The Sensei (2008)

Director:

Diana Lee Inosanto

Writer:

Diana Lee Inosanto (written by)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

You have the right to defend yourself against hatred, and self hatred!

Plot:

In 1985 Colorado, a long-absent woman, proficient as a black belt in martial arts, returns home where she agrees, secretly, to train a bullied gay teen.

Plot Keywords:

Gay | Martial Arts | Colorado | Teacher | Teen

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Diana Lee Inosanto	...	Karen O'Neil (as D. Lee Inosanto)
Keith David	...	The Minister
Melissa Taylor	...	Lorna
Shane Weingardt	...	Attacker #1
Mark Anthony Griffin	...	Attacker #2 (as Mark Griffin)
Ryan J. Parker	...	Attacker #3 (as Ryan Parker)
Michael O'Laskey II	...	McClain Evans (as Mike O'Laskey)
Ayo Fadeyi	...	Policeman #1 (as Ayodeji Fadeyi)
Curtis Magee-Ortiz	...	Policeman #2
Jeff Liu	...	Matthew
Danny Lopez	...	Picture of Tim
Kerry Knuppe	...	Brenda
Jonathan Camp	...	Craig Beard
John Campbell	...	John
Ben Perkins	...	Buck
Matthew Wood	...	Matt - Kid being teased
Steve Bradley	...	Protective Parent
Robert Kammer	...	Biker with Beer
Tim Lounibos	...	Simon O'Neil
Michael Hake	...	Gary O'Neil
Cesar Lomeli	...	Sheriff Salazar
Germaine Scott Grimes	...	Darrel (as Germaine DeLeon)
Scott Cooper Ryan	...	Clyde (as Scott Ryan)
Gina Scalzi	...	Annie Evans
Spice Williams-Crosby	...	Judith (as Spice Williams)
Sab Shimono	...	Taki Nakano
Michael Yama	...	Yori Nakano
Ellis McGee	...	Brian - Black Belt / Samurai #3
Brad Thornton	...	Larry - Black Belt
Bryan Frank	...	Peter O' Neil
Arlene Rapal	...	Anita O'Neil
Hanna Watanabe	...	Young Amy
Mark McGraw	...	Rick Beard
Madelon Guinazzo	...	Jane Norton
Michael Auteri	...	Pastor George
Lisa Dalton	...	Jean Beard
Justin Frazier	...	Gym Coach
Louis Mandylor	...	Mark Corey
Ken Kerman	...	Coach Vickens
Vincent Olan	...	Cutman Jack
Steve Reiter	...	Corner Man
Willie Laureano	...	Fighter #1 / Samurai #2
Alex Jovica	...	Fighter #2
Mathew Albanese	...	Fighter #3
Stephen Blea	...	Referee #2
Ron Balicki	...	Samurai #1 / Sparring Partner Vince
Sara N. Salazar	...	Death (as Sara Salazar)
Matt Stetson	...	Principal Smith
Jefferson Arca	...	Pook
Phillip Held	...	Zeke (as Phil Held)
J. Michael Weiss	...	Charlie
Alan Shackelford	...	Dr. Bremmer
Oscar Bravo	...	Alejandro Vega
Manuel Roybal	...	Coach Zapade
C.C. Edwards	...	Referee #3
Phil Luna	...	Funeral Director
Tzi Ma	...	Buddhist Monk
Erik Betts	...	Kevin
Sheila Looney	...	Nina
Maiz Lucero	...	Jessie
Larry St. Clair	...	Black Belt #1
Dennis Batka	...	Black Belt #4
Rosine 'Ace' Hatem	...	Deputy Sheriff Taylor (as Ace Hatem)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Esperanza Catubig	...	Melody O'Neil
Mark Steven Grove	...	Samurai #4
Emily Kuroda	...	Flora Nakano
Mike Mukatis	...	Jim O'Neil
Heather Soon	...	Adult Amy
Jake Alexander	...	Martial Artist (uncredited)
Fred Degerberg	...	Boxing Coach (uncredited)
Diana Reveal	...	Karen Nakano (uncredited)

Directed by
Diana Lee Inosanto		(as D. Lee Inosanto)

Writing credits
Diana Lee Inosanto		(written by) (as D. Lee Inosanto)

Produced by
Craig Ayers	....	line producer
Sal Baldomar	....	co-producer
Ron Balicki	....	executive producer
Ron Balicki	....	producer
William Ballard	....	associate producer (as William 'Cool Breeze' Ballard)
C.C. Edwards	....	associate producer
Alan Gitlin	....	co-producer
Mark Steven Grove	....	co-producer
Madelon Guinazzo	....	executive producer
Ron Guinazzo	....	executive producer
Tarik Heitmann	....	line producer
Tarik Heitmann	....	producer
Diana Lee Inosanto	....	producer (as D. Lee Inosanto)
Sue Inosanto	....	executive producer
Chil Kong	....	associate producer
Mike Mukatis	....	executive producer
Erin Quill	....	associate producer
Kurt Schneider	....	executive producer
Erica Spano	....	associate producer
Brad Thornton	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Deane Ogden

Cinematography by
Mark Rutledge		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Reine-Claire

Casting by
Patricia Rose

Costume Design by
Vanessa Phillips

Makeup Department
Elizabeth Kan	....	makeup supervisor
Liz Kan	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Tarik Heitmann	....	unit production manager
Colby Mitchell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Meagan Asplin	....	second assistant director
Ron Balicki	....	second unit director
Mitch Dickman	....	first assistant director
Éowyn Mishawn	....	second assistant director
Erica Spano	....	second assistant director
Russell White	....	second unit director

Sound Department
Shawn Anderson	....	boom operator
Todd Danceford	....	boom operator
Jeff Deel	....	sound mixer
Michael Ferdie	....	additional sound editor
George R. Groves Jr.	....	supervising sound editor
Sean Groves	....	assistant sound editor
Jimmy Kuehn	....	boom operator
Mark Server	....	assistant sound editor
Sean Skinner	....	sound mixer
Mike Williams	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
David C. Bryant	....	lead cgi artist: Pixel Playground
Jon Firestone	....	green screen consultant
Don Lee	....	visual effects supervisor: Pixel Playground Inc.
Kim Lee	....	visual effects producer: Pixel Playground
Cory Lee	....	paint/rotoscope artist: Pixel Playground, inc. (uncredited)

Stunts
Ron Balicki	....	fight choreographer
Ron Balicki	....	stunt coordinator
Mark Anthony Griffin	....	stunts (as Mark Griffin)
Mark Steven Grove	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Phillip Held	....	stunts
Alex Jovica	....	stunts
Willie Laureano	....	stunts
Ellis McGee	....	stunts
Ryan Parker	....	stunts
Shane Weingardt	....	stunts
J. Michael Weiss	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Zachary Armstrong	....	second assistant camera
Keith Banks	....	electrician
Jon Firestone	....	videographer
James Harshman	....	electrician
David R. Higgins	....	camera operator
David R. Higgins	....	first assistant camera
Rex Kenney	....	key grip
Bryan Sprow	....	key grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Francesca Palizzi	....	set key wardrobe (as Francesca Bollinger)

Editorial Department
Jeremy Becker	....	on-line editor
J.R. Benson	....	supervising colorist: high definition
Philip S. Miller	....	assistant colorist
Glen Phipps	....	technical supervisor: post-production
Tracy Smith	....	colorist

Music Department
Jon Baliouse	....	musician: woodwind soloist
Connie Bearse	....	music preparation
Mark Estes	....	head of music preparation
Tom Geron	....	score mixer
Tom Geron	....	score recordist
Nina Harwood	....	musician: ethnic woodwinds soloist
Roisyn Matthews	....	musician: violin soloist
Kerri McAdams	....	orchestra contractor
Reya Nesbit	....	musician: violin
Deane Ogden	....	conductor
Deane Ogden	....	orchestrator
Greg Riley	....	assistant to composer
Greg Riley	....	musician: guitar
Katie Williamson	....	music preparation
Jai Meghan	....	assistant to composer (uncredited)

Other crew
Mark Andrews	....	technician: on-line high definition
Ron Balicki	....	martial arts fight trainer
Alejandra Engelberg	....	production assistant
Dora Hopkins	....	script supervisor
Jeff Liu	....	screenplay consultant
Colby Mitchell	....	production coordinator
Gregory Segal	....	producer's representative
Jhoanna Trias	....	production assistant
Matthew Wood	....	production assistant

Thanks
Gilbert L. Johnson	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Heitmann Entertainment
• Zen Mountain (presents)

Distributors

• Third Millenium Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD) (DVD Premiere)
• Echo Bridge Home Entertainment (2010) (Canada) (all media)
• Echo Bridge Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Entertainment 7 (2009) (non-USA) (all media)
• Entertainment 7 (2010) (non-USA) (all media)

Special Effects

• Pixel Playground

Runtime:

103 min | USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Colorado, USA

Company:

Heitmann Entertainment

Trivia:

ON SCREEN: "This film is dedicated to Gilbert L. Johnson and to the Family and Friends of The Sensei Cast and Crew who have been directly affected by the AIDS epidemic."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: BNSF locomotives are seen in a sequence set in 1985. This railroad was formed by a merger that took place in 1996.

Quotes:

Mark Corey:I swear I'm no fag, okay? You gotta know this. I'm no homo, okay?

Movie Connections:

References "Kung Fu" (1972)

Soundtrack:

Whisper Without Warning

definitely worth watching

I found this movie surprisingly good,Some unexpected twists, rich story line, good acting. This is not a martial art movie, this is a good movie set in a martial art background. Its difficult to decide which is better diana lee's acting or her martial arts both are top grade. Louis Mandylor is quite touching with his role. Generally good acting from everyone. The fight scenes are the most realistic i have seen in a very long time. None of the one person beating up 20 people that has become tiresome this days in martial art movies.It also shows the rich character and morale fiber which is what the martial arts is about not just hammering people to a pulp like MMA tries to portray.