News12 New York
Where to Watch
Download the App
Local
Crime
Weather
beWell
The East End
Crime Files

Owner of Bridgeport martial arts academy to make film debut this fall

H. Demetrius Purefoy says he went to California last year to play a part in "The Pugilist." A portion of the movie, however, was filmed at his business on the East Side.

News 12 Staff

Mar 17, 2024, 7:30 AM

Updated

Share:

More Stories

The owner of a Bridgeport martial arts academy says he'll be making his big screen debut in an independent film set to be released at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall.

H. Demetrius Purefoy, owner of Pure Martial Arts Fitness Academy, says he went to California last year to play a part in "The Pugilist." A portion of the movie, however, was filmed at his business on the East Side.

He says the South American director has family in Bridgeport and discovered him while scouting out locations for his film.

"The connection between my school, what I do in the school with students, was that character in the movie. So that was really exciting and it made it that much easier to actually play the part because I've been playing it for 20 years in the martial arts school," Purefoy says.

The proud Air Force veteran says "The Pugilist" is a love story about redemption and he plans to work with the director on future projects.

More Stories

More From News12

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices