Hollywood celebrities talk about “Manny”

PRESS RELEASE 

SOLAR ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

Liam Neeson and Mark Wahlberg may be among the biggest names in Hollywood action movies, but when it comes to “real action stars” both celebrities admit to being fans of Filipino Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao.

Neeson who narrates the documentary “Manny” says he has been a fan of Pacquiao “for many, many years.”

“What a boxer. He is one of the greats,” the Irish actor said during his most recent guesting at ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Kimmel and Neeson then chatted about co-starring together in “Manny,” which will be having its world premiere during the week-long South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas on March 8, 2014.

“After I narrated [our] film, the producer sent me an email with a little film footage of Manny saying to the camera; ‘Hello, Liam, I look forward to meeting you,’ and I’m showing it to everybody!” Neeson shared with the TV host.  “I haven’t met him… but he is a fantastic boxer.”

Pacquiao has appeared on the Kimmel show several times, and Kimmel shared those moments as one of the guest celebrities interviewed for the documentary.

Another very vocal Pacquiao fan is Mark Wahlberg, who often visited the 8-division champion at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles whenever Pacquiao trains there.

Wahlberg even credited Pacquiao as his model when he portrayed retired boxer Mickey "Irish" Ward in the movie, “The Fighter.”

“Every time he was training at Wild Card Gym, I watched him because my whole approach was, I wanted to look like a Manny Pacquiao-caliber fighter. I didn’t want to look like another actor who’s doing an okay job,” he was quoted in one of his interviews.

Other personalities appearing in the documentary include; actor Jeremy Piven; boxers Oscar de la Hoya and Evander Holyfield, singer Dan Hill, respected sportswriters and boxing analysts as well as friends and family of Pacquiao.

Directed by Ryan Moore and Leon Gast, ‘Manny” takes a look at the inspiring life story of Pacquiao who rose from poverty to become a ten-time boxing world champion, congressman, and international icon.

Gast won an Oscar for best documentary feature (1996) for “When We Were Kings” a film about the classic match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman which happened in Kinshaha, Congo, in 1974.

The film also features original music by composer Lorne Balfe (Inception, The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes) and songs by Yardnoise with Chad Hugo (The Neptunes/NERD).

“Manny” opens in theaters on March 12th in Philippine theaters nationwide and will be distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation.

“MANNY: THE MOVIE” TO PREMIERE AT SXSW FILM FESTIVAL IN TEXAS

The South by Southwest Film Festival and Conference (SXSW) in Austin, Texas recently announced that it will host the premiere of the Hollywood-produced “MANNY: THE MOVIE.” 

The festival which runs from March 7 to 15 will mark the global debut of the highly anticipated documentary movie of the celebrated Filipino sports icon. 

Narrated by Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson, “MANNY” chronicles the untold story of Manny Pacquiao-- from his impoverished childhood years in war-torn Mindanao, his struggle to survive in Manila by working in construction sites and warehouses after running away from home at the age of 14-- to his dramatic rise as a ten-time boxing world champion. 

As the first boxing congressman in history, his Cinderella-man story has awed and inspired countless fans from all walks of life; and his continuing saga adds only to the checkered and amusing story of this remarkable global superstar.

The film is directed by Ryan Moore and Academy Award winner Leon Gast.

Gast had previously done the boxing documentary “When We Were Kings” which showcased the epic match between boxing legends Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. 

For “MANNY: THE MOVIE” both directors had to go through thousands of hours of film and video footage to create a thorough documentation of Pacquiao’s storied career, beginning with his first few bouts in small venues to his most classic rivalries with some of the greatest fighters in boxing.

The film also includes interviews with actor Mark Wahlberg, comedian Jimmy Kimmel, Jeremy Piven and many other international celebrities and features original music from acclaimed Hollywood composer Lorne Balfe (Inception, Dark Night, Iron Man).

The film’s SXSW debut holds some significance for Pacquiao as it was in Texas where he won his 8th world boxing title --- a feat yet unmatched in history. The subsequent Philippine commercial exhibition on March 12 also segues perfectly to his upcoming rematch with American boxer Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on April 12, 2014. 

While trainer Freddie Roach had previously mentioned the need for Paquaio’s undivided attention to knock down Bradley, his fans remain hopeful that the People’s Champ would take some time off to join them in this momentous event.

MANNY: THE MOVIE opens in Philippine cinemas nationwide on March 12, 2014, and is distributed locally by Solar Entertainment Corporation.