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Initial Publication Date: April 26, 2007 |
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A
few weeks ago, I introduced you to tenth-degree martial arts grand
master and former World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, Professor
Toru Tanaka. Tanaka had been wrestling professionally for over
thirteen years when he asked me if I, as a longtime friend, could
help him transition to the Hollywood-based film and television
industry. Yes, this icon of the professional wrestling world wanted
to become an actor. Tanaka loved wrestling, but it was time for him
to make a change. Even though it offers many wonderful
opportunities and an amazing lifestyle, the wrestling business can
also be inflexible, intolerant, and tremendously demanding.
Repetitive physical exhaustion and injuries have always been a part
of the game. Occasionally the grueling schedule and constant demand
to “push the envelope” also produced mental and even emotional
exhaustion. I knew my friend Tanaka well enough to understand that
he truly did need and deserve a break from the wrestling business.
I had greatly reduced my own wrestling schedule, and, for two years
I had been successfully marketing actors through APS Entertainment (HollywoodSuccess.com).
I had developed literally hundreds of contacts in the entertainment
industry and I was happy to help my friend in his new pursuit.
In
Rock Riddle’s Wrestling Revue #59, I shared with you the initial
phase of Tanaka’s marketing as an “actor.” “I’ve never done any
acting before,” Tanaka admitted. “Do you think I can make it?” I
answered his question with a question: “Do YOU think you can make
it?” Tanaka pondered the query for a moment, smiled slightly, and
said, “Well, I hope so.” I looked directly into the eyes of the big
man. “Wrong answer,” I said in a somewhat challenging way. His
raised brow told me that he didn’t totally understand. “Tanaka,” I
continued, “whether you believe you can or whether you believe you
can’t, you’re right. So, again, do you think you can make it?”
Tanaka smiled and said, “Absolutely.” “Then you can,” I told him.
“And, with me marketing you, you absolutely will!” Tanaka liked
that. “So when do we start?” he asked. I smiled and said, “We
already have.”
Utilizing the APS marketing “machine,” Tanaka’s photos and resumes
were delivered to a minimum of fifty active producers every week –
producers who had legitimate upcoming feature film and television
projects and were (or shortly thereafter would be) looking for
talent for their projects. Tom Cruise said it perfectly in the film
“Jerry Maguire” -- “The key to this business is personal
relationships!” Less than a month after our initial meeting, Tanaka
had his first Hollywood audition. “Can you come with me?” he
asked. “This is my first audition, so I want you to be there.” It
was an unusual request, but I agreed to accompany and give moral
support to my friend and “new client.”
Tanaka’s initial interview/audition was set to take place at 20th
Century Fox. Tanaka wanted to ride with me. “You know where we’re
going,” he said. “I don’t. So I prefer that you drive your car and
I ride with you.” I smiled. “My car is pretty small, you know,” I
said to my large friend. “I could drive your van, and you’d
probably be a lot more comfortable.” “No,” Tanaka said, “I’d rather
ride with you.” So, there we were in a tiny Karmann Ghia; me, at
218 pounds, driving with a passenger weighing about 325. It must
have been a very funny sight for whoever was behind us. Tanaka and
I talked as we drove towards the studio. “I think maybe we’re going
to get there pretty early,” Tanaka said. “In this business,” I
responded, “to be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be
late. And, to be late is unforgivable and costs you work.” Tanaka
nodded his head. “Yeah, pretty much like the wrestling business,”
he commented. “So, who are these big shots we’re going to meet?” I
smiled at his choice of words, and I briefed him on the four people
I expected to be in the room with us. “There will be two very nice
ladies,” I told him, “Cathy Henderson and Barbara Hanley. They are
the casting directors.” “And you know these ladies?” he asked.
“Yes, Tanaka-san,” I answered. “I’ve known them for a while. Cathy
used to go with Mick Jagger. She goes surfing sometimes in the
morning before she goes into the office, and she’s one of the most
knowledgeable and one of the nicest people in the business.” I
thought for a moment and added, “And, she rides a Harley Davidson
motorcycle.” Tanaka grinned. “She sounds like my kind of woman,”
he said. “I’m feeling better about this interview thing.” During
the balance of the trip, I brought Tanaka up to date on the movie,
told him who the confirmed stars would be, and gave him some
background information on the producer and director whom he would be
meeting shortly.
We
arrived at the outer office about fifteen minutes early. Cathy
Henderson greeted us. “They’ll be ready for us in about two
minutes,” she said, “Go ahead and have a seat.” “Who are ‘they’?”
Tanaka asked. “The producer, Frank Capra, Jr. and the director,
Steve Carver,” I answered. I put my hand on Tanaka’s shoulder.
“Tanaka,” I said, “I think it’s better if I wait for you out here.
You don’t need me in there for your interview. You’ll be fine.”
“No,” Tanaka said, his eyes slightly larger for a moment. “No, I
want you with me.” “As your … manager?” I asked. “No,” Tanaka
smiled. “I’ll tell them you’re my bodyguard.” The famous Toru
Tanaka sense of humor was alive and well. I knew he would “get
over,” as we say in the wrestling business.
A few minutes later, we were in a large meeting room. “In this
room,” I thought, “are two of the top casting directors in
the world, along with two living legends – producer/director Frank
Capra, Jr. … and Toru Tanaka, the internationally known wrestling
superstar.” I smiled. There were definitely some powerful
people in that room! I knew that during the next twenty-four hours
Tanaka would be recognized and asked for his autograph dozens of
times, I would be asked a few times, and the other four powerful
people would not be asked at all. It was a strange reality. I
directed my attention back to Frank Capra. He was obviously in
charge, and he asked most of the questions.
Tanaka handled himself very well and grew increasingly comfortable
with the situation. I knew it was “Tanaka’s show,” so I chimed in
only when I thought it was necessary. This was my first meeting
with director Steve Carver, so I wasn’t surprised when he asked,
“And, who are you, Rock? Are you Tanaka’s manager?” Before I could
answer, Tanaka said, “No, Rock is my personal bodyguard.” Steve
accepted the answer saying, “Oh, okay,” and turned his attention
back to Frank Capra, who had the next question. The director
totally believed that I was the bodyguard of a man most people
considered to be the toughest man on the planet – a man who
outweighed me by over a hundred pounds of mostly massive muscle.
Tanaka and I couldn’t help but laugh. I must have immediately
bonded with director Steve Carver when I let him know that Tanaka
was kidding. “I’m actually here to protect you from Tanaka,” I said
to the director with a smile on my face. “Tanaka doesn’t take
rejection well, so just in case you decided to go with someone else,
I wanted to be here for you.” My smile was now a grin. In fact,
everyone in the room was now in on the joke and smiling.
Interestingly enough, the movie script had actually called for
someone totally unlike Tanaka to play the role. But, once the
producers met him, discovered his personality and experienced his
sense of humor, Tanaka was hired. It was the first of dozens of
co-starring roles for him. As they say, the rest is history. And,
yes, I will share more of that history with you next week. I’ll
tell you about this first film and I’ll let you know who the
producers originally wanted for the role. I think you’ll be
surprised. Until then, keep those e-mails coming.
