Verdi Sulaeman, the Indonesian actor who plays Budi in The Raid: Redemption, landed his screen test after sending director Gareth Evans a direct message on Facebook, he said. As it turned out, Evans had also been trying to track down Verdi's contact details at the same time, he added.
Speaking to SBS Indonesian, Verdi Sulaeman recalled that his audition involved a four-page monologue entirely in Indonesian. Even though Evans is not a native Indonesian speaker, he wanted to feel the tension of the scene without relying on understanding every word, Verdi said. For Evans, the test was simple: if the performance gave him chills, the actor had passed, Verdi added.
To prepare for filming, Verdi said he and several cast members spent six days and five nights training at the Kopaska naval special forces base in Tanjung Priok. The group trained in firearms, target shooting and hostage rescue simulations. Verdi said the experience brought the cast much closer together.
This film is a timeless action film, in my opinion. It remains the highest standard for an action film, whether from Indonesia, Asia or in the world.Verdi Sulaeman, Actor
Verdi said he believes The Raid: Redemption remains a timeless action film and the highest benchmark for action cinema, not just in Indonesia but across Asia and the world. He noted that even the directors of Captain America: Civil War watched The Raid: Redemption as a reference for their fight choreography.
Listen to the full conversation with Verdi Sulaeman to find out more and watch The Raid: Redemption on SBS On Demand.
