Nothing But Netflix: Halle Berry’s Love For MMA/UFC Drove Storytelling In ‘Bruised’
By Alan Snel of @LVSportsBiz.com
Dana White had simple advice for Halle Berry about her movie, Bruised.
Make it real.
So, Berry, the Academy Award-winning actress making her directorial debut in the 2020 movie, did just that to lend authenticity to the Netflix fight movie. In fact, nothing is as real as pain — Berry suffered two broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder (besides dislocated fingers) among her injuries while playing the lead role as an MMA fighter in the movie.
Berry and White spoke about the movie with the media Friday evening after a screening of “Behind Bruised,” a well-produced documentary that showed what it took for Berry to make the MMA movie a reality.
Las Vegas-based UFC, which is owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc., held the screening of Behind Bruised at its Apex facility, the MMA promotion’s all-purpose building next to its headquarters off the 215 and Jones Boulevard.
The documentary itself was well-crafted, revealing how the 55-year-old Berry had to balance intense physical workouts in the mornings with production and directorial duties the rest of the day including the challenge of financing the movie.
Berry has been a longtime friend of White, the UFC bossman who went from boxing trainer to running a billion-dollar fight show organization.
Berry said she followed boxing as a kid and sought to create a fight movie that was realistic. She drew advice from White, who advised her to be real with the fight presentation.
One of UFC’s biggest stars — flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko — starred in Berry’s movie and the friendship between the two was a thread in the documentary.
As for White, don’t expect him in a Berry movie.
As much as White and Berry are great friends, the UFC bossman said he will never be making a cameo.
LVSportsBiz.com’s Cassandra Cousineau will be at UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena tonight, so look for her coverage here later. The Behind Bruised documentary will be available to stream on UFC Fight Pass after UFC 272 tonight.
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