We recently connected with Demetrius Angelo and have shared our conversation below.
Demetrius , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
The Bible declares in the Book of James that Faith if it hath not works is Dead! This powerful statement has always put the ideals of following one’s dreams into perspective. We all have dreams and aspirations yet most of us talk ourselves out of or allow others to talk us out of pursuing those dreams and perhaps even our destiny. Many times we overwhelm ourselves with the many possibilities of how something can’t happen or will fail yet if we took a moment to really consider the cost we would find there are just as many or more reasons why we can fulfill our dreams, desires or even our destiny in this life.
I recall after pursuing a career in Action Acting that there were and still are many challenges for people of color getting those Heroic roles in film and television. After several years of nominal success, I decided to attack the root cause of the resistance which was opportunity itself by creating both content for the genre as well as a platform to feature others who were affected by the same misfortunes. Thus the Urban Action Showcase and Expo was created to celebrate diversity and multicultural achievements in the blockbuster Action genre giving creatives the platform to be seen, heard, celebrated, and educated when it came to entering the genre of Heroes!
During the process of preparing the structure for the UASE platform, I had many people say that it was too big of a task and that it would cost too much money and I believe that they all meant well because they were counting the costs. The most important thing that I realized is those were only the costs of failure because the costs of success were far greater because it wasn’t just about my dreams and aspirations but for the dreams and destinies of the masses who were locked behind stereotypical doors of executive decisions that didn’t include them. So as the old saying goes, “Risk proceeds Reward and the greater the Risk the greater the Reward:! I decided that it was worth the failure if I could help others besides myself fight an institution of segregation in the number one film and tv genre known as Action Cinema!
Demetrius , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born in our Nation’s Capital in the 1960s among the residue of the Civil Rights Movement. During this time, my father was one of the first Blacks to integrate the Washington D.C Metropolitan Police Department which meant “Trouble” was not an option. It was 1976 when I saw Bruce Lee on TV and immediately told my dad that I wanted to do “That” so my dad took me down to the local Boys Club where I began what would be my life’s journey in the Martial Arts.
The Korean art of Tang Soo Do was the initial Martial Art taught at the Boys Club and it was there that I developed my love for Kicking. 1979 became a pivotal year for me as I was introduced to Master Donald S. Bitanga of the American Asian Combat System. Here, I learned several styles of Martial Arts which included: Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Kobayoshi Karate, American Free Style Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Chinese Boxing, Western Boxing, Largo DeMano Escrima, and Kobudo. I obtained a 1st Degree Black Belt at 16 and began student-teaching at the dojo which birthed in me a love and zeal for teaching.
The 70’s were a very special decade for Blacks in film because it was then that Blacks were finally
portrayed as heroes on the Big Screen. With the emergence of pioneers such as Grand Master Ron Van Clief, the first Black man in Chinese Kung Fu films, to the likes of Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson tearing up the Silver Screen here in the States! These powerful images influenced me to want to become an “Action Star”!
At 17, I moved from Washington D.C to New York City to attend college and pursue my desire to
perform in Action Films! NYC quickly became familiar to me as my mother was born in the
Bronx. I resumed my study of Martial Arts meeting such greats as Masters
Andre “Ice Man” Brown, Dwayne Sudan Thomas, and Malcolm Livingston of the Wolf Fox Fighting
System and DFT.
In 1991 I got introduced to the Martial Art forms of my film icons Bruce Lee and Steven Seagal when I was introduced to Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu by Master Keith
Maza and Sifu Dr. Gary Young and at that same time I also met the late Grandmaster Bob Bute of Jukido Jiu Jitsu, Grand Master David Jones of Grizzmatic Touch Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, and Grand Master Florendo M. Visitacion (Professor Vee) of Vee Arnis Jitsu. Training with these Masters, I increased vastly in his knowledge of Aikido, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Arnis, and Wing Chun which I credit as the foundation of my own Martial Arts style called Scientific Tactical Defense along with Karate, Kobudo, and Firearms Tactics.
I took the lessons of Martial Arts and applied them to my career in the Fitness
Industry as a Personal and Group Fitness Instructor. I developed my own brand of fitness called C4
Intense Training.
Still pursuing a career in Action Cinema, I appeared in my first Independent Action films in 1994 and in 1996 met “The Black Dragon” Ron Van Clief on set, who was instrumental in guiding me to my first national advertisement campaign for HBO.
In 2003, I became frustrated with the lack of diversity and opportunity for people of color in Hollywood Action films, so I started my own Independent film production company named Action Scene Combat Productions and NYC Action Actors Academy to train Actors how to fight for the screen.
As the past often meets us in the present, I partnered with long-time friend and dojo brother, LaMard J Wingster, of Troopers Touch Films in 2004. We both had the same agenda of placing people of color in leading roles in the Action film industry, we combined forces to create ASC Troopers Touch Entertainment, offering full-service media Production and Distribution services specializing in the Action genre.
In 2013 I expanded this Diversity Initiative by founding the Urban Action Showcase and Expo celebrating diversity and the multicultural achievements within the genre of Heroes!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I believe the greatest form of support is to put your money where your mouth is. What I mean by money is not just cash or credit but one’s physical presence. We need to show up for each other, encourage, and promote one another to build a stronger foundation to build upon.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I don’t think non-creatives know how much hard work goes into being a creative. It’s those countless lonely hours of preparation that make the end result look so effortless. Every tower needs bricks to build and fortify. The bricks of planning and organizing are those very important aspects of any creative journey which go overlooked because they are not scene by any except the ones doing the labor!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.urbanactionshowcase.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbanactionshowcase/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanActionShowcase/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demetriusangelo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/UrbanActionFest
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Action4U
- Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/channels/urbanactionshowcase UASC TV: https://www.urbanactionshowcase.com/uasctv.html UASE Gallery: https://www.urbanactionshowcase.com/gallery.html
Image Credits
Image credits: Cashin Designs, Ronnie Wright Photography, Champion Eye Media