The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Unstoppable with William Goldenberg and Ben Affleck (Ep. 517)

Dec 18, 2024

William Goldenberg, a Director making his debut with the film Unstoppable, joins fellow filmmaker Ben Affleck for an engaging chat. They dive into the authenticity of wrestling scenes, revealing how real-life wrestler Anthony Robles influenced the film. Goldenberg shares insights from his transition from editing to directing, and the importance of preparation on set. The duo discusses the emotional complexities of portraying real-life narratives and the challenges of capturing character depth while staying true to the story. An inspiring look at filmmaking and storytelling!

34:35

Creator website

Episode guests

William Goldenberg

Ben Affleck

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Director William Goldenberg emphasized the importance of authenticity in representing the wrestling community, ensuring wrestlers felt proud of their portrayal.

Goldenberg's transition from editor to director involved leveraging communication skills to create an environment that supported actors' performances effectively.

Deep dives

The Journey of Authenticity in Filmmaking

The film tells the true story of Anthony Robles, a competitive athlete born with one leg, who became an NCAA Division I champion wrestler. Director William Goldenberg emphasizes the importance of authenticity in portraying the wrestling community, highlighting that his goal was for wrestlers to feel proud of the representation. He believes that capturing the nuances of real experiences in sports films is critical, drawing from his experience editing other sports movies. Goldenberg worked closely with Robles throughout the filmmaking process, ensuring that the portrayal honored Robles' journey and resonated with wrestlers and audiences alike.

Intro

2min

From Editing to Directing: A Filmmaker's Journey

9min

Authenticity in Wrestling Film Technique

4min

The Art of Preparation and Adaptability in Filmmaking

2min

Exploring the Complexity of Character Arcs

3min

Navigating Real-Life Narratives in Film

15min

Director William Goldenberg discusses his new film, Unstoppable, with fellow Director Ben Affleck in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses coming into directing a feature for the first time after working as an editor, seeking to make the wrestling scenes as authentic as he could, and having the real Anthony Robles advise and even wrestle in some scenes of the film.

The film tells the inspiring true story of competitive athlete Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg. With the unwavering support of his mother, the encouragement of his coaches, and his own indomitable spirit, Anthony fights through adversity and defies the odds to become an NCAA division 1 champion wrestler.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2025/January2025/Unstoppable_QnA_1224