350 Days documentary director Fulvio Cecere was a recent guest on Interactive Wrestling Radio; you can read a few highlights and listen to the full interview below.
The film is in theaters for one night only tonight through Fathom Events; ticketing information for the movie screening can be found at fathomevents.com
Cecere talks about the events set up for tonight’s premiere:
“We’re actually going to have 2 premieres that night. One is going to be in New York and will have Greg Valentine, JJ Dillon, and Tito Santana in person. In addition, I will be doing a premiere at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. I will have a crazy list of guys coming. I’ve got Judo Gene Lebell – He’s so awesome, I’m so glad that he’s coming. I’ve got 5 of the original GLOW girls, Bennie the Jet, Chavo Guerrero Jr, Rock Riddle who was the original “Mr. Wonderful”, I’ve got 3 of the Ring of Honor champs in Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, and Scorpio Sky. I’ve got the former “Cryme Tyme” JTG and Shad Gaspard. I’ve got Ernest “The Cat” Miller. I’ve got Sabu and “Super Genie” Melissa Coats… It is just a crazy, crazy night and I think both events are going to sell out. I’m so excited!”
Cecere talks about the film’s appeal:
“Wrestling fans know there is no such thing as territories anymore. There’s just the one (WWE). Although, there is something to be said about the pretty new and exciting companies like Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling, and New Japan. They’re really making some headway now. But, ultimately, when you think of wrestling, you think of WWE. Up until the 90’s, there were territories. I think there were 32 or 33 at the time. This is their story! What I want stressed is the wrestling fans are going to love this because there is a nostalgia factor – they’re going to remember all these guys if they’re older. The new guys are going to love it because they can hear the history versus today. But, this isn’t a wrestling movie. This is a movie about the people who lived that life. They just happened to be wrestlers just like the movie The Wrestler. The movie THe Wrestler isn’t about Mickie Rourke portraying a wrestler. It is about a father and his relationship with his daughter. He just happened to be a wrestler! So, that is what this movie is. It is about the life that they lived on the road, missing their families, missing birthdays, the adultary. The vioelnce from the fans if you beat their champion. Getting SHOT in the ring! Could you imagine, unless you’re a soldier, a firefighter, or a cop, you wouldn’t expect to get shot on the job! Not a wrestler! And yet, it happened!”
Did any of the wrestlers in the film hold back on answering certain questions?
“Not one of them. Every one of them… Well, I made sure they were comfortable and we had some pretty great locations. The first thing was putting them at ease where whatever they wanted to talk about is totally fine. That’s what they told us! Along the way, there’s talk about steroids, there’s talk about drugs, there’s talk about missing their kids…. It is so honest!”
“It is not a question of caring. We were very, very clear and spacific about that. I have nothing against Vince McMahon. The man is a genius. How can you? There may be personal beefs between the wrestlers and him but not with me. My job was to tell their story and what these guys went through. I think ultimately, because he (Vince McMahon) is such a wrestling fan, I think he’s going to love it. There’s nothing in there to not like! Even the stuff abotu drugs and all that. They all know how bad it was. So, they’re telling you what it was like. Every single one, to every man and woman, if they had to do it over again – they would!”
