The Challenger – Life’s Struggles

 ** MOVIE ALERT **
The Challenger – Life’s Struggles

Interview by Pattee Mak on January 31, 2012

Who said boxing is dead.  Kent Moran actor, owner, writer and director of Wishing Well Pictures is currently in the production stages of an upcoming film called “The Challenger”.  You may remember Kent Moran in his previous film Listen to Your Heart.  Currently the main cast of characters include Jaden “Bronx Boy” Miller who will be played by Kent Moran, Smallville’s Justin Hartley will be playing James who is currently the light heavyweight champ in the film and Ernie Sabella who was the voice of Pumbaa in the Lion King.  He’ll be playing Frankie, the lottery storeowner.   

“The Challenger” is about Miller’s life growing up in a poor neighborhood in the Bronx.  At one point in the movie Miller’s mother looses her home, health and job. And being from a poor neighborhood they didn’t have much to begin with.  Miller takes things into his own hands and gives up everything in the name of love to help his mother and he does this by way of the ring.  I’m sure many of us can comprehend what Miller’s life is all about and we each have our own story to tell.

I had the opportunity to speak to Kent Moran about his upcoming movie.

Pattee Mak:  It’s a pleasure to speak with you today.

Pattee Mak:  Tell me how did this screen play come about?

Moran:  Actually about 6 years ago it was first written.  Originally, I was an actor and this sort of came in a dream and within a couple days I wrote it. But it wasn’t quite ready. After writing several other screenplays, I revisited this one and did a full rewrite about a year ago. 

Pattee Mak: This movie is about boxing.  Who has given you the boxing insight needed to produce this movie?

Moran:   As soon as I decided to make this movie I started training in Freddie Roach’s Gym called Wild Card in Los Angeles for about 5 – 6 months with Pepe Reilly.  Then I came back to New York and I trained with a trainer who is training for the golden gloves at the NY Sports Club.  His name is Dwayne July. 

 Pattee Mak: How did you hand pick the actors involved in this film?

Moran:  Basically I wrote certain roles for main actors based on past work that they have done.   I can’t announce everyone’s name yet but I can in a week or week and a half.  Smallville’s Justin Hartley will be playin the boxer opposite of me in the final fight. 

Pattee Mak:  Hmmm in a week or two you’ll have to get back to me with some names.

Pattee Mak:  How many days a week are you training in boxing?

Moran:  Every day of the week I’m boxing and training.

Pattee Mak: When will the production be completed by?

Moran:  The first shot will be on the 4^th, but we don’t really start the rest until February 20 and will be done around March 18.    This will be an Indy film so we usually shoot pretty quickly.

Pattee Mak:  Who will be showing your movie?

Moran:  Our goal is we would like to get a full release. Warner Bros. distributed my first film.  We are mainly trying to get those same types of distributors on board.  But we are hoping for theaters too.

Pattee Mak:  On February 4, 2012 you will be tapping a portion of the production in Albany, New York during the Star Boxing Event, “KO at the TU” headlined by Joe “The Future” Hanks and Rafeal “The Cuban-Cajun Giant” Pedro. Without giving the script away, will you be taping at any future boxing events?

Moran:  Yes there will be another event planned at the Times Union Center.  For the exact details, please stay tuned.

Pattee Mak:   Gyms? Locations?…… Can you give it away?

Moran:  We have a few in mind but still scouting it so we don’t know where we’ll end up yet.  The film will be filmed in the Bronx. 

Pattee Mak:  This movie is about boxing.  Why not a different form of mixed martial arts?

Moran:  I actually wanted to keep it more traditional.  I feel like mixed martial arts is big right now. But I wanted boxing to come back so I wanted to do a boxing movie.

Pattee Mak:  I believe there is a little bit of Miller in each of us.  Is there someone in this screenplay that reminds you of you or someone you know?

Moran:  Yes for sure.  The character I’m playing and the character of my trainer both have some aspects of myself. There are other things about the script that mimic life like fighting our way out of recession and what anyone is going through. The fight becomes like the fight out in a way.

Pattee Mak:  Do you have all the necessary backing/funding needed for your project or are you looking for more financial backing?  If so, whom should they contact?

Moran:  For this project we are fully funded but I have another project in the works that I’m looking for funding.  If anyone is interested they can go to my website www.wishing-well-pictures.com.  All the available contact information is located there.

Pattee Mak:  What would you like to tell all the boxing and mma fans out there about this film?

Moran:  Just that we are trying to make it as real as possible. I want it to be a tribute to the art of boxing as a whole, as you will hopefully see through the trainer and my character.

Pattee Mak:  Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.  I look forward to watching “The Challenger”.  Should you have any questions, comments or suggestions feel free to comment below or locate me on facebook under Pattee Mak.

Moran:  Thanks again Pattee. We look forward to seeing everyone there on the 4th.

If you are looking to attend the boxing event on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the Times Union Center, 51 South Pearl Street, Albany, New York and be a part of the screening, tickets can be purchased at the TU Times Union Center Box Office, select Wal Mart Music Centers, ticket master (1-800-745-3000), www.timesunioncenter-albany.com and www.starboxing.com (718 823-2000).



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