[This interview was part of our SXSW 2014 coverage. It is being reposted to coincide with Manny‘s wide release.]
Manny Pacquiao is one of those sports icons that transcends the sport that he comes from. As a Filipino, he carries The Philippines on his shoulders every time he steps into the ring for a match. For those familiar with Pacquiao, you all know that the country literally shuts down to watch Pacquiao box, from government officials to guerrilla rebels to everyday citizens. To say Pacquiao has become a true Filipino icon is an understatement. Away from the ring, away from Congress, away from the spotlight and the cameras, Manny Pacquiao is still just a man.
In Ryan Moore’s documentary, Manny, the goal was not to just highlight Pacquiao’s rags to riches story, but to also highlight the man he truly is away from the spectacle of his iconic status. Over the span of three years and more than 1,200 hours of footage, Moore’s documentary sheds light on Pacquiao’s life in a way that has never been seen or covered before.
In our SXSW interview with Moore, we discuss how he first approached Pacquiao about the documentary, any personal pressure or worries he faced in capturing and sharing Pacquiao’s story, and much more. Watch the full video interview below!