Rocco DeVilliers

Born in 1970, Rocco DeVilliers' love of film began at an early age. Inspired by George Lucas' Star Wars, Rocco studied filmmaking in hopes of someday directing a major motion picture. In 1986, Rocco won a local award for best screenplay, and in 1987, P.M. Magazine awarded him Best Director for a short he did while in high school. Rocco amazed his teachers and peers when at age 17 he wrote, produced and directed "Bounding Overwatch," a forty-minute short chronicling the struggles of a marine patrol that must fight its way to the extraction point in enemy territory. Rocco coordinated every aspect of the film, including orchestrating several full-combat action sequences with a Huey Helicopter. He performed many of the film's stunts, several of which required him to undertake "high falls," while other stunts involved explosions which engulfed him in flames. At age 21 Rocco set out to make his first feature film on a $15,000 shooting budget, using his friends as actors. The result was the award-winning, action-packed drama Pure Race (1995). Virtually a one-man production, Rocco participated in every facet of the movie. He co-wrote the screenplay; produced and directed the film; did the make-up, lighting and cinematography; supervised and actually performed most of the film's numerous and dangerous stunts; edited the film; and worked extensively on the sound, foley and musical score. Truly, Pure Race is a showcase of Rocco's enormous talent. Rocco has edited many feature films and directed the high school drama Only Once (1998), which stars Austin O'Brien.