As a species bent on survival, fighting is one of our most primal instincts, along with sex and, of course, eating.
Sometimes we fight to defend the helpless and downtrodden. Sometimes we fight to defend our land. Sometimes we fight to win the heart and loyalty of our future mate. Sometimes we fight just for the sport of it. Regardless, we fight to live.
Whether we are using bombs, guns, knives or good, old-fashioned fisticuffs, fighting is a pivotal part of every single society on the planet and is sometimes used to either dominate and destroy or build and defend. Like it or not, fighting is a reality that we as people are in some way attracted to and a reality that we will doubtfully ever escape.
The pure lust and passion for combat has been reared to perfection by many a great emperor, king, queen and conquer alike, from almost every empire and nation throughout the ages, as they sculpted and perfected the supreme warrior to be tested in battle—a practice and mentality that continues even to this very day.
In fact, fighting has become such a staple of our society that we will forfeit a good portion of our hard-earned, weekly paycheck for the chance to see two guys or gals go toe-to-toe in an all-out attempt to test their crafted skills in battle and ultimately claim victory.
Although many pacifists may disagree, fighting is considered an art by most of the world, and has been since time began. So it makes perfect sense that the art of fighting has become a main attraction to other artists, namely filmmakers.
In the mega-successful, epic story of Philadelphian boxer and hometown hero Rocky Balboa (Played by Sylvester Stallone), we witness Balboa’s transition from street thug to world-class boxer as he rises above adversity to eventually fight for the championship.
The more recent and modern fight film, Warrior, also touches on the tussles of life as we see two feuding brothers—the younger a former U.S. Marine and the older a high school physics teacher—combat their way through a Mixed Martial Arts tournament before eventually facing each another.
However, when the films are over and the credits roll, we are left well aware that the fights we’ve just observed are nothing more than scripted acting and clever camera tricks that do their best in an attempt to fool our brains into thinking that what we have just seen is as real as it gets—that is, until FIGHTVILLE.
FIGHTVILLE is a hyper-intelligent new film by Pepper & Bones, Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein, directed by Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein, which premieres in theatres in NYC on April 20, 2012 and will also be available on Video on Demand (VoD).
The 85-minute documentary, which follows the lives of professional MMA fighters Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier, “Crazy” Tim Credeur, Gil “The Thrill” Guillory and Albert Stainback, takes us on a journey through not only the physical aspects of the preparation and sacrifice required to become a world-class warrior, but also through the often unseen, psychological realm and mental conditioning that has been said by many a great fighter and trainer to make up 80 percent of the fight game.
According to the directors:
“There’s something about a fight that attracts and repels us. When two men square off toe to toe, they aren’t just fighting; they are brutally acting out the drama of life.
“It’s undiluted competition, and while in its sanctioned form, it may be a sport, it’s a sport that isn’t played. It’s about giving and receiving hurt, domination and submission.
“For the audience, the arena is the place where their dragons are slain. A champion isn’t just fighting his opponent; he’s fighting to overcome life itself.”
FIGHTVILLE is not just another Hollywood-style, bang-em-up, MMA action flick that uses known fighters to garner ticket sales.
FIGHTVILLE is real film about real people, real dreams, true desire, total dedication and ultimately the will to not only win in competition, but to be the very best in life, overcoming any and all obstacles—to live and truly feel alive, which is something we all strive for.
FIGHTVILLE should appeal to both fight fans and non-fans alike, as it plunges deep into the human psyche, piercing the heart of what drives us to test the limits of our being, posing the question, “What is it that makes us strive to be the best at what we do?”
Featured fighter and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from the appropriately named Gladiators Academy, Tim Credeur says, “We don’t just make fighters; we build better men.”
A Film by Pepper & Bones
Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein
A Heros Film Production
Co-Directed and Co-Produced by Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein
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