April 30, 2009
My Second Blog
Written by Mark Dacascos
Happy belated 2009!
Family, friends and fans, please forgive me for taking so long to write another blog. I have no excuses. I’m sure I’ve been no more busy than many of you. I apologize.
Now I’ll catch you up on what I’ve done since I last wrote:
2008
*filmed the documentary, SAMURAI, in Japan for The History Channel
(I’m the “on-camera” host and narrator, premieres the summer or fall of 2009)
*filmed 9 episodes of the TV series, KAMEN RIDER, (I’m in the last 9 of the season)
*filmed the feature, SHADOWS IN PARADISE, in Los Angeles
*filmed 1 episode of the TV show, MIDDLEMAN, in Los Angeles (aired)
*filmed my second episode of the TV show, STARGATE ATLANTIS, in B.C.(aired)
*filmed the feature, WOLVESBAYNE in Louisiana
*filmed 20 new shows of IRON CHEF AMERICA
I flew to Hawaii to be my father’s “demonstration partner” in the pictures for his book about Wun Hop Kuen Do (the Martial Art he created). My job was to throw punches or kicks at my father, or put him in a hold, and he showed us, move-by-move, picture-by-picture, how he could defend himself and give me a lot of pain. It was fun. For HIM! 
In addition to having numerous meetings in Russia and Kazakhstan, I made appearances at film festivals in Chechnya, Kygyzstan and Tatarstan. And I had a fantastic time, especially with the people.
And there really are cool people all over the world. One of the wonderful things about being an actor is that when I’m lucky, I get to travel across the globe and work with some of them. And meet some of my fans. And become friends with people I’d never get to meet otherwise. And it’s interesting that although countries have different languages and customs, the essence of what we are, what we really need, and want, as humans, as people, is universally the same. We are the same.
I went to a Martial Arts Function in Las Vegas and witnessed the “mother who raised me and taught me Kung Fu,” my stepmother, Malia Bernal, get re-instated in front of hundreds of fellow Martial Artists as an active 7th degree black-belt in Wun Hop Kuen Do. It was long overdue, but better late than never. Thank you, Pop. You did the “right” thing.
My prayers and aloha for TONY RIBEIRO and MIKE CONDRA who passed on in 2008.
So far in 2009:
-I performed in my second “live” improv show at the Groundlings’ Theater under the tutelage and direction of improvisation guru, Gary Austin (founder of The Groundlings).
-I filmed the feature, THE LOST MEDALLION, in Thailand, and made a guest appearance at the “Fight Force” Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia.
-A few weeks ago I emceed the Wing Luke Asian Museum’s Yearly Gala in Seattle, Washington. It was a wonderful evening with really cool people.
-I’m presently filming a “secret” project for The Food Network, and am scheduled for another season of IRON CHEF AMERICA in the summer.
-My Capoeira Maestre, Amen Santo, my wife, Julie Condra-Dacascos, and I, are diligently working on the story for our Capoeira movie. We want the script to be solid. We’ll keep you posted as we move closer to production.
-I’m scheduled to work in New York and Bangkok later this year.
That’s it for now. If you have any questions, please send them in and I’ll try to answer them in my next blog — which I’ll attempt to write within the next few months.
Thank you for your continued support.
Be well.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Mark Dacascos
