We here at Movie Cynics relish the opportunity to speak with filmmakers and actors both in the industry and outside of it. However, we rarely get the chance to talk with someone like Paul Sampson. As the writer, director and star of his new film Night of the Templar, Paul has put quite a bit of time and effort into his craft. He has extensive experience in several different areas of filmmaking, but nobody can be prepared for what happened to one of the stars of his latest film. Sadly, Night of the Templar will be the last film that David Carradine ever starred in. No filmmaker wants the death of a famous actor to cast a shadow over their work, especially one as well known and respected as Carradine. However, everyone involved with the project has persevered and this film is now close to receiving an official release. Today, we are pleased to have had the opportunity to speak with Paul about this and many other aspects of filmmaking.

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The multi-talented Paul Sampson is nothing short of a phenom when it comes to film. The light-hearted Sampson has had his hand in just about every aspect of the industry and is about to make a huge splash with his directorial debut, “Night of the Templar.”

The film boasts an amazing story and an even more amazing cast. The exciting new film also features legendary actor David Carradine, his final role before an untimely death. Steve Johnson of Icon vs. Icon recently caught up with Sampson for a hilarious conversation that covers his influences, his relationship with Boondock Saints’ Norman Reedus, his thoughts on working with David Carradine, his reaction to the actor’s death, and, of course, all things to do with “Night of the Templar.”

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At some point in our lives, we’ve all wanted to be an actor. We hear about the glamorous lifestyles and the paychecks and we ask ourselves “how hard could that be?” However, once most of us do that school play, we realize that maybe acting isn’t our calling. The amount of work that goes into acting is something most of us never consider.

Not only is Paul Sampson a professional actor, but for his latest film, “Night of the Templar,” Sampson was also the director, producer and writer. Along with talking with It’s Just Movies about what being an actor is like for him, Sampson discusses his latest film, the death of David Carradine (whose last film was “Night of the Templar”), and how making a movie has changed his life.

Read Sampson’s interview below and make sure to keep an eye out for “Night of the Templar” in the future. :: Read More

Paul Sampson is not only acting but also writing, producing, directing and even stunt coordinating in his latest film “Night of the Templar”. This is Paul’s directorial debut and is packed with one amazing cast, including David Carradine, in one of his last roles, as well as Udo Kier, Norman Reedus and Billy Drago. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Paul about ”Night of the Templar” and reflected on working with such a great cast.

Mike Gencarelli: Did you find it difficult to direct since it was your first feature, and also while acting in the film?

Paul Sampson: No, Directing came very natural to me on set. I don’t know why, but it was second nature. I’m an Actor, and I found it easy to relate to the other Actors. In knowing the craft, I allowed the Actors to do their thing. However, I could easily tell when they weren’t ‘honest’ in their performance, and needed guidance or another take. All the seasoned actors really trusted my Direction and confided in me. And when I acted in a scene it just put me that one step closer, so it actually made it even easier to Direct when I was Acting. Only problem was that  :: Read More

The stage is set for retribution as an eclectic group is lured to a secluded EUROPEAN CASTLE under the guise of a promised “fantasy weekend.” And as they read from an obscure storybook, a nefarious tale of avarice is reenacted for their entertainment. However, they are unaware that they have been gathered for their own personal and befitting executions.

In the course of one night, identities will be revealed, destinies met and a poetic justice of the macabre will be maniacally served, as a merciless Knight resurrects after 700 years to fulfill his vow and bestow a blood-thirst reprisal upon his enemies’ reanimated spirits. They had their time... Now it’s His!

Here tells a tale of Passion, Loyalty, Deceit, Betrayal…and Revenge.
Only the righteous shall survive, for this will truly be the NIGHT OF THE TEMPLAR

Paul Sampson is a Director, Writer and Actor who has worked on over 20 films and is recently working on production for Night of the Templar.

Q. Looking back, is film your most wished for career choice?

A. Are we talking fantasy or reality? I think when I was younger, my ‘career choice’ would have been that of a Professional Athlete (Football or Baseball) or a Rock Star (lead screamer), but again, those careers paths were more fantasy. Come to think of it, I guess Acting as a profession can be viewed by many as also being a bit of a fantasy. So in my case, seeing I didn’t become a Professional Athlete or Rock Star, I settled on the Silver Screen … we all make sacrifices (laughing)…and no, I never wanted to be an Astronaut. The thought of eating a pill as a meal replacement never excited me. (READ MORE ONLINE HERE)

NIGHT OF THE TEMPLAR is one of David Carradine’s last movies. Actor Paul Sampson has been working his heart out on this movie. He not only starred in this film, he also wrote/directed/produced. Movie Mikes will be working on bringing you up-to-date information about this film. Check out the information below showcasing this film:

CAST:
Paul Sampson - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0760196/ (Hero Wanted, Whacked)
David Carradine - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001016/ (Kill Bill, Kung Fu)
Udo Kier - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001424/ (Blade, Ace Ventura)
Norman Reedus - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005342/ (*The Walking Dead, Blade 2, Boondock Saints)
Billy Drago - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0236711/ (The Untouchables, The Hills Have Eyes)
and more on the Official IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0768222/

We find it amazing just how prolific David Carradine was in the medium of film, and since his untimely and tragic death he's been in almost as many movies as Tupac has made albums. The latest one? Night of the Templar.

Written, directed and starring Paul Sampson, Night of the Templar stars an impressive cast including the aforementioned Carradine and "The Walking Dead"'s Norman Reedus along with film legends Udo Kier and Billy Drago.

Check out the official Night of the Templar website for a ton of info including dozens of production photos. We'll keep an eye on this one for you and let you know when we dig up some distro news.

Synopsis
A Medieval Knight resurrects to fulfill his vow and bestow a blood-thirst vengeance upon the kindred spirits of those who betrayed him long ago. In the course of one night, identities will be revealed, destinies met, and a poetic justice of the macabre maniacally served.

Billed as David Carradine's last film, action thriller Night of the Templar has moved into post-production. Now, the crusades step into present day and into your living rooms with these two exclusive stills. In the first photo, actor Norman Reedus is seen with director Paul Sampson. In the second picture, some of the sword fights are shown, as a Knight returns from the dead.

Billy Drago appears in drag, director Paul is reincarnated as Lord Gregoire and Udo Kier plays a crazed priest. All of these events create for the surreal, as Night of the Templar gets set to release later this year.

The synopsis for The Night of the Templar:

"A Medieval Knight resurrects to fulfill his vow and bestow a blood-thirst vengeance upon the kindred spirits of those who betrayed him long ago. In the course of one night, identities will be revealed, destinies met, and a poetic justice of the macabre maniacally served" (Night of the Templar).

Actor/director Paul Sampson is still chilled by the climax of his new horror movie Night Of The Templar - because it features a prophetic line from his late friend David Carradine.

The Kill Bill star plays a reincarnated medieval knight in the film, his last completed project before he died from sexual misadventure in a Thai hotel room in 2009.

And, as Sampson, who wrote, directed and stars in the movie, prepares to offer the finished cut to studios, he still can't believe Carradine's ad-lib at the end of the film.

He tells WENN, "On the last moment of the movie, we're walking off together, arm-in-arm, and the dialogue is like, 'Well, old friend, I'll see you in the next lifetime', and he goes, 'Old friends, old soulmates...' That's the last line.

"I get goosebumps every time I see it... He was dead a year later. It's the last thing he says in a film."

And Sampson insists that's not the only eerie thing about his film - it features a sex scene which apes the way Carradine may have died.

He adds, "(Actor) Norman Reedus' character is getting a b**w-job in the movie and he's choking himself with a belt - like the way David died."