Limacher vs. the Big Show: One on One
I recently had the chance to sit down for a few minutes and talk to professional wrestler “Big Show” Paul Wight. He has a movie coming out soon, which is the latest release from WWE Studios- “Knucklehead”
David Limacher: First question I have for you Mr. Show…
Big Show: Please, call me Paul!
DL: O.K., first question I have for you, Paul, is how did this movie come about?
PW: Good question! Well, I was in Afghanistan a couple years ago doing the Tribute for the Troops shows that WWE does for those troops overseas, and Vince McMahon (Owner and CEO of WWE) gave me the script. I know they had been looking for something for me to do for a while, and when I first read the script it was an R Rated movie. I went through and made some changes to the script and made it more family friendly as well.
DL: Since you bring up the “Family Friendly” title, this movie has a PG-13 rating to it, but it really doesn’t seem like it should be. I was wondering if you know why it was given the PG-13 rating?
PW: I’m glad you asked me this question, because I really was hoping that someone would notice that as well. I personally believe that the fighting scenes made it more of a PG-13 movie. There was no blood or anything like that, and while some of the fight scenes were meant to be funny, there were scenes that seemed more realistic and that might make them seem more violent and therefore the movie got the PG-13 rating. I expound upon the fact that the script was more R Rated when I first read it as well. The character I play (Walter) was mean, rude, and not a good person. I wanted to change that around and make Walter a nice person who just meant good, but bad things happen. I took real life experiences that happened to me as well and incorporated them into the script. So, certain things that people will see in the movie REALLY did happen to me when I was younger. I took a page from Chris Farley in “Black Sheep” in that regard. I mean, he wasn’t stupid and he meant well, but bad things just always seemed to happen to him which seemed to happen to me in real life as well.
DL: So, you took influence from Farley for your portrayal of Walter?
PW: Yeah I did! This movie is a family comedy, and I respect the comedic work that Chris Farley did while he was alive. I respect the comedic work he did, and he was really a great comedy figure for “big” people.
DL: Well, since we’re on this topic; who are some of your favorite actors?
PW: Wow, putting me on the spot here. (Laughs) I have three actors that I can watch every one of their movies and just be amazed at how they compose and refine themselves to take on differing roles and make you believe the emotions they are portraying on the screen; Anthony Hopkins, Gary Oldman, and Denzel Washington. I mean Denzel is such a captivating actor that he makes you feel what he is feeling and just pulls you into the screen with him and makes you become part of what he is going through. Anthony Hopkins can be the antithesis of evil in one movie and then in another movie be the most well liked person in the world which is just captivating. Gary Oldman is one of the MOST underrated actors around today in my opinion. I feel it’s harder to find a poor movie choice or a movie you didn’t leave saying he didn’t steal the show, than there is a movie he has been in that you left saying He SUCKED! I just wish I had the talent that those guys have to give a performance that makes you believe that they are those people and draw you into the screen and make you feel like you’re in the movie instead of just watching something.
DL: Wow, I really appreciate Gary Oldman as well, and I agree with you about him.
PW: He is fantastic!
And now, a word from our sponsor . . .
DL: I’m running out of time here, so I have a couple more quick questions for you. First is, since you’re a wrestler which do you feel is easier; Acting or Wrestling?
PW: Finally, an EASY question to answer! Wrestling is much easier for me to do. I’m a big guy and I’ve been doing this for 16 years now. I can go in the ring and tell from the audience if I need to change things up to make it better if we’re losing them or to continue what I’m doing with my opponent to keep the crowd into the match. The rush of having tens of thousands of people cheering you or booing you really sets something off inside of me and makes me feel good. I just feel at home and natural in the ring and that is easier. The reason acting is so much more difficult is because you don’t have that audience giving you that live feedback about how they feel about what you are doing. The fact in acting you have a director who believes his own work is the greatest thing ever is different than the people themselves telling you. A director can think you’re doing a GREAT job, but the people can hate it and you won’t know until it’s too late. That makes acting much more difficult.
DL: I never really thought of it that way.
PW: I didn’t either until this movie. I’ve done movie shoots before but I was on set one day and then I’m done and I can go on with my life.
DL: You mean like the Waterboy when you played Captain Insano?
PW: Wow, you remember that? Yeah, stuff like that is easier than wrestling on Monday nights and then going out to New Orleans to shoot the rest of the week. When we shot “Knucklehead” it was summer and I was wearing a wig, and I had to constantly get sweat wiped away and make up reapplied during the shoot – which was a time staking process as well. Now I have to ask you what you thought of “Knucklehead”?
DL: I really enjoyed the character development in the movie. The characters really grow on you over the course of the movie. That and I also literally laughed out loud when Walter was introduced.
PW: That was the HARDEST day of shooting for the entire movie. Michael Watkins (Director) kept asking me how I was doing, and I just kept saying to him “keep it moving boss, I’m ready to get this done TODAY!” (I’m not going to spoil anything here, but I will just say it didn’t look comfortable!) So I’m sweating and uncomfortable, but if it gets people to laugh then it was worth it to me!
DL: Well, I wanted to thank you for your time today Paul because I’m being told our time is over.
PW: Wow that went fast! I really enjoyed talking to you, and I think I was more nervous than you were!
(At this point he stood up and I broke my neck looking up at him! To gain a better understanding he is 7’1” and 450+ pounds!)
DL: I don’t know how you could possibly EVER be nervous!
PW: I will tell you another quick story here, I always get asked to be the Big Bruising bad guy, and I only want to play the loveable comic relief person. I was reading a script recently and the producers said we want you to be the jealous ex boyfriend who is the “big guy” in the movie. I read the script and said I want to be the nerdy guy who’s funny and collects bugs and stuff!
DL: I’m sure you would do well at that!
PW: You telling me I’d be a good nerd? Are you calling me a nerd, David?
DL: NO, not at all! Well, I’m a nerd myself!
PW: I’m one too, don’t worry about it.
DL: Wow, I got scared I said the wrong thing there!
PW: Nah! (Laughs) One last story because I’ve enjoyed this interview so much! So, Dennis Farina is the bad guy in this movie, and I believe this is the first ever movie he’s NEVER been able to drop the F Bomb in. The writers got together and wrote him a special scene in which he could drop the F Bomb in that won’t be in the movie or extras or anything, it was just for him. We made sure there were no kids around and we shoot the scene, and when it was done he comes up to me and just said “FUCK! That felt GOOD!” I hope you can post that!
DL: We sure can, and I wanted to thank you for your time today Paul.
PW: Pleasure is all mine; thank you for the great interview!
Final Thoughts from D.L., Paul Wight was a great guy to talk to. He was very down to Earth and gave complete answers, and then some, to ALL my questions. The fact he had me call him Paul was an honor and the fact when we said goodbye his manager thanked me as well for asking questions he could expound upon instead of just yes and no questions. I didn’t get to ask as many questions as I had written down; I still got answers and extra stories that made up for it.
The film will have a limited engagement, only opening in six cities – NY, LA, Phoenix, Dallas, Miami & Minneapolis, check your local listings.
