"Unscripted" MMA documentary film highlights the struggles of fighters who hope to make it big Inland Empire MMA Examiner Matt Clarmont Unscripted - A new MMA documentary featuring Ernie Perea and students in KOTC “Unscripted” is a Mixed Martial Arts documentary film, compiled over 2 years by the gentlemen Jason York and Ray Pompa of Bushido Productions. The basic premise was to follow a group of local, southern California hopefuls in their quest to become cagefighters in one of the world's most recognized promotions, King of the Cage. The world premier of the film was held in theater 25 of AMC's Ontario Mills 30 theaters, a stone's throw from the KOTC world headquarters in nearby Rancho Cucamonga. Although the concept of following the training and lives of aspiring professional MMA fighters is hardly a novel concept, up to now none have quite captured the trials and triumphs of the average fighter and their trainer quite like “Unscripted.” In 2008, Ernie Perea was amidst the act of sculpting Richard Solis, Sean McCafferty, and others into successful competitors within the competitive southern California MMA scene, headed by an organization majority-owned by Terry Trebilcock Jr. Through the next 24 months, each man ran into their own roller coaster of emotions and cameras captured the rippling effects that the physically demanding life of a fighter produced on their lives. The film was a roller coaster ride, to say the least. As the chronology flipped between fighters, a behind the scenes portrayal of victory and defeat forcibly yanked emotions among the viewing audience from smiles to sympathetic frowns and back again several times. The most extreme of those heart wrenching scenes was one in which Ernie Perea's young daughter cried for her daddy to stay as he left their house for good, the result of a pending divorce in which he had to leave his three girls behind. This is a plight faced by many who dedicate their lives to mixed martial arts and the scene represented a perfect example of one of the most impacting side effects of a life on the road and in the shadow of such a demanding schedule. The documentary left off as a cliffhanger of sorts. While the current status of those who participated in the filming were clearly explained before the credits rolled, none of the stories seemed to be laid to rest. That is not a knock on the film. On the contrary, the partially disappointing and incomplete storylines only further emphasize the unlikelihood for an average mixed martial artist to make it to the big time, especially after only 2 years' time. Even one who seems to have what it takes such as Perea didn't have the happiest of endings due to his personal complications. If you are looking for a happy tale of an obscure bunch of local fighters who breeze through opposition en route to a UFC career, you won't find it here. But if your curiosity is piqued by witnessing a reality that 99% of aspiring fighters face on a daily basis and you are ready to accept that it's not all candy and roses, much can be drawn from this film. All in all, the 90-minute experience was a satisfying and thought provoking one. Recommended for any who are interested in how real fighters make their way through the local arena, and especially for those who aspire to compete in the ultra-competitive landscape of modern MMA.
Matt Clarmont also writes for MMARecap.com |
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