Born in 1970, Rocco DeVilliers' passion for filmmaking was ignited at a tender age, with George Lucas' Star Wars serving as a catalyst for his future endeavors. As a young enthusiast, Rocco pursued a formal education in filmmaking, with the ultimate goal of directing a major motion picture.
In 1986, Rocco's talents were recognized with a local award for best screenplay, and the following year, P.M. Magazine honored him with the Best Director award for a short film he created while still in high school. This impressive feat did not go unnoticed by his peers and teachers, who were astonished by Rocco's accomplishments at such a young age.
At the tender age of 17, Rocco wrote, produced, and directed "Bounding Overwatch," a 40-minute short film that chronicled the struggles of a marine patrol as they fought their way to the extraction point in enemy territory. This ambitious project required meticulous planning and coordination, with Rocco overseeing every aspect of the film, including orchestrating several full-combat action sequences with a Huey Helicopter.
Rocco's daredevil spirit was evident as he performed many of the film's stunts, which included "high falls" and explosions that engulfed him in flames. At the age of 21, Rocco set out to create his first feature film on a modest budget of $15,000, enlisting the help of his friends as actors. The result was the award-winning, action-packed drama Pure Race (1995),which showcased Rocco's remarkable versatility as a filmmaker.
As the driving force behind Pure Race, Rocco was responsible for every aspect of the production, from co-writing the screenplay to directing, producing, and editing the film. He also handled the make-up, lighting, and cinematography, supervised and performed the majority of the film's numerous and perilous stunts, and worked extensively on the sound, foley, and musical score.
Rocco's extensive involvement in Pure Race is a testament to his boundless talent and dedication to his craft. In addition to his work on feature films, Rocco has also directed the high school drama Only Once (1998),which stars Austin O'Brien.
