J.A. Steel
Encyclopedia
J.A. Steel is an American writer, director, producer, editor, stunt person and actress best known for her role as C. Alexandra Jones in The Third Society.
Steel was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
and raised in Harrison City, Pennsylvania
. Her acting began at age seven when she appeared in numerous school plays (most which she had written) and continued until she received a scholarship of a summer theatre program at the age of 14.
on a partial scholarship, and graduated from USC in 1992 with a Degree in Social Science and Communications. Shortly after graduating, she accepted a job as a production assistant for martial arts
action star Sho Kosugi
(Revenge of the Ninja
, Black Eagle
) Sho promoted her to Vice-President Development within six months.
In early 1993, Steel left Sho Productions to start her own company, Warrior Entertainment. The company's main focus was on music management and in 1995, Steel negotiated the first contract ever between an American Artist, Sasha Alexeev, and Taiwanese Record Company, Rock Records
. Sasha's Wintertales album was released in 1996, just as the Asian Economy was on the verge of collapse. Record sales were slow and Steel decided to no longer be involved with music or the entertainment industry.
. Upon her return to the United States, she re-entered the entertainment industry and began planning her first feature from a screenplay that she had written in 1996. The screenplay, entitled Triad, was about an ex-motocycle racer turned cop Cody Reynolds and his Asian partner, Michael Li. Cody's girlfriend in the film was a vice-detective by the name of Sanchez.
Steel sent out the script, but development executives claimed it was "too ethnic." Sanchez became Jones. The executives were still not satisfied and wanted even more changes. In protest, Steel got rid of Cody's character completely and changed the Los Angeles Police Department
captain from the 50-year-old male stereotype to an African-American woman played by Sonya Eddy
. Jones then became the main character, the film title changed; and The Third Society was made.
Steel turned down several offers to buy the script. Steel financed about 85% of the film. Steel found herself both in front of and behind the camera writing, directing, producing, editing and starring in the film. She adopted the name J.A. Steel to direct, write and edit under. The "Jones" character in the final cut of The Third Society went uncredited, as Steel never originally intended to play the "Jones" character. Steel was one of the first female directors who has written a nude scene for herself, as Jones spent a lot of time in the shower to wash away the grime from the fight scenes.
, competes in Muay Thai
kickboxing, is a Master SCUBA Diver
, and holds 22 marksmanship awards with various weapons. Steel spent two years in Army ROTC.
Steel went on to write, produce, direct, edit, perform stunts and star in two more action feature films: the award winning Salvation in 2007 and Denizen
. Steel also directed the short films Dive the Deep Blue and A Change of Plans. Salvation was shot using an Arriflex super 16mm camera.
Steel tapped into her music roots to write the song Angel Tonight for the soundtrack
of The Third Society; and direct the music videos for Doesn't Matter Anyway and It's a Beautiful Day, both by the Emily O'Neary Band for The Third Society. She also collaborated with Edith Fung to create the music for the soundtrack of Dive the Deep Blue.
Steel's third film Denizen
was released in April 2010.
Steel was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...
and raised in Harrison City, Pennsylvania
Harrison City, Pennsylvania
Harrison City is a census-designated place in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Harrison City is located at ....
. Her acting began at age seven when she appeared in numerous school plays (most which she had written) and continued until she received a scholarship of a summer theatre program at the age of 14.
Early career
Steel's career in the entertainment industry began at the age of 18 when she began managing bands and promoting rock shows, during the time she was attending the USC School of Cinematic ArtsUSC School of Cinematic Arts
The USC School of Cinematic Arts, until 2006 named the School of Cinema-Television , is a film school within the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of...
on a partial scholarship, and graduated from USC in 1992 with a Degree in Social Science and Communications. Shortly after graduating, she accepted a job as a production assistant for martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
action star Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi is a Japanese martial artist with training in shindō jinen-ryū karate who gained popularity as an actor during the 1980s, usually playing a ninja. He is the father of Kane Kosugi and Shane Kosugi. After taking a hiatus from film, he started a taiko group in California...
(Revenge of the Ninja
Revenge of the Ninja
Revenge of the Ninja is an action movie starring Shô Kosugi as a ninja. It is considered part of a ninja trilogy, starting with Enter the Ninja and ending with Ninja III: The Domination , but the stories are not directly related...
, Black Eagle
Black Eagle
The Black Eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae, and is the only member of the genus Ictinaetus. They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical Asia and hunt mammals and birds, particularly at their nests...
) Sho promoted her to Vice-President Development within six months.
In early 1993, Steel left Sho Productions to start her own company, Warrior Entertainment. The company's main focus was on music management and in 1995, Steel negotiated the first contract ever between an American Artist, Sasha Alexeev, and Taiwanese Record Company, Rock Records
Rock Records
Rock Records is a Taiwanese record label founded in 1980 by Sam and Johnny Duan . The record label had their first multiseller in 1989 with Sarah Chen.It is now Asia's largest independent record label....
. Sasha's Wintertales album was released in 1996, just as the Asian Economy was on the verge of collapse. Record sales were slow and Steel decided to no longer be involved with music or the entertainment industry.
The Third Society
During her two-year hiatus, Steel traveled extensively in Asia and even lived for a brief time in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Upon her return to the United States, she re-entered the entertainment industry and began planning her first feature from a screenplay that she had written in 1996. The screenplay, entitled Triad, was about an ex-motocycle racer turned cop Cody Reynolds and his Asian partner, Michael Li. Cody's girlfriend in the film was a vice-detective by the name of Sanchez.
Steel sent out the script, but development executives claimed it was "too ethnic." Sanchez became Jones. The executives were still not satisfied and wanted even more changes. In protest, Steel got rid of Cody's character completely and changed the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
captain from the 50-year-old male stereotype to an African-American woman played by Sonya Eddy
Sonya Eddy
Sonya Eddy is an American actress. She majored in Theatre and Dance at UC Davis and received her B.A. in 1992. Eddy is a licensed vocational nurse .-Career:...
. Jones then became the main character, the film title changed; and The Third Society was made.
Steel turned down several offers to buy the script. Steel financed about 85% of the film. Steel found herself both in front of and behind the camera writing, directing, producing, editing and starring in the film. She adopted the name J.A. Steel to direct, write and edit under. The "Jones" character in the final cut of The Third Society went uncredited, as Steel never originally intended to play the "Jones" character. Steel was one of the first female directors who has written a nude scene for herself, as Jones spent a lot of time in the shower to wash away the grime from the fight scenes.
Stunts and filmmaking
Steel races motorcycles, skydives, handles swordsSwords
A sword is a cutting/thrusting weapon made of metal. Sword or swords may also refer to:* Swords, County Dublin, Ireland* Suit of swords, a suit in Latin-suited playing cards and Tarot decks* SWORDS, a ground-based military robot...
, competes in Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
kickboxing, is a Master SCUBA Diver
Master SCUBA Diver
Master Scuba Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several North American diver training agencies, such as National Association of Underwater Instructors , Professional Association of Diving Instructors , Scuba Diving International , and Scuba Schools International .Although the...
, and holds 22 marksmanship awards with various weapons. Steel spent two years in Army ROTC.
Steel went on to write, produce, direct, edit, perform stunts and star in two more action feature films: the award winning Salvation in 2007 and Denizen
Denizen (film)
Denizen is a 2010 low budget sci-fi horror-action film written and directed by J.A. Steel . The film stars Steel, Julie Corgill, Glen Jensen, Ben Bayless, and Jody Mullins, and is Steel's third feature film.-Plot:...
. Steel also directed the short films Dive the Deep Blue and A Change of Plans. Salvation was shot using an Arriflex super 16mm camera.
Steel tapped into her music roots to write the song Angel Tonight for the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of The Third Society; and direct the music videos for Doesn't Matter Anyway and It's a Beautiful Day, both by the Emily O'Neary Band for The Third Society. She also collaborated with Edith Fung to create the music for the soundtrack of Dive the Deep Blue.
Steel's third film Denizen
Denizen (film)
Denizen is a 2010 low budget sci-fi horror-action film written and directed by J.A. Steel . The film stars Steel, Julie Corgill, Glen Jensen, Ben Bayless, and Jody Mullins, and is Steel's third feature film.-Plot:...
was released in April 2010.