Interview With Rob Ho,
Actor / Landlord (added
May 17, 2007)
The interview below may be reprinted
with permission. The interview must contain the links and photos
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Dreamish.com
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] In
an effort to help share more stories of people fulfilling their
dreams, my friends are also doing interviews with interesting
folks and sending them in to share with you. This next interview
is done by my friend, Paul
Reeves, with actor Rob Ho. Enjoy!...
[Paul
Reeves] Rob has trained
in martial arts for 20 years to date and has recently embarked
in the world of screenfighting in the Independent Film Industry.
In a short space of time, he has become a member
of the UK Black Salt Screen Fighting Team, and registered with
The Fighting Stunts Association (Sin City). Based in the UK, he
is under the watchful eye of Zara Phythian (13 times World Martial
Arts Champion and actor).
He feels that as a Screen Fighter, he goes into
a project as a 'blank canvas', and looks forward to the direction
offered by the choreographer"
[Paul
Reeves] Hi
Rob. Thanks for taking the time to give this interview.
[Rob Ho]
It is my pleasure. Thank you for giving me
the opportunity.
[Paul
Reeves] You’ve been practising
martial arts for 20 years now. What made you interested in taking
up martial arts?
[Rob Ho] Well,
I grew up watching Bruce Lee films and so he initially sparked
off my interest. Then I guess it was experiencing bullying first
hand when I grew up, which prompted me to learn martial arts,
for self-preservation. I continue to train for well-being.
[Paul
Reeves] What
does a typical day’s training involve?
[Rob Ho] Ha ha to be honest,
I think I am rather lazy! I do in the main jogging, coupled with
light stretching and performing various martial art techniques.
It has dawned on me that the shooting of a fight scene requires
rather a lot of stamina, so good resilience is recommended.
[Paul
Reeves] When
did you start chasing your ambition to use your martial arts experience
to try and get into action movies?
[Rob
Ho] Paul, it all started when
I changed my career, which I will speak of later. Historically
I always dreamed of being in a martial arts film, yet I was encouraged
to follow a specific path; namely a traditional career which would
allow me to live. Well as I mentioned, after changing careers,
I wondered where things would take me if I signed onto a casting
agency. This I did near the start of 2006, although I have historically
received modelling work from them, ha ha, doing "business
suit" work!
Over the last few years I was also teaching Hip Hop dance in Bristol,
and I made the decision to stop teaching after the summer of 2006,
to focus on martial arts performance training. I did not have
any projects lined up but I was happy as I had made the change
to martial arts training. The way I approached it was that if
something came of it, then great; but if there was nothing, I
would equally be happy.
It was not until last September 2006 when a friend emailed me
a link. A company were advertising for extras to be in a UK based
martial arts film. It was one of those moments when I thought,
well....shall I or shall I not.....I completed the application
form online and sent it off, just because my friend kept on encouraging
me to. I received a reply informing me that they wanted me, and
if I could turn up in Bradford at 5.30am on a Saturday morning!
Now, being in Bristol, that was miles away, and it did not seem
rational. However, after mulling it over, I presented myself with
the, "...what if anything comes of it" scenario, and
made the long drive up. That film was called Dark Eden.
I had a very open mind when I arrived and I came away from the
day `taking` the experience that I wanted from it.
[Paul
Reeves] You
left behind a career as a solicitor, which was a very bold decision
to make. Did you ever have any doubts about leaving this career
path?
[Rob
Ho] I spent 10 years in the
legal field and it was one of those situations Paul, that I discovered
it was not for me. I must confess, there was a month of deep reflection,
asking myself if it was the right thing. In the end I knew it
was.
This coincided with my father's health being at a stage where
he could not really continue working at the same rate he previously
did; and it was agreed that I`d help out in the family business.
I now work with my older sister Susan, and we are both Landlords.
.
[Paul
Reeves] Was
it always in the back of your mind to someday pursue your dream
of being an action film actor?
[Rob
Ho] To be honest, over
the course of time I always day dreamed. Even when I was watching
the trailer in the cinema before a film started, my mind would
be elsewhere and I would visualise myself in some amazing fight
scene! However I always thought (certainly until recently) that
it may have been all but an intangible dream.
[Paul
Reeves] Have you ever had any serious injuries during training
or shooting a scene?
[Rob
Ho]
That is a very good question. I get the feeling that some people
think martial film fights are not painful. That is not the case.
I have come to expect that when I perform a fight sequence, I
anticipate an injury of some sort. 'Touch Wood" I have received
more niggling injuries than serious ones. My left big toe 'pops'
out of joint sometimes, and nowadays when I train, I tape my toes
together!
[Paul
Reeves] Who
have been your biggest influences to chase your dreams?
[Rob
Ho]
That would be a number of people.
I would first mention Peter Hallett of Utopian Pictures, who gave
me my first experience of proper screenfighting, together with
speaking lines for the camera. Then there is Zara Phythian and
Master Vic Marke. I can truly say that both have taken me under
their respective wings, and I am honoured to be a member of their
stunt team (UK Black Salt). Zara is a 13 times World Martial Arts
Champion and actor. Master Vic is a very well respected international
coach in martial arts, as well as being a Producer/ Director.
Every time I visit them, I learn something new in relation to
screen fighting. I am soon to fly out to Ohio with them both to
play a Shaolin Fighter in Zara`s film, "The Game".
I almost forgot one crucial person who has encouraged me to see
what I can make of this screen fighting. That is my mum! Her face
lights up when I tell her what I have been up to, and she is very
proud that her little boy (well I`m 34!) is going to the US to
be in a martial arts film! However, mum keeps stressing to me
the importance of remaining grounded, which I seek to abide to.
[Paul
Reeves] Out
of today’s martial arts movie stars, which one would you
most like to perform with?
[Rob
Ho] I
would love to work with Jet Li. Not only is he an amazing martial
artist, his acting is very strong also.
[Paul
Reeves] You
have a very nice profile on Myspace. Have you found Myspace useful
in helping you make contacts in the film world?
[Rob
Ho]
Thank you Paul. Myspace has been an amazing networking tool for
me. It was Myspace which connected me with Peter, Zara and Vic,
so yes, it has been great.
[Paul
Reeves] You
seem like a very pleasant natured person. So how does it feel
to play the roles of bad guys and evil henchmen? Do you find it
a challenge?
[Rob
Ho]
That is awfully kind of you to say Mister Reeves! I enjoy playing
bad roles and it is sooooooo the opposite to how I am in reality.
If anything it makes my male friends chuckle, and freaks my female
friends out! The latter find it hard to connect `lovely real Rob`,
with `evil reel Rob`!!!
[Paul
Reeves] Do
you worry about being stereo typed?
[Rob
Ho]
I would say no, because in the small number of productions I have
been in to date, whilst they have been 'bad' roles, the way in
which I have been asked to play them have been quite diverse.
For instance in Peter's film, "Tough Justice", I play
a modern day henchman who fights modern martial arts. In Zara's
film, "The Game", I will be playing a Renegade Shaolin
Monk, fighting Zara`s character with traditional kung fu style
moves, with the traits of a monk.
[Paul
Reeves] What
would be the best advice that you could give to someone who would
like to start trying to get into action films?
[Rob
Ho]
I was lucky through Myspace and I basically networked, perhaps
that it might be a good place to start. However it is important
that you remain humble throughout and realise that film makers
are not obligated to help you.
[Paul
Reeves] What
are your hopes for the future?
[Rob
Ho]
I am hoping Paul that perhaps one day my pastime of being a Screen
Fighter becomes my main occupation. At the moment I am a Landlord,
although the hours are somewhat flexible for me to pursue my love
of screenfighting. I would also hope that the UK martial arts
film making industry one day could join forces and make a film
project that would show the world what we are all about.
[Paul
Reeves] Rob,
it’s been a pleasure. I hope we see you up on the big screen
very soon.
[Rob
Ho] Thank
you very much Paul. I am most flattered.
Rob "Hip Hop Ho"
- Rob
Ho on MySpace
- Paul
Reeves on MySpace
- Wendy Shepherd
on MySpace
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