克城消息

Johnny Wu Premieres Innerself Feature Film
- A Spotlight for Local Filmmakers

Congratulations to Director Johnny K. Wu and the Cast and Crew of "Innerself" a martial arts musical comedy feature film that had a very well attended premiere in Cleveland on Saturday May 12 at the Atlas Lakeshore Cinema. The original script was written five years ago, and started filming a year ago. The audience was entertained with fantastic martial arts (from mostly non-martial artists), singing, and dancing by stars Jason Wang, Mikhail Tot, Stephen Haas, Kyle Znamenak, Donna Williams, Terry Giancaterino, and Rosy Hong. The movie featured many other local actors and film makers including director of photography Peter Sampson, and composer Aryavarta Kumar.

    In attendance to support Johnny were collaborators not just in his film making circle, but also friends that he works with in the community from OCA Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Asian Festival, One World Day, and many others. The question and answer session after the film was also very engaging and was streamed on Facebook Live by this author and can still be seen on a link on the Innerself the Movie facebook page. The guests not only enjoyed the premiere of Innerself, but they also saw the trailer premieres for three other films that Johnny and his associates are creating: Johnny's Wu Xia 2 The Code, Johnny's Parker a Spider-verse Fan Film, and Keith Collins II's Maximillian. After seeing the trailers, everyone in the audience is looking forward to more movie magic from Johnny Wu and his friends.

Photo 1 - Director Johnny Wu with DP Peter Sampons, Composer Aryavarta Kumar

Photo 2 - Actors and Director: Mikhail Tot, Wu, Kyle Znamenak, Rosy Hong, Jason Wang

Photo 3 - Cleveland Asian Festival co-founder Lisa Wong, Wu, Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi, and Cleveland Asian Festival MC

Biography:
A native Clevelander raised in Central America, Johnny Wu is, a veteran award winning filmmaker with an MBA (from CSU) specializing in branding, a known hall of fame, has been producing events, making visual into reality for businesses since 1998, an a well known and respected within the Asian Pacific American community in Ohio, co-founded the Cleveland Asian Festival, as well as recognized by ethnic cultural groups as the Producer for Cleveland Cultural Gardens’ One World Day since 2015.
Wu is one of the few pioneers in engaging talents/skills in Cleveland’s independent filmmakers’industry. In October 2003, he founded the monthly Cleveland IndieClub to provide a voice for local visual artists to showcase their work and visions.
Wu currently sits as an executive board member of St. Clair Superior Development Corp,member of the International Task Force for Cleveland Museum of Art, WKYC Community Council Member, City of Cleveland Consumer Affairs Community Board, VP of Organizations Relation for OCA Cleveland Chapter, Board member with Cleveland Council of World Affairs, to name a few. He is an inductees to two Martial Arts Hall of Fames, and Inductee of the International Indie Filmmakers Hall of Fame and others.
Wu’s goal is to provide visual entertainment that challenges himself to become a better filmmaker, his latest successful web series T.R.A.C.E. has garnered attention worldwide that was asked to give talks at the Wizard World Comic Con Conventions. His current feature film INNERSELF, a Martial Arts Comedy Musical, had a VIP screening on May 12 with many VIPs in attendance sold out at Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore 7’s 400-seat theater. The movie is currently at Cannes Film Market for distribution acquisition.
Wu currently working on a 20mins Spider-Man Fan Film called Parker – A Spider Verse, Winter Soldier Fan Film, Wu Xia 2 The Code Feature film and a documentary about Cultural Appropriation, its origin and what does that mean to every ethnic group.
Artist Statement
Since I was a young kid, I often being asked, what do you want to do when you grow up. I always think of doing something with producing and creation of a passion. So I mostly tell people I just want to make NOISE.
That statement startled people, because it’s not a ‘job description’ or a ‘tangible goal like getting a car, being rich or being famous’. Making noise means to be able to do something passionate while challenging that it can not only help those involved but also becoming an inspiration to others. So we all excel and become good or knowledgable on what we do.
Which is why I keep reinvent the wheel and create films that are new to me to help my personal growth, while at the same time it can provide a message to others. I also love being involved in helping the rest of the artist to grow with me, creating a monthly place where people can socialize, network, learn from each other. I am as much active as my AsiaTown community not only because my business is there, but because I believe the neighborhood is where every ethnic groups merge together, not a melting pot but a community of cultural synergy.
That’s is the purpose of my work, my goal, my beliefs, and my ultimate goal: what I do is for all of us, not just for me, at the end, I’m just making noise.