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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Nov. 7, 2025

214: Jamie Kilstein’s Blue Belts

214: Jamie Kilstein’s Blue Belts
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Season 2

Creating a television show is no easy task. The vast majority of television pilots, even the great ones, do not result in a series being produced. It is a labor of love and dedication to the craft of storytelling. Jamie Kilstein is an actor, comedian, podcaster, jiu-jitsu black belt, creator, and star of Blue Belts, his first scripted television project. In this interview, we dig into Blue Belts, what it took to get the pilot made, where it is going, its autobiographical influences, and the people that went to the mat to bring it to fruition. With heavy doses of straight talk about life, the entertainment business and old school martial arts, our conversation shows how every life lived holds an important story to be told.

Known for his standup on Conan, Showtime, and the BBC, Jamie began his career performing in coffee houses before making his mark at major festivals worldwide. In his early career he was mentored by Robin Williams, who said of him, “Jamie is amazing- he has a spark that energizes my conscience.” In recent years, Jamie pivoted from the world of stand-up into acting and immediately dove into performances on film and stage, immediately booking his first three auditions. With a deep passion for jiu-jitsu and unmatched humor, Jamie uses his experiences to connect with people, sharing both his mistakes and his growth in the process.

MENTIONS:

Jamie Kilstein’s Intagram: http://instagram.com/thejamiekilstein

James Armstrong’s Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamesarmstrongstunts

Marissa Falsone’s Instagram: http://instagram.com/marissa.falsone

Blue Belt’s website: www.bluebeltstv.com

Blue Belt’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36953287/reference/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Film Fights with Friends Winter Mixer, Open Training and Movie Night:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/winter-open-and-138453493

FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS

Do you listen to our show as an audio podcast? Give video a try. Subscribe to our Youtube for the video version with awesome behind the scenes pics and video! https://www.youtube.com/@FilmFightsFriendsPod?sub_confirmation=1

Dig the show? Consider supporting our Patreon. There are some cool perks! http://patreon.com/FilmFightsFriendsPodcast

Join our e-mail list! Hit us up here: fightingwithfriendspod@gmail.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod

Facebook: http://facebook.com/FilmFightsFriendsPod

Steve’s Instagram: http://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

SPONSORS

Stunt Contact

https://stuntcontact.com/

Stunt Access

https://stuntaccess.com/

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