jens pulver _ driven - presskit

8/7/2019 Jens Pulver _ Driven - Presskit

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JENS PULVER

DRIVEN~ PRESS KIT ~


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JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

Synopsis...............................................................3

Bios..........................................................4, 5, 6, 7

JENS PULVER | DRIVEN

A global community driven success story.........8

Cast & Crew.........................................................9

Viewer Reviews...................................................10

Contact..............................................................11Press Clips.............................................12, 13, 14

In 2010 Jens Pulver, the legendary mixedmartial arts fighter, and former UFC

Lightweight World Champion set his sightson a comeback after four losses in thecage. The beginning of this journey wascaptured in the documentary feature filmJENS PULVER | DRIVEN.

Hailed as Beautiful, Emotional, and Raw and Powerful,JENS PULVER | DRIVEN transcends the traditional fight film,bringing us an intimate and unflinching look into the world ofJens Pulver who, though brought up in circumstances that wouldhave crippled most spirits, found the drive to persevere andbecome a champion in his sport.

Ultimately, DRIVEN is a film about a universal human struggle,transcending loss, and overcoming hardship through the manyfights we all share in our pursuit of greatness. It is, poignantly, a film

about one mans drive, in an increasingly dire American psyche, toovercome the most trenchant of odds, and redefine his fate in aquest to provide a more solid future for self and family than his ownmeager inheritances would have allowed.

Jens Pulvers story is everyones story, and through this journey wefind that is why Jens Pulver is so loved by fight fans around theworld.


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JENS PULVER | DRIVENSynopsis

Filmed January through April 2010,

JENS PULVER | DRIVEN takes youbehind the scenes for an emotionalroller coaster ride that proves equallyheartbreaking and inspirational as wefollow legendary mixed martial artschampion, Jens Pulver, on his lastmarch toward a do or die comebackafter suffering four losses in the cage.

The result is an unprecedented in depthlook into the fighter, capturing anintimate portrait of a man who rose froma childhood laced with violence andsubstance abuse, to become one of themost loved and respected MMA fightersof all time.

Ultimately, JENS PULVER | DRIVEN is a

story about the universal humanstruggle to transcend personal loss inthe pursuit of greatness.

All of us share this fight, but not all ofus, like Jens Pulver, have it played outin front of millions on pay-per-view. Raw and powerful...cant even begin to go through the range

of emotions this film evokes...Ive seen a lot of fighter

documentaries, this blows them all away.


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BIOSDirector, Gregory Bayne

Gregory Bayne is a filmmaker living and working in Boise, Idaho. His workas a producer, director, editor, and cinematographer has appeared inseveral short, feature length and documentary films including Trudell,which premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, the ESPN producedOut of the Blue: A Story about Life and Football at Boise State, about the2007 Boise State Fiesta Bowl Champions, and Purple State of Mind, a2008 audience award winner at the Tallahassee Film Festival. His workhas shown theatrically, at film festivals worldwide (including the Sundance,Seattle, Munich and SXSW Film Festivals), and broadcast nationally onPBS, ESPN and the Sundance Channel.

Baynes feature directorial debut, Person of Interest, hailed as thisgenerations Taxi Driverreleased in 2010 and was downloaded over40,000 times in its first month of availability. In 2011, the film will appear onCable and Internet VOD providers.

Bayne has been a guest speaker discussing the changing landscape offilm and media at Columbia University and the Los Angeles Film Festival,and written articles for Filmmaker Magazine, renowned film producer TedHopes Truly Free Film Blog, and the film/technology website

WorkbookProject.com. He has been featured in FilmThreat, Filmmaker,and MicroCinema Magazines, and WIRED Magazine.

Currently, Bayne is releasing his latest film, JENS PULVER | DRIVEN, anintimate feature documentary about legendary mixed martial artschampion, Jens Pulver, who rose from a childhood laced with violence andsubstance abuse, to become one of the most loved and respected MMAfighters of all time. The film, which has been hailed as Beautiful,Inspirational,and Raw and Powerful,will embark on an internationalscreening tour this spring, and be released on digital, and retail platforms

this summer and fall.
http://jenspulverdriven.com/http://jenspulverdriven.com/http://personofinterestmovie.com/http://personofinterestmovie.com/


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BIOSWriter, J. Reuben Appelman

J. Reuben Appelman is a multi-genre writer whose projects include thefeature documentary, Playground, Executive Produced by George Clooney

and Steven Soderbergh, Cha-Cha-Cha, which he wrote in collaborationwith Oscar-nominated director Michael Hoffman, the dramatic conspiracythriller, Person of Interest, a children's adventure drama, The Five, starringDan Lauria and Madisen Beaty (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button),and the documentary film, Jens Pulver | Driven, which he wrote and co-produced.

His poetry collection, Make Loneliness, was an Editors Choice favorite inthe international arts quarterly, BOMB magazine, and was featured by

NPR literary critic, Andrei Codrescu. Appelman is a four-time grantrecipient from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, most recently havingbeen awarded a prestigious State of Idaho Writing Fellowship in Literaturefor his investigative work on the serial abduction-murders of multiplechildren outside Detroit, Michigan. The project, Murder City Shakedown,is also the basis for his current screenwriting project, DETROIT. Heteaches creative writing at Boise State University.


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BIOSExecutive Producer, Dylan Bruno

Dylan Bruno is an actor, writer and producer who's career has spannedtelevision, film and sports.

Best known from his 5 year stint in CBS' NUMB3RSas 'Det ColbyGranger', Bruno's TV career started in the Steven Spielberg drama HIGHINCIDENT. Several other high profile TV and film appearances followedincluding WHEN TRUMPETS FADE (HBO), SAVING PRIVATE RYANdirected by Steven Spielberg, THE PENNSYLVANIA MINER'S STORY(ABC) and WHERE THE HEART ISopposite Natalie Portman, amongothers.

Bruno starred in and produced the 2001 independent feature GOINGGREEKwritten and directed by Justin Zackham, which piqued hisproducorial interests.

As an athlete, Bruno began wrestling in high school on the varsity teamstarting in 7th grade at 98 lbs. He qualified and wrestled in the JuniorOlympics twice in Iowa where he trained with Dan Gable and Jeff Blatnik.In his freshman year of college, a torn shoulder ended his career, until hediscovered JiuJitsu and began training with Eddie Bravo and competed in

Grapplers quest and NAGA.

Bruno can currently be seen guesting on such shows as BONES, THEMENTALISTand NCIS- -and will be seen starring in the HallmarkChannel's movie titled FIXING PETE.

He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.


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BIOSJens Pulver

Jens Pulver grew up in an environment that few could imagine, andthat would cripple most spirits. At the age of seven, Jens had a

shotgun shoved into his mouth by his abusive father, who had lined upthe children and threatened to kill them all, starting with Jens. By theage of ten, Jens was fist-fighting the man on a regular basis, andlosing daily.

From this brutal beginning, Jens Pulver spent a lifetime fighting toovercome the poverty of his circumstance, corralling the physical andspiritual demons of his childhood, and eventually unleashing them intothe world of Mixed Martial Arts, where he rose to epic proportions.

In 2001, Jens Pulver became the first Lightweight World Championunder the now multi-billion dollar fight industry that is the UFC. JensPulvers image is branded into video games, t-shirts, athletic gear, andthe minds of millions of Mixed Martial Arts fans around the world.

Revered as a legend, yet constantly fielding demands to retire, JensPulver is not finished by a long shot. He is still driven, still striving forgreatness, knowing that his future and his fate rest solely in his hands.

Since shooting DRIVEN Jens has returned to his winning ways with

an explosive return to the cage at XFO 38, submitting his opponentin just 49 seconds.

Jens remains 2-0 in 2011 and is currently training for a May bout inChicago. In June Jens will appear as a playable character in 505Games video game release, Supremacy MMA, by the Kung FuFactory.


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JENS PULVER | DRIVENA global community driven success story

Jens Pulver | DRIVEN is a unique film in many ways, not the least ofwhich is the fact that it is, to date, 100% fan funded. Over 1,000 peoplefrom around the globe have pitched in amounts ranging from $1 to$1,000. Some for the rewards, some just because, and all for theirbelief in Jens, and the film we have made.

This journey began with the posting of a 4 minutes teaser trailer toYouTube on January 7, 2010. The trailer, which quickly rose to 10,000views in its first week, sparked a fundraising campaign usingKickstarter.com where Director Gregory Bayne was able to raise$27,210 in 20 days from 410 contributors to fund the initial production

of the film, most pitching in $25 for a signed copy of the DVD.

Since the January campaign, our followers and contributors havegrown substantially creating an active global street team that now havethe film in their possession, are championing it, and are eager to have itplay theatrically within driving distance of their front porch.

To build on this momentum the filmmakers have launched the GETDRIVEN 2011 - Open Source Film Tour, empowering fans and

organizations to screen the film, and keep the proceeds, in theircommunities.

These efforts are chronicled at their tour site: http://opensourcefilmtour.com
http://opensourcefilmtour.com/http://opensourcefilmtour.com/http://opensourcefilmtour.com/http://opensourcefilmtour.com/http://opensourcefilmtour.com/http://opensourcefilmtour.com/http://opensourcefilmtour.com/


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CAST & CREW

CREW

Produced & Directed by............GREGORY BAYNE

Written & Co-Produced by........J. REUBEN APPELMAN

Executive Producer...................DYLAN BRUNO

Music by....................................PATRICK BENOLKIN

Sound Design by.......................JACOB KINCH

Camera Operator.......................TRAVIS SWARTZ

Assistant Editor..........................ANDREW AGALSOFF

Re-Recording Mixer..................JACOB KINCH

Production Assistant.................GABI MADSEN

Production Stills........................ALEX COUEY

Additional Camera.....................ABEL PULVER

FEATURING

Jens Pulver

Kannika Pulver

Karson Pulver

Abel Pulver

Ricky Christian

Tony Fryklund

Scott Jorgenson


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REVIEWS

VIEWER REVIEWS

This is the most important MMA film ever made...shows all that's good about the human spirit...

Well crafted film Hell of a story. Soul wrenching and inspiring. Although I love martial arts and warrior culture, I am not well

acquainted with the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Jens Pulver is an incredibly strong and compassionate individual. His is the very

definition of the word, fighter. I love the stark black and white interview sequences. Very good contrast to the kinetic fury of the

training footage. The painful memories of his father were well balanced with the sweet and touching relationship that he has with his

own son. As a father of three boys, I definitely felt a kinship with the man. I was amazed at the suspense I felt during the official

weigh-in sequence. Tight Excellent flick.

I thought Riding Giants & Tyson were good, but this is by far the best documentary I have seen to date.

Raw, powerful, emotionalwhat a great film.

Wow! This movie is beyond just wow!

I could write a whole in-depth review of the film, but I think brilliant and perfect sum it up completelyShot beautifully, scored

beautifully, sequenced beautifully.

I never thought I could enjoy a fight movie, but I was very wrong. Not only enjoyable but touching and beautiful as well.

This film was very moving and inspirational(Jens) is a great man, a true champion and more importantly a good person.

Amazing. Simply amazing.


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CONTACT

Gregory Bayne

Producer/[email protected]://jenspulverdriven.com

Emmeli BrunoClient Services CoordinatorPaolucci Communication Arts2516 Via Tejon, Suite 114Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274310-791-2755 ext:314323-898-5400 [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://jenspulverdriven.com/http://jenspulverdriven.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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PRESS CLIPSJens Pulver and Gregory Bayne: Drivenby Ted Gruber for Chicagonow.comA look inside of Little Evil's life has finally come to the homes of many MMA fans.

Jen's Pulver has been known as a groundbreaker for the sport of MMA and Director Gregory Bayne decided to capture that link between Jens and the success ofMMA. Many months went into the development and filming of Driven and it has become a success.

Both Jens and Greg were kind enough to sit down with me regarding the movie and what the whole process was like from start to finish.

Jens, with the massive following you have not only throughout your MMA career but outside of it as well, what were your first initial thoughts when

Gregory approached you on doing a movie?

My initial thought was here we go what's this, the fourth guy looking to do a movie about me. The minute he and I spoke I knew who he was having watched "Outof the Blue: A Film About Life and Football". I also knew he was experienced in the movie area so I was excited to see what he had in mind.

Throughout the movie there were some scenes that really brought us into your personal life that not many get to see of an MMA fighter. How did you feel with thecameras being on you for a extensive period of time? The cameras didn't bother me at all during the filming process.

As for seeing that side of me, well in the words of Popeye I am what I am. I have demons that scarred me so bad it left me with an everyday roller coaster i justwant to hop the f*ck off. So going inside of an MMA fighter that's ok, but inside the world of Little Evil? Hold on to your boots!When you finally viewed the final product how did you feel the movie portrayed you and what it took to put it together?

I loved every part of it. I realized though I cry to damn much about sh*t, not that I care but beyond that it was cool to watch and even more fun getting to knowGreg. The guy is a trip and I enjoy the hell out of him, in the world of Little Evil it's great to meet people who aren't completely full of sh*t.

With your family and fans being very important to you, how do you think they will feel while watching this movie?

I hope to god they all get a boost in their moral. Hopefully they take a moment of self empowerment so they can stand on their own two feet with confidence andpride. So they better know the blue n brown eyed freak call Lil Evil.How was the relationship with you and Greg regarding the input of what you wanted in the movie and what tweaks were made while in the editing

process?

He was perfect and he read my mind when it came to his filming, and he blew my mind on every clip he let me see. I am lucky to know Greg. Where all the otherthings driven, my gym, the Driven Inc shirts are gone Greg and Driven the documentary are my gifts that received and this is something we can pass on to all ofyou. With the movie being completed only a few months ago, what are your thoughts looking back at the process and what has Jens shown you throughout the

movie?means to be a fighter, all of which I think shines through in the film.


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PRESS CLIPSJens Pulver and Gregory Bayne: Driven (Continued)by Ted Gruber for Chicagonow.comGregory, with the extensive time it takes to develop a movie, can you walk us through how you got in contact with Jens and how the movie came about?

I met Jens in the fall of '09, soon after he had moved to Nampa, Idaho to open the Driven Training Center. An old friend of mine was involved with opening thecenter, and had mentioned that I should meet Jens, as I might find him and his story interesting. He set up a meet, and for me it was basically decided after that. Isat down with Jens, asked him two questions, and he talked for an hour. He was truly engaging. After that meet, I went off, did my research, began to develop myidea for the film, and search for financing.

I was a couple weeks into this process when we found out Jens would be fighting in WEC 47. All of a sudden time was of the essence, and I realized I had theperfect trifecta for a feature doc. truly compelling subject, with an incredible life story, in a time sensitive situation with a definitive end. I scrambled to get thingsrolling, and after several failed attempts to raise financing, shot and put together the first teaser trailer and posted it on YouTube. Based on the groundswell thatcreated, I then launched the initial Kickstarter.com campaign that got us underway.

I knew from the beginning that I didn't want to do a traditional biography style film. I wasn't interested in conducting a number of "Tell me about Jens" styleinterviews with colleagues past and present, or tracking down old footage and photos to do a 'Ken Burns' number with this film. I wanted to capture this moment,meaning the lead up to WEC 47, as it happened, and concentrate solely on Jens, and Jens telling his story. To me, he was simply the best narrator for his story, sothe direction of how the film would come together was locked in from day one. Luckily, a number of people from around the globe latched onto that vision,supported it, and we were off to the races.

You have directed other short movies, have you followed MMA well before the movie was being filmed, or was it something you had to learn about while

filming?

I have one other feature PERSON OF INTEREST that I did prior to this film, and have worked as an editor, and cinematographer on several other features over thepast 8-10 years. I knew very little about MMA before this film, and am still educating myself on the sport. I think that part of the success of the film is the fact that Idid not approach it from the angle of 'fan'; I was interested in Jens and his story. I've said it before, I'm driven by curiosity. I do this because I like to learn things in

the process. So approaching this sport cold allowed me to portray in such a way that the viewer would not have to be already versed in the sport to enjoy the film.Jens's very universal human story drives the film, while the sport provides a very intriguing backdrop.

How much time did you interview Jens off camera before knowing that this was going to be the movie to be shot?

Literally, just in that first hour it was decided. It was so apparent in that first meeting that Jens was a compelling speaker, emotionally honest, and most importantof all, not camera shy.

With the movie being completed only a few months ago, what are your thoughts looking back at the process and what has Jens shown you throughout

the movie?

It's honestly been one of the highlights of my life thus far. Sometimes the best projects are the ones you fall into. I couldn't be more grateful for having had theopportunity to meet Jens, and for his allowing me to capture what we did in the film. He's a truly courageous individual, and the very definition of what it means tobe a fighter, all of which I think shines through in the film.


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PRESS CLIPSJens Pulver and Gregory Bayne: Driven (Continued)by Ted Gruber for Chicagonow.comAdditionally, I'm astounded by the community of support that has risen up behind this film. To have this film to date be 100% fan funded is an incredible feat, that

neither I, nor Jens, take lightly. I'm very thankful for the support that we've received to ensure this film was made. It's not every day, as a filmmaker, that you get toconnect with such a large cross-section of people that are anticipating your work, so again, one of the highlights of my life thus far.

For the fans that want more information on the movie can go to the http://jenspulverdriven.com. Driven is a movie that took many months to complete and with theLimited Edition Jens Pulver signed DVD's finally being shipped out, Little Evil finally reveals his life to his fans. Many knew of his background through Jens himself,but not many get to see his life day by day on what it takes to be a father, husband, and MMA fighter.

Jens Pulver: Driven Local filmmaker takes on UFC's first lightweight champby Amy Atkins for the Boise Weekly

Some men are coaxed into lives of greatness. Others are pushed, the shoves leaving bruises on their psyches. Mixed martial artist Jens Pulver trod the latter path

to become a legend: He was the world's first UFC lightweight champion. But what comes up, must come down and Pulver's fall was that much harder because ofhis struggle to the top.

Pulver is the subject of local filmmaker Gregory Bayne's new documentary Jens Pulver: Driven, which screens on Friday, Dec. 17, at the Egyptian Theatre. Driven isa naked look at a man who suffered abhorrent abuse as a child and, as an adult, became a legend in his field due to a myopic focus on practice, fight, win. Baynefilmed him during the weeks leading up to a career-deciding fight. After garnering the title of champion, Pulver lost four bouts in a row. He returned to the cage onMarch 6 to try and regain some of his former glory.

Sitting in a diner booth, bright tattoos poking out from each of his sleeves, Bayne explained that getting Pulver to talk about himself was not a problem. "I met himand he talked almost a full hour after I asked him maybe two questions," Bayne said, adding a slight laugh. "I found a guy who was engaging to speak with, reallyopen and seemed emotionally honest. Then he had this back story that was unreal. Then the fight came into play."

The film is made all the more intense through the anticipatory build up to the match. It is a combination of shots of Pulver at home or at the gym preparing for thefight, and black-and-white confessional scenes in which Pulver speaks directly to the camera. He holds nothing back, and Bayne was right: Pulver is engaging. Heis also charming, quite emotive and raw to the point that it's uncomfortable at times to watch him bleed emotionally. But that is also what makes this documentaryso utterly viewable. Even if you had no idea what MMA stands for or why anyone cares about Pulver, by the end of the film you will have a better idea--on bothcounts.

When BW called him in Chicago, where he is currently training, the one succinct statement he made was in regard to how he felt about having Bayne follow himaround: "I loved it."

Pulver will be in attendance at the Boise screening. He said he's a little concerned that no one will be there. Not because it isn't a great film--"Greg is a genius,"Pulver said--but because he doesn't know why anyone would want to watch a movie about him. "I'm popular, but I ain't famous," he said.

But people will want to see this movie. And once they witness this tragic and triumphant tale of love, loss and redemption, Pulver may have more hands than hecan imagine gently tugging him back toward the top.

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