Rising Star Neil Bentley Fierro of Hollywood Action Cinema On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry

As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Neil Bentley Fierro.

Neil Bentley Fierro is a Los Angeles-based actor, filmmaker, writer, producer, director, stunt performer, and fight choreographer. Of Italian-Spanish-Jewish descent and raised in LA’s multicultural scene, he brings a diverse perspective to his work. A passionate martial artist with over a decade of training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (brown belt under the Gracie lineage), he specializes in creating high-energy, authentic action films that blend martial arts, cross-cultural themes, and visceral storytelling. He continues to develop and star in independent action projects in Hollywood.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in Los Angeles in a very vibrant, multicultural neighborhood. My background is Italian-Spanish-Jewish, so at home we had a mix of cultures, languages, and strong family values. That environment really shaped me — it taught me to appreciate different perspectives and traditions from an early age.

From a young age I was obsessed with action movies. I’d watch anything with great fight scenes, stunts, and heroes who could handle themselves. That passion led me to train seriously in martial arts. I’ve been doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over ten years now under the Gracie lineage and earned my brown belt. Training gave me discipline, confidence, and a deep respect for the craft of real, authentic action.

Growing up in LA also exposed me to so many different cultures, especially Asian cultures, which I fell in love with. All of that eventually came together when I started making my own films. I wanted to create the kind of high-energy, visceral action movies I loved as a kid, but with real martial arts, cross-cultural stories, and characters that feel grounded.

So basically, my upbringing, my mixed heritage, my love for cinema, and my martial arts journey all funneled into what I’m doing now — writing, directing, producing, and performing in independent action films.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

I’ve always been obsessed with action movies for as long as I can remember. Growing up in LA, I watched everything — from classic 80s Hollywood films to Bruce Lee and Asian cinema. Those movies lit a fire in me. I loved the heroes, the fights, the stunts, and the way they told stories with pure energy and intensity.

That passion pushed me to train seriously in martial arts. I started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu over a decade ago under the Gracie lineage and earned my brown belt. Training gave me real skills, discipline, and confidence. It also opened the door to stunt work and fight choreography because I could actually perform the moves safely and authentically on camera.

I began my journey with acting roles, stunts, and choreography. But I quickly realized I wanted to tell my own stories — authentic, cross-cultural action films that blended the grit I grew up with and the high-energy cinema I loved. So I taught myself the other sides of filmmaking: writing scripts, producing, and directing. I started creating my own projects so I could control the vision and bring the kind of visceral, grounded action to the screen that I always wanted to see.

It wasn’t an overnight thing. It took years of grinding — taking whatever roles came my way, learning on set, and constantly pushing myself. But combining my multicultural background, real martial arts experience, and that childhood love for action movies made this path feel completely natural. Now I get to act, fight, write, direct, and produce the kind of films I dreamed about as a kid.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

One of the most exciting things that’s happened since I fully committed to this career in the entertainment industry is the real momentum my projects are gaining on the international festival circuit, along with a huge honor — being selected as a runner-up in The People’s Artist program presented by Johnny Depp.

I’ve been pouring everything into several passion projects that blend my multicultural roots, martial arts background, and love for high-energy storytelling. I wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Sicario vs Shogun Robots, a gritty action-sci-fi feature, and Tokyo Psycho Ex-Girlfriend in Orange County, a dark, bloody stalker thriller.

Nitti the Enforcer Meets Yakuza has been especially fun and rewarding. It’s a high-energy short that pits Italian enforcer muscle against Japanese Yakuza honor in LA’s South Bay — complete with a wild “pizza truce.” We’ve submitted it to many film festivals, including the Italian Film Festival and others, and there’s real potential to expand it into a feature.

Most recently, I worked on a special project for the UK sci-fi film festival Dead Air, which has been a great experience. These short films are “fun” in their wild, creative energy, but they also carry serious value in the international market — Hollywood, UK, Japan, Italy, and Southeast Asia. I love creating cross-cultural action stories that can travel and resonate with audiences worldwide.

Being recognized as a runner-up in Johnny Depp’s artist challenge was surreal and incredibly validating. It’s not just about film for me — I see myself as a multidisciplinary creator — and having that kind of acknowledgment from such a legendary artist gave me a big boost of confidence to keep pushing bigger ideas.

All of this — the festival submissions, the new projects coming together, and the recognition — has made this journey incredibly fulfilling and keeps me motivated to create even more ambitious work.

It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Early on, while shooting one of my first action shorts, I tried to look like a total badass doing a big jump off a car hood during a fight scene. I completely misjudged the landing, slipped, and face-planted right in front of the whole crew. It looked ridiculous on camera — we still laugh about the blooper reel.

The funny part is I was so focused on looking cool that I forgot the basics. What I learned was: authenticity and safety always come first. Now I drill the moves properly, trust my training, and I’m not afraid to look silly in rehearsal. That one embarrassing fall made me a much better fight choreographer and director because I started prioritizing real preparation over trying to look heroic.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

Right now I’m in a really busy and exciting phase with several projects moving forward at the same time.

I’m currently in post-production on Sicario vs Shogun Robots, the action-sci-fi feature I wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. We shot some wild fight sequences and I’m loving how it’s coming together. I’m also finishing Tokyo Psycho Ex-Girlfriend in Orange County, a dark, bloody stalker thriller that I directed and star in. On the short film side, Nitti the Enforcer Meets Yakuza is doing well on the festival circuit — we’ve submitted it to quite a few, including the Italian Film Festival, and I’m actively exploring turning it into a feature. Most recently I completed a special project for the UK sci-fi festival Dead Air, which was a lot of fun.

I’m also developing a few new scripts and lining up the next couple of shoots. It’s a very active time — balancing post-production, festival submissions, and prepping new material all at once. I’m just grateful to be creating every day.

As a rising star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated and overcome obstacles in your career?

Staying motivated in this industry isn’t easy — there are constant obstacles: tight budgets, long hours, rejection, and the pressure of wearing so many hats at once. But I’ve learned to handle it by living one day at a time.

I wake up focused on what I can control that day — whether it’s editing a scene, training in Jiu-Jitsu, writing one more page, or sending out festival submissions. I don’t let myself get overwhelmed by the big picture or what might go wrong months from now. Instead, I celebrate the small wins and keep showing up consistently.

That mindset comes from my martial arts training too — you don’t get a brown belt by thinking about the entire journey at once, you get it by putting in quality work every single session. The same applies to filmmaking. By staying present and taking it day by day, I keep the passion alive and move forward even when things get tough.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

Diversity in the film industry is really important to me for three main reasons.

First, it comes from my own life. I grew up in a multicultural neighborhood in LA with Italian-Spanish-Jewish roots, and I’ve always had a deep love for Asian cultures too. That mixed background naturally shapes the stories I want to tell — cross-cultural action films that blend different worlds, traditions, and energies. When creators from diverse backgrounds get to tell their stories, the work feels more authentic and richer.

Second, diversity helps films connect with wider audiences. Stories that include different cultures, perspectives, and experiences resonate with more people around the world, which is especially valuable in today’s global market.

Third, it drives creativity and innovation. When you bring together people with different life experiences, you get fresher ideas, unexpected approaches to action, storytelling, and characters that break old clichés and push the industry forward.

For me, it’s not just a buzzword — it’s personal. My diverse upbringing is at the heart of why I make the kind of films I do.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. Persistence is the foundation of everything

The industry is full of talented people who quit after rejections. Success comes from showing up consistently. Early on I faced dozens of failed auditions while juggling training and jobs. Instead of stopping, I started producing my own short action films. Those small projects opened doors that waiting to be discovered never would.

2. Build real relationships, not just a network

Hollywood is a relationship business. People hire and collaborate with those they trust and genuinely like. Consistent BJJ training with other industry people turned into real friendships. Those connections later led to fight choreography work and producing opportunities — all because rapport came first.

3. Authenticity in storytelling resonates across cultures

Audiences can sense when action or characters feel generic. Drawing from your real background gives your work a unique edge. I blended my multicultural upbringing with practical BJJ and the flashy styles I loved from Hong Kong cinema. The first short that truly reflected that mix received far stronger, more connected feedback.

4. Master the business side as much as the creative side

Amazing creative work can go nowhere without understanding contracts, distribution, and protecting your project. On an early film I focused only on the action and story. Loose agreements caused unnecessary complications when it gained traction. Learning the business side prevented similar headaches on future projects.

5. Protect your time and energy — be selective with projects and people

Early on, saying yes to everything drains your focus and momentum. Success comes from focusing energy on high-quality work with good people, not spreading yourself thin. I once joined an indie feature as fight coordinator for the résumé and paycheck. Poor planning, toxic producers, and constant chaos burned me out and delayed my own stronger shorts. Learning to say no created space for better-aligned projects that actually advanced my career.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

Burnout kills more careers than rejection. Protecting your energy keeps you consistent and creative long-term.

How:

• Schedule rest, sleep, and training as non-negotiable.
• Say “no” early to misaligned or chaotic projects.
• Build a small support circle.

Quick story: After burning out on that messy indie feature, I added recovery weeks and selective “no’s.” My creativity, output, and opportunities all improved. The ones who last recover faster and guard their energy. Sustainable success is a marathon.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

A “Curiosity & Capability” movement. I would inspire a global cultural shift focused on radical truth-seeking and widespread skill-building to maximize human potential.

Core idea: Help as many people as possible become clearer thinkers and more capable doers — people who understand reality better, solve real problems, and create win-win progress with others.

Simple pillars:

• Curiosity & Truth: Teach evidence-based thinking, intellectual humility, and updating beliefs with facts over tribe or emotion.
• Capability: Promote practical skills — reasoning, health, economics, problem-solving, and agency — so people can shape their own lives.
• Cooperative Abundance: Foster long-term optimism, innovation, and collaboration to create more prosperity for everyone.

It starts small: daily habits, better education, local groups, open resources — then spreads through results and network effects. This attacks the root causes of suffering (ignorance, helplessness, zero-sum thinking) and compounds into faster progress, less conflict, and greater flourishing for billions over time. Simple, scalable, and enduring.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Yes, the person I’m most grateful to is my father. He has been my biggest source of motivation and guidance my entire life. My father instilled in me a strong work ethic and the belief that success comes from showing up every day and putting in consistent effort. He taught me that you don’t need anything fancy — no special degrees or extraordinary opportunities — just the discipline to wake up in the morning, go outside, and go to work.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.” From Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

If I could have a private breakfast or lunch with anyone in the world, I would choose Tom Cruise. I’ve long admired him not just as a movie star, but as someone who represents extraordinary discipline, work ethic, and commitment to excellence. In an industry where trends come and go, he has consistently delivered blockbuster performances for decades while pushing physical and professional boundaries — doing his own stunts, mastering new skills for roles, and maintaining an intense dedication to his craft that very few can match.

I would love the chance to hear his perspective on several things: how he sustains such high performance over a long career, how he approaches risk and continuous improvement, and what drives his relentless pursuit of quality. Whether it’s aviation, film production, or personal resilience, there’s so much to learn from someone who operates at that level of intensity and professionalism.

Beyond the stories, I believe sitting down with him would be genuinely inspiring. It would be a privilege to learn directly from someone who has turned ambition and focus into remarkable, lasting success. I’m confident I’d walk away from that conversation motivated to raise my own standards in everything I do.

How can our readers follow you online?

Here’s how readers can follow me Neil Bentley Fierro online:

• Instagram: @bentleyfierro — Primary platform for updates, behind-the-scenes, film projects, and daily life.
• Threads: @bentleyfierro — Connected to Instagram for more text-based updates and conversations.
• IMDb: Neil Bentley Fierro — Full filmography, credits, and professional details.
• TikTok: @neilbentleyfierro — Short videos, film clips, and action content.
• X (Twitter): @BentleyFierro — Updates on projects and industry insights.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

About The Interviewer: Diane Strand is a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur, executive producer, best-selling author, nonprofit founder, TEDx and national speaker with more than two decades of success in media, education, and creative entrepreneurship. She is the majority owner of JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc. and JDS Actors Studio, and the founder of the nonprofit JDS Creative Academy (JDSCA) — a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing education, inclusion, and workforce development through the arts. As the creator and executive producer of Spirit of Innovation: Arts Across America — a nationally streamed and locally broadcast ABC TV series — Diane continues to break new ground in creative media, producing the first magazine-style news and information show of its kind in Riverside County. A trailblazer in inclusive education, Diane has authored two state-approved training programs — a Title 17 video production job-training day program for adults with developmental disabilities and a California State Apprenticeship program in media and the arts. Diane has helped launch more than 100 creative careers, as actors, writers, directors, and producers transforming lives and strengthening the creative workforce pipeline in Southern California and beyond. In 2017, Diane founded DigiFest® Temecula, an award-winning annual festival that celebrates digital media, storytelling, and innovation across all creative disciplines. Now entering its 10th year, DigiFest® has evolved into a nationally recognized event uniting students, professionals, and thought leaders from film, television, gaming, design, podcasting, and emerging technologies. The festival embodies Diane’s mission to merge creativity, community, and opportunity — showcasing how the arts can drive education, empowerment, and industry growth. Diane’s Hollywood career includes credits on Friends, General Hospital, and Veronica’s Closet, as well as producing for Barbra Streisand, Disney Channel, and Universal Creative, where she helped launch Playhouse Disney and Toon Disney and contributed to the high-definition control room build at Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena). As a Lead Columnist for Authority Magazine, Diane now shines a national spotlight on visionary thought leaders, entertainers, changemakers, and philanthropists who are shaping the future of creativity, inclusion, and social impact. If you’re a celebrity, industry innovator, or business leader passionate about using the arts to transform lives, Diane invites you to connect, collaborate, and share your story to help inspire the next generation of innovators.