Johnnie M. Purvis

Johnnie Mitsuru Purvis was born in Okinawa, Japan. His mother is Japanese and a native of Okinawa and his father is American with Scottish, Italian and French ethnic backgrounds. Johnnie grew up in Okinawa, where he attended department of defense schools as well as private schools. Johnnie's parents owned a home fronting the ocean in a small fishing village called Toya in Yomitan on the west coast, where he developed a love for the ocean and connection with nature. He would often go out swimming, surfing, exploring by himself and encountered sharks, turtles, sea snakes and various other forms of sea life that gave him respect instead of fear. However, he faced challenges because he was considered "half breed". This came with many challenges and negative treatment and he often found himself in trouble with the locals or the military occupants. At the urging of his mother, Johnnie was involved in Okinawan martial arts at a young age. He was instructed by his uncle Shunko Kinjo who still teaches in Okinawa today. Johnnie's father, a retired and decorated U.S. Air Force veteran was also a businessman who started a successful automobile sales business and got Johnnie involved in racing motocross bikes at the age of 13. He excelled and raced in the expert class and was ranked in the top three on the island, racing for team Matsuda of Suzuki motorcycles. Johnnie's parents eventually bought a house in Hawaii on the island of Oahu and moved the family there. Johnnie later joined the U.S. Army and trained as an infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia and was then stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st Airborne Division. After experiencing the loss of his best friend Frank, a fellow soldier, killed in Operation Desert Storm, Johnnie left the military, deciding to change his path in life and live without conflict. Johnnie moved back to Hawaii, attended Windward community college and worked at several dead end jobs, hungry to find what draws his interest. In his spare time he'd go swim the ocean, surf, climb, skydive, run and find some way to train to fuel his spirit. During the summer of 1999, Johnnie was scouted by a Hawaii production company that specializes in Japanese commercial work because of his ability to speak fluent Japanese. This was the catalyst that spurred his interest in the production world. Since than and currently, Johnnie has worked as a production coordinator turned first ad and enjoyed the challenges of keeping the production running on budget and on time. He's been the First ad on many a major commercial work from Japan filmed in Hawaii. His client list include Coca Cola, Shiseido, Seabreeze, Suntory, Nintendo, Sotheby's, JTB, Aohata Jam, Sony, Kewpie, Full House ( Chinese/Korean TV drama- Hawajj episode ), Fuji TV and Tiovita to name a few. In 2010, having time off between gigs, he decided to go out for a couple casting calls. Hawaii 5-0 was in town shooting season one and he got a tip for a role of a Asian gangster named "Kang". Johnnie read for director Brad Turner and got the speaking part of "Kang". He than went out for a reading for "The Cop" role in Time Warner Oceanic cables, roadrunner Hawaii commercial by Director Brett Wagner and got the part as well. He was than offered a day player position as a lighting technician On Hawaii 5-0 and decided to take the job / learning and growing opportunities that came with it. He has worked on season one thru six for Hawaii 5-0 TV in conjunction with his Japanese assistant director gigs. In 2014, he had the opportunity to read for Hong Kong film director Jason Kwan who was in Hawaii filming "A Nail Clippers Romance". Johnnie read for a Japanese speaking role in the movie and got the part of fellow factory worker/surfboard shaper. Also in 2014 Johnnie was cast by Fuji TV for a Hawaii variety show special for the 2015 New Years episode as a "Gang member/bad guy", that lures the unaware contestant/celebrities into a hidden, trap, eight foot deep hole in the ground. This was a dialogue heavy part with stunt-acting involved. In 2015, Producing his first project called "Chasing Legends", a story about international car culture where East meets West, Johnnie uses his knowledge of growing up in Japan to give this project life. Johnnie and Co Producer Chris along with Director Nick Porreca, Sound engineer Nevada Jones, fly to Japan, gather their assembled team and shoot non stop for ten days garnering fantastic action packed footage, awesome interviews with master builders- legendary mechanics of Japan. Most recently, in 2016, Johnnie had the opportunity to perform stunt work for the season finale episode of Hawaii 5-0, season six under the guidance of Stunt Director Jeff Cadiente. He also most recently was cast as "Jackhammer" in the 2016 Hawaii indie film "False Advertising" by Director Nick Porreca. Johnnie got to have fun playing a tough guy with dialogue that puts a beat down on a poor soul that is falsely accused of stealing a candy bar from a helpless little girl. Dialogue with action. Johnnie has also provided a service as a personal care coordinator for many A List Japanese movie stars and J- Pop artist. He has also translated private meetings between Japanese celebrities, extremely wealthy Japanese businessman and his close friend, Hawaii renown psychic Lan Vo. Thanks to his dad who instilled the love of speed and gasoline engines in him as well as his mom who passed on the respect and love for martial arts. Johnnie enjoys today riding and building fast GP style racing street bikes like his BMW S1000RR or his Ducati Panigale. He lives to train in the gym and with his Martial Arts Master; Ronald Ogi, who has given him a glimpse of energy flow. Johnnie will always be a student in this fantastic universe in this journey of now.