sundance Film Festival.

Avaah’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4389000/bio/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Avaah’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/avaahblackwell

Avaah’s website: https://www.avaahblackwell.com/

MENTIONS

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Episode 3 - Una vs La’an: https://youtu.be/16AqzmpXpWI?si=da5kdR0he2OGupWg

TAMMFF Film Freeway: https://filmfreeway.com/TAMMFF

FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS

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Steve’s Instagram: Instagram.com/sambosteve


Steve’s IMDB: http://imdb.me/stephenkoepfer


Paul’s on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/KravMagaChef


Paul’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062990/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


Breakfall Studios’ Instagram: http://Instagram.com/breakfallstunts


OUR SPONSORS

PRODUCERS

Executive Producers:

Stephen Koepfer

Paul Varacchi


Produced by:

Press Record Studios

- Matthew Kaplowitz

- Richard Butler

- Andrea Levine

http://www.pressrecordstudios.com


Video Editor

Matthew Kaplowitz


Original music by:

Ahrue Luster


Brought to you by Breakfall Studios

®Film Fights With Friends LLC