Kely McClung's love for martial arts began very early. This is a combination of his martial arts training and his confidence in his creative talents, helping him into the movie world. After working in the film industry for 20 years, Kely is guiding, making movies and performing in their own movies. He successfully integrated his talents in martial arts and created a film that appealed to all audiences.
This is his story.
How did all this start?
In high school or college, I am never a fashionable, calm person; I just want to be the greatest warrior in the world. I have received many martial arts trainings around the world, and of course I am teaching my own philosophy and fighting style. I was fortunate to be able to win the international all-contact baseball championship, which caught the attention of Hollywood people.
Tell me about luck and Hollywood?
Although my focus is on martial arts, just like most people I dream of. Still, I think it really may have happened.
My friend who taught at the seminar in St. Louis invited me to audition at Mike Stone; at that time, a very famous karate champion worked in the film industry. He is helping to find a replacement for Van Damme, who is jumping from B to A movie and renegotiating his contract. Although the deal was useless to me, Van Damme certainly had a bigger thing, and Mike invited me to help South American American Ninja IV.
Due to the delay in shooting, I stayed in South Africa for a few months and had the opportunity to really start learning the process of making a movie. From Mike and have the opportunity, I have time to start learning how to adapt my martial arts skills to the screen. Combat technology and film technology are very different - it is two completely different skill sets and concepts.
I am not too excited about these low budget stories, so when I left, I was already making my first screenplay.
How did you finally create your own work?
I fell in love with movies and the whole business and challenges of making movies, starting with the first few seconds of the first film. Then I spent nearly 15 years as an actor, a stunt actor, a script doctor and an editor, all of which are guiding my own story.
I do almost everything else in the film business, including helping with making, casting, making, and even making and producing commercials. Finally, with the convergence of technology; better cameras, computers and software, and my own talent, you make excuses more than just making movies. I ended up spending a lot of work, but I finally have the confidence to be a good director.
What happened next?
My first film as a director was BLOOD TIES. My film partner Robert Prago and I decided to make a feature film, so I convinced them that we should shoot in Thailand to maximize our small budget. We took a month on our first trip. We are back, and we have joined Miami, Washington, DC, the mountains of Virginia, and of course my home in Atlanta. I completed four more trips and added scenes in Cambodia. All in all, it took me four years to complete the film. We have won many awards in festivals around the world.
During the film festival, I shot my first short film "AM SESSION". It was shown at the Afro-American Film Festival at the Eliminated Writers' Guild Theatre and was acquired by HBO. Shooting for only $400, I still don't think HBO executives believe me!
What are you doing now?
I just finished a new, larger feature film, the crime thriller KERBEROS. I also helped my friend Stan Harrington make and direct a movie called CREED in Hollywood. Both films will be officially premiered at the Film and Film Festival in Los Angeles on July 24.
Do you think you have succeeded in this industry?
Even after so many years, I feel that I am now beginning to know where I am going and how to get there. I like the idea of creating my own work and opportunities, not just waiting for someone to give it to me. I know that I still have a long way to go, but people are beginning to realize my efforts.
What advice do you have for me?
Keep doing what you are doing, connect and let people know what you want to accomplish. If people don't know what you want to do, no one will know that you are trying to be an actor. Hard work and dedication can bring you luck and opportunity, but you need to be prepared for them.
If they want more information about you and your movie, where can people go?
For more information, please visit http://www.kerberosbites.com/
Orignal From: Interview with martial artist and Hollywood actor and director Kely McClung
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