19 Sep Q&A WITH ROCKY JO, DIRECTOR OF BUNNY & CLYDO
I wanted to write a story about a couple who loved like this—particularly an Asian couple, because let’s face it, most Asian couples generally aren’t this crazy and irrational. But that’s what makes BUNNY & CLYDO distinct. These days, I feel like we live in a world where it’s so difficult to believe in love and to feel it and know you have it. I think people often give up on finding something real because they get tired of searching or just lose hope. And that’s why I wrote BUNNY & CLYDO, because I wanted to show a couple that had something special and fought for it. How they have a love that’s wild and fun and exciting; and how it’s worth protecting, even to the very end.
PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT: Rocky Jo…that’s a pretty cool name for an Asian American guy. What’s your REAL name? And how did you get “Rocky”?
ROCKY JO: Believe it or not, my real name is actually Rocky Joe. There’s a slight difference in spelling—I changed “Joe” to “Jo” because most people who heard my name would assume I was 6’4 and very much Caucasian. It’d be really bad when I told them I was from Texas too. But Rocky is my real name, and yes, I am an Asian cowboy.
PAC ARTS: Tell us about your background and how you ended up in filmmaking.
JO: I actually never intended on becoming a filmmaker. I had my eyes set on becoming a lawyer, and, in fact, even went to a law-magnet high school. During my senior year, I went through some very personal changes, and one night, I looked up into the ceiling of an auditorium, and it all made sense. That night was very much my calling.
Of course, I met a great deal of opposition from my family. They were typical and the very conservative type, but I wanted to honor them. It took me four years to get their blessing. I also had to strike a deal with them: “Make it” in four years, or go into law. I guess it’s like baseball–“Play ball or go home.”
Two years have passed. Looks like I’ve got little choice but to succeed.
PAC ARTS: What’s the story behind your production company, Brilliant Blue Films?
JO: Brilliant Blue Films is my studio that specializes in editing and film production. In essence, it aids me in all the legal and tax-related aspects that come with any production. As for the title, I originally wanted to call it “Brilliant Green” because the title’s attractive on so many levels, but then I found out there’s actually a j-pop band called, “The Brilliant Green.” So to avoid confusion, I considered other colors. And the more I thought about blue, the more I liked what it traditionally stood for. Just make it brilliant.
To find out more on Brilliant Blue Films, visit: www.BBFilms.net.
PAC ARTS: Your short film, BUNNY & CLYDO, is a very slick, stylistic, fun action film taking an American classic and adding an Asian American twist. Also looked like a lot of fun to shoot. Tell us about the production—how did you come up with the story, casting and shooting on super 16mm film?
JO: I believe there’s only one thing more thrilling and more compelling than being caught up in action, and that’s being in love. And what I loved about the original “Bonnie & Clyde” was that you had a couple who truly, wildly and passionately loved each other, so much so that even the law couldn’t seem to hold them down. As if the rules of this world didn’t apply to them.
I wanted to write a story about a couple who loved like this—particularly an Asian couple, because let’s face it, most Asian couples generally aren’t this crazy and irrational. But that’s what makes BUNNY & CLYDO distinct. These days, I feel like we live in a world where it’s so difficult to believe in love and to feel it and know you have it. I think people often give up on finding something real because they get tired of searching or just lose hope. And that’s why I wrote BUNNY & CLYDO, because I wanted to show a couple that had something special and fought for it. How they have a love that’s wild and fun and exciting; and how it’s worth protecting, even to the very end.
PAC ARTS: Do you plan on developing BUNNY & CLYDO into a feature?
JO: The 112-page feature script is actually written. And my team and I are already in talks with studio execs and producers. I’ve been very fortunate, but nothing to celebrate until the papers are signed the production begins. The feature’s titled: “The Notorious Bunny & Clydo.”
To find out more on the feature, please visit www.BunnyAndClydo.com.
PAC ARTS: What are you working on next?
JO: I signed with Hornet Inc.’s post-production team, so my schedule’s pretty intense with sports, gaming and commercial projects. For my own productions, I’m aiming to shoot an indie music video and also prep another short this fall. For feature films, I have a spec script written (“The Adolescent Experiment”), a new one in development (“The Yakuza Princess”) and of course, “The Notorious Bunny & Clydo.”
PAC ARTS: Any pet peeves?
JO: Not trying. As the saying goes, “I can accept failure, but I cannot accept not trying.”
PAC ARTS: Who do you look up to—both professionally and personally?
JO: Professionally: Robert Rodriguez, John Singleton, Guy Ritchie, John Woo, Tarantino, Shinichiro Watanabe, Chan-wook Park, Michael Bay, The Scott brothers and Steven Spielberg.
Personally: Utada Hikaru, CS Lewis, Rock Lee and Larry Bird—the man who was deemed to have “no apparent talent.”
PAC ARTS: And finally, the big question…. boxers or briefs?
JO: Ha, ha, ha. Oh wow… briefs.
BUNNY & CLYDO is scheduled to screen on Thursday, 9/29 at 7:00 pm and on Sunday, 10/2 at 4:30 pm. Also, catch more tips from director Rocky Jo at the Lights, Camera, ACTION! panel on Sunday, 10/2 at 2:00 pm.