Every independent filmmaker I have spoken to in my experience as a blogger has shared a deep sentiment in the value of action cinema with legends like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, Tony Jaa, Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, Donnie Yen, etc. The list goes on. But the last ten years or so have seen a very phenomenal rising culture of independent filmmakers love what these iconic action stars do and want to share in those same experiences. Teams like Whirlwind Action, Zero Gravity, The Stunt People and Jabronie Pictures all have similar things in common, including the legends that have inspired them to this day.
So, it’s no wonder that you might think that people like Eric Jacobus, Fernando Huerto, Shaun Charney, Larry Leong and Micah Brock are probably legends in the own right, right? Sure, “legends” is a big words, and not something to toss around (I’m sure there is a better one you could probably come up with). Point in fact, in my opinion, the idea that anyone would hold these particular filmmakers in such high and exemplary regard as a source of inspiration, right next to the biggest and most memorable figures in martial arts action cinema history is probably a very humbling thing.
For the last seven years, martial arts student and rising independent filmmaker Ja-Mel Antoine Booth, it’s a standard he aspires to live toward and beyond.
Hailing all the way from Lithonia, Georgia, Ja-Mel began training in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16. Later on, as he earned his greenbelt, he had to cease training due to the need for a job, and as time passed, he would practice what he learned as often as possible. Fortunately, Ja-Mel would finally find his way back in training, not only in Tae Kwon Do, but also Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai. As a filmmaker, after watching how the independent action community evolved, Ja-Mel learned what he saw and began appling it in his own movies, which he would then amalgate under his own banner joined by six other members to form the name, Dragon Spirit Productions.
I asked Ja-Mel how working toward becoming an independent filmmaker has changed his. “It made my life busier and made me spend extra money,” he says, “…but I have met more friends and martial artists because of making videos, so it’s worth it. Besides… its fun!!”
Ja-Mel sometimes choreographs, which is also a team effort he shares with other members of Dragon Spirit productions, giving each member a chance to flourish with their own creativity and choreographical film action style. In addition, Ja-Mel also writes, edits and directs own films, as such is the case with his latest short film, The Chase. Ja-Mel explains the process behind the short film here:
The Chase started off as a one on one test fight with our new member Julio. They had the idea of trying a small two on one fight. After that, everything was on the fly. I took them to the location I found, came up with the beginning and following scenes. The running, how the fight ended up, camerawork, etc. When we do choreo, we come up with it right there on the spot. I let the fighters work out choreo themselves and throw in ideas for them, or adjust what they did to make it look martial arts plausible or better on camera.
Coincidentally, the Samuel Goldwyn Theater recently held a star-studded event showcasing a special screening for Bruce Lee’s final, fully completed film, Enter The Dragon, to kick off new exhibition featuring, among other things, a collection of classic film posters by writer and producer Stephen Chin. The screening also marks this year’s special 40th anniversary milestone release of the film on Blu-Ray, which you can pre-orded HERE before it goes on sale to the public on June 11, 2013. In addition, Tang Soo Do Master Eric Kovaleski and action superstar and Grandmaster Cynthia Rothrock are preparing for an elaborate, star-studded and grand mega martial arts weekend event of their own at the Split Rock Resort in Pennsylvania for this years Legends Of The Martial Arts Awards in May.
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| From L to R: Mark Hudson, Darin Hicks, Julio Aquino, Ja-Mel Booth, Darius Foster, and Markus Archie |
Ja-Mel just turned thirty years old about a week and a half ago. And I say all this as I happen to have written this piece today, whether or not it is just coincidence, that fourteen years after taking a step in that Tae Kwon Do school, he never stopped aspiring and chasing his dream to become as great as the people he looks up to, legends young or old, living or dead. It is this kind of inspiration that validates just how big the legacy is that people like Fernando Huerto, Eric Jacobus and Micah Brock, and all the other veteran members of today’s independent film industry like Dragon Phoenix Entertainment, LBP Stunts Chicago, Martial Club, Lunar Stunts, Noble Brothers Productions, Dardrex Productions, Eclipse Stunts, Riot A.C.T., Team 2X, SG Action, ENSO Productions and Thousand Pounds Action Company are leaving behind, with all the other legends that have proceeded them for the last century.
Moreover, it is this kind of inspiration that truly sustains the strength and legacy of the Dragon’s spirit.
Click HERE if the embed fails to load, and enjoy, The Chase.
