Shotokan 911, Washington Twp.
Opened in 2007 as a self-defense and firearms safety provider, Shotokan (pronounced Shoto-kahn) founder Darcy Leutzinger steered his firm into movies in 2009 after a request for prop guns for the film Little Murder. Soon after, new and different requests arrived for not only weapons, but armorers, technical advising, SWAT training, stunt work and other services, to where film business now comprises half the company’s sales volume.
Comprised of full-time police officers with 20+ years in law enforcement, they recently provided, ironically, real SWAT training to the cast of the new action film, S.W.A.T.: Firefight, shooting in the Detroit area. The firm is now also in dialogue with a soon-to-be announced full-service studio newly arrived from Hollywood, with two films possible by year’s end.
No. of new hires: 5 full-time, and 15 part-time contractors
% growth over 2008: 100%
% of film business of gross revenue: 50%
Film projects to date: Little Murder, The Irishman, Red Dawn, Game of Death, Salvation, S.W.A.T. Firefight, Salvation Blvd.