[Video Interview] Ryan Moore (Manny)
[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!
[Video Interview] Lenny Mesina (Manny)
[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, it was up to amazing film editor Lenny Mesina, known to most as the editor behind Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, to help craft a cohesive narrative that not only traces Pacquiao's rise as an undersized boxer into the pound-for-pound best boxer in the sport, but also to illuminate Pacquiao's humanity beyond the ring.
Watch the SXSXW interview above in which we talked with Mesina about how he joined the crew for the documentary, the production process, any difficulties editing all of the footage together, and his own personal feelings about Pacquiao. Enjoy!
[Review] Manny
[This review was originally published during our SXSW 2014 coverage. It is being reposted to coincide with the documentary's wide release.]
[youtube id="5-L2tTtLLVA"]
Manny
Directors: Ryan Moore and Leon Gast
Rating: N/A
Release Date: March 8, 2014 (SXSW)
Manny Pacquiao is one of those figures that can transcend from their initial platform and find success in multiple ways outside of what they're known for. And, for better or worse, Manny Pacquiao has become not just a boxer, but a singer, an actor, a politician, and a missionary of sorts. Diehard Pacquiao and boxing fans have seen the effects of overexertion in a handful of his fights, and I always wondered how Pacquiao himself viewed his journey. In Manny, not only is the question of Pacquiao's identity explored, it delves deeper into the boxer's history to paint a better, more detailed picture of who Manny is outside of the ring and away from the spotlight.
As a half-Filipino man, I have to say that I'm very familiar with Pacquiao's story. As a young boy growing in poverty in the Philippines, Pacquiao turned to boxing to support himself and his family. After finding success, it wasn't until he was paired with famed trainer and former boxer Freddie Roach that Pacquiao's star began to rise in which he has (so far) captured eight different titles at eight different weight classes. All of this is retreaded ground for anybody familiar with either boxing or Pacquiao, and the background information on Pacquiao is necessary for audiences that may not be familiar with Manny. However, what I loved most about the documentary is that not only does it create a running narrative of Pacquiao's "rags to riches" story, it pairs it well with amazing cinematography, editing, and a mix of both on-location shots and archival footage to properly tell Pacquiao's real story, with both good and bad sides given equal focus.
The big question I asked myself (and both director Ryan Moore and editor Lenny Mesina) was the nature of the documentary's intent: Is it meant to appeal to pre-existing Pacquiao fans, or is it meant to bring in those that may not be familiar with Pacquiao? I believe that Manny appeals to both groups, but pre-existing fans will find something extra to enjoy about the documentary. I won't even lie, I found myself getting teary-eyed, not only because of my admiration for Pacquiao as a boxing fan, but for everything he represents as a cultural icon for The Philippines.
Again, I'm biased when it comes to Manny, and I felt a stronger connection to this documentary than everything else I viewed at SXSW. However, with my bias set aside, I truly believe that Manny will find success in both pro-Pacquiao circles and general documentary/cinephile circles. When it comes to sports documentaries, fans will always have a connection they will turn to to better understand the recipient of their cheers and pride; however, I think the real magic is when a well-crafted documentary can turn viewers into a fan of the subject, and I believe Manny is capable of doing that.
Geoff's Top 10 Films of 2014
As I mentioned in my Top 10 Trailers of 2014 list yesterday, I didn't watch as many films this year as I normally do. It's a travesty, to say the least, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't help make my list of Top 10 Films of 2014 easier to write. Featuring independent releases, Hollywood blockbusters, sports documentaries, family-friendly CGI-animated films, foreign films, and festival favorites, I believe my list of my favorite films from 2014 runs the gamut of modern cinema... with the exception of horror films, but you all know by now they're not really my cup of tea, right?
Read on as I share my list and help explain why they deserved being remembered.
[Trailer] Manny
When I caught Manny at SXSW this year, I admittedly teared up. Given my Filipino heritage, Manny Pacquiao represents The Philippines' most visible celebrity, greatest athlete, and an icon that represents every Filipino across the world. His rags to riches story is something many Filipinos are familiar with, not only because of Pacquiao's status, but also because it closely resembles the stories of many other Filipinos who grew up in poverty that were able to find a better way of life. As a sports documentary, Manny runs down Pacquiao's illustrious career up to last spring's match against Timothy Bradley, but what ultimately made the documentary so great was that it was able to capture who Pacquiao is outside of the ring, not as the Filipino icon, but simply as a Filipino man.
Manny will be available in select theaters and On Demand on January 23rd, 2015. However, if you would like to hear more about the documentary, watch our video interviews with Lenny Mesina, editor of Manny, and Ryan Moore, co-director of Manny, from this year's SXSW.
[SXSW] 10 Films You Should See at SXSW 2014
[Ruby Hornet will be covering SXSW from March 7th to March 16th. Follow along as we bring you exclusive film reviews, photos, daily features, and interviews with filmmakers, actors, and musicians!]
With this year marking my third visit to the famed South by Southwest Festival, I've become a bit of a veteran when it comes to the film side of the festival. While Sundance and CIFF have their perks and vibes, but SXSW has always been consistent with their film selections. With such a large amount of films screening at SXSW this year, I figured I'd help guide you along in which films are sure to be festival favorites. While I'm only suggesting 10 films, any and all of you SXSW Film attendees should try to catch as many films as you can. Some of my best and favorite SXSW films in years past have been the ones I've caught on a whim, which serves as a testament to the amazing programming the SXSW people have shown throughout the years. Nevertheless, read on to find out which 10 films are my most anticipated of South by Southwest 2014.