While one-legged wrestler Anthony Robles and his mother Judy were the subjects of the sports drama Unstoppablethey knew that turning their story into a film could inspire audiences to overcome the obstacles they faced, and they also had to overcome their fear about revealing the pain of their personal struggles on a massive platform.
“The more we thought about it, the more we said, ‘Wow, the world is going to see our story,'” Anthony revealed during the conference. Unstoppable A panel at the Deadline Contenders Film event on Saturday. “We realized that it wasn't just going to be about the triumphant moments, it wasn't just about the happy times. It was those painful moments and things that we weren't really sure how we wanted to open up the discussion and share.
“I was really terrified,” agreed Jodi Robles, who portrays Jennifer Lopez in the film. “It's scary because you see the mess you've made in your life and you see all the things you've done wrong, and now a lot of people are going to see that.”
But after director William Goldenberg reassured the Robles that he intended to make a film they could be proud of, the family agreed that revealing the dark side of their lives would make their victories more poignant. “We knew that in order for this to be relatable to as many people as possible, we had to share this pain,” Anthony said. “We had to share those vulnerable moments because that is what would inspire people to overcome their challenges.”
“The pain helped me heal and my son heal,” Judy said. “And if we can share that with others who might find inspiration in it, that's the whole point of this.”
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Actor Jharrel Jerome explained that the association with Anthony, who also performed many of the wrestling scenes in the film, was crucial to his dedication to portraying the role of the wrestler correctly.
“I knew it was something like, 'Okay, I'm not just an actor playing someone.' “That's friendship and brotherhood and that's something I want to make sure I do the right way,” Jerome said. “To have a YouTube clip or a 20-minute interview with the guy you're playing with is one thing, but spending months training and on the mat and wrestling and learning from him and then Watching him try and grow too is something else. “Like me.”
Jodi was also happy to adhere to the emotional honesty she saw in Lopez's performance. “I think Jane did an amazing job on every part: the sadness, the joy, the pain,” she said. “It showed me that a lot of you don't look back and see the things you did right — they usually look at the things you did wrong… but the way Jane showed more than just this sad, abused woman, so I appreciate that about her so much.” .
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“We all grapple with the challenge in life,” Anthony added. “You can't let your defiance become an excuse. You have to say, 'OK, this is what I can do. This is what I'm blessed with. These are my opportunities. And you move forward.'…And this is what 'unstoppable' means: What You just have to push yourself step by step and know, “You know what?” I can do more than I think I can right now.
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Check back on Monday for a video of the painting.
Presenting Sponsor of This Year's Contenders: Los Angeles United Business. Sponsors are Eyeptizer Eyewear and Final Draft + ScreenCraft and partners are Four Seasons Maui, 11 Ravens and Robina Benson Design House.
