Schwarzgurtträger Johnny Strong. ©”Sinners and Saints” von Eurovideo
Californian Johnny Strong was born in the showbiz metropolis Los Angeles and is at home in many professions: actor, musician, knife designer. Action fans probably know him primarily for his leading role in “Sinners and Saints”, but he also had supporting parts in “Black Hawk Down”, “The Fast and the Furious” and “Get Carter”. On the occasion of the release of “Daylight’s End”, his second cooperation with William Kaufman, we talked with him about show business, his many talents and of course his action roles.
Johnny Strong as Thomas Rourke in “Daylight’s End”
Tell us a little about yourself and your career. How did you get into the film business?
Johnny Strong: I got started around 5 years old. I was modeling kids clothes and other modeling/acting jobs like that. And from there the rest is history…
Let’s start with your new film “Daylight’s End”. What can you tell us about your character? How much of Johnny Strong is in Thomas Rourke and what are the differences between yourself and that character?
Johnny Strong: My character Thomas Rourke is a man whose life was turned upside-down when the virus hit the eastern United States. He then sets out on a mission of revenge, which leads him across the US into Dallas Texas, where he meets a band of survivors, and tries to help them escape the city.
I believe there are parts of myself in every role I play. Rourke and I are different in the way that, personally, I’m aware that in reality there is no real satisfaction in revenge, when it’s based on loss. Once something is gone, nothing will be able to replace it. Rourke learns this in “Daylight‘s End”.
How did you prepare for the film? Did you undergo any special training?
Johnny Strong: No, nothing specific, other than just my regular training regimen, Boxing, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and strength conditioning. I did however want the character to look like he has been living in the apocalypse. So I cut my caloric intake in half, and dropped 30 pounds for the role. It gave the character a really hard look, which I think helps the audience immerse themselves in the role and the film.
Johnny Strong about filming with William Kaufman and “Sinners and Saints”
Johnny Strong hatte in “Black Hawk Down” ebenfalls einen prägnanten Auftritt. © Universum Film
This is your second film as lead protagonist with director William Kaufman and you have more projects lined up for the future. What can you tell us about your relationship?
Johnny Strong: Yes, William and I have a great creative relationship and friendship. I’m really picky about the projects I get involved with, and the people I work with, so it was a real win when I met William. He’s exactly the type of director I like working with. Working with William and Ridley Scott are the two best experiences I’ve had working with directors. William and I enjoy working on the same type of films. We are currently developing several projects together.
“Sinners and Saints” was your first film after a long break from acting. Why did you take such a long break? What compelled you to pick “Sinners and Saints” for your comeback? And do you have any anecdotes from the shooting of the film?
Johnny Strong: I took a long hiatus from acting in films, because as an artist, I like to pursue many different facets of my expression. I wanted to make music after I finished “Black Hawk Down”, so I made a few records, went on tour, and when my tour was ending I was approached by William to make “Sinners and Saints”. I liked the script and believed in William as a director, so I went back into making films.
You seem to be selective about the films you star in. How do you pick your projects?
Johnny Strong: I decided a long time ago, I won’t get involved with projects that don’t mean something to me. A lot of people base their life’s decisions on the prospect of making money, but I’ve learned, money comes and goes. Time on the other hand, you can never get back. And films take a huge chunk of my life/time away from me. So for me, I’ll only work on a project if it really means something to me, otherwise, it’s just a waste of my time.
Will he return to “Fast & Furious”?
Johnny Strong spielte einen von Vin Diesels Kumpels in “The Fast and the Furious” © Universal Pictures
You also played a role in the first part of “The Fast and the Furious”. In recent years, a number of people from earlier films had cameos in the sequels, even if they were small like Lucas Black’s. Have you been approached for a cameo?
Johnny Strong: I had an interesting experience making “The Fast and Furious”. I’ve been asked many times about coming back, but I see reprising the role as a superfluous endeavor. The character of Leon was simply meant to add weight to Vin Diesel’s “Gang” in the first film, and nothing more. They have since cast many actors in the franchise to do the same, and I just don’t feel there is a reason to bring back that specific character. He is said to have been a drifter who just showed up out of nowhere, and disappears at the end of the film without explanation. So I think that is a perfect way to leave it.
Add that to the fact, that I am involved in many other projects where I am an integral part of the creative development on ideas and story lines, that I am really excited about making, coming back as an ancillary character in the “FnF” franchise, really isn’t that appealing to me. I know several actors that are dying to get into the franchise, who think I’m crazy for dismissing it, but as in most situations, the grass is always greener. Life is all about perspective. I am extremely grateful for all the love I’ve received from the fans of the franchise, and I wish the cast and crew all the best with 8, 9, 10, etc..
Which kind of movies does he like?
What genres are your favorites – as an actor as well as a viewer of movies? What are your favorite movies?
Johnny Strong: I love science fiction in general, but I don’t have a favorite film genre per se. I like all kinds of films, from “One-Eyed Jacks” to “Patton” to “Baraka” to “La Femme Nikita”. I try to be objective and find good things in all films. Even some “bad” movies have redeeming qualities. I love so many movies, it would be impossible to list them.
Do you have any role models?
Johnny Strong: Role models? No.
Do you plan to direct a movie in the future?
Johnny Strong: Yes, I plan on directing in the future. I have a few projects in mind, but for now, I just take life one day at a time. I don’t like to plan too far ahead.
Johnny Strong – knife manufacturer, martial artist, musician, artist
Johnny Strongs und William Kaufmans erste Kollaboration: “Sinners and Saints” © Eurovideo
You show martial arts skills in your action roles. What’s your background in martial arts? Did you start training for the film business or earlier on?
Johnny Strong: I got started in martial arts when I was 7, and have been a practitioner for over 30 years. Boxing, Kickboxing, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to name a few styles. But I mainly just practice mixed martial arts, using all of my techniques. I teach and train with students 3 days a week, and then train strength conditioning 5 days a week.
You are an allround talent. Despite acting, you’re also a musician and you design knifes. Let’s talk about your music. How did you get into the music business? Which musicians inspire you?
Johnny Strong: I have been playing music since I was a kid. And it eventually lead me to be around people who were in the music business, and one thing lead to another, I’ve been signed to a few different major record deals, but, in late 2008 I decided to break free from my recording contract with Atlantic Records and just go about writing and recording without a label. It is very stifling working with record labels. I enjoy the freedom of having no one to answer to, and not having to compromise my art for the whims of some executive who knows nothing about art or creativity, but who is just looking to sell records.
You composed the soundtracks for the two films with William Kaufman. How did it come to that?
Sylvester Stallone ist ebenfalls kein Unbekannter für Johnny Strong. Man begegnete sich in “Get Carter”. © Warner Home Video
Johnny Strong: William asked me if I would consider doing the music for the film “Sinners and Saints” and after that, it is kind of an unspoken agreement that I’ll score the films we do. We both like how they turn out, so we don’t even discuss much about it other than he’ll tell me what he’s looking for, and I take that in, and do what I do. And listening to the scores, we are both happy in the end.
You have some amazing knife-fighting scenes in your movies and you design them as well. What fascinates you about knifes? How did you get the idea to design knifes?
Johnny Strong: I’ve always loved weapons, knives guns, etc… I think they are works of art. So I naturally gravitated towards designing and hand-making them.
Musician, artist, actor, knife manufacturer… which of your many professions fulfills you most and why? That is, if you have any favorites among them.
Johnny Strong: Music, movies, painting, sculpting, martial arts, they all stem from the same source. As an artist, it is part of my life to express myself, with whatever medium is in front of me. It isn’t a situation where I like one better than the other, to me they are all the same. It is like paint, different colors but made up of the same substance.