Bleed for is Cast on Bringing Boxer Vinny Paz s Life to the Big Screen

Pete Hammond, Ben Younger, Katey Sagal, Aaron Eckhart and Miles Teller talk Bleed for This at the KCET Cinema Series. | Photo: Emily Merkley

The KCET Cinema Series continued its winter season at ArcLight Cinemas, Sherman Oaks on November 1 with Open Road Films Bleed For This. Based on the true story of boxer Vinny Paz and his miraculous recovery from a devastating car accident, the film stars Miles Teller as the young and unstoppable athlete. Teller was on hand at Tuesday nights screening, along with Katey Sagal, who plays his mother Louise, Aaron Eckhart, who portrays Pazs dynamic trainer Kevin Rooney, and writer/director Ben Younger. The Q&A session was led by KCET Cinema Series host Pete Hammond and a portion of the conversation appears below.

The KCET Cinema Series is generously sponsored by the E. Hofert Dailey Trust. It offers audiences the unique opportunity to see advanced screenings of the seasons most talked about films along with insightful post-screening Q&As with top studio talent. The winter KCET Cinema Series is sold out and the next series will begin in spring 2017.

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Ben Younger on what drew him to Bleed for This.

I did not know Vinnys story. His childhood friend, Chad Verdi, who is a producer on the movie, he brought the story to me. Vinny wanted his story told. He knew that it was exceptional and we sort of found the right combination to put it through.

I wasnt a huge boxing fan. You asked me how I connected to it, it was more the idea that I, and no one I know, had anything in their life that they care so much about that they would risk paralysis for. I couldnt believe that he made this choice. We didnt embellish it. The guy broke his neck and he was like, Im going to come back and fight again.

Its more than true. We had to pull back from the truth in certain ways because you guys wouldnt believe it if I told you or showed you. For example, you know that amazing scene where Miles is lifting the bar? Painful to watch. Felt like, what, 30 days after the halo surgery? In real life, Vinny did that five days after the halo went on.

Miles Teller on taking on the role of Vinny Paz.

I never really had to really assemble a team of people truly to help me achieve a character and build for the part. The first thing I did, Ben offered me the part, I stepped on a scale and I was 188 pounds and 19 percent body fat, which is not a good number. It was good for the roles I was playing. I was playing the funny friend. Thats a good body shape for that. Plus, I just never wanted to be that actor with a six pack. Thats not acting. Its stupid. The first thing I did was I got a nutritionist and a trainer and in those eight months, I was filming two movies in-between but I just worked out, dieted and, towards the end, I got in with a boxing trainer, Darrell Foster. He trained Sugar Ray Leonard for 18 years. By the time I got to set, I lost 20 pounds and I was down to six percent body fat. To me, thats just bare minimum to get in the door. That opening scene, you got to weigh in and you got to look like a boxer. I knew the diet was the preliminary aspect.

Its eight months. Youre not eating bread. I think I drank once. I think I drank on Halloween. I was like, Im going to give myself this. No candy, but Ill drink a little beer. Its super strict.

I just surrounded myself with people who did more than me and everything that they told me I was going to do; I didnt cheat on the plan. I didnt deviate from it because I knew that genetically, I was not, I was not that dude. I have buddies that workout once a week and eat McDonalds and are jacked. I just didnt have that in my blood. I wish. That was tough. I had to gain 15 pounds once we started filming because Vinny moved up in weight and he won belts in at least three classes. Thats also part of his legacy. Thats hard to do in 24 days. When he says, Im moving you up, youve got to show that. I didnt have much time, but I had to gain 15 pounds in a short amount of time.

Miles Teller in Bleed for This.

Miles Teller on wearing the halo for his role.

I had more fitting for my boots than we did for this halo. I got to Providence. The girl got it from a hospital. I tried it on once. Theyre like, this will work, in theory. I showed up on set and I had to put it on. It was everyones first time with this thing and its not like the girl had this huge history with it. I had no idea, so we did a couple takes with it. Ben is like, it doesnt matter what you did in the take. Its emotional. Its honest... And Ben just comes over and says - and Ben hated this - Ben says, Im so sorry but the thing moved up and down while you were doing it. You cant use that take. We just put, I was like, whatever, just get it in there so that it doesnt move. We put little rubber pieces on the end and we put it so far into my head that I could feel, I had little grooves, or little indentations, to where it was and I could feel when it was in the right spot.

Compared to what Vinny went through, its really not much for an actor to go through. Yeah, its a lot. Its 12 hours a day, uncomfortable, but it puts you in the right place.

Miles Teller on meeting Vinny Paz.

The weeks leading up to it, Ben was asking if I wanted Vinny there, so I said, honestly, my first response was no... I was so intimidated by this man that I was going to play, this guys reputation, his legacy. He wasnt just a boxer. He was a warrior. Everybody knew who Vinny was, you couldnt beat him. You couldnt take him down. He was an animal.

The one day that I said, absolutely, lets make sure hes on set was the halo bench press because neither Ben nor myself nor anyone I could ask would know how to do that, except for Vinny. So, Vinny came on set and showed me how to do it. Thats all honest. Once everybody showed up with Katey and Aaron and Ciar n and the set pieces, were filming in Providen

LINK:	https://www.kcet.org/kcet-cinema-series/the-director-and-stars-of-blee...
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