Riley Stearns is an American Filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His film balance on the edge of real and surreal, often focusing upon darker characteristics of the teacher – student relationship. Riley has written and directed Faults (2014), Dual (2022) and his most noted feature The Art of Self Defense (2019) starring Jesse Eisenberg. Riley is a long-time martial artist himself who holds a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Our interview with Riley begins with a pivotal fight from The Art of Self Defense and continues to explore why artists might gravitate to martial arts, work life balance and similarities between directing and training martial arts.

Riley’s IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2720681/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Riley’s Instagram: http://instagram.com/rileystearns

MENTIONS

Art of Self Defense Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/7Bms6Hba-3A?si=kLHDP7rwory_g7Lk

Art of Self Defense Anna’s Fight: https://youtu.be/R5agksmV0sQ?si=mYmN7Tfy0fSR3ZWI

Art of Self Defense Elbow Break Scene: https://youtu.be/7Bms6Hba-3A?si=kLHDP7rwory_g7Lk

Art of Self Defense Final Fight Scene: https://youtu.be/Syj6a0Qp420?si=aMgAGKg6jUW0EKs0

Faults Trailer: https://youtu.be/pnnbhJSX75U?si=3ewa2Rghy4dM2S6I

Dual Trailer: https://youtu.be/CpZkNQ0E4YI?si=lhphD_yRbwJMi2u3

The Vince Staples Show: https://www.netflix.com/title/81264943

Bobby Joe Blythe assault on homeless man: https://youtu.be/UDk963JkVkE?si=J8wbLIOoX0b-odcI

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

Limited Edition Collectables: https://instagram.com/limited_edition_collectables

Train with Hector Santana in Los Angeles: https://www.taojiujitsu.com/

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