Movies & TV / Columns
Tamas Nadas On His New Film Mojave Diamonds, Working With Chael Sonnen & More
Image Credit: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
The 411 Interview: Tamas Nadas
Tamas Nadas is a world champion martial artist, retired police detective, actor, producer, stunt performer, and director who has been in the movie business for a little over a decade. Originally from Budapest, Hungary, Tamas has lived in the United States since 2000 and has worked on movies like the short film Perps with Lou Ferrigno (check out my review here), the action flick Fierce Target (check out my review of that movie here), the action flick The Commando with Michael Jai White, Mickey Rourke, and Jeff Fahey, the horror comedy Slayers with Thomas Jane, the action flick Top Gunner with Eric Roberts, the comedy Millennium Bugs, and more (check out the Tamas Nadas imdb page here). Tamas’s latest release is the action flick Mojave Diamonds, which features MMA legends Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Chael Sonnen, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. In this interview, Nadas talks with this writer about making Mojave Diamonds, working with director Asif Akbar and co-star Chael Sonnen, as well as several upcoming projects.
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Bryan Kristopowitz: How did you get involved with the new action movie Mojave Diamonds?
Tamas Nadas: I worked on a movie called The Commando with writer/producer Al Bravo about a year before Mojave Diamonds. He really liked my performance and offered me the role of Detective Johnson.
BK: How did you approach your character Detective David Johnson?
TN: I’d say this role was pretty easy to approach because I was a police detective in real life.
BK: What was it like working with director Asif Akbar? How did your experience on
Mojave Diamonds compare to your previous collaboration with Akbar on the movie The Commando?
TN: I love Asif, he had an amazing way of handling different situations. His relationship with the crew and cast was enthralling. The way he handled stress was just inimitable. And, believe me, there were some situations where Asif was tested, but his calmness and professionalism overcame and he overcame the hurdles. I had a very small part in The Commando while I was a co-star in Mojave Diamonds, so the opportunity and the experience was absolutely mind blowing working with UFC stars and Weston Cage Coppola.
BK: What was it like working with star Chael Sonnen?
TN: I follow Chael on social media and watch his podcast. He is the absolute opposite in real life. On the big screen, he is a talker and an analyzer. On set with us, he was quiet. But, oh my God, when he spoke, you immediately felt how incredibly smart and educated he was. His vocabulary was spectacular. All I did was consume the knowledge that came out of his mouth.
BK: Who plays Detective Johnson’s partner Officer Cassata?
TN: His name is Carlos Aylagas, and he is from El Salvador. Carlos is an incredible human being besides being a very talented actor. We hung out a lot during filming and got to know him more and more. We are still in contact and I am grateful for his friendship.
BK: What was the hardest part of making Mojave Diamonds for you as an actor?
TN: Not having enough scenes! Hahahahahaha! I think I was pretty fortunate with this role because I didn’t really have to act in it. I experienced real life situations very similar to my role in the movie so it wasn’t anything new.
BK: What was it like working with director Art Camacho on his upcoming movie Ruthless?
TN: Wow! I mean, just, wow!!! Art is a legend. I knew of him while growing up in Hungary. When I shook his hand the first time, I just kept looking at him and couldn’t believe it. I knew he was an amazing martial artist, but what I didn’t know that he was such a gifted director.
BK: According to imdb you have worked on a few horror movies recently. What was it like working on the horror movie The Wraith directed by Michael Pizzimetti? And when will we see the horror movie Captive, a movie you produced and act in as the character Detective Carter?
TN: I worked with Mike on several projects, but he was not directing any of them. We were on the set of Palido, and I asked Mike what he truly wanted to accomplish in the film business. He told me he wanted to be a horror film director. Long story short, I brought him a script and he loved it. He rewrote it, and we approached Al Bravo to produce it for us. This was Mike’s directorial debut. Because of the ideas and visions and descriptions Mike gave me during our conversations, I didn’t have the slightest doubt he would be great. Well, when we were on set; I believe he superseded everyone’s expectations. I mean, the way he directed was beyond belief! The way he envisioned and delivered everything was absolutely remarkable. I can’t wait to see that movie. Captive was released on June 15th, 2023. You can watch it now for free on Tubi.
BK: Do you like working on a horror movie as opposed to an action movie?
TN: No, I am an action guy all the way. I was a world champion fighter and also an expert in weapons. It is in my blood, and I have been training in my entire life. I am pretty fast and kick pretty high. The kind of action movies I like where you see spinning hook kicks and jump kicks, where the person’s acrobatic skills dominate instead of just throwing a jab and a hook, or maybe kicking the knee or the thigh. I think those look great on camera.
BK: What was it like working on the upcoming action movie Shrapnel directed by William Kaufman?
TN: I didn’t know William before this movie, but I am sure I will make more movies with him in the future. That calmness he represented during stressful situations earned everyone’s respect besides his marvelous talent! Usually, people talk on set but I never heard anything negative about him. He was just smooth, wise, and extremely knowledgeable.
BK: Any other new projects on the horizon that you can tell us about?
TN: I just finished producing a movie with Asif Akbar, Vincent E. McDaniel, and Colin Bates called Boneyard starring Mel Gibson and 50 Cent. It was filmed in Las Vegas and is going to be distributed by Lionsgate. The film is inspired by true events of a serial killer that may still be out there today!
BK: Would you do a sequel to Mojave Diamonds that features your character Detective Johnson? I’m sure there are more bad guys to take down in the desert.
TN: Absolutely. But, I think that would be a bigger role because it would just make sense for my character to go with the brothers and help them get the bad guys.
BK: In Mojave Diamonds your character at one point is served a burrito in a diner but Detective Johnson doesn’t eat it because he has work to do right that second. Did you, Tamas Nadas, personally want to eat that burrito?
TN: Hahahahaha! No, unfortunately I am not a fan of burritos. They are just too heavy for me.
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A very special thanks to Tamas Nadas for agreeing to participate in the interview and to david j. moore for setting it up.
Check out my review of Mojave Diamonds here!
Check out the Tamas Nadas Instagram page here!
Mojave Diamonds DVD cover courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment. All other images courtesy of Tamas Nadas.
