MMA film shot in Sask. ready for première
Mma/pro wrestling movie made in Saskatchewan getting international digital debut
SASKATOON “This whole movie’s been a 12-round fight, from the get-go,” says producer Shayne Putzlocher.
Less than two weeks before the première of the new mixed martial arts movie Cagefighter: Worlds Collide, the final bell still hasn’t rung on the bout.
It’s to be expected with a movie featuring world-class actors and MMA fighters, including some high-energy fight stunts and choreography, and filmed extensively in Regina.
Just like a real fight, everyone is working behind the scenes as hard as they can until the last possible moment.
“We know we’re throwing everything we have at this,” said producer Sara Shaak. “We’re grinding it out ... just being really proud of what we’ve pulled off here.”
Cagefighter: Worlds Collide stars London-based MMA fighter Alex Montagnani in the leading role, with other world-renowned fighters like UFC Hall of Famer and former Light Heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, former Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, and pro wrestling stars Jon Moxley and Jay Reso also featured. Actress Gina Gershon plays a shrewd fight promoter in the fighter-filled cast.
The film was scheduled to have a limited theatrical release later in 2020, and the producers were working on securing a special Canadian release as well, since much of the movie was shot and edited in Regina. A list of cast and crew members make their homes or have familial connections to Saskatchewan.
Due to COVID-19, the team started thinking outside the box — or the octagon — for creative ways to première the movie.
That’s when they got deep into discussions with FITE TV, a digital subscription and pay-per-view (PPV) service that specializes in sporting events.
Then the producers were struck with a thought: if premièring this project like a normal movie was going to be tough, why not market it like a once-in-a-lifetime MMA fight?
“When the COVID started happening, we started saying, ‘What if we just looked at ... doing a onenight event?’” Putzlocher said. “People are commenting, ‘Is this a real fight?’ And that’s what we wanted, for people to start talking about it.”
The movie première, featuring world-famous MMA and wrestling stars alongside top-tier Saskatchewan talent, will take place as a onenight-only livestreamed event on May 16 on FITE TV.
Just like an actual MMA fight (or like getting a ticket to a movie at the theatre), the première will be a PPV experience. Each showing of the film in different time zones will be followed by a live roundtable Q&A with some of the stars.
The new release date of May 16 is months ahead of the original plan, so the film editors and producers have been working nonstop to have the movie ready in time. The investment of time and money from the folks in the Prairies has not gone unnoticed.
“One of the cool things ... is that the whole movie is a big shout-out to Saskatchewan, really,” Shaak said.
“A lot of the actors are doing tons of press, and they’re all talking about being in Saskatchewan, and the industry there has been excited about what we’ve been able to do.”
Reso, a retired Canadian professional wrestler who won multiple world championships as part of the WWE, said the creation of the movie was an incredible experience, and all the work that’s gone into it since has been just as impressive.
Reso complimented the work and studio space in Regina, and said he was impressed by how realistically they were able to depict two intense sports with dedicated fan bases.
“To have a movie that’s true to both sides of wrestling and MMA, to be able to stream on FITE TV, it’s unlike anything I’ve been a part of,” he said.
“I think it’s a really unique and cool opportunity to do something different.”
Reso has plenty of experience getting ready for important bouts in wrestling.
He said while the lead-up to the stream on May 16 hasn’t been exactly like getting ready for a fight, it’s felt pretty close, hopefully for the fans, too.
“You think of the names that are attached to this movie ... there’s some big names, and it does have some big-fight appeal to it,” Reso said. “It’s the same aspect when you’re out there wrestling in front of a live audience, you’re trying to get an emotional connection ... it’s the same kind of thing with this: you’re trying to have your audience have an emotional attachment to the characters involved, and want to see one win and one lose.”
With the amount of work that’s gone into pushing this Canadian project onto an international stage, it’s hard to fault Putzlocher for calling the whole process “a 12-round fight.”
But the producers, cast, and crew are all confident that once this fight is over, Cagefighter: Worlds Collide will be a well-earned victory.
“I think it’s silly not to be excited and nervous,” Putzlocher said. “It could only happen this way, that you go right up to the deadline still fighting. Nothing worth having comes easy.”
Cagefighter: Worlds Collide premières on FITE TV on Saturday, May 16. Access to the film can be purchased online at fite.tv.
You think of the names that are attached to this movie ... there’s some big names, and it does have some big-fight appeal to it.