We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Neil Bentley Fierro. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Neil Bentley below.
Hi Neil Bentley , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
My most meaningful and latest feature film projects are *Sicario vs Shogun Robots* and *Tokyo Psycho Ex Girlfriend in Orange County*.
*Sicario vs Shogun Robots* is an 85-minute action sci-fi tour de force that pits cartel sicarios against cyber-samurai shogun robots in a high-octane, guerrilla-style production shot in a single intense day, now in post-production with epic fights and a strong Asian cast including Emiko Jane Ishii, Maho Tachibana, and Jennie Lin.
*Tokyo Psycho Ex Girlfriend in Orange County* is a dark, bloody thriller about a man who flees his obsessive ex from Tokyo only for her to track him down in sunny Orange County, invade his life, and unleash violent chaos, recently wrapped filming and featuring overlapping talent like Maho Tachibana, Emiko Jane Ishii, and directed by Neil Bentley Fierro.
These two bold, indie genre mashups represent the peak of my current creative drive and momentum in 2025–2026.
Neil Bentley , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Neil Bentley Fierro, an action actor, filmmaker, writer, producer, director, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt based in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Born and raised in LA near Dodger Stadium in a vibrant, multicultural neighborhood surrounded by Chinese, Japanese, Asian, Italian, and Latino communities, I grew up immersed in diverse cultures—which deeply shaped my appreciation for global storytelling, especially Asian action cinema and martial arts. From a young age, icons like Bruce Lee, Rocky, and Rambo fueled my passion for high-energy, visceral films, and I’ve carried that fire into my career for over a decade.
I got into the industry through a lifelong love of action movies, combined with rigorous training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (under the Gracie lineage) and other martial arts disciplines like Judo. This real-world fight experience set me apart early on, allowing me to transition from performer to creator. I started with acting roles, stunts, and fight choreography, then expanded into writing, producing, and directing my own projects to tell the stories I wanted to see—authentic, cross-cultural action that blends grit, discipline, and spectacle without relying solely on flashy effects.
My work focuses on indie action films, thrillers, and genre mashups that feature international casts (especially strong Asian talent), real martial arts movement, and bold premises. Recent highlights include directing, starring in, and producing **Sicario vs Shogun Robots** (an 85-minute action sci-fi epic pitting cartel sicarios against cyber-samurai shogun robots, shot guerrilla-style in one intense day and now in post-production) and **Tokyo Psycho Ex Girlfriend in Orange County** (a dark, bloody stalker thriller about obsession crossing from Tokyo to sunny OC suburbs, recently wrapped filming). These build on earlier award-winning shorts and features like *Operation: Dark Waters*, *Fight For Love*, and others streaming or in development.
What I solve for audiences (and collaborators) is the hunger for grounded, culturally resonant action that feels real—drawing from actual martial arts discipline rather than pure CGI spectacle—while tackling themes like cultural clashes, personal grit, and high-stakes confrontations. For clients or partners in indie film, I bring multifaceted skills: on-screen charisma and fight expertise, plus the hustle to write/produce/direct low-to-no-budget projects that punch above their weight.
What sets me apart is my commitment to authenticity in movement and storytelling—blending BJJ/Judo realism into screen fights, my multicultural background for genuine cross-border narratives, and my relentless drive to create as an actor-filmmaker hybrid in a competitive industry. I’m SAG-AFTRA eligible, multilingual in spirit (with deep ties to Asian cinema), and always positive, brave, and strong (勇敢 | ポジティブで強い男 | Coraggioso | Valiente).
I’m most proud of grinding through indie productions like these latest features—turning wild ideas into completed films with talented teams, earning awards along the way, and building momentum in 2025–2026 despite the challenges of Hollywood. These projects represent my creative peak: fearless genre blends that honor action cinema’s roots while pushing fresh, international vibes.
To potential fans, followers, collaborators, or clients: Know that my brand is about real movement, cultural respect, hard work, and never backing down—whether in a fight scene, on set, or in life. I’m here to make exciting, authentic action that connects across borders, and I’m always open to new opportunities, discussions, or just sharing the journey. Follow along on Instagram @bentleyfierro, check my IMDb, and let’s keep the energy roaring! ⚔️🤖🎬💥
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One powerful story from my journey that really illustrates resilience is the making of my latest feature film, **Sicario vs Shogun Robots**—an 85-minute action sci-fi tour de force that I wrote, directed, starred in, produced, and essentially willed into existence against massive odds.
This project was pure guerrilla filmmaking at its most intense: we shot the entire feature in a single blistering day. Imagine coordinating an international cast (heavy on rising Asian talent like Emiko Jane Ishii, Maho Tachibana, and Jennie Lin), choreographing epic fights blending real martial arts with cyber-samurai robot clashes, managing practical effects for sparks, mechanical breakdowns, and high-stakes action sequences—all while racing against the clock on limited locations, a tight budget, and the inevitable chaos that comes with indie productions. Everything had to align perfectly: cast energy, camera coverage, fight timing, lighting shifts, and even the robots behaving on cue. There were moments when fatigue hit hard, technical hiccups threatened to derail scenes, and the pressure of knowing this one-day window was our only shot felt overwhelming—like being in a never-ending round on the mats where tapping out wasn’t an option.
But I drew on everything my BJJ brown belt training has taught me: stay composed under extreme pressure, adapt instantly to whatever comes, protect your position, and keep advancing no matter how many hits you take. I channeled that same mindset from my father’s lessons and Rocky’s wisdom—”It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” I rallied the team with positivity and focus, problem-solved on the fly (re-blocking fights in real time, improvising coverage when gear acted up), and pushed through exhaustion because the vision mattered more than the pain. We wrapped principal photography that day, battered but unbroken, and dove straight into post-production where the real grind continued—editing those high-octane sequences, layering in sound design for the robot menace and cartel grit, and refining every frame to make it punch way above its budget.
The result? A completed feature now deep in post (with buzz building for 2026 release), featuring authentic cross-cultural action, killer fights, and a story that fuses cartel intensity with shogun-robot spectacle. It stands as proof that resilience turns “impossible” into “done”—that single-day shoot wasn’t just logistics; it was a test of endurance, vision, and team spirit that leveled up my filmmaking and opened doors for more bold projects like *Tokyo Psycho Ex Girlfriend in Orange County*.
That experience reinforced what I live by: in this industry (and in life), setbacks aren’t stop signs—they’re setups for comebacks. Embrace the grind, lean on your training (physical and mental), surround yourself with great people, and never stop pushing forward. If I can pull off a feature in one day and come out stronger, anyone can turn their obstacles into fuel. Keep training, keep creating—resilience wins every time. 💪🤖⚔️🎬
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
One powerful story of a major pivot in my life and career came during the unpredictable ups and downs of pursuing acting and filmmaking in Hollywood. For years, I hustled full-throttle in the industry—training relentlessly in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (reaching brown belt level), booking roles, choreographing fights, and building toward bigger projects. But like many indie creatives, there were long stretches where auditions dried up, gigs were sporadic, and the bills didn’t wait for the next callback. The instability hit hard, especially in a city as expensive as LA.
To keep the dream alive without burning out or going broke, I made a deliberate pivot: I leaned into my hands-on skills and started working as a contractor on the side—handling home improvement, remodeling, repairs, and construction gigs around Los Angeles and Orange County. It wasn’t glamorous—no red carpets or fight scenes—but it was steady, paid the rent, and gave me flexibility to train, audition, and create when opportunities arose. I’d finish a job site in the morning, then head to set or the gym, often still in my work boots and dust-covered clothes. There were days when I’d be swinging a hammer one minute and rehearsing lines the next, or using the physical discipline from BJJ to power through long hours on ladders and job sites.
That contractor work taught me invaluable lessons that directly fueled my filmmaking resilience. Problem-solving under tight deadlines? Check—mirrors the guerrilla shoots like *Sicario vs Shogun Robots*, where we had one day to nail everything. Adapting to unexpected issues (leaky pipes, supply shortages, client changes)? That’s pure indie film chaos. Staying positive and professional even when exhausted? Essential on set and on the job. It kept me grounded, built my work ethic, and reminded me that creativity thrives when you’re self-reliant—not waiting for permission from Hollywood.
The pivot paid off big time. The financial stability let me invest back into my passion projects without desperation, leading to breakthroughs like directing and starring in features, wrapping *Tokyo Psycho Ex Girlfriend in Orange County*, and pushing *Sicario vs Shogun Robots* through post-production. I never abandoned the dream; I just built a bridge to sustain it. Today, I still take on select contractor work when it fits—it’s part of who I am: a multifaceted guy who grinds in multiple arenas to make bold, authentic action stories happen.
That experience showed me pivots aren’t failures—they’re strategic moves. In business, career, or life, when one path stalls, you adapt, use what you have (skills, grit, networks), and keep advancing. It turned survival mode into momentum, and I’m prouder of that real-world hustle than any single credit. If you’re in a similar spot—dream big, but build smart. Resilience + resourcefulness = unstoppable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13530501/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bentleyfierro/
- Twitter: https://x.com/bentleyfierro?s=21&t=9mIrPGiN6LFZa2Q7_S3_0Q
- Other: http://www.tiktok.com/@neilbentleyfierro
