A Martial Arts Prodigy Turned Champion Alan’s journey into martial arts began at a young age, marking the start of a transformed chapter in his life. Excelling in Nunchaku demonstrations, he quickly rose to prominence, eventually becoming the European champion in the discipline. This achievement earned him recognition on various television shows and paved his path into the entertainment industry. Despite studying commercial sales, Alan soon realized that his true passion lay in the performing arts. His unwavering determination led him to work with some of Hollywood’s most iconic figures. He has had the honour of directing Eric Roberts and Bob Wall-the latter famously known for his fight against Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon. These pivotal moments fuelled his confidence and expanded his opportunities. Notably, he also directed Don “The Dragon” Wilson and Lee Arenberg, best known for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean. A Filmmaker With Relentless Drive Alan approaches his work with discipline and precision, adhering to the philosophy of never putting off until tomorrow what can be done today. This relentless work ethic has propelled him to great success, including the co-direction of the feature film Borrowed Time 3: Falling Apart alongside David Worth, the director of Kickboxer starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. The Borrowed Time trilogy, featuring an impressive cast that includes Costas and Louis Mandylor, Eric Roberts, Matthias Hues, and Merrick McCartha, stands as a testament to Alan’s storytelling prowess and directorial expertise. The Next Chapter: Shepherd Code: Road Back Currently, Alan is immersed in the production of Shepherd Code II: Road Back, with filming taking place in Portugal and London. This time, he shares the screen with a stellar cast, including Shaina West, the rising star of Jade and Women’s King, and Rochelle Ashana, the beloved actress who portrayed Mylee in the legendary martial arts classic Kickboxer. joined his forces with co Director Michael Morris from MandM Film Production and making Shepherd code: Road back even better.
Alan stopped by to chat with us about The Shepherd Code movies.
Where did the idea for Shepherd Code originally come from?
I was originally supposed to make a sequel to my vampire film, but due to the absence of my makeup specialist, I had to change my plans. So, I decided to write an action thriller — something very different from what I had done before with Borrowed Time.
That’s how I started to imagine the story of a professional hitman haunted by his last mission, seeking redemption from a troubled past.
What is your process for writing the script?
I already had the main story and the idea for the central character. I wanted to create someone different from John Wick — a more dramatic figure, who fights both hand-to-hand and with a gun, but who also has weaknesses. I let myself be carried away by this new writing adventure. The ideas came naturally as I developed the story and the emotional depth of the character.
Can you talk about putting together the action scenes?
For the first film, I worked with Joe in England on the fight choreography.
We shot the action scenes quite quickly due to time constraints, but we managed to keep them believable and true to the characters.
In the sequel, however, the action is much more intense. The first film with Silvio Simac already laid a solid foundation, but the fight with Mark Strange in Road Back is both brutal and stylish — plus, there’s a John Wick-style gunfight. Shaina West also did a remarkable job in her action scenes, which makes the sequel even more powerful. The supporting characters, such as Matt Daniels (played by Michael Morris) and Don Wilson, who also returns for fight sequences, make the film even more dynamic. It was truly a team effort, especially with Kiran, our fight choreographer, who gave me the freedom to express my own fighting style during the confrontation with Mark Strange. There’s also a short training sequence at the beginning of the film that sets the tone.
You co-directed the first film with L.H. Chambat. How did you work together to bring it to life?
I’ve been working with L.H. for a long time. In a team, it’s essential to share different points of view, especially since he’s also the editor — his creative input is very valuable. For me, filmmaking is above all a collective effort. We had already worked successfully together on Borrowed Time: Falling Apart with David Worth. Our goal has always been to complete what we start, no matter the budget or scheduling obstacles. Remaining professional and surrounding yourself with people you trust is essential. By the end of the first film, I already wanted to come back and continue my character’s story.
Following that, how would you describe the process of Shepherd Code 2: Road Back, co-directed by Michael Morris?
I had written a full script for the sequel, but I wanted an outside perspective — without altering the heart of the story or the characters.
Michael reworked certain dialogues and adjusted some scenes, especially since writing in French and then translating into English can sometimes cause grammatical issues. He refined those aspects and added more intensity to Jessica Clark’s character. Originally, she was meant to be simply a firearms expert, but Michael turned her into a martial arts specialist — which meant we needed an actress capable of portraying that role with strength and charisma. Shaina West was perfect for it. Michael’s help, along with L.H.’s occasional feedback, truly elevated the film. I had already worked with Michael on other projects, so we knew how to collaborate efficiently.
He then presented the script to M&M Film Production, and that’s how the adventure of this sequel began.
How was it working with Silvio Simac, especially in the final showdown with him?
I had already worked with Silvio on Borrowed Time 1, but this time I wanted to give him a stronger, more intense role — he was perfect as Edson. The final fight in the first film served as a sort of conclusion: my character finally fulfills his mission by eliminating the assassin of his client, while also confronting his own emotions. Silvio was excellent in the role of the hitman, with a real presence on screen. It was a pleasure working with him again.
How do you generally approach casting for your films?
It’s always a bit difficult — the budget often sets limits — but when a project has strong potential, actors are usually eager to join the adventure. I’ve had the opportunity to work with great talents like Eric Roberts, Bob Wall, Matthias Hues, and Louis Mandylor.
Having such names helps a lot with promotion and audience excitement for action films like Shepherd Code: Road Back. Lee Arenberg was fantastic in this sequel, as was Rochelle Ashana, who plays Diana. She’s well known for her role as Mylee in Kickboxer — it was a real pleasure sharing scenes with her. Michael Morris handled the UK casting, bringing in Mark Strange, Shaina West, and Wayne Gordon, while M&M Film Production took care of the rest.
How do you work with music composers to create the right atmosphere?
My composer Nicolas (Dark Fantasy Studio) had already worked with me on Anatomy of an Antihero: Redemption (also known as Borrowed Time 2). He immediately understood the retro tone I wanted. I have total confidence in his work. I also compose music myself, so I contributed a few tracks, along with Symeon — another artist who knows the style I love: synthwave / chillwave, with a touch of The Weeknd and a Giorgio Moroder influence. The result is a unique and stylish soundtrack that perfectly matches the film’s atmosphere.
It was nice to see David Worth appear in a cameo in the first film. How did you two meet and get involved in these projects?
I’ve known David for more than fourteen years — he’s been my mentor and taught me a lot about directing. He has always been kind and supportive. When he agreed to co-direct Borrowed Time: Falling Apart, it was a dream come true. He later followed my journey and agreed to do a cameo in Shepherd Code 1. He loved the project, and I was honored to film a few scenes with him — especially alongside Don “The Dragon” Wilson. David means a lot to me. His advice has borne fruit, but he also taught me that you must always keep working harder — because nothing is ever guaranteed in this business.
I believe part 3 is in production?
For now, I’ll keep it a surprise…
But when the time comes, I’ll be delighted to talk with Action Elite about the next chapter in Alex Lapierre’s journey — The Shepherd