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Charles Bronson Look-alike Robert Bronzi talks about new film “Cry Havoc”

If you passed Robert Bronzi on the street you would definitely do a double take thinking that you have just passed the late actor Charles Bronson. Bronzi has taken Hollywood by storm recently and has starred in films like “Death Kiss”, Once Upon a Time in Deadwood” and most recently the horror film “Cry Havoc”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with the Bronson doppelganger to discuss his films and likeness to Charles Bronson.

Mike Gencarelli: How does it feel to be called “The Hungarian Charles Bronson”?

Robert Bronzi: In my home town people know me as Robert or Bronzi because that is my stage name. Also, when I’m traveling in the country a lot of people want to take a photo with me, they congratulate me and wish me luck. I have to say it’s a very good feeling.

MG: When did you first get confronted about your likeness to Charles Bronson?

RB: As young man, pretty much my whole life. So I cut my hair and moustache like Bronson. Many years ago in Hungary I worked as a horse breeder and horse trainer. At the horse breeding center we had a lot of visitors every day, people told me “hey boy ! you know you look like Charles Bronson? ” I worked with my very good friend Peter, he would always say that I looked like him and he began to call me Bronzi. So he gave me my nick name . After that everyone called me Bronzi and it became my artist name.

MG: Give us some background on your life before you started making movies in Hollywood?

RB: I’m an actor, musician and stuntman. I have done a lot of different and interesting things in my life. I worked in Hungary as a horse breeder and horse trainer. I performed at western shows in Hungary and Spain in different pieces. I’m an accordionist, I played music in bars, at festivals, weddings and private parties.

MG: Tell us what was it like filming in Western Leone, near Almeria, Spain, which was the site of much of the filming of the famous Sergio Leone/Charles Bronson western ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST?

RB: Well, I really enjoyed filming in Almeria as I worked there for quite a few years in the western village of TEXAS HOLLYWOOD TABERNAS as a stunt performer. There I met some of my acquaintances, my old colleagues, and a few of them are also featured in the film, and my acting partners are also wonderful and talented people. Every time I go to Almeria I feel like if I am going home. I really like that place and Spain too.

MG: How was it going from a revenge western to a horror movie like CRY HAVOC?

RB: My first western style movie was shot some years ago, also with Rene Perez . The name of the film was From Hell To The Wild West .This is a western movie with horror elements. CRY HAVOC is a horror and action movie without western elements. For me that was a new challenge, a new role what I tried to do with my best ability as an actor.

MG: You have worked with director Rene Perez on four films now; tell us about how this collaboration started?

RB: Rene Perez saw my photo on the Saloon wall in Spain in the western village where I worked as a stunt performer. He thought it was a photo of Charles Bronson years ago hand asked the owner about the photo. When Rene found out it wasn’t Bronson, it was me, he told the owner, “I want to meet this guy”.

MG: I read you train in judo and Muay Thai; tell us about how you keep in shape?

RB: I work hard to keep my body in shape. In Hungary I have some good friends that help me get ready for the movies. They teach me martial arts such as judo and Thai boxing, and three times a week I visit the gym.

MG: What do you do when you are not acting?

RB: I have got some preferred hobbies. For example: Riding, archery, fishing, playing on my accordion and walking in the forest. I would also like to mention that I ‘m a member of a traditional preservation team in Hungary. When I have time I go with them to attend the traditional festivals where I use my sword, my replica firearms and of course my bow in the live show. Also I have different costumes from the very old times.

MG: What films do you have planned upcoming after CRY HAVOC?

RB: Currently I’m working on a few new projects. I can’t say much but in the near future you will see a lot of Bronzi action films .

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Actor – and Bronson Lookalike – Robert Kovacs talks about his new film “Death Kiss”

If you were walking down the street and passed by actor Robert Kovacs nobody would question if you did a double-take or two. Ruggedly handsome, the Hungarian-born actor and stuntman bears more than a strong resemblance to one of the greatest icons of action cinema, Charles Bronson.

Capitalizing on that resemblance, Mr. Kovacs is currently starring in the action-thriller DEATH KISS, currently available ON DEMAND from Uncork’d Entertainment.

Nicknamed “Bronzi” by his friends, Mr. Kovacs took time out from promoting his new film to chat with Media Mikes.

When did you come down with the acting bug, Robert?

I have always loved film. Since seeing the Westerns on the movie theatre screens as a boy. This caused me to work as a stunt man and live performer at Wild West shows all across Europe including Almeria, Spain where I was the Sheriff for many years. Performing in front of tourists at the same locations the epic films of Sergio Leone were filmed.

Did you go to acting school?

Yes, I attended acting school at the Maria Mezey Theatre School in Budapest.

What was your first project?

Aside from Live Performances I have also been featured in commercial print ads for many European Brands and featured in a series of commercials for one of Europe’s largest supermarket chains. They featured me as a Bronson-type character to promote sales in their Grilling Season promos. Much fun and very successful. But my first film was years ago, a Western called American Night.

Who was the first person to tell you looked like Charles Bronson?

My good friend Peter. We were very young men and worked together in horse breeding. He would always say “ You look like him.” “ You look like Bronson. “ So he begins calling me Bronzi. It kind of stuck.

And is this the first film where you’ve emulated him?

The first film where I portrayed a character similar to Bronson was From Hell To The Wild West also by Director Rene Perez. (NOTE: Mr. Perez is also the director of Death Kiss). The character was a stranger with no name hot on the trail of a serial killer. The stranger was a man of few words who let his pistols do the talking.

Is there anything you had to do to ‘perfect’ your look for the film?

I grew my hair in a more familiar style and trimmed my mustache just right. Rene had many suggestions and I listened closely and followed them. Much of what you see is naturally how I move but he greatly showed me how he perceived the character.

How different is Death Kiss to Death Wish?

I think they are very different films. Similar in tone with a tale of vengeance or retribution but a very different approach. The stranger is more mysterious in nature and less transparent. So his actions may be perceived as darker in intent. Also Death Kiss is a much smaller film so the emphasis on action and gun-play are more at the forefront.

Did you have to do any weapons training?

I train regularly with replica firearms. I do stunt work as well with most of it being firearms related stunts. I also perform often as a costumed reenactor of famous battles in Europe. This also requires the use of period replica powder firing rifles and cannons.

Do you do your own stunts?

I do. I work hard to keep my body in shape. I have been a stunt man in live shows. Everything from saloon brawls to falling off horses. Maybe even a building or two. I have trained as an acrobat and continue to lift weights daily as well as regular conditioning, Judo training and a few nights a week I do Thai Boxing.

How about a sequel?

If the fans would be so kind as wanting a sequel and Rene has something in mind I think the Stranger still has much work to do.

Interview with Bronson Pelletier

Bronson Pelletier plays Jared in the “The Twilight Saga” series. Bronson also stars alongside fellow “Twilight” cast member Tinsel Kory in the upcoming film “Fishing Naked”. Media Mikes caught up with Bronson fresh off his return from this year’s Comic-Con convention.

Adam Lawton: What drew you to audition for the role of Jared in the “Twilight” series?
Bronson Pelletier: At first when I wanted to audition they didn’t give us a lot of information about the roles and were very secretive. I auditioned for the role of Embry at first and didn’t really have an idea what “New Moon” was. I had thought it was just some sort of aboriginal movie. After the audition I started to do my homework and realized it was part of “The Twilight Saga”. I went back for another audition and they had me read for Quil which was an entirely different character. I went to that audition a little nervous as the producer and director were there. When the audition was over they didn’t really give me any other information until about 3 weeks later when they told me I got the part. About three weeks before we started shooting I received the script and was told then that I would playing the character of Jared. I auditioned for two different characters and ended up getting something different. Jared’s great though because he’s part of the wolf pack right of the bat!

AL: So were your familiar with the book series prior to filming?
BP: I had no idea. I was totally oblivious to the whole “Twilight” thing.

AL: Did you take anything from your character in the books and apply that to your onscreen portrayal of Jared?
BP: Definitely! I always try to put a little bit of my actual self in each character I play so with this particular character I chose to make him a bit of a jokester.

AL: What has been your favorite part about working on the films so far?
BP: There are probably two different things. The fans are just amazing! I love them and they are really diehards about the films. I also really enjoy the camaraderie amongst the wolf pack. We often end up hanging out outside of shooting which is great.

AL: What has been your experience with being recognized by the fans when you are out in public?
BP: It still seems very surreal. Here in Los Angeles not a lot of people will come up to you and say hello but, when you’re in the Midwest for instance you get recognized a lot more and people will come right up to you. It is just very surreal.

AL: Any good fan encounter stories for us?
BP: (Laughs) I was in Toronto doing Much Music with Kellen Lutz and the people at Much Music had put our faces on these underwear and girls were almost rioting to get them. On top of that I don’t know how the fans found out which room I was in but I was in my room at the hotel and there was a knock on my door. I looked out my peep hole and there was like 20 girls lined up outside my room. I think it was the bell girls because every time I would order food like 4 girls would come up to deliver one meal. I figured it had to be them but I have no idea.

AL: I was told you just returned from Comic-Con. What was that experience like?
BP: This was my first Comic-Con experience ever and it was crazy! I didn’t expect it to be that big. The way I explained it to my friends because I am a big dork and love comic books and video games as it was a Mardi Gras/Halloween for nerds.

AL: Did you get to check out the convention at all?
BP: They tried to tell me I couldn’t go down to the lower floor and check stuff out but I told them it was something I really wanted to do. They finally said ok but told me I would have to wear a mask while I was down there. I ended up wearing an Optimus Prime mask which was a lot of fun. I had a total fan boy moment when I got to meet the guys from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”.

AL: Can you tell us about “Fishing Naked” which both you and fellow “Twilight” cast member Tinsel Kory are in?
BP: It’s going to be a lot of fun to film. The film does involve a little bit of fishing but the film is going to be somewhat of a cross between “American Pie” and say “Supernatural”. The film also stars Elyse Levesque from “Stargate Universe”. We start shooting in September in Colorado. I am actually going up there soon to learn how to fly fish so I know what I am doing during the movie.(Laughs)

AL: Can you tell us about any other projects you have in the works?
BP: Right now and friend and I have some other projects that we are trying to get up off the ground but other than those nothing else just yet.

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Charles Bronson Look-alike Robert Bronzi talks about new film “Cry Havoc”

Actor – and Bronson Lookalike – Robert Kovacs talks about his new film “Death Kiss”

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Interview with Bronson Pelletier

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