Okizoo’s camera man and video editor Russell Banks, has been in high demand in the Bangkok acting scene over the last two months. Besides devoting half of his valuable time to filming and editing footage for Okizoo, Russ is now juggling some 12 hour-long days acting as the standing for M.Bison (Neal McDonough) on the forth coming Street Fighter II Movie.

The movie ‘Street Fighter II: The Legend Of Chun-Li’ is directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak and will feature top Hollywood actors:

• Neal McDonough (88 Minutes, Flags of Our Fathers, Minority Report) as M. Bision
• Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, EuroTrip) as Chun-Li
• Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile, The Whole Nine Yards, Sin City ) as Balrog
• Chris Klein (American Pie, Rollerball, We Were Soldiers ) as Nash
• Robin Shou (Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, DOA: Dead or Alive, Beverly Hills Ninja) as Jen

Russ has worked as an extra on many commercials from Sunsilk Hair Products advert featuring Thai Model ‘Am’ to a Mitsubishi advert featuring ‘Tony Jah’ who is known for playing the leading role in Thai martial arts flicks Ang Bak, and Tom Yam Kung.

Russ has also worked as an extra in few Thai and Indian films but his luck came after landing a part as an extra on the Street Fighter II Movie. Only a few days into his job, Russ quickly got promoted to become the standing for M.Bison.

For those who aren’t sure what a stand-in is required to do; a stand-in is the person who acts out the scene for the first time in a kinda of trail run. Whilst the cameras roll, they must act out the scene precisely, as is required. When the scene is reviewed by the director and his team, elements such as the camera angles and lighting can be adjusted if needed. Some actors choose or are required to watch these scenes to give them a better idea of what they have to do.

In true Zoo spirit Russ has been getting in with the director, drinking champagne after the days work is done, and generally having a great time whilst working his ass off for the camera.

Things are also looking good for his future projects as Russ is already lined up for an audition to take a small speaking role in the forth-coming John Cusak movie, Shanghai and there also talk of a role in a new Oliver Stone movie being filmed out this way, but that’s not confirmed yet…..

So its fingers crossed for the Zoo director of moving visuals, but not just for the forth-coming BKK raw video (yeh don’t be forgetting now!) but for his acting career too!

Popularity: 11% [?]