Beyond the Mat to Premiere during CIF State Wrestling Championships week in Bakersfield, CA - Wrestling USA ...

From:    Henry Priest henry@nhsca.com
Subject:   Beyond the Mat in theaters Feb. 23rd - 27th!
   Date:   February 12, 2022 at 6:42 AM
     To:   undisclosed-recipients:;

                            Beyond the Mat to Premiere during
                 CIF State Wrestling Championships week in Bakersfield, CA.

                                                          Watch the trailer!

Watch the trailer!

  Maya Cinemas to showcase the
   new wrestling film February
          23rd – 27th
Bakersfield, California – February
10th, 2022 – The National High School
Coaches Association is proud to
announce the World Premier of Beyond
the Mat, a sports drama edited by
Academy Award winning editor of the
classic sports movie Rocky, Scott
Conrad. The film stars Vietnamese
actor John Wynn and Mark Hapka. There is a buzz about the indie film
featuring US Olympic wrestling Champion Kurt Angle, with a special
appearance by UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock. The award-winning
film is directed by Van M. Pham and produced by Henry K. Priest and
Kase Chong.
A Film Every Athlete Should See
Penned by Bakersfield local, Erik Martinez, Beyond the Mat is the next
classic high school sports movie. It has the best elements of an edge of
your seat sports movie, where the underdog must rise to the challenge, but
with a new modern twist. Imagine Friday Night Lights but on the high
school wrestling mat. Not just a sports story, not just a love story that is
set against the backdrop of a suburban high school in Middle America.
Beyond the Mat is the coming-of-age tale of Aaron Miller and his lifelong
friend Bo Sanders. Amidst the struggle of a disintegrating friendship, the
tormenting of a cross-town wrestling rival, and the blossoming of a new
love, Aaron is forced to come to terms with who he really is. Meanwhile,
Bo struggles to come to terms with himself, his future in college and
righting a wrong that has been haunting him. In a series of unexpected
events their friendship is put on the line when Bo, blinded by the desire
for a rematch against cross-town wrestling rival Dominic, challenges
Aaron for his spot on the varsity wrestling team.
What the Critics are Saying
“Every athlete in America should see this film”, said Bob Ferraro of the
National High School Coaches Association. While UFC Champion and
Olympic Wrestling Champion Henry Cejudo says “Wrestlers across the
country will enjoy this film”
Coming off the heels of a successful film festival run, Beyond the Mat has
garnered much success as an official selection of the prestigious Tribeca
Film Festivals All Access program, winning Best Sports Film at the
Canada International Film Festival and the Downtown Los Angeles Film
Festival. As the opening night film of the Vietnamese International Film
Festival, the film received much praise and was followed up by a
screening at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
A Cast Featuring Lords in the Ring
These days, the web buzz around Beyond the Mat, the high school
wrestling drama is steadily building into the roar of the crowd as the film
is granted some extra heft from pro wrestlers Kurt Angle and Ken
Shamrock. The Olympic Gold medalist and UFC champion, respectively,
appear in pivotal scenes in the indie pic based on the Tribeca fest-winning
screenplay.

appear in pivotal scenes in the indie pic based on the Tribeca fest-winning
screenplay.

Angle, a six-time WWF champ and TNA Triple Crown winner, portrays a
menacing coach to Dominic, the sinister opponent of our unlikely hero,
Aaron (Wynn), whose pursuit of the ring is nearly derailed by his Hamlet-
like quest to find himself while avenging a long-standing grudge.

Shamrock, a UFC Hall of Famer and four-time UFC Heavyweight
Champion, who has headlined more than 15 main events in the UFC and
Pride Championships, may be slightly overqualified for his role as an
exuberant color commentator in Beyond the Mat’s key wrestling scenes,
but his presence, and Angle’s, underscore the filmmakers’ commitment to
tapping real-world wrestling sensibilities.

To further burnish the film’s sports-world credibility, the film has secured
the talents of editor Scott Conrad, best known for his masterful, Oscar-
winning cut of Rocky, everyone’s favorite rags-to-riches-in-the-ring tale.
Made by Wrestlers for Wrestlers
This project is made for wrestlers by wrestlers. Beyond the Mat producer
Henry K. Priest was a high school and college wrestler; a high school,
youth and girls wrestling coach in Southern California. Priest started his
career in entertainment as an actor in Walt Disneys made for cable
wrestling movie titled Spooner, in 1989. Since then has been an advocate
for the sport in Hollywood for over 30 years and has written, directed,
produced and consultant for projects representing the sport. Some of his
projects include commercials for Nike and ADIDAS, feature films such as
Legendary, starring John Cena and the documentary Veritas about Le
High Valley phenom John Trenge, among others. Beyond the Mat scribe,
Erik Martinez, wrestled at Arvin High School in Bakersfield while
director Van M. Pham wrestled in high school in Seattle, Washington. In
addition, lead actor John Wynn and actors Jerry Zataran and Jonathan
Kowalsky (Dominic) wrestled as well.

What’s more, the film has already garnered endorsements from the
National High School Coaches Association, USA Wrestling, the
governing body of the US Olympic Wrestling Team., Beat the Streets, the
National Wrestling Coaches Association, the Children's Age Group
Wrestling Association in Southern California, Takedown Wrestling, World
Wrestling Entertainment as well as the wrestling community at large.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local high school wrestling
teams. We are also interested in hosting fundraising screenings at local
colleges. If your team would like to host a fundraiser please contact us.

Where to see Beyond the Mat
Maya Cinemas
1000 California Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93304
February 23rd - 27th
Showtimes: 1:20pm, 4:20pm and 7:00pm
Red carpet arrivals everyday at 6:30pm

The indie film friendly cinema is within one block of Mechanics Bank
                Arena which will be hosting the California High School State Wrestling
                Championships at the same time. For tickets and screening times
                visit www.BeyondTheMatFilm.com

                                                    Watch the Trailer

                                                        Media Contact
                                                        Henry K. Priest
                                                        National High School Coaches Association
                                                        Executive Producer of Production
                                                        Phone: (323) 365-1496
                                                        Email: Henry.Priest@NHSCA.com

        Visit Our Website
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Best regards,

Henry K. Priest
Executive Producer
National High School Coaches Associations Productions

Email: Henry@NHSCA.com
Phone: 323-365-1496
www.NHSCA.com