“This film was a challenge, to be sure, filmed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020. As this was before vaccines were available, meticulous COVID safety protocols were in effect. In fact, in order to keep contact to an absolute minimum, we assembled five different shooting groups — effectively a collection of second-unit production teams — thanks to the tireless logistical wrangling of producer extraordinaire Lee Perna. Actors were organized into “pods,” keeping cast and crew almost entirely separated throughout the production. I drew detailed storyboards for the various production teams, making careful note of shot compositions and camera movements, as well as providing direction for the actors — many of whom were playing characters inspired in part by real-world wrestling performers, or at least their archetypes. The film addresses the impact of COVID restrictions straight on, only slightly exaggerating the over-the-top approach of the wrestling world — and even acknowledging, to a degree, the fact that the real-world WWE’s Performance Center, its base of operations during this stage of the pandemic, is located in Florida, whose governor had a... less-than-medically sound approach to COVID safety, to put it charitably.”