indieWIRE met with him at New York’s Trump SoHo hotel to talk about the film, his wrestling days and his future.
I couldn’t go to the original audition so I had to send in paperwork, a picture of me and a bio. Alex Shaffer, Actor: Win Win. With a harsh twist of fate, acting may be where Alex stays. But then it was wrestling season and I couldn't do it," said Alex.
Alex, portraying Kyle, spent the morning on one short scene - 34 takes - in an assisted living center, where he was calling on his grandfather (Young).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. [14], "Hunterdon Central wrestling champ Alex Shaffer has major role in a movie", "Shaffer pins down first acting role in 'Win Win, "Hunterdon Central wrestler Alex Shaffer now star of silver screen in 'Win Win, "Exclusive Q&A with Win Win Star Alex Shaffer", "NJ State Wrestling Championships - Alex Shaffer of Hunterdon Central beats Heriberto Quintana of Perth Amboy 15-5 in the 119-pound finals bout", "Interview: Actor Alex Shaffer ('Win Win')", "Sundance: 2011 Actors-Actresses to Watch", "Who Is Alex Shaffer? 2020 Tournament Regulation File & TrackWrestling Seeding Information. "I tried out for the play in eighth grade; I think I got the part.
KIMBERLY WRIGHT/¬©2010 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX (GIAMATTI AND SHAFFER) MAT LOCK Shaffer (right, with Giamatti) is a near sure thing on- and offscreen as a wrestler. Now I really appreciate it. "Win Win," based on the story by Joe Tiboni and McCarthy, is about struggling attorney Mike Flaherty (Giamatti), who moonlights as a high school wrestling coach. “Vision Quest.” You know why? "I really enjoy wrestling, but now I got [acting]. To say the acting bug has bitten Alex Shaffer is a bit of an understatement. "Even if I was offered a movie deal for $500 grand, I'd say 'no way' if it was wrestling season. In wrestling, you can't eat.
Slight problem: It was wrestling season. ", When Alex is on the set, mom confides, "Alex and Paul are always joking around, like old friends." It was pretty exciting. [12] He played the character Squirrel in the 2015 film We Are Your Friends, starring Zac Efron and directed by Max Joseph. Tight-lipped and reserved, he opens up to his new surroundings after excelling in the local high school’s wrestling team. Alex Shaffer - Expected to compete at 157 or 165 as a senior in 2016-17. Once ranked No. WRESTLING. Wrestling is my life!". Next year will sophomore Alex Shaffer hear his name announced? A complicated twist of events brings ace wrestler and troubled teen Kyle (Alex) into the picture, and here the young actor's relative inexperience brings an air of sincerity to his brave performance as a runaway who shoulders his pain quietly—until he's on the mat. A New Jersey high school wrestling phenom, he was more focused on securing wins on his way to … I’m not even trying to think about that. Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win.” [Photo courtesy the Sundance Institute]. Check out Alex Shaffer's high school sports timeline including meet updates while playing wrestling at Archbishop Wood High School from 2012 through 2017. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. '” I’m not saying “Vision Quest” is a bad movie because I absolutely love it, just because it is a wrestling movie. Wrestling Mom is a site by Michele Weldon devoted to wrestling parents around the world. He also gave me a movie to watch, “Ordinary People.”. Other Works This page was last edited on 27 December 2019, at … I'll get made fun of for it." His parents are Michael and Gina Shaffer and the family lives in Raritan Township. High school, NCAA, & elite wrestling coverage. Article by Renee Kiriluk-Hill Overall, he said, "I got lucky. This page was last edited on 27 December 2019, at 15:39 (UTC).
Won 11 matches as the starter at 133lbs with four by fall, two ... 2019-20 Wrestling Roster. We have a great director; it's going to be a good movie."
Stand For? After filming wrapped, he learned of a stress fracture in his L5 vertebrae. There was a call in the paper and he said, “You should really audition for this,” and I said, “No, man!” And he insisted it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I realized he was right. And yeah, I worked there, but I didn’t look at it like a job — it was a place to go act and have fun with a lot of friends. "[9] Shaffer, whose hair was bleached for the role, "plays the reserved and withdrawn Kyle to perfection," said film critic Brandon Fibbs. He decided to give it a shot, despite the fact that his only previous acting experience was a small part in a sixth-grade school play. "Everybody here is just so wonderful, just like family. Copyright © 2020 Penske Business Media, LLC. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. So what are you focusing more on now: acting or wrestling?
The film's hairdresser calls it "school bus yellow" and it was such a hit with director Tom McCarthy that it's staying that color for filming.