“Eric is undoubtedly one of the most inventive action stars and filmmakers out there. His creativity and skill as an action performer in projects like Rope-a-Dope and Blindsided were awe-inspiring to me. Watching Eric in action is always amazing, so I can’t think of a better guy to write a book about it.”
– Scott Adkins, Actor (Prisoner of War, John Wick 4, Ip Man 4)
Never has there been a more savvy tutorial in print, something that guides the reader on a path of winning through creativity and crafting a next-to-no budget action film, and peppered with true stories of how one scrappy guy was inspired by Hong Kong martial arts movies to make his own on virtually nothing but knowledge, naivete, and the desire to just go out there and do it himself because no one else would, Jacobus crafts an entertaining, slam-bang roundhouse kick of a book that every indie-spirited filmmaker will find invaluable and essential to honing their craft.
“For any filmmaker tired of the ‘same old same old,’ this book is a refreshing masterclass in action design from a true indie pioneer.”
– JJ Perry, Director (Day Shift)
“Eric stands at the top tier of performers in the American martial arts film world. What he delivers in this book isn’t just advice—it’s a battle-tested blueprint. Whether you’re aiming to create action films, martial arts cinema, or any kind of movie, this guide lays out exactly what it takes to get there.”
– Isaac Florentine, Director (Undisputed II & III, Close Range)
Releasing on May 1st on Amazon (eBook or Print ), Badass on a Budget is a one-of-a-kind reading experience with visual aides and a rapid-fire step-by-step process that almost has a scientific specificity that is uniquely geared for the action and martial arts genre fan. If you’ve ever wanted to make an action movie but never had the means, don’t let that stop you … because now you can be “badass on a budget!”
“Even when I look back on my own experience, most of the shots that audiences found interesting were born out of ingenuity and creativity in overcoming desperate, make-or-break situations on set. In any film, you ultimately run out of money and time. But there’s no need to worry—most of the answers can be found in this book!”
– Kenji Tanigaki, Director & Action Designer (The Furious, Rurouni Kenshin)
“Jacobus is an unsung hero of the low budget action realm, and his new book is a treasure map for anyone looking to begin their quest in building everything from almost nothing.”
– david j. moore, author of The Good, the Tough, and the Deadly: Action Movies and Stars and the Chance & Gamble action adventure novels.
