Talking to Joe Suba: "I'm a fighter, but not a killer or drug dealer"

rapdome
May 8, 2016
7 min read

I've known Joe Suba for 10 years now. In 2006 i watched Rage and Discipline movie in which he starred and he became an influential figure for me since then.

Me and my brother St.Rap did a Streets Laws song after having watched the movie, and made a music video for it which Joe Suba placed on his website later.

Today I decided to talk to Joe as to one of my motivators.

What's Good Joe? It's great to sit down and talk to you again. I'd like to do this interview myself. I definitely was impressed by Jermaine, the character you portrayed in the 2004 movie, RAGE AND DISCIPLINE. I remember one of my brother's homies brought a bootlegged DVD with a number of movies on it and R&D was one of them. If somebody would ask me to describe an antagonist I would think of no one else but Jermaine. My hate for him steadily grew throughout the movie. And all I could think of the whole movie was that I wanted this guy to be taken out!

I was so much impressed by your performance that i decided to get in touch with you, but i doubted you would respond me so fast. And of course I never imagined that I would get anything from you, but you hooked me up with a number of signed posters, a DVD, and a Suba T-shirt, all of which are kept safely to this day. And that was 10 years ago!

-So what's new with you?

Hey good buddy! So glad to reconnect! Yes, we first met after you saw my first film, RAGE, and our friendship was cemented in steel! I see you doing your thing with the music! I love that you NEVER STOPPED pushing and are living your dreams!! When we first started talking you were doing music, and you have accomplished so much with it since then!! I love it!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU, BRO!!!

-You have played in more than 10 movies. Which role did you like best?

Yes, i have done 14 films since RAGE AND DISCIPLINE, my first Roger Corman production, and I would have to say that RAGE was one of my best roles and experiences! Brian Clyde wrote and Directed it, and he has since become one of my best friends. He is actually the one who "discovered" me. He was looking for boxing extras and found me working out in a sweaty, old school boxing gym (i've been a boxer for years), and I ended up getting the lead role as Jermaine! It was a shoestring budget and skeleton crew, but, by far, one of my favorite roles, favorite films, and best onset experiences.

-Do you think movies like R&D are important for society? Do they send a good or bad message to the kids? And would you allow your kids to watch a movie like that?

Yes, RAGE was very Important at the time...we all have choices in life....some of our decisions are good ones and some will turn out bad! In the end, you have to live the life you choose and walk your own path. Yes, my kids have seen it! They were young at the time, but it was on BET for 2 years straight, so yeah, they did see their Dad getting crazy, lol...but they knew it was acting, because I am not like that in real life. Although, they do say the characters you portray the best come from something embodied deep inside of you on some level. But yes, I am a fighter, but not a killer or drug dealer lol! I just drew upon how i grew up along with the people i saw in the streets and put it into my roll! It was fun and i learned so much by being on set!!!

-Was playing Jermaine hard for you or not? I know that you come from NYC, did you cross paths with guys like him in real life?

I actually enjoy playing bad guys like Jermaine and it comes easily to me. I grew up in Harlem, so I definitely did grow up around a lot of dudes like Jermaine and worse, if you know anything about Harlem in the 80's...it was crazy, bro!! So for sure I was able to draw upon so many of the characters and experiences I knew and witnessed first hand growing up.

-When I sent you that video that me and my brother St.Rap did as an unofficial soundtrack to the movie, what was your reaction to it?

It was so fly!!!! I would love it if you could send it to me! I would like to put that on my FB and IG fan pages! You guys supported me from DAY 1!!!

-You also played Capt. Seth Cooper. The character is totally opposite of Jermaine. Do you prefer playing good or bad guys?

Even though I'm really good at playing bad guys, I don't care if i play a good or bad guy, as long as people can say, damn, this guy put his all into that role! I was very blessed to have played Capt. Seth Cooper in two war films in the Philippines right after RAGE....HUNT FOR EAGLE ONE and CRASHPOINT, the sequel (and a third one since, called OPERATION ROGUE), and I also enjoyed playing that role as well. My house had burned down right after Rage, believe it or not, and i was literally homeless. Then right after my house burned down, I got this really good 9-5 with great benefits, but as soon as I got the call from Hunt, I just quit my job and left for the Phillipines the next week! It was really crazy, bro! I ended up being there for 5 months and loved it...and have now done 5 films in the Philippines (3 of which were war films). Right after that, I got a call from a guy who was a friend of Golden Globe winning Director, Siddiq Barmark (OSAMA, 2003), Siddiq hired me to star in OPIUM WAR, shot entirely in Afghanistan in 2007, which was the first and maybe the only (LOL) film produced there since the fall of the Taliban. And I didn't even have to audition, he just chose me based on my past performance, which was such an honor, as Siddiq is such a talented and accomplished Director! I will never forget the time I spent there!

-Have you been in the US Army?

I have never been in the military, although I had wanted to go (and people always think that btw, must be my personality). I have have been blessed to play soldiers in four films now and was trained in military ops by a high ranking military specialist for the Corman war films, so that was really exciting!!!

Joes Suba on the set in the Philippines

-So tell me about your new film, BLUE UNDERGROUND.

BLUE UNDERGROUND was just released, and it's the first film i've ever Produced! And I also starred in it. It's a 25 minute action short, about two dirty NYC cops working for a fight promoter who hosts underground death matches in New York City. After a deal gone bad, they find themselves fighting for their very lives. It's a hard core action/fight film, and the stunts are crazy! I really fell in love with the producing side of film making through BLUE. I did just about all the post Production by myself...i mean I did everything from casting and hiring everyone to sitting in on the making of the mini movie! I learned how to put films together and I really like indie filmmaking! www.blueunderfilm.com

Joe Suba, UnderGround Cops

-I heard you are going to run your own movie production studio. What are the challenges that you are facing?

Yes, I now own my own production company called Suba Films, as well as half of another company called G&S Productions. I love that I can help myself and also help others. The hardest thing is getting funding for the films! To me, that's been the biggest down side. But i seem to keep getting it somehow! And i am always looking for funding for anyone reading this LOL!

-You've been doing yoga as long as I've known you. Does it help you in your daily life? And why yoga?

Yes, i do Bikram yoga, which is hot yoga. I have been doing it for many years now, and i love it. It's a hard core workout...90 mins, and the room can get to 110 degrees with up to 50% humidity...HOT!!! It really helps me stay focused, and keeps me lean and strong for all these action films! But mostly i do it because it keeps me calm and centered!

-Being from New York, do you follow basketball? What are your thoughts on the Nets who moved to Brooklyn a few years ago? Do you root for the Knicks or the Nets?

I stopped watching pro ball. I have been watching high school ball because my son plays, so i put all my energy into him and helping him (he is number 5 in NYC)! My oldest played two years of college ball and now he is going on to play two more years at another college! i love watching them play!

-Do you think the industry is different now? I'm talking not only about movie industry, but sports, music etc. If so, what are cons and pros? And speaking of music, what kind of music do you listen to now? Have your tastes changed over time?

I am old school when it comes to music. The new hip hop that's out now, i can't even understand a word, LOL! i like classical music and old school hip hop. I also listen to a lot of motivational speakers like Les Brown, Eric Thomas and Tony Robbins, to name a few.

Struggle da Preacher wearing a Joe Suba T-Shirt while on the set of Streets Laws

-What are your life goals? What would you want to achieve in order to say you've lived a good life?My goals are to make good films and to help others get their foot in the door! It could be acting or crew or production! I feel like i am here to give more than take! And to see my sons grow into good young men! And, of course, to keep GOD CLOSE IN MY HEART AND MIND! Nothing can be done without GOD'S BLESSING!

-Thank you for your time, Joe. I wish you and your family the best and I do hope we will work on some projects together.

Thank you, bro! You were my first interview ever, 10 years ago, and for that I am very grateful! I am learning Russian right now, and hope to visit soon. I would love to work with you on a film too, going forward! When you touch down in NYC, definitely let me know....

Rage and Discipline [Teaser]