SPITFIRE BROWN

Interviewed by Aurélien Henry OBAMA

Shiai Magazine: Welcome brother Spitfire Brown to Shiai Magazine, what exactly brought in the practices of martial arts and finally movie acting?

Spitfire Brown: At age 3 or 4 My mother took me to go see Bruce Lee in the Movie The Big Boss not only was I completely in awe of Bruce the thing that inspired me the most was watching and listening to all the fans that were cheering and screaming I knew right then an there I wanted to do the same thing which is become an martial arts action film star!

 

Shiai Magazine: Apart from Asian martial arts do you practices African martial arts systems or have you met people who practices African martial arts?

 

SpitFire Brown: The closes I’ve come to that was when I was a teenager I was part of a dance crew and we study African Dance and the teacher had us throw in some martial arts moves and even Brazilian Capoera moves for some of our performances.

Shiai Magazine: Have you been to Africa the motherland?

Spitffire Brown: Not yet but very soon.

Shiai Magazine: Why do they call you Spitfire?

Spitfire Brown: My teenage competition coaches Winston Matthews and Tim “Apache” Wright, felt that every time I competed / performed Id had so much intensity it felt like I was Spitting fire like an explosive dragon.

 

Shiai Magazine: As a black teenage champion in the martial arts have you encountered racism and if you did how you did manage to overcome it?

Spitfire Brown: The racism I always encounter was great motivation for me because instead of sitting around complaining and worrying about it I would train harder to make myself and name stand out more than the competition.

Shiai Magazine: Your career was launch with Mortal Kombat: Conquest; tell us the experience you learned from participating in TV series?

Spitfire Brown: It was a history making moment because until then producers, writers and several directors never believe that an African American Martial Arts could Play a leading Ninja in television or Film so we all learned a lot and embraced a lot which opened many doors for more up and coming African American martial artist.

 

Shiai Magazine: Most people are use to see ninja roles as Asian and sometime whites but how manage where you chosen to play the role of Black ninja?

Spitfire Brown: All of the producers from the Mortal Kombat Live tour new who I was so it was Action Director Pat E. Johnson and Fight Coordinator/Action Director John Medlen who demanding that I was given a chance.

Shiai Magazine: As a martial arts champion and martial arts actor, what is the difference between sport martial arts and fight choreography in the movies?

Spitfire Brown: Sport martial arts competitions are super fun and you travel and compete for the love of the game because there is very little prize money and for some people sport karate tournaments is there life and excitement its all they live for. Now fight Choreography in TV and movies well LOL win or loose you get paid very, very well and you can see a solid future of the vast amount of possibilities that’s in the industry but you have to be versatile I am a Fight Coordinator, Actor, Stunt Man, Action Actor, Writer, Producer, celebrity fitness trainer Set designer and wardrobe designer so I’m not sitting around waiting for people to call me I keep it moving constantly.

Shiai Magazine: As an African American winning all those awards and titles in the martial arts and movies how do you feel?

Spitfire Brown: Humble and honored with a sense of relief because I had to kicked down so many doors to get them, now that I’m on the other side I feel really proud that there are several young martial artist that I inspired that are following in my foot steps and making foot steps of there own for the next generation.

Shiai Magazine: You have been teaching in different seminars across the world, will we have chance to meet you in Africa to share your knowledge?

Spitfire Brown: When I was a teen ager that was all I could dream about was sharing what I know with my people from the motherland it was also a dream of my first Martial Arts instructor may he rest in peace Professor Gregory Jaco so it will be happening soon.

 

Shiai Magazine: You won an award for the movie Afro Samurai: Flesh & Bone, you can tell us briefly about the movie and what made it successful?

Spitfire Brown: I won the Break out Action star of the year award at Producer Del Weston’s 5 annual Action On Film International Film Festival. I was the writer, producer, set designer, Martial Arts fight coordinator and star of that short film. The short was a prequel to the very popular Afro Samurai animation that starred the voice of Samuel L Jackson. What made it successful was every Afro Samurai animation and Video game fans were waiting for an Live Action Afro Samurai Film so I created the first ever Live action Afro Samurai Tribute film dedicated to the creator of Afro Samurai Mr. Takashi Okazaki and Samuel L. Jackson. Once everyone seen the website www.afrotributefilm.com and www.spitfirebrown.com the poster drove everyone crazy because it was done so well.

Shiai Magazine: You are working on new project called RAZER; can you give us more highlight about it?

Spitfire Brown: RAZER is an international transmedia action franchise that My company Spitfire Style Productions along with award winning writer / director Kenneth Mader and Mader Film production have in active development the franchise will have three highly action packed ground breaking films, a graphic novel, and video game. I will be starring in the franchise as the Character Darian Slade a master assassin and tortured soul and I will also be surrounded by top name talent to round out the rest of the cast, a big budget action franchise to be exact and much, much more. Trust me every action film fan from all over the world has been waiting for this one and its coming soon.

Shiai Magazine: will you one day come to Africa produce and act in an action martial arts movie or assist an African martial arts movie production?

Spitfire Brown: Once I finally have a little more clout in holly wood that will be the best time because I will be able to bring a lot more to the table.

Shiai Magazine: Today throughout the African Diaspora and in Africa in general, Black people want to promote their implication in the martial arts but especially African cultural martial arts heritage in different forms of media. Why a sudden pride in the martial arts as a people?

Spitfire Brown: Everyone wants to be apart of something special and like Bruce Lee Said “ Martial Arts is a way to honestly express yourself” spiritual and physical.

 

Shiai Magazine: In the year 2011 the highly expected upcoming International African martial arts movie Lost Brother “Waka-waka man” which will be filmed in Cameroon a central African country with presence of African and African American actors. Do you think that such an initiatives organize by international Black community can be successful?

Spitfire Brown: Yes because the motivation, drive and focus is a part of the production every one wants to show the world what they can do.

Shiai Magazine: What advice can you give to African child who experience difficulties in life and hardship?

Spitfire Brown: Keep your head up and stay strong because the hardship your going through right now is only temporary don’t take your eye off your prize and dream big because your dreams are never out of your reach.

Shiai Magazine: What do you think of this African martial arts online magazine? Do you think that international community should support it through donations and funds?

Spitfire Brown: Of course Support is and word of mouth is a very valuable thing and every African , African American martial Artist all over the world should know about this magazine.

 

Shiai Magazine: Thank you for accepting our interview, God Bless you brother and hope you shall visit us in Cameroon “Africa in miniature”, Let our ancestors guide your path!