AMERICA STRONG / Promo Boxing Matches Director’s Shot List & Fight Choreography Breakdown for the Actors
INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - NIGHT
Tommy Morrison (Rokki James), a boxer on the rise, stands in his black boxing robe. Next to him is his promoter Tony Holden (JOSH ARCHER), his trainer Tom Virgets (TIM CARTY), Co Managers John Brown (DUSTIN SEABOLT), Bill Cayton (JIM ABDE) and Coach Doug Dragert (NICK SLOANE). The team is surrounding Tommy like a Roman military ready to go to war while making their way towards the ring.
A voice calls out.
VOICE Alright, lets go!
The camera tracks Tommy and his crew through the walk backstage. The sound of the crowd chanting his name gets louder with each step.
There are 30 to 50 people in four rows of bleachers waving a “TOMMY” paper flyer over their heads.
INT. THE BOXING ARENA - NIGHT
Two ANNOUNCERS discuss details of the fight as Tommy makes his way to the ring with his team.
ANNOUNCER 1 Marc Anthony Roman Tommy Morrison takes on James "he
hopes still Quick" Tillis.
ANNOUNCER 2 (Now Casting looking for a guy with a good voice) But first he’s gotta make a
decision. Does he want to be a sometime
actor who boxes or does he want to be a sometimes boxer who acts? This isn’t Rocky 5.
ANNOUNCER 1
Tonight there will be no acting. James Quick Tillis, at 33, has fought against almost everybody. ANNOUNCER 2
Unfortunately a lot of them have been losses. He lost to Pinklon Thomas, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield. And now he goes up against an on the rise fighter Tommy Morrison.
Tommy enters the ring. JAMES TILLIS (Now Casting), a journeyman boxer, has been anxiously waiting for him.
INT. BOXING RING - INDOORS
Tommy warms up in his corner. Details of fight(Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City; January 11th, 1991) are layered on the screen. Michael Buffet calls the fight.
MICHAEL BUFFER / NIKO MERCURIS Fighting out of the red corner
wearing black trunks with white trim. Weighing at 226 1/2 lbs from Martin Ville, Virgina. His record 38 victories, 17 defeats, and 1 draw, 29 KO’s. Ladies and Gentlemen the fighting cowboy James "Quick" Tillis!
We see James warming up.
MICHAEL BUFFER / NIKO And in the blue corner, wearing the black trunks with stars and stripes trim. Weighing in at 227 1/2 pounds. Fighting out of Kansas City.
Undefeated as a professional with a record of 24 and 0, 20 KO’s..Tommy "the Duke" Morrison.
The two of them meet at the middle of the ring
BOXING REFEREE /STEPHAN BIELAWSKI Gentlemen I want a good clean fight.
Obey my commands at all times, shake hands and good luck to both of you. Tillis and Tommy tap gloves.
Then they go back to their corners. The bell rings and the fight begins.
Choreography by John Gatling (SHOT LIST IN REAL TIME PRE CHOREOGRAPHED)
Actors please try to practice every shot on this list 10 times, build a safe chemistry of movement amongst each other keeping the punches light 10% or less avoiding any real injuries. This is a safe stage combat shot list. Please use your strengths in your acting when throwing punches, show the pain in your face if your getting hit, make it look as believable as you possibly can. The camera captures everything so put everything you have into your acting not your punches and keep it safe this is not a real fight but it needs to look as real as possible on film.
Shot 1a ______________________________________________________
Tommy the aggressor is the forward puncher, Tills is taking backward steps, Tommy throws a left followed by a right hook repeating the same punches moving forward.
Please note: no jabs are thrown by Tommy at all only combinations, hooks are landing and maintaining as the aggressor.
Shot 1b ______________________________________________________
Tommy throws a couple heavy body shots and a good left hook to Tillis’s head sending Tillis down to the canvas. Tillis gets up.
Shot 1c ______________________________________________________
Tommy comes back with a left hook and right hook, Tillis goes down again from a monster combo ending with an uppercut.
Shot 1d ______________________________________________________
Tillis gets up and Tommy throws another left hook and right hook sending Tillis back down again. The fight is over.
Shot 1e ____________________________________________________________
Tommy walks over to Doug, Doug puts both hands on Tommy’s face they bump heads together look down at the ring and do a three second prayer. Tommy walks away from Doug hugs Bill Cayton, John Brown still not smiling raises Tommy’s hands in victory.
——————————————————————————————————————————————— INT. BOXING RING - INDOORS
Tommy Morrison (ROKKI JAMES) is already in the middle of the ring boxing PINKLON THOMAS (DAVID ANTWANE JACKSON)
Tom Virgets, John Brown, Bill Cayton, Doug Dragert, and Tony Holden cheer from outside the ring.
Shot 2a ______________________________________________________
Tommy is being the more aggressive boxer moving forward. Pinklon Thomas is workin ghis jab while taking backward steps trying to get away from Tommy.
Shot 2b ______________________________________________________ Combination, Tommy connects a monster right hook and left hook. Shot 2c ______________________________________________________
Referee (STEPHAN BIELAWSKI) ( gets in the middle Tommmy and Pinklon he checks Pinklon Thomas (ref puts a blood pack over Pinklons left eye to make it look as if he is really cut.
Shot 2d ______________________________________________________
Pinklon touches his head where the injury is, he looks at his glove and realizes he is cut real bad.
Shot 2e ______________________________________________________
Pinklon catches Tommy’s left hook and holds on to it with his armpit causing Tommy to push Pinklon into the ropes and keeps him there for 5 seconds pushing him in the ropes.
Shot 2f ______________________________________________________
Both fighters are back in the middle of the ring fighting on the inside, Thomas defense is only throwing a couple innefective jabs, Tommy connects a body shot, then a right hook and a left hook.
Shot 2g_______________________________________________________
The bell rings to end round 1. Pinklon Thomas walks to his corner and hits the stool like an anchor hits the ocean floor. Pinklon’s trainer begins to coach him. TRAINER
C’mon he’s killing us out there. Where’s your defense?
PINKLON
I’m done man. I’m done. I’m through man. That’s it.
Pinklon Thomas waves off the fight. He doesn’t come out of his corner.
Shot 5d________________________________________________________ Tommy raises his hands and repeats the same routine with his team.
---BIG GEORGE VS. TOMMY MORRISON
TITLE SCREEN - TOMMY VS GEORGE INT. BOXING RING - INDOORS
MICHEAL BUFFER / NIKO MERCURIS
Wearing the Black trunks with stars and bars 226 lbs.
this knockout artist has 36 victories 32 KOs and only one defeat. Ladies and gentlemen the number 2 ranked heavyweight in the world
white trunks and weighing in 256 lbs is 72 and 3 and 67 KO which is the greatest knockout ratio in heavyweight history ladies and gentlemen "Big George Foreman"
BOXING REFEREE / STEPHAN BIELAWSKI
This is for the heavyweight championship of the world.
I expect a tough clean fight protect yourselves at all time. (To George) Any questions here? (To Tommy) Any question here? Lets get it on!
ROUND 1.
Shot 3a ________________________________________________________
Tommy is moving his head side to side, Foreman is not throwing punches just stalking.
Shot 3b ________________________________________________________
Tommy throws several jabs, Foreman is blocking punches not throwing as he moves forward, the jabs have no effect on him.
Shot 3c_________________________________________________________
George is moving forward stalking Tommy, Tommy comes in with another jab and George pushes Tommy so hard he flies back into the ropes.
Announcer 1 (Marc Anthony) A sign of Foreman’s considerable bulk and strength pushing back Tommy Morrison the 226 pounder.
ROUND 2. Bell Rings
Shot 3d ________________________________________________________
Tommy comes in and throws a wild right swing missing as George ducks it. Shot 3e ________________________________________________________
George and Tommy are in the middle of the ring no punches are thrown just defense on both fighters waiting for a punch. George finally gets a big right hand in and Tommy turns his backside to George walking away and avoiding more punches. George walks forward and Tommy snaps a big right hook and then left hook, bell rings. George walks to his corner.
Shot 3f ________________________________________________________ (Master shots) of both fighters walking to their corners.
Camera on Big George.
Announcer - Foreman as standing up is customary in the corner denying that the problem is he can’t get up if he sits back down.
ROUND 5
Shot 3h ________________________________________________________
George connects with a good jab, Tommy turns his head backwards, George comes in with a wild swing hitting Tommy in the back of the head.
Shot 3i ________________________________________________________ George is in the corner standing, Angelo Dundee (puts on Vaseline)
ANGELLO DUNDEE / (Auditioning actors still for Angello) I got the eye.
GEORGE FOREMAN Don’t talk loud please. ANGELLO DUNDEE I’m with you, I’m here nice and quiet baby.
(Announcer 1 Marc Anthony) George wants no council from his veteran trainer unless he asks you he doesn’t want any free advice
Shot 3j _______________________________________________________ Bell Rings - Team Morrison takes their position.
1. Tom Virgets sets stool in Tommy’s corner. 2. Tommy walks over to his stool sits down.
3. John Brown is standing holding a water bottle and spit bucket he is positioned on Morrison’s left side.
4. Tom Virgets is in front of Morrison on his knees ready to give Morrison fight plan instructions.
5. Doug Dragert on knees behind the corner listening his head pops in directly to the left slightly next to Tommy’s.
6. Bill Cayton will be to the right outside the ring listening in. TOM VIRGETS
772 fives, 772 once, any combinations Go to the body first come up to the head.
Bring his hands down. You're doing a nice job. Relax, relax, calm down
The more you relax the better off you are okay?
We have to have head movement before and after your jabs. Beat him to the punch every time you get trapped.
We need combinations, punches and punches. Lead with speed follow with power.
Lead with speed follow with power.
Right now we are catching your second wind. JOHN BROWN
It’s your fight your in control !
His eyes are swelling shut! You got to finish him! TOM VIRGETS
You're going to have to steal each round, he’s slow he’s frustrated but you have to start picking it up. 4 rounds to go, we got that all day long right, aint nothing to it you got a rest in between hell you never had that in practice right? Beat him to the combinations hands up. Be tight on the inside.
JOHN BROWN
There telling him he has to knock you out TOM VIRGETS
That’s right there telling him he’s got knock you down. Tommy Morrison (gets angry)
ROUND 6
Shot 3k ________________________________________________________
Tommy lands a big left hook on George, George gets slightly dazed he does a slight push tactic on Tommy, bell rings.
ROUND 7
Shot 3L ________________________________________________________
This shot is a toe to toe slugfest big blows by Tommy and George in 7th, both fighters fight from the inside toe to toe exchanging blows no jabs thrown both f ighters throwing all hooks to the head, Tommy connects with his hooks while d ucking most of George’s big slow blows.
ROUND 8
Shot 3M ________________________________________________________ Foreman gives Tommy a low blow.
REFEREE / STEPHAN Time! Time!
ROUND 9
Shot 3n ________________________________________________________
Toe to toe slugfest again, both fighters tired and flatfoot. Big body shot combos by George, Tommy comes back landing big hooks to the head George dazed for a second then shakes it off.
Round 10 Note: this is one of the weirdest rounds ever captures in boxing, it is funny and the crowd does a little booing towards Tommy for walking away from George so much.
Shot 3o ________________________________________________________
George connects with a combo, Tommy comes back with a hook, then Tommy turns his back on George and walks away all the way to the other side of the ring, George walks forward following Tommy, Tommy snaps a hook at George connects then turns his back a second time and quickly walks away to the other side of the ring. Big George continues to walk towards Tommy stalking but no punching.
ROUND 11
Shot 3p ________________________________________________________
Toe to Toe punches again, both fighters really tired, flat foot landing a couple good left and right hooks to the head.
ROUND 12
(note: Someone from George’s team needs to put a big piece of tape hanging from his glove to set up the next shoot.)
Shot 3q ______________________________________________________________
George comes in with a big body shot, Tommy backward steps ,returns fire that does not phase big George. Another shot by George, ref stops fight. (tape is loose on Georges glove)
Time is stopped because tape comes loose on Foreman’s glove. Shot 3u _________________________________________________________ Trainer in George’s corner is fixing George’s tape.
Shot 3r _________________________________________________________
Both fighters tired are standing in front of each other toe to toe exchanging hooks to the head
REFEREE Time ! Time !
George and Tommy ignore the ref and they continue slugging it out, George throws hook, Tommy returns fire, throws hook at George both men flat foot in front of e ach other slugging it out like warriors back and fourth, bell rings.
Tommy walks away and raises his hands to the crowd. MICHEAL BUFFER
The winner of this bout will be the WBO heavyweight champion of the world. The winner and new champion Tommy “The Duke” Morrison.
Tommy raises his hands expecting victory.
Tommy’s entire team is in the ring everything is repeated with more intensity, John Brown actually is smiling and raising Tommy’shand. Bill Cayton clapping his hands then raises Tommy’s hand
Tony Holden hugs Tommy and whispers something in his ear, Tommy climbs the corner ring and raises both hands in Victory.
---Arthur Weathers VS. Tommy Morrison
Tommy walks towards the middle of the ring there is no Arthur Weathers, from the other corner its Tony Holden still no Arthur Weathers.
TONY HOLDEN
Tommy I’m sorry the boxing commissioner came back some bad news, your blood test they came back positive for the HIV virus.
I’m so sorry Tommy. Tony hugs Tommy he exits the ring TOMMY MORRISON falls to his knees.
Lights go out in the arena for a couple of seconds.
Announcer 1 Marc Anthony - Ladies and Gentlemen thank for this special presentati on from our actors and the filming of "Oklahoma Sun” coming to theaters everywher e in 2017 the story of Tommy “The Duke” Morrison.
