AMERICA STRONG / Promo Boxing Matches Directors Shot List & Fight Choreography Breakdown

for the Actors

INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - NIGHT
Tommy Morrison (Rokki James), a boxer on the rise, stands in his black boxing
robe. Next to him is his promoter Tony Holden (JOSH ARCHER),
his trainer Tom Virgets (TIM CARTY), Co Managers John Brown (DUSTIN SEABOLT),
Bill Cayton (JIM ABDE) and Coach Doug Dragert (NICK SLOANE). The team is
surrounding Tommy like a Roman military ready to go to war while making their way
towards the ring.
A voice calls out.
VOICE
Alright, lets go!
The camera tracks Tommy and his crew through the walk
backstage. The sound of the crowd chanting his name gets
louder with each step.
There are 30 to 50 people in four rows of bleachers waving a TOMMY paper flyer
over their heads.
INT. THE BOXING ARENA - NIGHT
Two ANNOUNCERS discuss details of the fight as Tommy makes
his way to the ring with his team.
ANNOUNCER 1 Marc Anthony Roman
Tommy Morrison takes on James "he
hopes still Quick" Tillis.
ANNOUNCER 2 (Now Casting looking for a guy with a good voice)
But first hes gotta make a
decision. Does he want to be a sometime
actor who boxes or does he want to be a sometimes
boxer who acts? This isnt Rocky 5.
ANNOUNCER 1
Tonight there will be no acting.
James Quick Tillis, at 33, has
fought against almost everybody.
ANNOUNCER 2
Unfortunately a lot of them have
been losses. He lost to Pinklon
Thomas, Mike Tyson, Evander
Holyfield. And now he goes up
against an on the rise fighter
Tommy Morrison.
Tommy enters the ring. JAMES TILLIS (Now Casting), a journeyman boxer, has
been anxiously waiting for him.

INT. BOXING RING - INDOORS

Tommy warms up in his corner. Details of fight(Trump Taj
Mahal, Atlantic City; January 11th, 1991) are layered on the
screen. Michael Buffet calls the fight.
MICHAEL BUFFER / NIKO MERCURIS
Fighting out of the red corner
wearing black trunks with white
trim. Weighing at 226 1/2 lbs from
Martin Ville, Virgina. His record
38 victories, 17 defeats, and 1
draw, 29 KOs. Ladies and Gentlemen
the fighting cowboy James "Quick"
Tillis!
We see James warming up.
MICHAEL BUFFER / NIKO
And in the blue corner, wearing the
black trunks with stars and stripes
trim. Weighing in at 227 1/2 pounds.
Fighting out of Kansas City.
Undefeated as a professional with a
record of 24 and 0, 20 KOs..Tommy
"the Duke" Morrison.
The two of them meet at the middle of the ring
BOXING REFEREE /STEPHAN BIELAWSKI
Gentlemen I want a good clean fight.
Obey my commands at all times, shake
hands and good luck to both of you.
Tillis and Tommy tap gloves.
Then they go back to their corners.
The bell rings and the fight begins.
Choreography by John Gatling (SHOT LIST IN REAL TIME PRE CHOREOGRAPHED)
Actors please try to practice every shot on this list 10 times, build a safe
chemistry of movement amongst each other keeping the punches light 10% or less
avoiding any real injuries. This is a safe stage combat shot list. Please use
your strengths in your acting when throwing punches, show the pain in your face
if your getting hit, make it look as believable as you possibly can. The camera
captures everything so put everything you have into your acting not your punches
and keep it safe this is not a real fight but it needs to look as real as
possible on film.

Shot 1a ______________________________________________________
Tommy the aggressor is the forward puncher, Tills is taking backward steps,
Tommy throws a left followed by a right hook repeating the same punches moving
forward.

Please note: no jabs are thrown by Tommy at all only combinations, hooks are
landing and maintaining as the aggressor.
Shot 1b ______________________________________________________
Tommy throws a couple heavy body shots and a good left hook to Tilliss head
sending Tillis down to the canvas. Tillis gets up.
Shot 1c ______________________________________________________
Tommy comes back with a left hook and right hook, Tillis goes down again from a
monster combo ending with an uppercut.
Shot 1d ______________________________________________________
Tillis gets up and Tommy throws another left hook and right hook sending Tillis
back down again. The fight is over.
Shot 1e ____________________________________________________________
Tommy walks over to Doug, Doug puts both hands on Tommys face they bump heads together look down at
the ring and do a three second prayer. Tommy walks away from Doug hugs Bill Cayton, John Brown still not
smiling raises Tommys hands in victory.

INT. BOXING RING - INDOORS

Tommy Morrison (ROKKI JAMES) is already in the middle of the ring boxing PINKLON
THOMAS (DAVID ANTWANE JACKSON)
Tom Virgets, John Brown, Bill Cayton, Doug Dragert, and Tony Holden cheer from
outside the ring.
Shot 2a ______________________________________________________
Tommy is being the more aggressive boxer moving forward. Pinklon Thomas is workin
ghis jab while taking backward steps trying to get away from Tommy.
Shot 2b ______________________________________________________
Combination, Tommy connects a monster right hook and left hook.
Shot 2c ______________________________________________________
Referee (STEPHAN BIELAWSKI) ( gets in the middle Tommmy and Pinklon he checks
Pinklon Thomas (ref puts a blood pack over Pinklons left eye to make it look as
if he is really cut.
Shot 2d ______________________________________________________
Pinklon touches his head where the injury is, he looks at his glove and realizes
he is cut real bad.

Shot 2e ______________________________________________________
Pinklon catches Tommys left hook and holds on to it with his armpit causing
Tommy to push Pinklon into the ropes and keeps him there for 5 seconds
pushing him in the ropes.

Shot 2f ______________________________________________________
Both fighters are back in the middle of the ring fighting on the inside, Thomas
defense is only throwing a couple innefective jabs, Tommy connects a body shot,
then a right hook and a left hook.
Shot 2g_______________________________________________________
The bell rings to end round 1. Pinklon Thomas walks to his corner and hits the
stool like an anchor hits the ocean floor. Pinklons trainer begins to coach him.
TRAINER
Cmon hes killing us out there.
Wheres your defense?
PINKLON
Im done man. Im done. Im through
man. Thats it.
Pinklon Thomas waves off the fight. He doesnt come out of
his corner.
Shot 5d________________________________________________________
Tommy raises his hands and repeats the same routine with his team.
--------------------------------------------------------------BIG GEORGE VS. TOMMY MORRISON
TITLE SCREEN - TOMMY VS GEORGE
INT. BOXING RING - INDOORS

MICHEAL BUFFER /

NIKO MERCURIS

Wearing the Black trunks with stars and bars 226 lbs.
this knockout artist has 36 victories 32 KOs and only one defeat.
Ladies and gentlemen the number 2 ranked heavyweight in the world
Tommy The Duke Morrison. His opponent across the ring wearing the

white trunks and weighing in 256 lbs is 72 and 3 and 67 KO which is the
greatest knockout ratio in heavyweight history ladies and gentlemen
"Big George Foreman"
BOXING REFEREE / STEPHAN BIELAWSKI
This is for the heavyweight championship of the world.
I expect a tough clean fight protect yourselves at all time.
(To George) Any questions here? (To Tommy) Any question here?
Lets get it on!

ROUND 1.
Shot 3a ________________________________________________________
Tommy is moving his head side to side, Foreman is not throwing punches just
stalking.
Shot 3b ________________________________________________________
Tommy throws several jabs, Foreman is blocking punches not throwing as he moves
forward, the jabs have no effect on him.
Shot 3c_________________________________________________________
George is moving forward stalking Tommy, Tommy comes in with another jab and
George pushes Tommy so hard he flies back into the ropes.
Announcer 1 (Marc Anthony) A sign of Foremans considerable bulk and strength
pushing back Tommy Morrison the 226 pounder.
ROUND 2. Bell Rings
Shot 3d ________________________________________________________
Tommy comes in and throws a wild right swing missing as George ducks it.
Shot 3e ________________________________________________________
George and Tommy are in the middle of the ring no punches are thrown just defense
on both fighters waiting for a punch. George finally gets a big right hand in and
Tommy turns his backside to George walking away and avoiding more punches. George
walks forward and Tommy snaps a big right hook and then left hook, bell rings.
George walks to his corner.
Shot 3f ________________________________________________________
(Master shots) of both fighters walking to their corners.

Camera on Big George.

Announcer - Foreman as standing up is customary in the corner denying that the
problem is he cant get up if he sits back down.
ROUND 5
Shot 3h ________________________________________________________
George connects with a good jab, Tommy turns his head backwards, George comes in
with a wild swing hitting Tommy in the back of the head.
Shot 3i ________________________________________________________
George is in the corner standing, Angelo Dundee (puts on Vaseline)
ANGELLO DUNDEE / (Auditioning actors still for Angello)
I got the eye.
GEORGE FOREMAN
Dont talk loud please.
ANGELLO DUNDEE
Im with you, Im here nice
and quiet baby.
(Announcer 1 Marc Anthony) George wants no council from his veteran trainer
unless he asks you he doesnt want any free advice
Shot 3j _______________________________________________________
Bell Rings - Team Morrison takes their position.
1. Tom Virgets sets stool in Tommys corner.
2. Tommy walks over to his stool sits down.
3. John Brown is standing holding a water bottle and spit bucket he is
positioned on Morrisons left side.
4. Tom Virgets is in front of Morrison on his knees ready to give Morrison fight
plan instructions.
5. Doug Dragert on knees behind the corner listening his head pops in directly
to the left slightly next to Tommys.
6. Bill Cayton will be to the right outside the ring listening in.
TOM VIRGETS
772 fives, 772 once, any combinations
Go to the body first come up to the head.

Bring his hands down.

You're doing a nice job.
Relax, relax, calm down
The more you relax the better off you are okay?
We have to have head movement before and after your jabs.
Beat him to the punch every time you get trapped.
We need combinations, punches and punches.
Lead with speed follow with power.
Lead with speed follow with power.
Right now we are catching your second wind.
JOHN BROWN
Its your fight your in control !
His eyes are swelling shut! You got to finish him!
TOM VIRGETS
You're going to have to steal each round, hes slow
hes frustrated but you have to start picking it up.
4 rounds to go, we got that all day long right,
aint nothing to it you got a rest in between
hell you never had that in practice right?
Beat him to the combinations hands up.
Be tight on the inside.
JOHN BROWN
There telling him he has to knock you out
TOM VIRGETS
Thats right there telling him hes got knock you down.
Tommy Morrison (gets angry)
Lets go, lets go, lets go !

ROUND 6
Shot 3k ________________________________________________________
Tommy lands a big left hook on George, George gets slightly dazed he does a
slight push tactic on Tommy, bell rings.

ROUND 7
Shot 3L ________________________________________________________
This shot is a toe to toe slugfest big blows by Tommy and George in 7th, both
fighters fight from the inside toe to toe exchanging blows no jabs thrown both f
ighters throwing all hooks to the head, Tommy connects with his hooks while
d
ucking most of Georges big slow blows.
ROUND 8
Shot 3M ________________________________________________________
Foreman gives Tommy a low blow.
REFEREE / STEPHAN
Time! Time!
ROUND 9
Shot 3n ________________________________________________________
Toe to toe slugfest again, both fighters tired and flatfoot. Big body shot combos
by George, Tommy comes back landing big hooks to the head George dazed for a
second then shakes it off.
Round 10 Note: this is one of the weirdest rounds ever captures in boxing, it is
funny and the crowd does a little booing towards Tommy for walking away from
George so much.
Shot 3o ________________________________________________________
George connects with a combo, Tommy comes back with a hook, then Tommy turns his
back on George and walks away all the way to the other side of the ring, George
walks forward following Tommy, Tommy snaps a hook at George connects then turns
his back a second time and quickly walks away to the other side of the ring. Big
George continues to walk towards Tommy stalking but no punching.
ROUND 11
Shot 3p ________________________________________________________
Toe to Toe punches again, both fighters really tired, flat foot landing a couple
good left and right hooks to the head.

ROUND 12
(note: Someone from Georges team needs to put a big piece of tape hanging from
his glove to set up the next shoot.)
Shot 3q ______________________________________________________________
George comes in with a big body shot, Tommy backward steps ,returns fire that does not phase big George.
Another shot by George, ref stops fight. (tape is loose on Georges glove)
Time is stopped because tape comes loose on Foremans glove.
Shot 3u _________________________________________________________
Trainer in Georges corner is fixing Georges tape.
Shot 3r _________________________________________________________
Both fighters tired are standing in front of each other toe to toe exchanging
hooks to the head
REFEREE
Time ! Time !

George and Tommy ignore the ref and they continue slugging it out, George throws
hook, Tommy returns fire, throws hook at George both men flat foot in front of e
ach other slugging it out like warriors back and fourth, bell rings.
Tommy walks away and raises his hands to the crowd.
MICHEAL BUFFER
The winner of this bout will be the WBO heavyweight
champion of the world. The winner and new champion
Tommy The Duke Morrison.
Tommy raises his hands expecting victory.
Tommys entire team is in the ring everything is repeated with more intensity,
John Brown actually is smiling and raising Tommyshand. Bill Cayton clapping his
hands then raises Tommys hand
Tony Holden hugs Tommy and whispers something in his ear,
Tommy climbs the corner ring and raises both hands in Victory.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Arthur Weathers VS. Tommy Morrison

Tommy walks towards the middle of the ring there is no Arthur Weathers, from the
other corner its Tony Holden still no Arthur Weathers.
TONY HOLDEN
Tommy Im sorry the boxing commissioner came back some bad news,
your blood test they came back positive for the HIV virus.
Im so sorry Tommy.

Tony hugs Tommy he exits the ring

TOMMY MORRISON falls to his knees.

Lights go out in the arena for a couple of seconds.
Announcer 1 Marc Anthony - Ladies and Gentlemen thank for this special presentati
on from our actors and the filming of "Oklahoma Sun coming to theaters everywher
e in 2017 the story of Tommy The Duke Morrison.