THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701240243
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 68 lines
It's finally arrived.
Remember, about five years ago, when local kickboxer Curtis Bush began filming his own martial arts movie?
Probably not.
Whether you recall or don't doesn't matter. He did - and it's finished.
And after a private showing this weekend, ``Psycho Kickboxer: The Dark Angel,'' will premiere to the general public at 5 p.m., Feb. 1, at Cinema Cafe.
From there, it goes to distributors and could possibly start a run at some local theaters.
But whatever happens, Bush is happy it's finally complete.
``It's been a five-year epic,'' said Bush, 34. ``We started on it in December of '92. We just got the call that everything was ready to go.''
Bush, a five-time International Sport Karate Association world champion, isn't new to the movie business.
He had roles in both ``Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' flicks and was in a Canadian production called ``Dragon Hunt.''
And he had a role at one time in a soap opera produced and filmed at CBN.
But making your own movie is drastically different.
``It's been a real learning experience, that's for sure,'' said Bush. ``And this is the first time I get to do the killing instead of getting killed.''
In the film, Bush plays - and this is nice casting - Alex Hunter, a professional kickboxer whose father is the town's chief of police. Dad is about to bust the local crime boss, who ruins the whole thing when he kills Hunter's fiancee, kills dad, and, apparently, kills Hunter - hoping to scare away any potential witnesses.
But Hunter miraculously survives the beating he takes and comes back as a ninja crime fighter on a mission to rid the city of the crime boss and avenge the murders of his family members. On his quest to get the crime boss, he puts some serious hurting on all kinds of low-lifes.
``It's kind of a cross between `Death Wish' and `Batman,' '' said Bush. ``I think it's great, but I'm in it. My brother said it's the best low-budget karate movie he's ever seen.
``The sound and special effects are pretty nice. And it's pretty bloody.''
The entire film was shot locally, with scenes of Airline Bingo in Portsmouth and Brose's Sub Shop, Hot Tuna Bar & Grill, and Eagle 97 - all in Virginia Beach.
The screenplay was written by Bush, Kathy Varner and Don Carroll. It was shot on film by Mardy South and David Haycox. The music and sound effects were done by Danny Denison, while special effects were the work of Creations Unlimited. It was all edited by Bill Gaunce - the lead singer for the Barflys - and Randy Melton of Cyber Sounds in Chesapeake did the recordings.
``And all the actors are local friends of mine,'' Bush said. ``It was a big effort by everybody and I have to thank everybody for their work and patience while we got it all together.
``It's taken longer than I'd ever have dreamed, but I think it's going to be worth it.''
Bush said he has several distributors who want to market the film, and he has plans to push it at the American Film Market convention in California some time next month.
``That's where the majority of low-budget action films are sold,'' Bush said.
But first it had to be finished and Bush is glad it is. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LEE TOLLIVER
Curtis Bush, left, and Charlie Ambrose star in ``Psycho Kickboxer.''