IRVINE – “The Real Miyagi,” an award-winning feature documentary, was released worldwide on DVD on Feb. 11.
Love Project Films, in association with Odin’s Eye Entertainment, produced this loving tribute to an inspirational Japanese master who came to the U.S. in the early ’60s with nothing and changed America.
Three years in the making, this long-awaited documentary captures the life of Master Fumio Demura, a man who has that’s influenced many of Hollywood’s elite over the last 50 years. Those talents include Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, Dolph Lungren and Steven Seagal.
It was the stunt double role that he landed in “The Karate Kid” (1984) and the friendship he formed with actor Pat Morita that would forever change his life. Morita fashioned his unforgettable character, Mr. Miyagi, off of Demura, earning an Oscar nomination in 1985. This is the story of a man they call “The Real Miyagi.”
A native of Yokohama, Demura, 77, holds the rank of ninth dan in Shito-ryu karate and is also a master of kobudo (weaponry). In addition to the three “Karate Kid” sequels featuring Morita, his credits as a stunt player include “Mortal Kombat” (1995) and “Walker, Texas Ranger” (2000). His acting credits include “The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1977) and “Rising Sun” (1993), and he was both stunt coordinator and a cast member of “Ninja” (2009).
For more information on the film, visit www.TheRealMiyagi.com.
Love Project Films LLC, a joint independent film company co-founded by director Kevin Derek and producer Oscar Alvarez, is an Orange County-based production company developing original material for motion picture and television networks, and new entertainment content and services. For more information, visit www.loveprojectfilms.com.
