In the middle of rehearsals for my first Rock and Roll musical... with fight scenes (?!) Read more about it here.
Got paid to show up at this guys wedding and kick him for not being able to handle his spicy curry. Click here to read more about it.
Yakuza Hunters hits theatres in Shibuya! Click here to read more about it in my blog and see the trailers!
Just posted an interview with the "The Shaolin Monk from Brooklyn" on my gaijinpot blog. Click here to check it out, OR click here to read the full transcript of the interview.
In addition to my own short, did a short film with veteran drama actress, Miki Mizuno today. Click here to read more about it!
The director of my short film, just posted a raw footage edit up on youtube. It's only around half of the film, but will give a taste as to the story. Click here to read about it, and check it out!
Completed filming on my first short film not too long ago. Click here to read more about it in my blog.
Finally completed editing of my 2010 action demo reel, and it's up on youtube. Click here to check it out! Or look in the 'videos' section!
A trailer for the Sukeban Hunters films I'm in was posted on Nippon Cinema.com. Click here to check it out!
Was featured on the Michigan Martial Arts Project page. Click here to check it out!
The comical fight scene that I did for a norton anti-virus campaign is up on youtube now. I am playing a Gang boss's 'Yojimbo' (bodyguard/righthand man) and had to do the whole thing in Kansai dialect. Click here to check it out, and read more about it in my blog.
My interview from 'Art of Fighting' is also being profiled on KFC as of today. It was an honest, and pretty in-depth write-up, with a ton of links in it, so I was really happy with it. Check it out!
Yassy is now up on youtube, and is being profiled on KungFuCinema.com Click here to check it out!
This week, did a commercial for a new playstation game, and was the main actor in a short film for a Norton Anti-Virus promotion campaign put together by Alien Eye productions. Check my blog to read more about it!
My interview from 'The Art of Fighting' was recently featured on www.nipponcinema.com. Click here to check it out!
Had my first radio interview in the states this past week. Click here to listen.
The short film I did with Hiroko Yashiki and Shimomura-san is finished. Came out well. Check it out here!
Just finished the script for Street Life 2009 not too long ago. Street life was my first attempt at both action (and acting) several years ago, and I'm excited to be remaking it. Should be a lot of fun. The short film will also serve as the backstory for a feature film I'm assisting in the production of next year, and will be a part of a larger presentation package for that film financing. Should be pretty cool.
Got a script for a short film from good friend, Hiroko Yashiki today. It will be directed by Shimomura-san of Uden Flame Works. Although it will serve as an international English demo reel for Yashiki, it will also give Shimomura-san the chance to experiment with new methods of directing, and allow me the chance to act in my own language for once. Will start filming at the end of this month or the beginning of March. Should be really cool!
Officially started my acting training in Strasberg/Stanislavsky Method Acting under Shelley Mitchell today. Quite challenging, but very enlightening as well.
Filmed my Korean self introduction with help from Rusty Nye. Great guy. Looking forward to working with him again soon!
Fight! Japan interview is finally finished and up online. Check it out on the videos page.
Had a photoshoot with Mike Tsang today. We spend about two weeks, going over what we wanted to shoot, and how we wanted to do it, and it ran really smoothly. I was extremely impressed with his professionalism and talent. He’s off to Africa to shoot there for several months, but I hope I can work with him again!
My Capoeira group, Regional Capoeira Japao had it’s Bachizado today, and I received my Verge Corda from Mestra Bamba of Brazil. Lots of fun.
Met with Tokyo-based actress Meiyo Mimura today. Discussed ideas for both Japanese and English short movies as well as a possible photoshoot. Always happy to meet and work with new artists from different backgrounds.
Had a chance to train under world champion shootboxer, Doi Hiroyuki last Saturday. Very cool guy. It's been a while since I've done any actual ring sparring, (outside of Capoeira Rodas) and I really got into it. Forgot how much leg kicks hurt. After training I also found out that he's the regular martial arts instructor of Koga Mitsuki, whom I worked with on GAIA, regularly train alongside with, and will be working together with again next year on a post-apocolyptic Samurai film he will be directing.
Traveled across Japan/Korea with Muay Thai, and longtime friend Matt Hallenborg. We trained together in Seoul and then parted ways so that he could go on to Thailand for training, and I could get back here for action.
Check it out.
Working on a pilot film project directed by Andy Koji along with accomplished Japanese action actor, Koga Mitsuki. I'm playing a soldier turned twisted-businessman by the name of 'Avish'. It's an interesting project, and should be very cool once it's completed. It's my first time having a full beard... still getting used to it.
As soon as I got back to Japan, I spent another few days in the recording studio working as a voice Talent for Gaba's new textbook series. It's become a regular gig for me and is always a good time.
今日本にいる。 帰った時に３日ぶりガーバーの声俳優の仕事した。 その仕事はいつも楽しい。今回も。
일본 다시 돌아왈때세일 동안 가바의 성우일 있었어. 언제나 재미있어.
CLICK HERE to check it out!
Issue #751, page 05 of The Metropolis. I've been reading the Metropolis since I first arrived in Japan 6 years ago. I was honored to grace it's pages. Article looks dope too!
일본의 넘버 1 영어 잡지 에 인터뷰 봤아. 멋있어.
日本の一番英語マガジンで インタービュー出来た。
한달동안 한국에 왔어. 오래동안 한국말 안 말했지만 그때 많이 배울수있었어. 음식은 맛있었어! 일본에서 좋운 한식 한상 그리워하고있어...다음달에 다시 갈 꺼야. 중국말도 공부 시작 했어. 어렵지 않군요! 그러나 바름연습 많이 빌요해...
一ヶ月韓国へ行った。 長い間韓国語あまり使えなかったけどその一ヶ月後、いろいろ思い出せれる。 嬉しかった。あさこで中国語勉強も始まった。
分かりやすいだけどもっともっと練習いるな。。。
I spent the past month in Korea. Very cool. I hadn't spoken Korean regularly in sometime, and was really happy with how quickly it came back. Making another trip next month, so hopefully it will continue to improve until then. Also started in on Chinese. I was suprised that it wasn't half as difficult as everyone says it is. Knowing both Korean and Japanese probably makes it considerably easier to figure out though... Counting spanish and portuguese, this constitues Language # 6 for me.
I, along with Samuel Pop Aning, and a few others played African Soldiers for a photoshoot related to the show. First time to ride on top of a tank. Very cool.
I had my first live kids show for Wide Eyed Theatre today. It was an english show for kids consisting of song and dance, and I'd been rehearsing for it for a few weeks now. Everything went smoothly, and we had a great time. Performing for 2 year olds is a lot more tiring than for adults, I think... I would have prefered to add in a few action sequences though..." Old Mcdonald had a farm... Ee-ai ee-ai oooo, and on that farm, he had some NINJAS..."
Had another round of voice recordings for Gaba this week. I played characters ranging from a late 20s African American (surpise surprise!!) to a Sumo Wrestler. Like last time, had a lot of fun with the recording team and other voice talents, and looking forward to doing it again next month after I return to Korea.
I'm going to be featured in the Q & A section of the 'Metropolis' (Tokyo's #1 magazine for foreigners living in Japan), this august and had that interview today. After the piece for Fight! Japan, I have to say that preparing written interviews is a lot easier than doing it in front of a camera... The interview will deal with somes of the same questions that were discussed in the Fight! Japan interview, but also a few others. Keep an eye out for it!
As I am currently being flimed for an upcoming episode of Fight! Japan, the show's producer told me he'd like to get some footage of my taekwondo teaching. As such, I'm offering a special class, free of charge for anyone interested in coming to try it out. Although the class will be filmed, (and aired in segments), nothing will be done to cater to the cameras, and they will simply be there. It will also be co-taught by fellow Tokyo action actor, TKD 3rd Dan, and martial arts trickster, N Jackeo. (Jacky). Contact me for more info!
While the '2008 Film Action Demo Reel' is designed to profile my abilities to do action for the camera, the 2008 Skills reel is designed simply to show my raw abilities. Look in the 'videos' section to check it out, or download it!
In addition to the podcasting, I'm also playing a few different characters in their new audio textbook series. Had a series of recordings today, and everyone I worked with was a pleasure to get along with. I'm starting to like this voice acting stuff... way less bruises than action acting!
An action-packed live comedy show in which I played a 'hip-hop samurai'. Besides doing Katana action, it was my first time having Japanese speaking lines in a performance, and I also played a random foreigner in Akihabara, as well as a small time drug dealer. Went really smoothly! Some footage of it will be in the 2008 training reel, so keep an eye out for it!
This summer I'm going to be featured on an American Cable Television show called Fight! Japan. The show will profile my life, how and why I got into action, and current projects that I'm working on. For the next few weeks, the show's host will be going with me to action training, my taekwondo, capoeira, and Katana classes, and conducting interviews with me in various locations in Tokyo. Had the first few interviews and filming sessions today! Explaining yourself on camera is harder than I thought!
It was produced by Shimomura Yuji, and I felt both honored and privileged that he would take the time for such a project. We spent three days filming. (Although you can't see it, two of which was in a cold rain) and I'm really happy with the finished product.
Playing a few different characters in their live internet podcasts.