ALL-ACTION MIDDLEWEIGHTS(#8) JARED CANNONIER AND GREGORY RODRIGUES
HEADLINE AT UFC® APEX
Las Vegas – UFC® returns to UFC APEX with a thrilling middleweight matchup featuring No. 8 ranked contender Jared Cannonier facing off against Gregory Rodrigues. In addition, No. 10 ranked featherweight Calvin Kattar and Youseff Zalal lock horns.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: CANNONIER vs. RODRIGUES takes place Saturday, February 15 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will air at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET, followed by the main card airing at 4 p.m. PT / 7p.m. ET.
UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC octagon girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.
Former title challenger Cannonier (17-8, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) returns to action looking to impress. In his decade long career, Cannonier has solidified his spot amongst the best at 185-pounds by defeating former champions and top contenders such as Anderson Silva, Sean Strickland, and Marvin Vettori. He now sets out to spoil Rodrigues’ night and kickstart another run at UFC gold.
Brazil’s Rodrigues (16-5, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to make the most of his first UFC main event. With half his Octagon wins coming by knockout, Rodrigues has wowed fans with highlight finishes against Brad Tavares, Denis Tiuliulin, and Chidi Njokuani. With his sights now set on Cannonier, Rodrigues aims to deliver another unforgettable finish and position himself for a big 2025 season.
Top ranked contender Kattar (23-8, fighting out of Methuen, Mass.) looks for a statement performance. A staple of the featherweight division, Katar has solidified his spot in the Top 10 by delivering wins against Giga Chikadze, Dan Ige, and Jeremy Stephens. He now sets forth to halt Zalal’s rise and recapture his momentum.
Zalal (16-5-1, fighting out of Casablanca, Morocco by way of Englewood, Colo.) takes on the biggest challenge of his young career. Currently on a six-fight win streak, with each of those coming via knockout or submission, Zalal has turned heads with recent wins against Jack Shore, Jarno Errens, and Billy Quarantillo. He looks to maintain his finishing streak and break into the division’s rankings.
Additional bouts on the card include:
- No. 13 ranked strawweight Angela Hill (17-14, fighting out of San Diego, Calif. by way of Clinton, Md.) faces Ketlen Souza (15-4, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil)
- Dana White’s Contender Series middleweight contract winners Edmen Shahbazyan (13-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Dylan Budka (7-4, fighting out of Baltimore, Md.) square off
- Jared Gordon (20-7 1NC, fighting out of Astoria, Queens, N.Y.)and Kauê Fernandes (9-2, fighting out of Rio de Janiero, Brazil) meet in a lightweight bout
- Dana White’s Contender Series featherweight alumni Connor Matthews (7-2, fighting out of Mattapoisett, Mass.) and Jose Delgado (8-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) battle for their first official Octagon wins
- Top 15 bantamweight contenders No. 12 Julia Avila (9-3, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.) and No. 14 ranked Jacqueline Cavalcanti (8-1, fighting out of Almada, Portugal) are set for high stakes matchup
- Highly skilled grapplers collide as Rodolfo Vieira (10-2, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) squares off with Andre Petroski (12-4, fighting out of Philadephia, Penn.) at middlweight
- An intriguing lightweight contest sees Dana White’s Contender Series signees Ismael Bonfim (20-4 1 NC, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) and Nazim Sadykhov (9-1-1, fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y. via Baku, Azerbaijan) meet
- Flyweights Rafael Estevam (12-0, fighting out of Macapá, Amapa, Brazil) and Jesus Aguilar (11-2, fighting out of Tijunana, Mexico) look to steal the show
- Gabriel Bonfim (16-1, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) meets Rinat Fakhretdinov (23-1-1, fighting out of Saransk, Mordovia, Russia) at welterweight
- Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Billy Ray Goff (9-3, fighting out of Groton, Conn.) goes toe-to-toe with Nikolay Veretennikov (12-4, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) at welterweight
- Heavyweights Valter Walker (12-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Dana White’s Contender Series signee Don’Tale Mayes (11-7 1 NC, fighting out of Louisville, Ken.) are set to deliver fireworks
- Vince Morales (16-8, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. By way of Ontario, Ore.) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series alumni Elijah Smith (7-1, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.)
For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are subject to change.
Unstoppable
In Select Theaters December 6, 2024
Coming to Prime Video January 16, 2025
Unstoppable is the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles who was born with one leg but whose indomitable spirit and unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams. With the unwavering love and support of his devoted mother, Judy, and the encouragement of his coaches, Anthony fights through adversity to earn a spot on the Arizona State Wrestling team. But it will demand everything he has, physically and mentally, to achieve his ultimate quest to become an NCAA Champion.
The film stars Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Anthony Robles, Mykelti Williamson, with Don Cheadle and Jennifer Lopez.
Unstoppable marks the directorial debut of Oscar-winning editor William Goldenberg (Argo). The screenplay is by Eric Champnella and Alex Harris and John Hindman, based upon the book by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy.
The film was produced by Ben Affleck, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Anthony Robles, David Crockett p.g.a., Andy Fraser p.g.a., and Gary Lewis. Matt Damon, Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, Dani Bernfeld, and Jack Murray served as executive producers.
Behind the camera, Goldenberg collaborated with director of photography Salvatore Totino, ASC, production designer Jon Carlos, editor Brett M. Reed, and costume designer Janelle Nicole Carothers. The music is by two-time Oscar-winning composer Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water, The Grand Budapest Hotel).
Amazon MGM Studios presents an Artists Equity Production, in association with A Really Good Home Pictures & Wild Frontier Films, in association with 101 Studios, Unstoppable.
Runtime 123 minutes | Rated: PG-13
@AmazonMGMStudios
@PrimeVideo
@PrimeMovies
@PrimeroLatino
@CultureRatedPV
#UnstoppableMovie
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Every soul who comes to earth with a leg or two at birth
must wrestle his opponents knowing it’s not what is,
it’s what can be that measures worth.
Make it hard, just make it possible, and through pain I’ll not complain.
My spirit is unconquerable, fearless I will face each foe,
for I know I am capable. I don’t care what’s probable,
through blood, sweat, and tears,
I am unstoppable.
– Anthony Robles (poem written by Dan Clark) – ESPY Awards Acceptance 2012
Anthony Robles may have been born with only one leg, but he nevertheless possessed what director William Goldenberg calls “the heart and mind of a champion,” which changed his destiny. “You can have all the talent in the world,” he continues, “but you have to have the right mental outlook to become the best at something. And Anthony was born with that drive.”
The story of Anthony’s extraordinary ascendence to the top of the collegiate wrestling world has inspired people around the globe. Now his remarkable story is coming to the screen, but Goldenberg says Unstoppable transcends what Anthony accomplished on the wrestling mat. “Anthony is somebody an audience can root for, but I think what is most impactful about his story are all the challenges Anthony overcame beyond his physical disability. That’s also what makes his story universal because we are all faced with adversity in our lives in some form. They are obviously not the same obstacles, but they are still things we have to overcome.”
Robles went on to chronicle his journey in the bestseller Unstoppable and is now a producer on the film, alongside Ben Affleck, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, David Crockett, Andy Fraser, and Gary Lewis. The screenplay, based on his book, is by Eric Champnella and Alex Harris and John Hindman.
“I think the cool thing about Unstoppable is it’s not just a sports story,” Robles offers. “When you watch the film, you’ll see I wrestled more than rival opponents; I fought throughout my life against issues off the mat, and I think that’s the part people will relate to. I believe everyone has their own opponents they have to wrestle in life, and no matter what those challenges are, the ultimate goal is to rise above them. The message I want to get out there is it’s not about what or who you wrestle, it’s about how you respond. People usually want the easy road, but what I’ve learned is it’s the struggles that make you stronger. You might get knocked down, you might lose, but you stand back up and just keep grinding. You grind now, you shine later—that’s a phrase I love to use. And that’s what being unstoppable is to me.”
In a unique twist, Robles was also called upon to play himself in segments of the wrestling scenes, where his performance was merged with that of young actor Jharrel Jerome, who stars as Anthony in Unstoppable. Jerome observes, “To me, Anthony represents exactly what the title of the film is. The word ‘quit’ is not even in his dictionary, and that’s how he moves in all aspects of his life. There could have been a lot of moments where he chose to give up and cave into the pressure or the comments from people around him, but he never did.”
Producer Gary Lewis, who has managed Robles for going on 14 years, relates, “I knew Anthony’s story would make a great film, because there was nothing needed to embellish it. He truly overcame impossible odds due to what I consider his six core traits: humility, gratitude, kindness, strong work ethic, discipline, and charity, as well as the love and direction from his mother. In the years we’ve been together, Anthony has given over 1,000 presentations and I have received thousands of emails from a huge cross section of people who universally agree that his presentation was motivational, uplifting and inspiring, which is why I believe his story will touch audiences.”
The trajectory of Robles’s life might have been very different were it not for his mother, Judy Robles, who raised him to believe he was no different from anyone else and could achieve whatever he set his mind to. “My mom is my hero,” Anthony attests. “She would always tell me God made me this way for a reason. It was never about what I couldn’t do; it was always what I am capable of.”
Jennifer Lopez, who stars as Judy, states, “The relationship between Anthony and Judy is the heart and soul of the movie. The things she made him believe about himself is really what shaped him into a champion and the man he is today. Jharrel and I talked about how important it was to capture that because we would really not be telling their story if we didn’t convey the essence of that bond.”
Reflecting on those years, Judy Robles says, “I think about being 16 years old and holding this little baby with one leg and wondering what I was going to do. But I never wanted Anthony to see himself as anything but perfect, regardless of what anyone else said. I knew he would be impactful though I didn’t know how. I don’t know what my life would have been if I hadn’t had Anthony and if he had not been born with one leg because God turned that seemingly hard challenge into a blessing…not only for the two of us but for his siblings who came after him.”
Producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas says, “What I loved so much about the story was that both mother and son raised each other. It was a slice of life about people who either literally or metaphorically are born with their backs against the wall, and how, with determination and faith, we can overcome obstacles.”
Goldenberg adds, “Their unbreakable bond and the unconditional love between them is what saves them both and enables them to triumph above everything else. That, to me, is what separates this film from a sports film. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anything about wrestling—hopefully, you’re just on the ride and rooting for him, so it could be any sport. It isn’t just a movie about somebody with one leg. And it isn’t only a movie about somebody who becomes a wrestling champion against all odds. It’s all those things, but to me, at its core, this film is about a mother and son overcoming incredible obstacles to make a better life for themselves. And I think people might see something of themselves in that story and see that no matter what the obstacles, you can succeed.”
“Anthony grew up under difficult circumstances,” says screenwriter John Hindman, “and that became the fuel that was driving him and, simultaneously, something he needed to overcome. His internal struggles and the struggles of his family appealed to me most and that became the real juice of the screenplay. How can we achieve escape velocity from our core wounds? How can we overcome the inequities of our past and become more than anyone thought we could be? And how can that depth of feeling be communicated to an audience?”
Screenwriter Eric Champnella agrees. “Anthony’s story resonates because, at its core, like the greatest sports movies, it’s not about sports. It’s about heart, overcoming adversity and an undying belief in oneself. It’s about not giving up on yourself or your dream when everything seems to be screaming, ‘Quit!’ Then, on top of all that, you have Anthony’s incredible bond with his mom, a mother-son relationship one doesn’t often see in sports movies. As a parent myself, Judy inspired me almost as much as Anthony. All this created something that, I believe, we hadn’t seen before in this genre.”
It was important not only to be true to Anthony’s personal life but also to the sport that forever changed that life. Screenwriter Alex Harris affirms, “The producers sent me on a research trip to the NCAA Championships at Madison Square Garden, where Anthony was a commentator. The access I had to the actual wrestling and, as importantly, the peek behind the curtain to learn how these athletes and their families prepare was crucial in finding authenticity in the script. I wanted to make sure that when wrestlers saw the film they felt like those sequences accurately captured the intensity and technical brilliance of an exciting match. From there, I aimed to make sure the Robles family’s challenging journey ebbed and flowed in a way that was always intertwined with Anthony’s wrestling career.”
An Academy Award-winning editor, Goldenberg makes his directorial debut on Unstoppable. He recalls, “I had been interested in segueing to directing, but I was still so busy as an editor that I wasn’t actively pursuing it. One of our producers, David Crockett, who’s a friend I’ve worked with on other films, came to me with the initial script and I just fell in love with it. Creatively, it was the story that hit home to me. It just struck me.”
David Crockett notes, “It’s not always easy to articulate exactly what it is about a director that makes them a perfect fit, and often you’re going largely on gut feel and experience. That said, having worked with Billy many times, I knew that his interests and sensibilities would line up very well with Anthony’s story and the version we were hoping to tell. Plus I knew not only that he could deliver at a high level but also that he is a great guy and the kind of person that people want to work with during the always challenging process of making a film.”
Goldenberg then traveled to Arizona and spent some time with Robles, getting to know him and his family and learning more about his background. He says, “Once I met Anthony, it was a done deal. He is one of the most exceptional people I’ve ever had the privilege to know. What inspired me is not only what Anthony was able to accomplish with one leg, but also the person he is. He’s one of those people who just seems to radiate goodness, who lights up a room. I knew I had to bring his story to audiences. This is a time in the world when we could use some goodness, and I just feel that everybody needs a little bit of Anthony Robles in their lives.”
As he embarked on his first foray in the director’s chair, Goldenberg turned to another trusted friend, Ben Affleck, with whom he has collaborated for almost two decades, beginning as an editor on Affleck’s own directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone. “I wanted to make the movie with people I knew would have my back so I gave the script to Ben. He loved it, and Matt Damon was also incredibly enthusiastic about the film from the get-go. The timing was perfect because they had just formed Artists Equity. I couldn’t imagine a better way to make my first film than with those two as producers because they are both phenomenally gifted filmmakers and because of the faith they had in me.”
Affleck offers, “As an editor, Billy has touched countless visionary films, shaping those films and lending so clearly to directing. So when he approached Artists Equity (AE) with Unstoppable, it felt right—the perfect next step for him as a storyteller and for AE to make knowing Billy’s artistry, taste, and talents.”
Producer Andy Fraser adds, “Billy came onto the project with tremendous cachet. He has five Academy Award nominations and won one for his editing of Argo, so we knew he had a great grasp of story and pacing and all the things we look for in a director. He hadn’t directed before, so we did wonder how he would be with actors, but I think having collaborated with so many great directors, he understood the importance of that inherently.”
Goldenberg says his approach to directing the actors was influenced by his own work behind the camera with other filmmakers. “Without question, so much of directing is about getting the right cast. They are all incredible actors, so it was more about making sure that everybody was in the same bandwidth and then giving them the freedom to try things. That’s how I like to be treated, so I wanted to treat the actors the same way. I gave them a safe space to perform and then everything just gelled.”
In turn, the actors appreciated Goldenberg’s directing style. Don Cheadle, who plays Coach Shawn Charles, says, “Billy was very clear about what he wanted to accomplish, and that gives you a lot of security as an actor—to know you’re inside a paradigm that is clear and makes sense.”
Having the threefold perspective of a producer, an actor and the actual subject of the film, Robles also had high praise for the man at the helm. “I couldn’t have asked for a better director or a better person to lead this team than Billy Goldenberg. We knew right away that he was very passionate about telling the story the right way. It is going to leave a legacy for my entire family, and I just want to say thank you to everyone involved for making us proud because you truly did.”
THE CAST
When they see you, they don’t see
someone who’s missing a leg.
They see someone who is unstoppable.
Jharrel Jerome reveals that he was not familiar with Anthony Robles when he was first approached about the role, but the more he learned about him, the more intrigued he became with the duality of the character. “Anthony is famous in the wrestling community, but I am not a wrestler, so I needed to study up. The first thing I watched was an interview with him, and I was enthralled by who he is. He seems like the kindest person you’d ever meet, so I was curious how a man can sound so kind, but then be such a brutal beast on the mat…how he could flip another man on the ground with such aggression and still be the most warmhearted soul. I think that balance is part of what makes him such a special human being. And that alone motivated me to want this part and to find the nuances of who he is beyond the guy on the mat.”
In advance of filming, Jerome spent a significant amount of time with Robles, delving into the person he would be playing. Robles recalls, “He really wanted to get to know me and asked sensitive questions, which was difficult at first. But as we got to know each other, it just naturally slipped into chatting with my buddy. I consider Jharrel a part of my family now, and I could not have asked for a better individual to tell my story.”
“I am beyond humbled to be part of bringing Anthony’s story to light,” Jerome responds. “I’m grateful to have met him, and the way he has changed me will be lifelong.”
The actor was already set in the role when Goldenberg came onto the project, but the director says they were on the same page from the start. “When I met with Jharrel, I stressed to him that I wanted us to be partners in the making of this film because he’s in almost every scene. We talked a lot about the character, and I realized very quickly that we saw things so similarly. It was a really great working relationship.”
Jerome worked with a dialogue coach to master Anthony’s Arizona dialect, but, never having wrestled, the physical transformation proved much tougher. Beginning months ahead of filming, he immersed himself in a grueling training regimen “to try to be as top-heavy as I could,” he explains. “For me and my trainer, Jason, the idea was widening up, so we started with hours of pull-ups, chest press, and deadlifts. Then I went to the wrestling room with Anthony and coach Brian Stith to learn how to do the basic wrestling moves before taking it to the next level, practicing how to get slammed over and over. That was the big thing for me—getting comfortable being picked up and dropped to the ground.”
Jerome also had to get comfortable walking on crutches, which was equally integral to his performance. “Those crutches are a pair of legs for Anthony,” the actor says. “He’s used them all his life and is effortlessly very mobile on them, so I wanted to make sure it didn’t look like I had just sprained my ankle and am hobbling around on crutches. I had to make sure it appeared fluid and easy. As soon as I got the crutches down and his voice down, I started to really feel like him.”
The most important person in Anthony’s life is his mother, Judy, played by Jennifer Lopez. “I really loved the script and that it was an inspirational story about Latinos. That, for me, was a driving factor. And as an actor, I felt this was a great character. She is very complex and, like Anthony, there is a duality to Judy. Anthony is the sweetest, nicest guy, but on the mat, he’s a beast of an athlete. Judy is the best mom in the world—so encouraging and always so positive. But like any great mom, she wants to shelter her kids and protect them from what’s really going on inside her. It’s very interesting to watch her arc from beginning to end.”
Lopez continues, “Judy believes in Anthony and helps him to stay strong, but at the same time, he inspires her to look at her own life. She realizes she has to do better for her son; she has to step up. That’s what kids do for you—they make you want to be better for them. That is something I understand in my own life, and if you’re going to be an artist and take on roles like this, you have to be willing to bring a piece of yourself to it. I am always attracted to projects that affect me and that I believe are going to affect an audience.”
“Jennifer is an extraordinary actor and was perfect for the role,” says Goldenberg, who adds that, like Jerome, she reached out to her real-life counterpart. “She and Judy spent quite a bit of time together before we shot and formed a real bond. And Jennifer added so much to the character because of those conversations. She was able to channel the essence of what Judy had gone through and bring it to the screen.”
“Having that connection with Judy was a real gift for me,” Lopez says, “and Billy was receptive to my input based on the information that Judy gave me. He was a very steady hand and knew exactly the story he wanted to tell, but he was also open to listening and learning, and I think that added a lot to the film.
Recalling her early conversations with Judy, Lopez recounts, “I remember telling her that I didn’t want to know anything that would make her uncomfortable, but the more she could share with me, the more I would be able to infuse that into my performance and make it as truthful and authentic as possible.”
Judy Robles admits she thought Anthony was joking when he told her that Jennifer Lopez would be portraying her in the film. “But when I realized it was true, it was mind-blowing. But Jennifer made it so easy from the beginning. She was very empathetic and took the time to get to know me—to know my quirks, to get my sass, my directness. Her aiming to portray me in a way that was accurate meant a lot to me. I even told her, ‘You did me better than I would have done me,’ she laughs. ‘She wanted to respect me and my family and I am absolutely grateful.”
Not everyone in the family is as supportive of Anthony as his mother and siblings. Bobby Cannavale, who plays Anthony’s stepfather, Rick, offers, “Rick is somebody who struggles with his relationship with Anthony. I think he is very competitive for Judy’s attention and therein lies the conflict—it’s a lifelong issue that he has with Anthony. Rick has not got the kind of potential that Anthony has and that is also something he resents, so he takes it out on him pretty much every day of his life. But as tough as he is on the family, I think he’s toughest on himself. Billy and I tried to find moments where you could see Rick’s humanity.”
“Bobby was very wary of Rick being a one-dimensional character,” Goldenberg adds. “He was intent on making sure he did not come off as the evil, mustache-twirling bad guy. That was important to me as well, so we talked constantly about how he would play the role. Bobby said he wanted the audience to see layers of this guy and know that he is struggling, too, and there are times where you can see that.”
Fortunately, there are two men in Anthony’s circle who do provide support and encouragement: his high school wrestling coach, Bobby Williams, and his Arizona State coach, Shawn Charles, played respectively by Michael Peña and Don Cheadle.
Goldenberg says, “I felt so fortunate to have Michael and Don in these roles. Michael had wrestled in high school, so he knew that world and had great suggestions on the set. Don did so much research and hung out with the real Coach Charles to learn about wrestling. They were both amazing collaborators.”
“Shawn was a great wealth of knowledge and is a fascinating dude,” Cheadle remarks. Describing his role, he adds, “Coach Charles is someone who sees a lot of potential in Anthony. He is a great motivator and knows how to talk to Anthony and how to push him. He knows he can be a champion and sees what it will take to get him there.”
Speaking about his own character, Peña notes, “Coach Williams is not blind to some of what Anthony is dealing with at home, so I think he willingly takes on the role of father figure as well as coach. He is invested in Anthony’s success and that does not end when Anthony goes off to college. He remains a friend and advisor.”
Unable to secure a scholarship at Arizona State, Anthony takes a job at the local airport to pay for school and also to help his family. His boss, Eddie, is played by Mykelti Williamson, who says, “Eddie happens to be Anthony’s supervisor, but he absolutely adores and respects Anthony and knows his work ethic to be the most diligent on his entire crew. While Eddie can be truthfully gruff at times, he is also protective of Anthony.”
Goldenberg had edited two of Williamson’s films “so I knew what kind of actor he was,” he says. “To me, he lights up the screen. I think he elevated the part of Eddie and made it even more memorable than it was originally written.”
The director also has high praise for the four young actors who play Anthony’s siblings: Noen Perez as Nicolas; Carlos Solórzano as Andrew; Julianna Gamiz as Ronnie; and Elijah James as Joshua. “Everyone was so nervous about having these little kids, but they never missed a mark or a line. They were all such pros.”
Interestingly, Anthony Robles is also a prominent member of the cast, although we never actually see his face. Goldenberg clarifies, “In my mind, there was no way to make this film without Anthony actually performing much of his own wrestling due to how his body is and the way he moves. He does things on the mat that no one else can do. And he was so professional about it. He is so disciplined as a wrestler that I think it seeps into every part of his life. He knows how to work hard, and that’s how he approached his acting in the film.”
ON THE MAT
If I win, having one leg won’t be
the most important thing about me.
I’m running out of time to be someone.
Prior to filming, Robles had to embark on his own training regimen, as it has been more than a decade since he competed. He confirms, “I leaned out after my wrestling days, so I was focusing on heavy lifting and getting big. I had to get my muscle reactions back up and definitely my lungs and cardio level. But once I got on the mat it felt like I was right at home.”
Robles and Jerome worked with wrestling consultant and wrestling coordinator Brian Stith, who had been one of Robles’s coaches at Arizona State University. Stith was largely responsible for choreographing the various matches, together with Robles. “It was imperative to me to get every aspect of the sport right,” says Goldenberg. “There are so many details that only wrestlers know, so I was constantly checking in with Brian to be as accurate as possible. Brian was my guru for that.”
One of the greatest challenges for Jerome was not only learning the choreography of the bouts but also to mirror Robles’s unique wrestling style. “No one wrestles like Anthony,” he attests. “He’s like a viper, low to the ground. Some wrestlers move like bears, some like tigers, but you can’t see a snake coming. Tapping into that animalistic energy helped me embody him better.”
Merging the two actors into one seamless performance involved a feat of camerawork, editing and visual effects, with the director teaming with director of photography Salvatore Totino, editor Brett M. Reed and VFX supervisor Landon Bootsma.
“We would run through the whole match with each of them,” Goldenberg details. “We filmed all the wide shots first, mostly with Anthony because you wouldn’t be able to see his face. Then, as the camera came closer into the medium shots, we would use both Jharrel and Anthony. For the tighter coverage, it was primarily Jharrel because we were close up on his face. But any time we could see Anthony’s face, we were able to use digital face replacement to put Jharrel’s face or even his whole head on Anthony’s body.”
Visual effects were also incorporated to digitally remove Jerome’s leg, but the team also had to create CG cloth for the right leg of Anthony’s pants or his singlet, the uniform worn by wrestlers. “When Anthony is wrestling, one leg of his singlet just hangs there and moves like loose cloth would. There was no way to do that without creating digital cloth, which took an extraordinary effort by the VFX team,” says Goldenberg.
Editor Brett M. Reed notes that “blending the two actors together was not that big of an issue for me because, as with anything else, you cut it for what’s the best shot. But wrestling is interesting because it doesn’t have quite the same dynamic as some other sports. There aren’t those massive punctuation marks like you have in boxing for example. So it was more an element of figuring out how to weave the tension to keep you holding on.”
To capture the action, Goldenberg and Totino utilized multiple handheld cameras. Totino offers, “We were able to get the cameras in there, but it was a little tricky because you had to be low to the ground crouched over and you’re holding the camera just with your wrist, not on your shoulder. Getting a good understanding of the choreography was key to that.”
“I wanted to shoot it that way so the audience could be in there with the wrestlers in a way that is exciting and visceral,” the director adds.
ON LOCATION
Ain’t nuthin’ to it but to do it.
Unstoppable was filmed on location in Southern California and in Robles’s native Arizona, including at his alma mater, Arizona State University. Production designer Jon Carlos says, “It was critical to shoot a portion of the movie at ASU for the grand scale and production value of the actual campus. The university provided us with a lot of resources to play with, like vintage graphics of Sparky the Sun Devil, which was period-appropriate for Anthony’s time there.”
While only a little over a decade has passed since the timeline of the story, Carlos points out that the intervening years impacted details in the design. “We didn’t want the audience to be distracted by period inaccuracies. From 2011 to 2024 doesn’t feel like that big of a time gap, but it really is when you start to look at things like cell phones, computers, and cars.”
One of the most challenging scenes was filmed on the Kiwanis Trail at South Mountain. It stood in for Piestewa Peak, a rough-hewn mountain outside Phoenix, which became a rite of passage for the ASU wrestling team. “Climbing it was a tradition,” Robles attests. “All the practices are designed to narrow down the roster, and when you get to the end, it’s initiation time. You’ve got to climb that peak, and if you make it to the top, that’s your team. You’re a Sun Devil. Filming that scene was kind of like reliving the nightmare of doing it the first time,” he laughs.
Jerome recalls, “The hike scene was definitely one of the things I was terrified to do, especially on crutches. It’s one thing to run up; it’s another thing to do it on crutches and have to focus on not slipping on the rocks and getting hurt.”
“He mastered it,” Robles states. “It was very impressive to see—he gave me a run for my money on those crutches.”
Scenes in the Robles residence were shot in a house in Sun Valley, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. In recreating the family home, Carlos and his team received invaluable input from the source. “The direct access we had with Anthony and his mother, Judy, was unbelievable. They remembered little details and Judy provided us pictures of the family that we would analyze for elements to put those into our sets. Having that contact with them was vital for us, and having them both on set was a perfect mechanism to make sure we were being held accountable for that authenticity.”
Costume designer Janelle Nicole Carothers also benefited from the generosity of Anthony and Judy. Goldenberg shares, “Judy actually gave Jennifer some of her real clothes to wear in the film. And Janelle designed Jennifer’s costume based on things Judy actually wore like the wrestling mom stuff. And it was the same for Anthony. He always wore sweats and Arizona State t-shirts and sweatshirts, so all that was based on his real wardrobe.”
The final creative element of the film is the score composed by Alexandre Desplat. “I had the privilege of working with Alexandre on Argo and was thrilled to reunite with him,” says Goldenberg. “He is one of today’s most honored composers, not to mention busiest, so I felt very fortunate to have him score my first film as a director. The brilliant music he created is the perfect underscore to Anthony’s remarkable journey.
“One of the real joys of directing,” Goldenberg continues, “was collaborating with all of these incredibly talented people. Everyone is so good at what they do and it was an amazing team. Everyone contributed so much to making this film.”
The director concludes, “I believe Anthony’s story is an important one to tell, and I’m hoping that when people see this film, they’ll walk away feeling more positive than they did when they walked in—more inspired and maybe a little more confident in their ability to face life’s challenges.”
ABOUT THE CAST
JHARREL JEROME (Anthony Robles) has quickly become one of the most recognized, celebrated and praised talents in film and on television, following his breakout role in the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight.
As a definitive showcase to his talent as an actor, Jerome starred in Ava DuVernay’s four-part limited Netflix series When They See Us, for which he won the 2019 Emmy Award for Lead Actor in a Miniseries, the 2020 Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television, and the 2020 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special. His performance also earned him a nomination for a 2020 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series. In the series, he portrayed both the young and adult versions of Korey Wise, one of the exonerated five men who were wrongfully accused in the April 1989 Central Park jogger case.
Last year, Jerome starred in the lead role of the Prime Video absurdist realism comedy series I’m a Virgo, from writer-director Boots Riley, for which Jerome won a Critics’ Choice Super Award and was nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award. He could also be seen in MAX’s limited drama series Full Circle, from director Steven Soderbergh, for which he was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
As a voice actor, Jerome had a fan frenzy role in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and reprises his role in Sony’s newest animated Spider-Man film, Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Jerome was also part of the all-star cast of HBO 2020 documentary Between the World and Me, featuring readings from Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book. Directed by Apollo Theater executive producer Kamilah Forbes, the special also featured Mahershala Ali, Kendrick Sampson, Susan Kelechi Watson, Yara Shahidi, Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey and Phylicia Rashad.
On television, Jerome starred in all 3 seasons of AT&T Audience Network’s drama series Mr. Mercedes, alongside Brendan Gleeson, Harry Treadaway, and Holland Taylor. He also starred in an episode of BET’s own hip-hop anthology series Tales, opposite Bre-Z. In 2019, Jerome appeared alongside Viola Davis, Tiffany Haddish, Jay Pharoah and others in ABC’s live sitcom holiday special Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times.
Behind the microphone Jerome is also a compelling rapper and hip-hop artist, committed to versatility and storytelling in equal measure. He asserted himself as a hip-hop contender in 2023 with his official debut project Someone I’m Not — released in four carefully crafted packs, namely Rap Pack, Trip Pack, Love Pack, and Trap Pack. His first single, “For Real” (feat. Kemba), was released in September 2020 and produced by Take A Daytrip.
Jerome made his feature film debut in Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Jerome and his castmates were also honored with the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award, a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and an MTV Movie Award. His additional film credits include Selah and the Spades; the short film Robu; Monster, based on Walter Dean Myers’ Michael L. Printz Award-winning novel, opposite Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright, Tim Blake Nelson, and Nas; Netflix’s Concrete Cowboy, alongside Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin; and Netflix’s First Match, with Colman Domingo.
Raised in The Bronx and a graduate of LaGuardia Arts High School, Jerome currently spends his time between New York City and Los Angeles.
JENNIFER LOPEZ (Judy Robles) is an award-winning actress, producer, singer, entertainer, and businesswoman who has helped build billion-dollar brands and established herself in film, music, television and business as one of the most influential artists in history.
The only female artist ever to have a number one album and number one film simultaneously, she has a cumulative worldwide box-office gross of over $3 billion. Additionally, Lopez has sold more than 80 million records, had 15 billion global streams and more than 18 billion views of her music videos.
Cementing her status as a top movie star on streaming platforms, Lopez had her fourth number one streaming movie in two years when her sci-fi thriller Atlas was released in May of 2024. Atlas held the #1 spot for two weeks with over 60 million global views. The Mother was Netflix’s #1 worldwide streamed movie, and the most successful Netflix movie of 2023, with over 239 million hours watched globally. This Is Me…Now: A Love Story, released in February 2024, and Shotgun Wedding, released in January 2023, were both #1 movies on Amazon Prime Video. Having starred in 33 movies to date, Lopez has had equal success at the worldwide box office. In 2019, her movie Hustlers was Lopez’s highest-grossing opening weekend of her career, topping $32 million and grossing over $100 million worldwide.
Lopez’s television success on and off the screen is just as impressive. Appearing on five seasons of American Idol (ABC), and three seasons of Shades Of Blue (NBC), she was also an executive producer for four seasons of World Of Dance (NBC) and five seasons of Good Trouble (Freeform). Grammy- and Golden Globe-nominated, she is the recipient of prestigious industry awards, including the 2500th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, the first female recipient of the Billboard Icon Award, and the Telemundo Star Award (2017). She was also awarded the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award (2018) and the MTV Generation Award (2022). Lopez is the first and only person in history to receive both of these awards for her accomplishments in music, film and television.
As a fashion icon, entrepreneur, and a philanthropist, Lopez has been named on the TIME 100 list, Forbes’ Most Powerful Celebrity, and was the first to grace People magazine’s cover for “Most Beautiful Woman in the World.” In 2023, she was the recipient of Elle’s Women in Hollywood Icon Award and April 2024 saw her awarded the Premio Orgullo Award which celebrates bringing pride to the community at the annual Hispanic Federation Gala, chaired by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
In addition to receiving accolades across film, music and her philanthropic efforts, Lopez has also made waves within business as a Founder, Owner and Investor. She has co-owned Nuyorican Productions for two-decades and produced acclaimed film and television projects. Most recently, Lopez announced a multiyear and multi-platform first-look production deal with Netflix in addition to a partnership with Skydance and Concord to develop original projects based on Concord’ catalog of musicals.
In 2020, Lopez founded and launched JLo Beauty, the decades-in-the-making skincare collection infused with the expertise and insights of the iconic star known for her healthy looking, glowing skin. With a high-functioning, luxurious and accessible product offering, it is currently the best-performing line in Sephora.
Lopez also launched her JLo Jennifer Lopez footwear collection at Revolve in 2023, and Delola, a company she founded to launch unique, mixology-level, ready-to-enjoy cocktails offering premium spirit-based, full-flavored, crafted cocktails that are made with natural botanicals, gluten free and lower calorie than traditional cocktails. Her mission is to create and invest in high-performing products and services that positively benefit consumers at an accessible price point.
Philanthropy and giving back are dear to Lopez’s heart and while she prefers to keep these efforts out of the public eye, she is passionate about helping children and supports the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club. She was also a global advocate for girls and women at the United Nations Foundation. In 2022, Jennifer partnered with Grameen America, the nation’s fastest-growing microfinance organization, alongside her latest philanthropic project, Limitless Labs, to support Latina-owned small businesses and to empower 600,000 Latina entrepreneurs across 50 U.S. cities with $14 billion in life-changing business capital and 6 million hours of financial education and training by 2030.
With a career spanning over two decades at the top of every field, Jennifer Lopez is cemented in history as a global icon and the ultimate multihyphenate.
DON CHEADLE (Coach Shawn Charles), an award-winning actor and an Academy Award nominee, is one of the premier actors of our time.
Earlier this year, Cheadle co-starred in the Peacock series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. He also executive produced the limited series The Big Cigar for Apple TV+, in addition to directing the first two episodes.
Upcoming, Cheadle will reprise his role of Colonel James Rhodes in the Marvel movie Armor Wars. The character first appeared in Iron Man 2 and subsequently in Iron Man 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame,and was most recently seen inthe Disney+ series Secret Invasion.
In 2019, Cheadle launched a production company, This Radicle Act, which focuses on creating television and film content for all platforms. The company’s projects include the film adaptation of the book Amari and the Night Brothers for Universal Pictures, and the dark comedy series Max for HBO Max.
Cheadle made his feature film directorial debut with the 2015 biopic Miles Ahead, based on the life of legendary jazz artist Miles Davis, which he also co-wrote and produced. He also starred with Ewan McGregor in the film, which closed the 2015 New York Film Festival and was released in spring 2016. Cheadle received an NAACP Image Award nomination for his role and Miles Ahead won the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Earlier in his career, Cheadle earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in the searing 2004 drama Hotel Rwanda, for which he also garnered Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award nominations for Best Actor, and two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nominations, for Best Actor and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. That same year, he starred in and also produced the Oscar-winning Best Picture Crash, earning multiple honors, including a SAG Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor; two BAFTA Award nominations, for Best Supporting Actor and Best Film; and an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. In addition, he shared in SAG Award and Critics’ Choice Award wins for the film’s acting ensemble.
He has since produced and starred in The Guard, which was released by Sony Pictures Classics, and Overture Films’ international thriller Traitor. In addition, he executive produced the feature St. Vincent, starring Bill Murray and Naomi Watts.
In all, Cheadle has been seen in more than 70 features, including five films for director Steven Soderbergh: Out of Sight, with Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney; the Oscar-winning Traffic; and Ocean’s 11, Ocean’s 12 and Ocean’s 13, joining the all-star ensemble cast. His other film credits include Hamburger Hill; Devil in a Blue Dress; John Singleton’s Rosewood; Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights; Warren Beatty’s Bulworth; Brian De Palma’s Mission to Mars; the Brett Ratner-directed films The Family Man and Rush Hour 2; Dominic Sena’s Swordfish; Kasi Lemmon’s Talk To Me; Mike Binder’s Reign Over Me; and Robert Zemeckis’s Flight.
On television, Cheadle starred as Marty Kaan on the critically acclaimed Showtime series House of Lies, which ran for five tremendously successful seasons, from 2012 to 2016. Cheadle was recognized with numerous awards and nominations in the category of Best Actor in a Comedy Series, including four Emmy nominations, an NAACP Image Award and five additional Image Award nominations, a Golden GlobeAward and two additional Golden Globe nominations, and a SAG Award nomination. In addition, Cheadle was an executive producer on the series and also stepped behind the camera as director, winning another Image Award for Best Director.
More recently, Cheadle received two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the Showtime comedy series Black Monday. He also garnered a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. in HBO’s The Rat Pack in1999. That same year, he received another Emmy nomination for his starring role in HBO’s adaptation of the best-selling novel A Lesson Before Dying. In 2002, Cheadle was again Emmy-nominated for his work in Showtime’s Things Behind the Sun.
His work on the small screen also includes a two-year stint as District Attorney John Littleton on David E. Kelley’s series Picket Fences; the HBO movie Rebound: The Legend Of Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault; and an Emmy-nominated guest role on ER. He was recently heard as the narrator in ABC’s series The Wonder Years, a reboot of the classic 1980s series. In addition, Cheadle participated in Showtime’s multi-part television event Years of Living Dangerously, which tells the story climate change and the impact it is having on people around the world.
An accomplished stage actor, Cheadle originated the role of Booth in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize -winning play Top Dog Underdog at New York’s Public Theatre under the direction of George C. Wolfe. His other stage credits include Leon, Lena and Lenz at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis; The Grapes of Wrath and Liquid Skin at the Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis; Cymbeline at The New York Shakespeare Festival; ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore at Chicago’s Goodman Theater; and Athol Fugard’s Blood Knot at The Complex Theater in Hollywood. He also directed Cincinnati Man at the Attic Theatre and The Trip at Friends and Artists Theater in Hollywood. Cheadle also recently produced the Broadway musical A Strange Loop which was nominated for 11 Tony Awards at the 75th Annual Tony Awards, winning for Best Musical.
In addition to his many acting honors, Cheadle won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for this narration on Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation from John Lewis. Cheadle was also nominated in this category for his dramatization of the Walter Mosley novel Fear Itself.
Cheadle’s philanthropic work includes serving as a U.N. Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program. He also produced the documentary film Darfur Now, an examination of the genocide in Sudan’s western region of Darfur and, in 2007, he and George Clooney were recognized for their work for Darfur. The pair shared a Peace Summit Award at the 8th Annual World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome. In addition to his philanthropic work, Don also wrote Not On Our Watch: The Mission To End Genocide In Darfur and Beyond, alongside John Prendergast. Released in 2007, The New York Times bestseller provides greater awareness of the horrors of genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and issues a call to action.
BOBBY CANNAVALE (Rick Robles) includes among his film credits Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, for which he shared in a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture; Old Dads; Ezra; Blonde; Thunder Force; Superintelligence; I, Tonya; Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle; Ant-Man; Danny Collins; Annie; Spy; Chef; Blue Jasmine; Win Win; The Station Agent; and Romance & Cigarettes. His more recent films include Incoming and Maxxine.
On the small screen, Cannavale recently starred in the Netflix series The Watcher. In 2013, he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama series, for his work on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, for which he also shared in a SAG Award nomination, for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. That same year, he received an Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, for his performance on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, also sharing in another SAG Award nomination, for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, for his work on the show. He previously won an Emmy Award, for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, for his role on Will & Grace.
His television credits also include Bupkis, Nine Perfect Strangers, Homecoming, Angie Tribeca, Mr. Robot, Master of None,and Vinyl.
Cannavale is also an award-winning stage actor. A two-time Tony Award nominee, he received his first nomination, for Best Featured Actor in a Play, for Mauritius. He earned his second Tony nod, for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, for The Motherf**ker with the Hat, for which he also won a Drama Desk Award. He also earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for his work in The Hairy Ape. His other stage credits include Medea (BAM), The Lifespan of a Fact, The Big Knife, Glengarry Glen Ross, Hurlyburly and F-ing A.
He is a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company.
MICHAEL PEÑA (Coach Bobby Williams) finished shooting Gore Verbinski’s action-adventure film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, alongside Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Zazie Beetz, and Juno Temple. The film centers on a man from the future (Rockwell) who arrives at a diner in Los Angeles where he must recruit the precise combination of eclectic patrons (Peña, Richardson, Beetz, Temple) to join him on a one-night quest to save the world.
Peña also recently wrapped David Ayer’s action thriller Levon’s Trade, starring alongside Jason Statham and David Harbour. He can currently be seen in Taylor Sheridan’s new series Landman, alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore and Andy Garcia for Paramount+. The series is set in the world of oil rigs in West Texas.
In 2023, Peña starred in Amazon’s critically acclaimed A Million Miles Away, in the lead role of Jose Hernandez, the first migrant farm worker to travel to space with NASA. The film, directed by Alejandra Marquez, also stars Rosa Salazar.
Peña’s other credits include End of Watch, American Hustle, The Martian, and Ant Man.
MYKELTI WILLIAMSON (Eddie) most recently wrapped filming for director Jon Avnet’s feature film The Last Rodeo, portraying the lead role of Charlie Williams, a former bull rider and bullfighter who steps back in the ring one more time. He will also appear in the Apple TV+ series Bonneville, opposite David Oyelowo.
In addition, Williamson was recently featured in several noteworthy films, including Emperor, directed by Mark Amin and produced by Reginald Hudlin; Butter, with Mira Sorvino, and The 24th, directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Willmott and based on the historic Houston Riot of 1917. Williamson also appeared in Blumhouse’s Don’t Let Go, directed by Jacob Estes and starring David Oyelowo, Alfred Molina, and Brian Tyree Henry; and Saint Judy, with Michelle Monaghan, Alfre Woodard, and Common.
In 2016, Williamson co-starred with Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in Washington’s acclaimed screen adaption of August Wilson’s Fences. Williamson was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, for his work in the film, shared with his fellow cast members. That same year, he appeared in Blumhouse’s The Purge: Election Year. His impressive filmography also includes such critically acclaimed works as Lucky Number Slevin, with Bruce Willis and Josh Hartnett; The Assassination of Richard Nixon, with Sean Penn; and Three Kings, alongside George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube.
Williamson is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Bubba in the Oscar-winning classic Forrest Gump, opposite Tom Hanks—a role that solidified his place in cinematic history.
On television, Williamson has appeared as Honcho in the Amazon Prime hit series Fallout, and as Preston Webb in Law & Order: Organized Crime. He’s also had recurring roles in fan-favorite series like Chicago P.D., Designated Survivor, Underground, and Hawaii Five-0. Additionally, he was a series regular on FX’s Justified, alongside Timothy Olyphant, and appeared in major roles in 24, with Kiefer Sutherland, and Kidnapped, with Jeremy Sisto.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
WILLIAM GOLDENBERG (Director) is one of the most well-respected and sought-after film editors working today. He won an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and the American Cinema Editors’ (ACE) Eddie Award for his outstanding work on the 2013 Best Picture winner, Argo, directed by Ben Affleck.
Goldenberg received dual Oscar nominations in 2013, being nominated for both Air and Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, the latter together with editor Dylan Tichenor. In addition, he and Tichenor earned Best Editing Awards for the political thriller from several influential organizations, including The Boston Film Critics Association, the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the London Film Critics Association, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, among others.
His latest films include Transformers: Rise of the Beasts; Affleck’s Air; the crime thriller The Outfit; Paul Greengrass’s post-Civil War action-adventure News of the World, produced by and starring Tom Hanks; the action thriller 6 Underground,directed by Michael Bay and starring Ryan Reynolds. He previously worked for Bay on Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Transformers: Age of Extinction both of which grossed more than $1.1 billion.
Goldenberg’s other recent motion picture credits include 22 July, written and directed by Paul Greengrass; Detroit, directed by Kathryn Bigelow; Concussion, starring Will Smith; and the harrowing true-life drama Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie.
In 2015, Goldenberg was again nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA Award, and an Eddie Award for the historical thriller The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.
He was previously Oscar-nominated for his editing work on Seabiscuit, and on Michael Mann’s controversial film The Insider (with Paul Rubell and David Rosenbloom). Goldenberg was also part of the editing team on Mann’s Heat, Ali, and Miami Vice.
Goldenberg also edited the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced films The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Confessions of a Shopaholic, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, National Treasure, Kangaroo Jack, and Coyote Ugly. His additional motion picture editing credits include Alive, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Pleasantville and Domino. He also collaborated with editor Michael Kahn (as additional editor or assistant) on Hook, Toy Soldiers, Arachnophobia and Always. Goldenberg also edited the short Kangaroo Court, which was nominated for an Academy Award.
For television, Goldenberg worked on the HBO films Body Language and Citizen X, receiving an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or Special for the latter. He also edited the pilot for Over There, the critically acclaimed FX show about the Iraq War.
Next, Goldenberg is editing Paul Greengrass’s upcoming film for Apple Original Films, The Lost Bus.
At the 32nd EnergaCamerimage International Film Festival, Goldenberg was honored with the Camerimage Award for Best Editor, recognizing his decorated career.
ERIC CHAMPNELLA (Screenwriter) is an award-winning filmmaker currently living in Los Angeles, but his heart and roots reside back in the Midwest. Born and raised in suburban Detroit, Champnella started doing stand-up comedy during his senior year at the University of Michigan. By the time he graduated, Champnella was already a paid comic working the area comedy clubs. That summer, he was named one of the hosts of the Detroit-based, nationally syndicated PBS television show, Club Connect. In addition to his duties as host, Champnella went on to write and produce for the Emmy Award-winning program.
Moving to Los Angeles, Champnella quickly became a regular at the famed Improvisation comedy club in Hollywood, working on the same stage as comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow. In front of the camera, Champnella appeared on MTV and A&E’s Evening at the Improv, as well as acting in several sit-coms and films, all while continuing to perform at comedy clubs across the country.
Moving behind the camera, Champnella’s writing credits include the Whoopi Goldberg comedy Eddie, the Bernie Mac baseball movie Mr. 3,000, and the basketball comedy Thunderstruck, starring NBA superstar Kevin Durant. During his career, Champnella has written for or sold projects to just about every movie studio in Hollywood, including Disney, Fox, New Line, Screen Gems, Sony, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros.
The Old Man & The Studio, a short film he wrote and directed, screened at film festivals all over the world. Starring Ian Somerhalder, Marley Shelton and Maury Sterling, the film won top honors at the Phoenix Film Festival, Sedona International Film Festival and the Method Fest Independent Film Festival.
Champnella also wrote and directed Alex & Me, a Warner Bros. family comedy, starring Siena Agudong, Julia Antonelli, and Matt Cornett, as well as soccer legend Alex Morgan.
When not writing, he can probably be found on the tennis court or cheering for one of his beloved hometown teams.
ALEX HARRIS (Screenwriter) was a 2022 Sundance Catalyst Fellow for his film In the Valley of Men, with Ed Harris and Noah Jupe attached to star. His directorial debut, Encore, is in development with Maika Monroe, Dylan O’Brien, Mason Gooding and Jimmy Tatro attached to star. Dan Kagan is producing with David Lowery and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones executive producing. Harris has other projects in development with Range, Balboa Productions, Ace Ent. and more.
Harris is a WGA member and an alum of LMU’s School of Film & Television, where he received a B.A. in directing and screenwriting. He is mentored by acclaimed filmmaker David Lowery.
JOHN HINDMAN (Screenwriter) is a writer/director whose script The Dream of the Romans was included on Hollywood’s famous Black List. He is the writer and director of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize Nominee The Answer Man,starring Jeff Daniels and Lauren Graham. He is also the writer/director of The Passing Parade which won multiple prizes at festivals and was the opening night Film at The Boston Film Festival.
Hindman has written for studios and producers, as well as television as a staff writer for NBC/ Universal for Gary Sanchez Productions. His script Savage is set to go before cameras in 2025 and he has just finished his latest screenplay, A Bright and Guilty Place.
BEN AFFLECK (Producer) has been recognized for his work as a director, actor, writer, and producer. He is the recipient of two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, a Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award, and two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, among other accolades.
In 2022, Affleck and Matt Damon teamed to launch Artists Equity, a production venture that vows to expand profit participation and provide a talent-friendly environment to creatives. The first film produced under their new banner was Air, about the game-changing 1984 shoe deal between Nike and Michael Jordan. Affleck directed and starred in the film, also starring Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans and Chris Tucker. A success with critics and audiences, Air earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Artists Equity’s more recent projects include Apple TV+’s heist comedy The Instigators, the U2 documentary feature Kiss the Future, and the historical drama Small Things Like These. The company’s upcoming films include Kiss of the Spider Woman and RIP.
In 2012, Affleck directed, produced and starred in the Academy Award-winning Best Picture Argo, which also won Golden Globe, BAFTA, Producers Guild of America, and numerous critics group awards for Best Picture. Affleck was also honored with a Golden Globe, DGA Award, BAFTA Award and Critics’ Choice Award, for Best Director, and shared in a SAG Award win for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast.
Affleck had made his feature film directorial debut on the 2007 drama Gone Baby Gone, which he also scripted and for which he received a Best Directorial Debut Award from the National Board of Review. He went on to write, direct and star in the dramas The Town and Live by Night, the latter of which he also produced. Together with Matt Damon, he also wrote, produced and starred in the 2021 historical drama The Last Duel, for director Ridley Scott.
Early in his career, he and Damon won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the 1997 acclaimed drama Good Will Hunting, in which they also co-starred. The duo also won Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards, for Best Screenplay, and received a Writers Guild of America Award nomination. Additionally, they shared in a SAG Award nomination, for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast.
As an actor, Affleck recently received a SAG Award nomination, for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in Amazon’s The Tender Bar, and received a Critics’ Choice Award nomination, for Best Actor, for his starring role in The Way Back. In 2007, Affleck earned several accolades, including a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, for his portrayal of George Reeves in Hollywoodland.
Affleck starred as DC’s iconic superhero Batman and his alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, in three films. His long list of acting credits also includes John Madden’s Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love; Armageddon; Pearl Harbor; The Sum of All Fears; Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder; David Fincher’s Gone Girl; The Accountant; and Hypnotic.
Upcoming, Affleck will reprise the title role in the sequel to his 2016 crime thriller The Accountant for Amazon Prime.
In 2000, Affleck partnered with Matt Damon, Chris Moore and Sean Bailey to form LivePlanet. Their first endeavor, Project Greenlight, premiered in 2001 on HBO and drew critical, audience and industry attention for its behind-the-scenes look at the challenges faced by a first-time filmmaker. The second season of Project Greenlight aired on HBO in 2003, with a third season on Bravo in 2005. All three seasons were nominated for Emmy Awards. The fourth season of Project Greenlight aired on HBO in 2015.
Affleck’s own Pearl Street Productions co-produced such films as Promised Land, directed by Gus Van Sant and written and produced by Matt Damon and John Krasinski; Jason Bourne; and the Academy Award-nominated drama Manchester by the Sea. The company also co-produced Incorporated for the Syfy Channel, written and directed by Alex and David Pastor, and Showtime’s drama series City on A Hill, among other projects.
Outside of his successful film career, Affleck is also a passionate advocate and philanthropist who supports many charitable organizations. In March 2010, he founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), the first U.S.-based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on the mission of helping the people of eastern Congo support local community-based approaches that create a sustainable and successful society in the long-troubled region.
ANTHONY ROBLES (Producer, Author, and playing Himself) is a three-time all-American wrestler who won the 2010-11 NCAA wrestling championship in the 125-pound weight class despite being born with only one leg. A graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Business Communication, he was also awarded the 2011 NCAA Best Wrestler of the National Tournament Award.
Robles was the recipient of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2011 ESPN ESPY Awards and he has also received the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award. He is a Nike athlete, the first signed to an agreement after having retired from active participation in a sport. Currently, he is ESPN’s NCAA wrestling analyst and expert. In addition, he is an internationally renowned motivational speaker to Fortune 500 companies.
He was inducted to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012 and is the author of Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion. In 2013, President Obama appointed Robles as a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Additionally, Robles was a member of the Presidential Delegation to the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games.
In 2015, the National Wrestling Media Association awarded Robles with the Broadcaster of the Year award, and he was inducted into Arizona’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Between 2018 and 2021, he became the Guinness World Record Holder for three different pull-up records. In 2022, Robles was inducted into ASU’s Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame.
ELAINE GOLDSMITH-THOMAS (Producer) began her career at the William Morris Agency, and, in spite of the boys club of the late 1980s, rose to become one of the top agents in the entertainment industry. She guided the careers of actors such as Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Nicolas Cage, Tim Robbins, Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Connelly, Andie MacDowell, and Matt Dillon. She also worked with filmmakers, including John Hughes, Robert Altman, Jonathan Lynn, Roger Michell, Curtis Hanson, Darren Star and Spike Lee, among many others.
She left agenting in 2000 and became a studio head and later a writer and producer, overseeing and or producing such successful films as 13 Going on 30, Maid in Manhattan, Mona Lisa Smile, Across the Universe, Perfect Stranger, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, Little Black Book, Bandslam, The Boy Next Door, Kidnap, Second Act, Hustlers, Marry Me, Shotgun Wedding, The Mother, Atlas, and Kiss of the Spider Woman,the lastdue out 2025. She is also an executive producer on a number of highly acclaimed and award-winning television series, including Emily in Paris, Good Trouble, World of Dance, Shades of Blue, The Fosters, Extant, and Possible Side Effects.
Goldsmith-Thomas is Jennifer Lopez’s producing partner overseeing a diverse slate of films and television projects servicing their groundbreaking overall deal at Netflix.
Her novel, Climbing in Heels, the fictional story of four secretaries who climb their way to the top of the largest entertainment agency in 1980s Hollywood, will come out April 29, 2025.
DAVID CROCKETT (Producer), an industry veteran of more than 25 years, is currently executive producing HBO’s Emmy-nominated period epic The Gilded Age. Crockett is also currently an executive producer on Task, Brad Ingelsby’s follow up to Mare of Easttown. Task and the third season of The Gilded Age are both slated to air on HBO in 2025.
In addition to his work on high-end television, as an independent film producer, Crockett has collaborated with some of the industry’s top talent, including Ben Affleck, on The Town and Gone Baby Gone; Gore Verbinski, on A Cure for Wellness; Denzel Washington, on The Great Debaters; and Rupert Wyatt, on The Gambler, among many others.
Crockett also spent years working closely with Graham King under his GK Films banner. While there, Crockett executive produced Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award-nominated Hugo and supervised the making of such films as the Academy Award-winning Argo and 2013’s World War Z.
ANDY FRASER (Producer), under the banner of A Really Good Home Pictures, is currently developing a variety of feature, television, and new media projects, including a Spanish language bio-series based on the life of beloved astrologer Walter Mercado, in partnership with Eugenio Derbez’s 3Pas.
Fraser has worked with directors as varied as Robert Altman, Jim Sheridan, Barry Levinson, Paul Schrader, Alan Rudolph, Harold Cronk, and Robert De Niro, to name but a few. He is also the former Head of Physical & Post Production for mini-major Morgan Creek Productions, where he oversaw such films as The Good Shepherd, Man of the Year, Georgia Rule and Dream House.
GARY LEWIS (Producer) has spent the past 43 years producing, co-producing and working in production on everything from major motion pictures and live primetime television programs to live events. His clients have included the NFL, NBA, DreamWorks, NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, NFL Network, Discovery Channel, Dentsu Advertising, DAV and the USO, among others.
In 2011, Lewis was contacted by Anthony Robles and his mother, Judy, and signed on as Robles’s business manager/agent. Since then, he has been instrumental in helping Anthony bring his inspirational story of passion, perseverance, and triumph to the world.
SALVATORE TOTINO (Director of Photography) is best known for his long collaboration with Ron Howard and his work with Oliver Stone, as well as the lensing of films such as Spider-Man: Homecoming, Everest, and Bird Box.
Totino is renowned for his groundbreaking work in music videos, commercials, and innovative camera technique on films such as Any Given Sunday, Cinderella Man, Frost/Nixon and others. He also recently forayed into television by shooting six episodes of the Paramount+ miniseries The Offer, the story of the making of The Godfather, which earned him a Golden Frog at Camerimage in 2023.
His career spans a wide range of productions and budgets, from independent creative projects to big box office films. He is a member of the Motion Picture Academy, American Society of Cinematographers, and Association of Italian Cinematographers, as well as the Directors Guild of America.
JON CARLOS (Production Designer) is an Emmy- and guild-nominated production designer for feature films and television.
After graduating from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television with an emphasis in Scenic Design and Production, Carlos has provided design and management services to the entertainment, art, and advertising communities for more than 20 years. His experience has taken him around the world, from Cuba to Hong Kong.
Carlos recently designed the premiere season of Palm Royale for Apple TV+, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination. Presently he is designing a new series for Amazon, El Gato Negro, filming in Mexico City.
His other recent production design credits include HBO’s Westworld and Hacks, earning Emmy and Art Directors Guild Award nominations. for Outstanding Production Design, for his work on both series.
As a supervising art director, his credits include For All Mankind, Hotel Artemis, and Counterpart. He also served as an art director on film and television projects as Mad Men, The Fate of the Furious, Furious 7, War Dogs, Halt & Catch Fire, and Flight.
Carlos’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, The Wall Street Journal and The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety identified him as a “Best of Craft” in their 2020 Artisan’s Elite Report.
BRETT M. REED (Editor) previously collaborated with Artists Equity as the editor on Doug Liman’s film The Instigators, starring Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and Hong Chau. Additionally, he edited Old, directed by M. Night Shyamalan for Universal Pictures, as well as several episodes of Shyamalan’s television show The Servant for Apple TV+.
Previously Reed cut Clouds, directed by Justin Baldoni for Disney+; Christoph Waltz’s Georgetown; Automatik’s Dreamland, directed by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte and starring Margot Robbie; and Nick Hamm’s bio-thriller Driven, starring Erin Moriarty and Lee Pace.
Reed came up under Academy Award-winning editor William Goldenberg and worked as an additional editor on other films, including Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Live by Night, Concussion, Unbroken, and Argo. Reed was also a first assistant editor on The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Zero Dark Thirty, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and National Treasure, among others.
JANELLE NICOLE CAROTHERS (Costume Designer) is an innovative costume designer with more than 20 years’ experience in film and television.
Carothers’ credits as a costume designer include the series All Rise, L.A.’s Finest, Rebel and Let’s Stay Together. She has also designed the costumes for a number of independent films, including If Not Now, When?; The Untold Story; Thriller; Mistrust; Boy Bye; Silver Skies; Deuces; The Perfect Match; and Going to America.
ALEXANDRE DESPLAT (Composer) is a two-time Oscar winner and one of the most respected film composers in the world today. Desplat is noted for his collaborations with some of the world’s top filmmakers: Greta Gerwig, Wes Anderson, Guillermo del Toro, George Clooney, Kathryn Bigelow, Stephen Daldry, David Fincher, Stephen Frears, Tom Hooper, Ang Lee, Terrence Malick and Angelina Jolie.
Desplat first captivated American audiences with his score for The Girl With The Pearl Earring and Birth. He has since scored a range of acclaimed films, eleven of which have been Oscar-nominated: The Queen, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, The Imitation Game, The King’s Speech, Argo, Philomena, The Painted Veil for which he received a Golden Globe, and Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, Isle of Dogs, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, the last of which brought Desplat his first Oscar for Best Original Score, in 2015. Desplat won his second Academy Award for his thematic score to Guillermo Del Toro’s film The Shape of Water, for which he also garnered a 2018 Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award, and a 2019 Grammy nomination. Desplat scored Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, which was nominated for a 2020 Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Score; George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky, which received a 2021 Golden Globe nomination for Best Score; Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, which earned a 2022 Golden Globe nomination for Best Score; and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, for which Desplat received two 2023 Golden Globe nominations, for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Ciao Papa.”
Desplat’s work includes Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken; his second collaboration with Tom Hooper, The Danish Girl; Godzilla, directed by Gareth Edwards; Illumination Entertainment’s box office smash hit The Secret Life Of Pets as well as the sequel The Secret Life of Pets 2; Florence Foster Jenkins starring Meryl Streep; Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow; Twilight Saga: New Moon, directed by Chris Weitz; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 & 2; the Jacques Audiard-directed films Rust and Bone and The Sisters Brothers, the latter starring Joaquin Phoenix and Jake Gyllenhaal; and George Clooney’s comedy crime feature Suburbicon.
More recently, Desplat scored the miniseries The Regime, starring Kate Winslet, which reunited him with Stephen Frears; George Clooney’s The Boys in the Boat, starring Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner; and the Netflix film The Piano Lesson, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson.
Born to a Greek mother and French father, Desplat grew up in France with a budding love for Hollywood film music, and broke into the French film industry in the 1990s. With a penchant for lyricism, elegant orchestrations, and precise dramatization, Desplat has quickly joined the pantheon of all-time greats.
