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Other News: "The Wrestler" director says wrestlers should be part of Hollywood unions Dec 16, 2008 - 1:48:52 PM
WWE has tight-roped the line between sports and entertainment for nearly three decades and WWE has openly admitted to the performances being scripted, including WWE CEO Linda McMahon openly discussing it in New York City last week, which prompts a question.
Why aren't wrestlers part of Hollywood unions that protect performers on scripted TV shows or in the theater? "The Wrestler" director Darren Aronofsky, who did extensive research into the wrestling industry prior to filming the movie, says this needs to be looked.
"The problem starts with the fact that they're not organized and they're not unionized," Aronofsky told Alfonso Castillo in Newsday about the key problems facing wrestlers.
"There's really no reason why these guys are not in SAG. They're as much screen actors as stuntmen. If not more. They're in front of a camera performing and doing stunts, and they should have that protection."
Aronofsky says that's the main thing he took away from doing his research and directing the filming of the movie. He says the excuse of wrestling being "sports" doesn't hold with him.
"Why doesn't SAG help get these guys organized? They're on TV performing. Or, if they're not even on TV, the ring is a theater," he said. "So they're not just screen actors, they're theater actors. They're performers. They should have insurance and they should have health insurance and they should be protected."
He added: "I think it's as much sport as it is theater, and vice versa. ... These guys are working out there. They're sweating out there. They're risking their health out there. But they're also selling the moves as much as they can. So I think it's 50/50. Sports-entertainment. I think they go together well."
Caldwell's Analysis: Linda McMahon talking about as candidly as any WWE executive has ever talked about wrestling being a scripted TV series last week in New York City would certainly be evidence in favor of wrestlers being part of Hollywood unions. But, considering WWE - as the worldwide leader in the industry - is set up where no one wrestler is bigger than the machine that produces the "talent," it just doesn't seem there will ever come a time when someone steps up and pushes for this.
Perhaps a dialogue between Aronofsky and Vince McMahon will open things up, or McMahon will simply write off the movie and its central theme as junk and move on to hooking the next group of 7 year-olds on the WWE product. Wishful thinking, but it took a catalyst for the Wellness Policy to be in place. We'll see if the movie and the attention it generates will be a catalyst for this next step.
FYI: "The Wrestler" opens in New York City tomorrow and in limited release this Friday before opening across the country on Dec. 26.
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