Production Notes
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2 Bigger Starring Kevin Durand Tyler Hoechlin Julianne Hough Aneurin Barnard Calum von Moger Director George Gallo Writers Andy Weiss George Gallo Brad Furman Ellen Furman Producers Steve Lee Jones Scott LaStaiti Composer Jeff Beal Cinematographer Michael Negrin Bigger Production Notes 3 Editor Sophie Corra Casting Directors Brent Caballero Steve Lee Jones Production Designer Stephen J Lineweaver Bigger Production Notes 4 Synopsis Directed by George Gallo, ‘Bigger’ is the inspirational tale of the Canadian-born grandfathers of fitness, Joe and Ben Weider, the sons of Polish Jewish emigrants. Facing anti-Semitism and extreme poverty, the architects of muscle beat all odds to build an empire and inspire future generations. Along the way they discovered Arnold Schwarzenegger, inspired female empowerment, championed diversity, and started a movement that changed the world of bodybuilding. Bigger Production Notes 5 Background – The Weider Brothers Canadians Ben and Joe Weider turned bodybuilding into a worldwide phenomenon: part sport, part beauty pageant and part lifestyle. Ben (1923 – 2008), the younger brother, expanded their International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, in their hometown of Montreal, into a hugely profitable outfit and also became a philanthropist and renowned Napoleonic scholar. Born in Canada in 1919, Joe Weider recalled growing up in a tough section of Montreal. Just like the apocryphal tale of the skinny kid who starts working out after a bully kicks sand in his face, Weider said he was indeed a small, skinny teenager picked on by bullies when he came across the magazine Strength. He had tried to join a local wrestling team, he said, but was turned down by the coach who feared he was so small he'd be hurt. Inspired by the magazine, he built his own weights from scrap parts found in a railroad yard and pumped them relentlessly. Word of his efforts got around and he was invited to join a weightlifting club. He won his first bodybuilding ranking at age 17, and soon after began to publish his first magazine, Your Physique. Later he started a mail-order barbell business, and in 1946 he and Ben staged the first Mr. Canada contest in at Montreal's Monument National Theatre. At the same time, they formed the International Federation of Bodybuilders. Joe, more flamboyant, moved to California, where he kept the various Weider enterprises in the public eye. Weider became better known in later years as a behind-the-scenes guru to the sport. He popularized bodybuilding and spread the message of health and fitness worldwide with such publications as Muscle & Fitness, Flex and Shape. Schwarzenegger himself is the executive editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex. He created one of bodybuilding's pre-eminent events, the Mr. Olympia competition, in 1965, adding to it the Ms. Olympia contest in 1980, the Fitness Olympia in 1995 and the Figure Olympia in 2003. He also relentlessly promoted Schwarzenegger, who won the Mr. Olympia title a then-record seven times, including in 1980 and every year from 1970 through 1975. Weider brought Schwarzenegger to the United States early in his career, where he helped train the future governor of California as well as aided him in getting into business. Weider also mentored numerous other bodybuilders. He died in 2013. Bigger Production Notes 6 Q&A: Steve Lee Jones, Producer Can you tell us about the film? It's a very international film because the world of fitness could be a country in and of itself. It's a very passionate sect. It's a historic film because it's the first mainstream scripted feature about that world. It's a very layered and elegant looking movie about a couple of guys who gathered together $70 which ended up launching an industry and changing the world. There's not many things the youth of the world care about as much as fitness. How did you come across this story and decide to get it made? I always had an interest in fitness myself. When I was younger, I was very into it. I still maintain a regular gym regiment though, not like I used to. When Joey the legend passed away, I called a friend of mine, Solomon who had a radio show. I called him the voice of body building. He is an announcer that handles Mr. Olympia; he's interviewed Schwarzenegger many times. I said to him, “I want to tell this story. It's a true rags-to-riches tale.” I think it's an important story for the youth of today because these guys took no shortcuts. It took them many decades to create this empire. They were relentless. They went against social norms, conventional wisdom. Doctors in the 40s and 50s thought that working out was bad for your heart because they believed that working out would use up the beats of your heart. It's crazy. So our story is about these guys who literally spent decades doing everything they could to advance this notion of gymnasium, of working out and finding a way to balance the body and the mind. In Joe's words, “and then free the spirit.” How did you go about casting the film? We had a local casting director to cast all the secondary roles but I ended up casting all the leading roles myself. I just felt that I understood the story and what we were looking for, so I worked with our director George Gallo and he was very happy when I cast Tyler Hoechlin to play the lead and Julianne Hough to play Betty; she was a famous pinup model at the time. We wanted someone who was very elegant that you would believe would have been a pinup model in the 50s and 60s. Julianne is just so lovely in this film. She's a platinum blonde and obviously a dancer. Fitness is a big part of her life. She looks amazing and she really embodies this role. We also cast Aneurin Barnard from ‘Dunkirk’, which I loved, as Joe's brother. They really bonded, which made them really feel like brothers in the film. I just tried to stay true to the story. Bigger Production Notes 7 Cast – Bios Tyler Hoechlin – Joe Weider Tyler Hoechlin is known for ‘Road to Perdition’ (2002), ‘Everybody Wants Some!’ (2016) and ‘Teen Wolf’ (2011). Kevin Durand – Bill Hauk kevin Durand was born in Ontario, Canada. He is an actor known for ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ (2009), ‘I Am Number Four’ (2011) and ‘Legion’ (2010). Julianne Hough – Betty Weider Julianne Hough is an American dancer, actress, songwriter and singer. She is a two-time professional champion of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. She was nominated for a Creative Arts Primetime Emmy in 2007 for Outstanding Choreography in season five. Her first leading acting role was in the 2011 film remake of ‘Footloose’. In 2014, Hough joined Dancing with the Stars as a permanent fourth judge. Along with her brother Derek Hough (who is a six-time winner of the dancing show) and Tessandra Chavez, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography in 2015. In 2016, she played Sandy in the live Fox television production of ‘Grease’. She was a judge on America's Got Talent for its 2019 season. Aneurin Barnard – Ben Weider Welsh-born actor Aneurin Barnard is known for Dunkirk (2017), The Goldfinch (2019) and Cilla (2014). In 2016 Barnard starred as Prince Boris Drubetskoy in Andrew Davies's television adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's ‘War and Peace’, broadcast on BBC One, and as Tim Hobson in the BBC five-part drama ‘Thirteen’. Calum von Moger Calum was raised in Victoria, Australia. At age 14, he and his brother started training at an old warehouse with rusty iron dumbbells and barbells. He has become one of the most popular fitness pros to emerge from the new generation of young competitors. Now a three-time Mr Universe winner, Calum is among the most sought after athletes in the world. Utilizing social media to bring attention to his on screen presence, Calum has grown to over 3.1 million followers on Instagram. He first starred in the film, 'Generation Iron 2' (Netflix), directed by Vlad Yudin in 2017. In 2019, Generation Iron released Calum's documentary on his life story via Netflix, titled, ‘Calum von Moger Unbroken’. He was featured in the Gucci Pre-Fall 2019 Campaign. Bigger Production Notes 8 Victoria Justice – Kathy Weider Victoria Justice is an American actress and singer. She rose to fame on ‘Nickelodeon’, starring as Lola Martinez in the television series, ‘Zoey 101’ (2005), and Tori Vega in the sitcom, ‘Victorious’ (2010). She starred in the films, ‘The Boy Who Cried Werewolf’ (2010), ‘The First Time’ (2012) and ‘Fun Size’ (2012), ‘Naomi and Ely's No kiss List’ (2015) in the MTV television series, ‘Eye Candy’ (2015). Bigger Production Notes 9 Filmmakers – Bios George Gallo – Director George Gallo is an American screenwriter, film director, producer, painter and musician. In 1986, he got the film ‘Wise Guys’ produced with Danny Devito and Joe Piscopo. The classic buddy/cops and robbers picture ‘Midnight Run’ came next with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. Then in 1990, he wrote and directed ‘29th Street’ which Danny Aiello and Anthony LaPaglia. Other credits include 1995's, ‘Bad Boys’ starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. In 2010, he wrote and directed the film ‘Middle Men’ starring Luke Wilson. He lives in Los Angeles. Bigger Production Notes 10 End Credits Cast Robert Forster Joe 2008 Julianne Hough Betty Weider Kevin Durand Bill Hauk Victoria Justice Kathy Weider Tyler Hoechlin Joe Weider Steve Guttenberg Louis Weider DJ Qualls Michael Steere Aneurin Barnard Ben Weider Max Martini Jerry George Colton Haynes Jack Lalanne Tom Arnold Roy Hawkins Calum Von Moger Arnold Schwarzenegger Nadine Lewington Anna Wieder Jason Burkey John Corbine Hunter Clowdus Fitness Guy Jay Jablonski Barton Horvath Billy Reilich Reg Park Christian Finlayson Young Joe Weider Faron Salisbury Tony Caputano Ben Sanders French Canadian kid Diane Sorrentino Kate Marco DelVecchio Young Man Ben Gavin Bronson Guy Miles Emmons Ben Age 7-9 Bryan Adrian Surfer Lex Jonathan Fuller Dr.