Guerrilla Film Artiste

Guerilla Artists

Guerilla Filmmaking-“The lowest-budget sector of them all is what is known as “guerrilla” film-making, where one or two or a handful of individuals accumulate their financial resources, perhaps aided by outside investment, seek out the free or greatly discounted use of equipment and facilities, get cast and crew to work for deferred payments, “profit-shares” or extremely low wages, and use free locations rather than expensive film studios. With their minuscule budgets, the film-makers produce their epics, often under highly adverse circumstances.”

“In fact, you never got any lead!” Do you think it was because you were of Korean descent and ‘other’ mixed-heritage?” French film site, Naranland{http://www.nanarland.com/index.php}

Of course, my mixed heritage limited me to certain roles, I realized that from the beginning. Ken Metcalfe made that clear to me from the beginning, saying that is just the way it is in the international film business. The leads had to be white Caucasians in order to fool third world audiences that the movie was truly a western made film. But, “Oh, Mon Dieu, pardon moi…No Leading roles? I actually did three, though one was just a Filipino film. So please, give me a break! Just a little respect, Si Vous Plait, mon amies.” In “The Five-Style Fists” (1978), (see .jpg file), starring Ann Villegas, Allan Shishir, Joon Yong Su -alias Don Gordon, Boy Fernandez, and Jack Lee. I was the main Contra-vida Lead as the “Eagle Claw Master”, using my Korean name, Joon Yong Su (wrong spelling). It was written and directed by Leonardo C. Pascual and produced by Abella Pascual. Jack Lee and I were “loaned” to the Pascual producers by Mr. Lim, before “Bruce’s Fists of Vengeance” (1979) was filmed with Bruce Le and Jack Lee the following year. It was sold internationally but I guess did not make it to DVD listings.

My next Lead was in a Regal Films production as the leading man of Cherie Gil, in a comedy called, “Wanted: Wives!” I knew Cherie from her brother Michael Gil in several action films. The whole Gil family were actors I remember. Cherie saw me at a late night party when “Crazy Don” went swimming nude in the pool first, then many others disrobed and jumped in. Cherie seemed surprised that I had heard about the film “Wanted: Wives” had already been cast with an American that I knew. He was signed on by a rival talent agent, ‘Peter’ (Alias), who was to have a great impact on my life in 1985. I told Cherie that I wished that I “looked more White”, she laughed and asked me why? I replied that then I could have been cast for the love scene with her. She thought I was so sweet and crazy for the ‘skinny dipping’ in the pool. Two days later, I received a call from the producer that Cherie had insisted that I be her LEADING MAN.

We filmed on location in beautiful Cebu with Gina Alajar playing her cousin. Cherie’s skin color is light brown, so her character thinking it would be better to send a picture of her “lighter complexioned cousin” to a Lonely Hearts Club for meeting foreign men. My character comes unannounced to Cebu and the two cousins try to fool me that Gina is really Cherie. The real boyfriend of ‘Gina’ blows the secret, the truth comes out and everything turns out, there is a double wedding at the end of the movie. My comment about “wishing I looked more White” made Cherie realize THAT was the theme of the comedy! Reel life imitating Real life.

On Filipino television shows I appeared on “Colorful World of Nora Aunor” as the boyfriend of Vivian Valdez, another boy meets girl through letter writing. Vivian does not mention that she is confined to a wheelchair but when I arrive to meet her it is another ‘fairy tale ending’! I have also had appearances as a character actor with Filipina actresses Gina Alajar, Alma Moreno, Susan Roces, Pilar Pilapil, Alicia Alonzo, Nora Aunor, Gloria Diaz, Ann Villegas, Vilma Santos, Yehlen Catral, Claudia Zobel, Lorna Tolentino, and Sharon Cuneta. I also appeared with Filipino actors such as Dolphy, Fernando Poe, Eddie Garcia, Philip Gamboa, Romeo Vasquez, Rey Malonzo, Dick Israel, Mark Gil, Michael Gil, Bembo Roco, Usually I was the “American Friend, boyfriend, or some Ugly American type”. I do not have a complete listing of all the “bit parts” or “guest roles” that I did in the Filipino film industry. It is amazing that I, a person who looked so much like a Filipino, appeared as an “American” in so many films.