Tag Archives: F4YL Crew

May92014

Posted in F4YL Crew

Gary Merlo – casting associate / location scout

Garly Merlo passionately believes that tae kwon do has impacted his life in a very positive manner.  He has been training in martial arts since the age of 15, tallying up 12 years of experience as a head instructor and earning his Seventh Degree Black Belt along the way.

Upon moving to Folsom, CA Gary’s dream was to be a strong, positive influence in the community through martial arts instruction.  He considers himself to be a very family oriented person and feels fortunate to live in a family-driven community.  Gary says,

 

“I look forward to the challenge of making a difference.  Through martial arts instruction, I have witnessed children and adults reach far beyond what they believed to be their full potential.”

 

He continues,

 

“I believe the practice of martial arts, the discipline and training, develops the necessary life skills to succeed no matter what the student’s goals are.”

 

Gary has had the privilege of teaching in the Bay Area as well, and those students have now grown to become doctors, teachers, engineers and actors.  But more importantly he has tried to instill in all of his students a strong sense of family values and respect for those values.  His goal is to create an environment in which children and adults not only learn the disciplines of tae kwon do, but also learn a great deal about themselves.

This is apparent when you spend some time with Gary at his school West Coast Martial Arts, in El Dorado Hills, CA.  The relationships he has with his students, their families, his colleagues and everyone he meets are ones of welcoming and respectful natures.  It’s easy to see how he has become so successful, and his students the same.

The one studios crew has received the same treatment from Gary and his establishment.  With his cooperation we have filmed scenes at his West Coast Martial Arts for both the Fight 4 Your Life short (2012) and feature length films.   Gary has also aided us in casting and further location scouting.  Thank you for everything Gary.  Your knowledge, support and kindness are appreciated beyond words.  You’re the best!

For more info on Gary and his school, please visit www.westcoastkickinit.com.  Gary can also be found on Facebook!

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

May102014

Posted in F4YL Crew

TJ Kuahine – background music / soundtrack artist

Music producer, artist, Team Alpha Male fighter from Waianae, HI, now living in Sacramento, CA, T.J. Kuahine is a man who doesn’t no the meaning of the word cliche.  So often people get grouped into certain categories by those they choose to associate themselves with.

It would be easy to call T.J. an athlete or jock, because he is, with him being a dedicated mixed martial arts fighter having wrestled through high school and then moving to Sacramento to live and train with UFC superstar Urijah Faber and his Team Alpha Male.  It would also be easy to call him a musician, because he is, with him having produced countless beats for tons of singers, rappers and musicians alike.  The bottom line is T.J. is the perfect example of what it is to go against stereotypes and the norm.

T.J. is many things, as we all are.  And he is not afraid to demonstrate through how he lives what it is to be true to yourself.  A longtime friend of Fight 4 Your Life director Bryan Bachar, T.J. has been part of one studios projects for years, providing music and more.  We are happy to have this talented artist on our team yet again as he aids in the music for F4YL.  We thank you for everything you do $upaFlyTeddy$upaFly!  Keep those beats blastin’ and livin’ the dream.

Check out T.J., his beats, his fights and more on his personal site, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and SoundCloud!

 

– The one studios crew

 

May82014

Posted in F4YL Crew

Tomicko Abella – costume design / makeup & hair

Tomicko Abella is a fashion designer and all around stylista out of Sacramento, CA.  When she isn’t striving to come up with new clothing, she’s likely kicking back with her young daughter and having some good ole’ fun!

Tomicko came to Fight 4 Your Life through the power of networking.  And, WOW, has she been a huge help!  She is responsible for the stylish apparel, hair and make-up you’ll see on the lustful seductresses in F4YL.

Who are the seductresses?  Be sure to check up regularly on the Characters page here on Fight4YourLifeMovie.com for info on these enticing characters and more.  In the meantime, friend and follow Tomicko on Facebook and Twitter!  Oh, and she’s on MySpace too…yes, MySpace!

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

May62014

Posted in F4YL Crew

Zaco Cox – production assistant / grip

Born Zac Alexander Cox in middle America, Zaco is extremely passionate about the film and television industries.  From his own mouth,

 

“I feel that whatever we capture on camera, then cut and trim to our liking, and deliver to the masses, is rewarding.”

 

Zaco considers entertaining people his craft.  And he is the person you’ve been looking for when it comes to having someone on your team.  We can vouch for that!

The one studios crew is thankful to have had Zaco on board for a duration of shoots for F4YL  in the Summer of 2013.  His grip and production assistant skill sets were a valuable addition to our team.  And we look more than forward to working with Zaco again in the very near future!

Check out Zaco on IMDb, Linkedin and Staff Me Up.

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

 

May82014

Posted in F4YL Cast

Gregory Young

Gregory Young began stage performances in 2007 and has completed numerous shows that include well known stage productions, such as Fiddler on the Roof, Diary of Anne Frank, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Bus Stop.  Local original productions have been sandwiched in between, usually comedic in nature, with Mr. Young having played a Russian Ski Dance Coach and a Barney Fife-like local sheriff.

2013 was a big year for Gregory.  He portrayed Mr. Keller in the Miracle Worker, replacing the original cast character in only 10 days preparation.  He also partook in a stage performance of The Crucible at the Harris Center for the Arts, playing the role of Mr. Cheevers in the well known play.

It was also in 2013 Gregory was cast to play the character of Mr. Jenkins in Fight 4 Your Life.  He has been nothing but a joy to work with, extending his hand to help beyond just acting in his role, having been a huge help behind the scenes as well.  one studios is forever thankful to have met this talented actor, who recently had a small role in a short film we did for the 2014 Sacramento 48 Hour Film Festival.  The film is called Brownie Points, and Gregory did a fine job.

Without a doubt, we look forward to working more with Mr. Young.  We know much is to come from this awesome dude!

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

 

May92014

Posted in F4YL Cast

Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly is the head instructor at El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  He started learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu while he was teaching English and coaching wrestling in Japan.  During his stay in Japan, he was fortunate enough to live in a community where many Brazilians lived and quickly became involved with their culture and sports.  Although his training took place in Japan, he experienced complete immersion in Jiu-Jitsu training while surrounded by the Brazilian community.  Eliot explains,

 

“I wanted to learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu because I heard of people doing it well into their 50’s and even 60’s.  I finally found something I could do that wasn’t just lifting weights, hitting a ball, or chasing a ball.” 

 

Eliot earned his brown belt in Japan from Michel and Marcio Miyashita, instructors under 5th degree black belt Master Barbosa.  After moving back to the United States from Japan he trained with Andre Glodzinski for almost 2 years until the closing of the first Sacramento gym.  Eliot is currently training with World Champion Professor Marcos Torregrosa.

 

“I wish to teach the Jiu-Jitsu technique and skills I know while emphasizing some of the fun and  unique cultural elements I have experienced in my training.  Please ask me about my experiences, I would love to share them with anyone!”  – Eliot Kelly

 

Prior to his experiences in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Eliot was a Division 1 Wrestler at UC Davis under the legendary coaching of Lennie Zalesky and Mark Munoz.  At UCD he became a two time Pac-10 place winner, Open Freestyle State Champion and earned medals at many other College Open tournaments.  Eliot has wrestled and beaten some cream-of-the-crop wrestlers from BIG 10 and BIG 12 schools, including the University of Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa University, Oklahoma State and Oregon State.  He also has experience working as a counselor at a few of the toughest, most renowned wrestling camps in the nation, including J Robinson’s Intensive Wrestling Camp, Camp of Champs Ironman Training Camp, The Eternal Warrior Wrestling Camp and West Coast Wrestling Camps.

Eliot graduated from UC Davis in 2007 with a double major in Japanese and East Asian Studies and a minor in Education.  His Japanese knowledge has come in handy during his journeys to Japan, where he has had a unique coaching experience.  He worked with the freestyle clubs in Shiga Prefecture alongside former Olympians and National Champions, and at Ritsumeikan University alongside a 2 time Olympian.

 

After returning from Japan, back to the Sacramento area, he arrived again at UC Davis to help the team as an Assistant Coach and to train in order to make the Freestyle national team, for which he competed in the Dave Schultz Memorial and Asics Nationals.  Unfortunately, in 2010 the UCD Wrestling team was cut from UCD Athletics.  But Eliot is looking to stay involved in wrestling as he continues to develop the Jiu-Jitsu program in El Dorado Hills.

It was through wrestling Eliot met his longtime friend, creator of Fight 4 Your Life, Bryan Bachar, with B being one of his teammates at UCD.  B says a few words about his friend,

 

“You can’t ask for a better person to know than El Dog.  He’s a genuinely good human being.  And it makes me a better person just to know him.  Like everyone in his life I’m sure, I’m very proud of the man he has become and continues to strive to be.”

 

Eliot has been a supporter of Mr. Bachar’s creative endeavors since college, having helped out regularly as an extra hand, or, more recently, having provided his dojo as a location for F4YL.  In fact, Eliot has a small role in the film as well!  Keep an eye out for him.

And please be sure to check out his business site for his Jui-Jitsu school El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  What a great place!  You can find out more about Eliot and his business on:

Google+

Facebook

Twitter

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

May152014

Posted in F4YL Cast

Jared Fong

Jared has had an interest in the creative arts for as long as he can remember.  Here are a few words from him directly:

 

“I’ve always been interested in creation, and since I enjoy movies and games, my interest spread into those two genres.  I took to screenwriting, game design, programming, and 3D modeling, and as I fiddled with those, I wanted to learn more about the production aspect of film.”

 

When Jared saw an ad for needed actors and crew for a project called Fight 4 Your Life, he jumped at the chance to be a part of the project.  Not only did the ambitious Jared come on board as an actor, but also as a much needed crew member.  He has been a dedicated and valued team member, making the haul from Fremont, CA to the Sacramento area for his required shoots, rehearsals, meetings and other F4YL oriented events.

When we told Jared we would like him to be a part of Fight 4 Your Life, he is remembered to have said:

 

“It’s going to be quite exciting to actually be a part of this film and learning the process of making it.”

 

Well, it’s been quite exciting having you be a part of it, Jared.  Thank you for all of your commitment and positivity!  Good things are in store for you friend.  You’re a natural!  And you takes hits like a champ!

 

– The one studios crew