From $10K to a Global Action Trilogy: Maria Tran’s Echo 8 Saga Redefines Indie Cinema

Sydney, Australia, 14th April 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, What began as a humble $10,000 AUD grassroots project has transformed into a ground-breaking action trilogy that’s shaking up the global film scene. With production now wrapped on Five By Five and Echo 8 Beyond, director Maria Tran’s female-driven Echo 8 Trilogy is a bold reimagination of what micro-budget filmmaking can achieve—with just $30,000 USD across all three films.

Fuelled by crowdfunding, community spirit, and relentless grit, the Echo 8 Trilogy stands as a defiant answer to the question: What if the future of action cinema is indie, diverse, and powered by heart?

A Cinematic Movement Born from Grit, Not Millions

Filmed across 50 days at over 20 locations in Western Sydney with a cast and crew of 200+, the trilogy is a raw, high-stakes saga laced with martial arts authenticity, emotional depth, and real-world urgency.

• Echo 8 (2023) – A sleeper indie success, self-released on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Apple TV. Praised for its kinetic fight scenes and a powerful female lead, it set the tone for a trilogy built on soul, not spectacle.

• Five By Five (2025) – A dark, compelling prequel exploring the rise of Agent 5 within the notorious Zodiac crime syndicate—set three decades before the events of Echo 8.

• Echo 8 Beyond (2025) – A gripping sequel following ex-assassin Anna, now off-grid to protect her mother, as she’s forced to confront ghosts from her violent past.

Written by Elizabeth H. Vu and helmed by Maria Tran, the trilogy merges character-driven storytelling with dynamic, female-led action—crafted completely outside the traditional studio system.

A Blueprint for the Next Generation of Indie Action

Drawing inspiration from Robert Rodriguez’s DIY philosophy and Tran’s mentorship under B-movie icon Roger Corman, the Echo 8 Trilogy was built with ingenuity over resources—shooting in public parks, borrowed spaces, and with fans turned cast members.

“We’re not just making movies—we’re rewriting the rules on who gets to tell these stories,” says Tran. “No gatekeepers. Just passion, resilience, and community.”

The cast features George Basha (The Combination), Ashley Avci (Housos), Damien Sato, Mike Leeder, Takashi Hara, and breakout talent Xiang Ma, Anne Dao, and Wilson Zou.

Be Part of the Action: Crowdfunding Campaign Launching May 2025

As the trilogy heads into post-production, the team is launching a global crowdfunding campaign to complete editing, visual effects, and promotional rollout. Independent backers, producers, and fans are invited to help bring this vision across the finish line.

“This isn’t just a trilogy. It’s a proof-of-concept for what inclusive, independent cinema can look like worldwide,” Tran says. “And we’re just getting started.”

Worldwide Release: December 2025
Five By Five and Echo 8 Beyond will premiere globally in December 2025, with teasers and behind-the-scenes drops rolling out soon.

 Watch the Behind-the-Scenes Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2Yv8Y0zvTg
facebook.com/echo8movie

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