The Fire Inside tells the story of Olympic boxer Clarissa “T-Rex” Shields (Ryan Destiny) and her coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry). Shields’ accomplishments in the ring are a matter of public record and she was the subject of a documentary. The film, from director Rachel Morrison and a script by Barry Jenkins, focuses on the relationship between Shields and her coach that sports fans never got to see.
“This is an inspirational sports movie until it becomes an inspirational life movie,” Morrison said. “The heart of it is the life part. A lot of it outside the ring is telling his side of the story too.”
The film is the first time Henry played a real, living figure like Crutchfield, he said. Henry said he was also inspired by the fact that Crutchfield moved Shields into his house.
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“This is a relationship that has been building since she was a child,” Henry said. “That dynamic of what it’s like to rear this woman into one of the strongest fighters, it had to be grounded truly in Ryan and I’s relationship. I feel like her life coach anyway. When I saw the dynamic between Jason and Clarissa, it has to be anchored there and come from a true authentic place of kinship.”
Destiny said she relied on Henry and Morrison treating her as an equal in a safe space they created. For the actual boxing training, Destiny worked with Robert Sale, whom Michael B. Jordan recommended from their work on Creed.
“He treated me like a fighter, not an actor,” Destiny said. “I think that helped with the mindset that I needed to be in.”
Training included weight lifting and diet, including “a lot of protein that was nasty.” Once Destiny was filming without Sale present, she understood how important it is to have a coach by her side.
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“He was so supportive of me and they become attached to you,” she said. “It really helped me play that within the film itself.”
The Fire Inside opens Christmas Day from Amazon MGM Studios.
Check back Monday for the panel video.
The presenting sponsor for this year’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles is United for Business. Sponsors are Eyeptizer Eyewear, Final Draft + ScreenCraft, and partners are Four Seasons Maui, 11 Ravens and Robina Benson Design House.
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