AFA IS TRULY THE MAKER OF CHAMPIONS
- 09/30/2008 (4:12:55 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
THE WRESTLER, STARRING MICKEY ROURKE…
Afa "The Wild Samoan" is truly the maker of champions
"The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke is a success.
"The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke is a success.
Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) who was well cast by director Darren Aronofsky, is a professional wrestler from the 1980s who suffers a heart attack that doctors insist must retire him from the squared circle. But those in the wrestling world know that nothing can retire a wrestler once its in the blood.
Wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Afa "The Wild Samoan" is head trainer and wrestling consultant to Mickey Rourke to prepare him for his role as the wrestler.
Interview by WXW Office
Our own CEO Afa "the Wild Samoan" took the time to sit down with us for this interview, sharing his thoughts and comments about his experience as the trainer to Mickey Rourke and his overall experiences with the movie "The Wrestler"
WXW Office: First I speak for WXW Wrestling, The Wild Samoan Training Center and your many fans when I say CONGRATULATIONS for your contributions to the movie "The Wrestler." Afa, can you tell us how you became involved in the movie?
Afa: "I was told by my good friend, wrestling Chatterbox first lady Georgiann Makropoulos that the director Darren Aronofsky's people were looking for me. They followed my career and the success of my family and training program. They knew I was the uncle to Dwayne The Rock Johnson and they said that they wanted the best to train "the actor" whose name was being withheld at the time. I wasn't told at that time what the movie was about but I agreed to meet with Darren.
WXW Office: Can you tell us a little about your meeting with Darren Aronofsky and why they chose you to be the trainer?
Afa: "At the time of the meeting Darren was looking for the best possible trainer to be involved in his movie. The production had done their homework and to my knowledge contacted many wrestling schools and promotions to do their research and put all their people in order. My wife put a business package together for the meeting listing my qualifications and Darren said he didn't need to see it because he knew who I was and respected what I have done in wrestling."
WXW Office: So what made you decide to take on the role as trainer for the movie?
Afa: As a professional wrestler and trainer who spend the past 40 plus years of my life devoted to the great sport of wrestling, I had two concerns as I talked to Darren and the production team. They were, first if I do not accept the project to train the actor (then Nicholas Cage who I was first introduced to as the lead along with his stuntman, then Mickey Rourke who took over the role) will he receive the proper safety lessons that so many youngsters do not learn as I have experienced over and over when students come to my training camp from other training programs, and second will this movie trash wrestling for which I am very protective of? I agreed to take on the job as head trainer to the movie and I am glad that I did. In the short time that I trained Nick Cage and his stunt double, they both came in with the utmost respect for wrestling and what they were about to put their bodies through. For reasons unknown, Mickey Rourke was brought into the lead role and I liked Darren right away and wanted to do what I could to help make the dream of his movie a reality."
WXW Office: How long did you train Nicolas Cage and his stunt double and then Mickey Rourke?
Afa: I worked with and trained Nick Cage for about two sessions then I was told that things were on hold. Once Mickey came into the movie, I trained him for about three months.
WXW Office: What was training like, and did you have to work around the filming schedule?
Afa: For the most part we had a daily schedule. I picked two of my graduate students Jon Trosky and Tom Farra and made them my assistant trainers. The three of us would drive into New York City from Pennsylvania to train Mickey. Training was good. Mickey is a very good athlete and was eager and willing to learn. He trusted me completely and many times when someone would tell him to do something he would ask me first for my approval. After a couple of trainings, Mickey told me that he had his own idea about wrestling but now he understood what we go through and he didn't know how I did this for over 40 years and he had a whole new respect for wrestling..
WXW Office: Can you tell us something about the movie that the general public may not know?
Afa: It's not my place to discuss any news or gossip from behind the scenes. What I can tell you is that everyone involved in the movie worked very hard and put in long hours. The crew and extras were all into their work and I enjoyed being on the set. What I can tell you that the public may not know is that I had a casting call at my Wild Samoan Training Center and I was able to get some of my students and WXW wrestlers parts in the movie.
WXW Office: Ok, if you don't feel comfortable talking about behind the scenes, can you tell us what you thought about the script, especially the wrestling scenes?
Afa: I am sad to say, the story of Randy The Ram in "The Wrestler" is about the life of many of the athletes that I have met in my life. One day you are dreaming of being this person that you think that you are, living the dream and that you are on top of the world. Some people think it will last forever and some think that they will never get old. Then one day and it comes way too fast, we are in our later years and some just get lost along the way and try to hang on to the little glory that is left. I have to say at times it's scary, because I've known some wrestlers personally whose lives end up like the character that Mickey plays. The world of professional wrestling, like any profession one puts their heart and soul into, can have tremendous rewards and, at the same time, be terribly draining. I always count my blessings that I have a wonderful family that has always sustained me through my career."
WXW Office: Can you tell us your thoughts and or experiences about working with Mickey Rourke?
Afa: When I met Mickey, I told him about myself and that I was going to be his trainer and that I wanted him to trust me with his body. After the first day of training he called me "Pops" and I feel that we had a great relationship which is extremely important especially when a person is being taught something (wrestling training) when its not their career choice. I really enjoyed working with Mickey and made it my priority to protect him as he learned the wrestling part for the movie. Mickey worked hard to please me and learn and in my opinion he did a hell of a job, but you will see that when the movie comes out. When my job was finished, I was sad to see it end. Working with Mickey was amazing.
WXW Office: Are there any final words that you would like to add as we wrap up the interview?
Afa: I would like to thank Darren Aronofsky, Mark Heyman and Scott Franklin for trusting me to train Mickey for the movie. I want to thank my assistant trainers Jon Trosky and Tom Farra and my good friend Doug Crosby who did a great job with Mickey. I was happy to help my daughter Tovale and several of my Wild Samoan Training Center students and WXW Wrestlers to secure a part in the movie. I am very proud of Mickey and I can't wait to see the movie. I was told that the movie won the highest award called the Golden Lion at the Venice, Italy film festival and I am honored to have been a part of the making of "The Wrestler". I urge you to go see "The Wrestler" when its released and you will see what a great job we did to make him look like real wrestler.
WXW Office: Afa, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview.
Afa: You're welcome, God Bless.
Tags:
