Impaulsive with Logan Paul Benny Safdie On Directing Smashing Machine, The Rock’s INSANE Body Transformation, UFC vs. Jake Paul
Sep 30, 2025
Benny Safdie, a filmmaker and actor acclaimed for ‘Good Time’ and ‘Uncut Gems’, dives deep into the behind-the-scenes of his latest film, ‘The Smashing Machine’. He unpacks Dwayne Johnson's jaw-dropping 40-pound transformation and shares some wild stories, including The Rock getting punched in the face during filming. Benny also discusses the importance of portraying addiction with empathy and his unique directing techniques to capture realism in action scenes. Plus, he reveals the ins and outs of working with A-list talent like Adam Sandler.
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Authenticity Over Spectacle In Fight Scenes
- Benny Safdie treated MMA with deep respect and aimed to capture fights as if filmed by a fan on their phone.
- He kept cameras outside the ring to preserve authenticity and to put viewers in the fighters' viewpoint.
Format Dictates Filmmaking Choices
- Shooting on 16mm film shaped both the film's texture and camera movement because of the camera's size.
- Benny used the film's look and small cameras to create intimate, grainy, IMAX-capable visuals.
The Rock Took Real Hits For Authenticity
- Dwayne Johnson agreed to take real punches and asked the opponent to "lay it in" during a fight scene.
- Benny describes a scene where DJ told the fighter to hit him with everything so the impact felt genuine on camera.
