Jake Gyllenhaal & Conor McGregor Have an Epic Conversation | One on One | GQ Sports

GQ Sports
20 Mar 202421:05

Summary

TLDRIn a candid conversation, actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor discuss their experiences filming 'Road House' and the intensity of working on set. They share insights into their training processes, the authenticity of fight scenes, and the challenges of adapting to new roles. McGregor reflects on his acting journey and his eagerness to return to competitive fighting, while Gyllenhaal expresses admiration for McGregor's dedication to his craft and the sport.

Takeaways

  • 🥊 The conversation revolves around Jake and Conor's experiences with boxing and acting, particularly in the context of their work on the movie 'Road House'.
  • 🏙️ Both Jake and Conor have trained in New York City, with Conor having a significant history there, including winning a double world title.
  • 🎥 Jake trained for two months in New York for his role in 'Southpaw', emphasizing the authenticity of training in a real boxing gym.
  • 🌟 Conor's charisma and energy on set were noted, with Jake mentioning how everyone was excited for his arrival on set.
  • 🤼‍♂️ The discussion highlights the intense training and preparation that goes into both acting and fighting, with Conor emphasizing the all-consuming nature of fighting.
  • 🎬 The filming of 'Road House' involved real fight scenes and crowd interaction, with Jake and Conor both participating in a real UFC event for authenticity.
  • 📈 Conor's acting career is new and he is enjoying the process, but he is primarily focused on returning to competitive fighting.
  • 🏆 Both Jake and Conor express mutual respect and admiration for each other's work and dedication to their respective crafts.
  • 🎭 Jake is set to perform on Broadway with Denzel Washington in 'Othello', indicating a transition from screen to stage acting.
  • 🌐 The transcript showcases the camaraderie between the two, their shared passion for their crafts, and their willingness to learn from each other.
  • 💬 The conversation is filled with anecdotes and behind-the-scenes insights into the making of 'Road House' and the broader entertainment industry.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of the number 75 or 76 in the context of the conversation?

    -The number 75 or 76 refers to the combined total of movie shots and bar fights that Jake and his friend have experienced, highlighting their shared history and experiences in the film industry and beyond.

  • How did the training environment in New York City influence Jake's preparation for his role in 'Southpaw'?

    -The training environment in New York City, specifically the underground boxing gym, provided an authentic and intense atmosphere that helped Jake immerse himself in his role, allowing him to prepare physically and mentally for the boxing scenes in 'Southpaw'.

  • What was Conor McGregor's experience with boxing before working on the movie 'Road House'?

    -Before working on 'Road House', Conor McGregor had zero boxing experience, including no knowledge of jabs or the art of boxing. His involvement in the movie required him to learn and understand the sport from scratch.

  • How did Conor McGregor's training for 'Eight Mile' influence his approach to training for 'Road House'?

    -Conor McGregor's experience training for 'Eight Mile' involved watching people spar, which gave him insight into the fighting world. This background helped him approach his training for 'Road House' with a similar dedication to understanding and embodying the role of a fighter.

  • What was the significance of the UFC event in Madison Square Garden for Conor McGregor?

    -The UFC event in Madison Square Garden was significant for Conor McGregor because it was the first UFC event legalized in New York, and he had his double world title there against Eddie Alvarez. This event marked a major milestone in his fighting career.

  • How did the filming location for 'Southpaw' differ from the training location?

    -While the movie 'Southpaw' was set in New York City, the filming actually took place in Pittsburgh, a city also known for its boxing culture.

  • What was the initial reaction of the producer when Conor McGregor was confirmed for the role in 'Road House'?

    -The producer initially thought it would be a difficult task to get Conor McGregor for the role in 'Road House', but was pleasantly surprised when it became a reality.

  • What did Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor do to prepare for their fight scenes in 'Road House'?

    -Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor worked with fight coordinators Garrett Warren and Steve Brown, using a four-pass process to create realistic fight scenes. They also incorporated their own ideas and adjustments to ensure the scenes were believable and engaging for fight fans.

  • How did Conor McGregor's experience in the UFC influence his approach to acting in 'Road House'?

    -Conor McGregor's experience in the UFC brought a level of authenticity and physicality to his acting in 'Road House'. His understanding of the fighting world and his commitment to the sport helped him contribute ideas and ensure the fight scenes were accurate and engaging for audiences.

  • What is Conor McGregor's future plan after working on 'Road House'?

    -Conor McGregor plans to return to competitive fighting, with potential dates set for June 29th and Mexican Independence Day in September. He is also open to the possibility of doing more acting in the future.

  • What is Jake Gyllenhaal's upcoming project after 'Road House'?

    -Jake Gyllenhaal is set to perform on Broadway in a production of Shakespeare's 'Othello' alongside Denzel Washington. He will be preparing for this role for about a year before the show opens next year.

Outlines

00:00

🥊 Training and Experiences in New York City Boxing Gyms

The paragraph discusses the experiences of Jake and Conor in New York City boxing gyms. Jake talks about his and Conor's history with the gyms, mentioning their involvement in movies like 'Southpaw' and 'Eight Mile'. They reflect on the authenticity of the gyms and the inspiration they draw from the people they've met and trained with. The conversation also touches on their personal boxing backgrounds, with Jake emphasizing the dedication and immersion required for their roles in fight-related films.

05:02

🎥 Behind the Scenes of 'Road House' Reboot and UFC Involvement

This section delves into the production aspects of the 'Road House' reboot, highlighting the involvement of the UFC and the challenges of incorporating real fight scenes into the movie. The participants discuss the logistics of filming at UFC events and the importance of making the fight scenes feel authentic. They share anecdotes about training and shooting, including the use of real crowd reactions and the technicalities of choreographing fights. The conversation also touches on the iconic status of the original 'Road House' and the expectations of its fans.

10:02

🌟 Actor and Fighter: Conor McGregor's Journey and Future

The focus of this paragraph is on Conor McGregor's transition from fighting to acting and his experiences on set. Conor and Jake share their mutual admiration and respect for each other's work and dedication to their crafts. The discussion includes the challenges Conor faced as a newcomer to acting, the support he received from the cast and crew, and his learning curve in the world of film. The conversation also looks ahead to Conor's future, with mentions of potential new acting projects and his ultimate return to competitive fighting.

15:03

🎭 Jake Gyllenhaal's Foray into Broadway and Shakespeare

In this paragraph, the conversation shifts to Jake Gyllenhaal's upcoming project on Broadway, performing in Shakespeare's 'Othello' alongside Denzel Washington. Jake talks about the preparation required for such a role, the excitement of performing live on stage, and the similarities he finds between theater and his previous work in film. The discussion also includes the scheduling of the Broadway shows and the anticipation of the performance from both Jake and Conor.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Boxing

Boxing is a combat sport in which two participants, usually wearing protective gloves, throw punches at each other for a predetermined number of rounds. In the video, both Jake and Conor discuss their experiences with boxing, including training in a New York City gym and the physical and mental preparation required for the sport.

💡UFC

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in the United States. It is the largest and most prestigious MMA organization in the world. In the transcript, Conor's character in the movie is an ex-UFC fighter, and the UFC's involvement in the film adds authenticity to the story. The UFC's iconic walkout and the weigh-ins are also discussed as part of the movie's filming process.

💡Acting

Acting is the work of actors in creating and portraying characters or ideas through speech, facial expression, movement, and other forms of communication. In the video, both Jake and Conor discuss their experiences with acting, particularly in the context of preparing for their roles in the movie, including physical training and learning the nuances of their characters.

💡Training

Training refers to the process of learning, practicing, and preparing for a particular activity or skill, often in a structured and repetitive manner. In the context of the video, both Jake and Conor underwent extensive training for their roles, including physical conditioning and learning combat techniques to ensure authenticity in their performances.

💡Fight Scenes

Fight scenes are sequences in films or television shows where characters engage in physical combat. These scenes require careful choreography, acting, and often special effects to create a believable and engaging portrayal of violence or conflict. In the video, the actors discuss the challenges and logistics of filming fight scenes, including the use of stunt coordinators and the need for realism.

💡Southpaw

Southpaw is a 2015 American sports drama film directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a boxing coach who tries to regain custody of his daughter while training a promising but troubled boxer. In the video, Jake talks about his preparation for the role, which included extensive boxing training.

💡Road House

Road House is a 1989 American action film directed by Rowdy Herrington and starring Patrick Swayze as a bouncer at a rowdy bar. The film has become a cult classic known for its fight scenes and quotable lines. In the video, the actors discuss their involvement in a new version of the film, with Jake and Conor bringing their unique backgrounds to the project.

💡Broadway

Broadway refers to the theatrical performances presented in the theaters of Times Square in New York City, which are known for their high production values and top-tier acting talent. In the video, Jake mentions his upcoming role in a Broadway production, indicating a transition from film to live theater.

💡Othello

Othello is a tragedy by William Shakespeare that centers on the Moorish general Othello and his ensign Iago, who manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful. In the video, Jake mentions that he will be performing in a production of 'Othello' on Broadway, indicating a significant role in a classic Shakespearean play.

💡Stunt Coordination

Stunt coordination involves the planning and execution of stunts and action sequences in film, television, or theater. This role requires a deep understanding of physical performance, safety protocols, and the logistics of creating realistic and engaging action scenes. In the video, the actors discuss working with stunt coordinators to create authentic fight scenes for the movie.

💡Charisma

Charisma is a personal quality that allows an individual to attract, influence, and inspire others with their personality, presence, or appearance. In the video, Conor mentions the charisma that Jake brings to his roles and how it translates to the screen, creating a captivating presence for the audience.

Highlights

Jake mentions having been in 75-76 bar fights and how they blended together to create a classic.

The discussion about training in New York City for the movie 'Eight Mile' and the atmosphere of the boxing gym.

Conor's experience training at the same gym for 'Southpaw' and the authenticity of the boxing gym in New York City.

The anecdote about meeting Antoine Fuqua and 50 Cent in the back of the gym while training for 'Southpaw'.

Conor's revelation that he had no prior boxing experience before training for the movie.

The admiration for the dedication and immersion in their roles, as seen in the documentary about Conor's training.

The intense game of fighting and the commitment it takes, as described by Conor.

The discussion about the logistics of filming fight scenes and the involvement of the UFC.

The excitement and nervousness of filming in the octagon with real fights before and after their scene.

The creative process of choreographing fight scenes with the stunt coordinators and the 'four pass' technique.

The memorable scene of Jake bursting through a car door and the challenges of making it look real.

Conor's return to competitive fighting and his upcoming potential fights.

The idea of making a real UFC movie and the unscriptable nature of the sport.

Jake's upcoming Broadway performance with Denzel Washington in 'Othello'.

The preparation and challenges of performing on Broadway, compared to acting in films.

The camaraderie and mutual admiration between Jake and Conor, and their shared experiences in their respective fields.

Transcripts

00:00

- I like to say Jake has had 75 movie shots,

00:03

or 76, I think, but we've had 75, 76 bar fights.

00:06

So we kind of blended it together

00:07

and we bounced off each other, and we made a classic.

00:10

[dramatic rock music]

00:14

This is New York City boxing.

00:16

[dramatic rock music]

00:24

[graphic whooshing]

00:25

[dramatic rock music]

00:28

- I used to, literally right there, I used to,

00:30

for "Eight Mile", just watch people spar.

00:32

- [Producer] It's a great place to start.

00:33

You would train here.

00:34

- Well, Conor would train here,

00:36

probably more importantly-

00:36

- I trained here a few times-

00:38

- But I trained out of-

00:38

- I'm not a New Yorker now, so I would just,

00:39

on my travels, I've been here for work and for business,

00:42

you know, or a fight upcoming.

00:45

I had my double world title here

00:47

against Eddie Alvarez in New York,

00:48

the first UFC event legalized in New York,

00:51

we had it here in Madison Square Garden.

00:52

I trained here for periods in the lead up to it.

00:55

- [Jake] Crazy.

00:56

- And then you trained here as well, Jake, yeah?-

00:57

- I trained for two months, pretty much,

00:58

training for "Southpaw".

00:59

- I feel like if you're in New York City

01:00

and you're looking to train at a real boxing gym,

01:02

you can't get any more real than this.

01:04

We're like four floors down underground,

01:06

It's almost like a bombproof gym-

01:08

- And the people here too, it's-

01:10

- [Conor] Yeah, it's amazing.

01:10

- It's so inspiring.

01:11

- And there's a martial arts spot at the back of it also,

01:13

which has mats that you can go barefoot in.

01:14

- I remember I had a meeting in the back

01:16

when we were training with Antoine Fuqua and 50 Cent-

01:18

- No way.

01:19

- Before 50 decided to go do the movie.

01:20

- [Conor] Wow.

01:21

- Came here, came down-

01:22

- What movie was this?

01:23

- "Southpaw".

01:25

- Oh he was in "Southpaw"?

01:26

- Yeah, he plays my character's manager-

01:27

- Wow, wow.

01:28

- I was back there and I was like, "Oh, wait."

01:30

"Oh I remember that table."

01:32

- Did you actually train in this place for that movie?

01:35

- Yeah.

01:35

- Oh wow-

01:36

- Yeah.

01:37

- Deadly, yeah, really good.

01:38

Was it shot here in New York, or where was it shot?-

01:39

- No, we shot in Pittsburgh.

01:40

- Pittsburgh-

01:41

- Yeah.

01:42

- That's a real boxing town as well-

01:42

- [Jake] Yeah.

01:43

- Pittsburgh.

01:44

- I was here, so we found here, and they're great here.

01:45

And they had, I'd come every day, I did two a days here-

01:48

- Yeah they look after you, did you, yeah?

01:49

- Yeah.

01:50

- Deadly.

01:51

What was your boxing experience like before the movie?

01:53

None?

01:54

- Zero.

01:54

- Zero, not even a jab?

01:56

- I mean, you know, like-

01:57

- I mean, you've done some fight scenes

01:59

and that before, right?

01:59

And, you know, jab-

02:00

- Yeah, yeah.

02:01

- But not in a boxing, you wanna be crisp with your shots.

02:04

- Don't have, I had no idea-

02:05

- [Conor] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

02:06

- I had no idea the art of it at all-

02:07

- And this is where you came to train boxing?

02:09

Well done.

02:09

You know, credit to your craft,

02:10

you immerse yourself in your roles and, you know,

02:13

that's impressive.

02:14

It's a trait I've taken from working with you,

02:16

for my own self going forward.

02:18

- Ooh, but also like watching your documentary,

02:20

watching that and seeing how much you put into your,

02:23

I mean obviously fighting is a completely different game,

02:25

but the things you've done to your body

02:27

to get yourself to that place, not only in training,

02:29

but also to get yourself to weight and stuff.

02:31

- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

02:31

- That was what made me think about

02:32

the psychology of all that.

02:33

- [Conor] Yeah.

02:34

- Because that's a different world.

02:35

Then you have to enter a different,

02:36

you enter a different world.

02:37

- Yeah.

02:38

- You know, of all the things, that's the most admirable,

02:41

that's really-

02:42

- It an intense game for sure.

02:43

It is a very intense game, a very difficult game to achieve

02:46

even a fraction of success.

02:48

- Mhm.

02:49

- All it took me, Jake,

02:50

was every single waking second of my life.

02:52

[Jake laughing]

02:53

And my thinking-

02:54

- That's it.

02:55

- Eat, sleep, that's it-

02:55

- That's it?

02:56

- That's a all it took.

02:57

- Okay.

02:58

- And then voila.

02:59

And then voila, I got a launchpad to get to somewhere else.

03:00

I didn't even get it off of that, do you get me?

03:02

- I feel you.

03:03

- So we relate so much to the fight game

03:05

and to the combatants in the game.

03:08

And, you know, that's why I'm fully immersed in it.

03:10

You know, with my companies and my brands,

03:12

I support many fights.

03:13

There's an up, you know, up and coming gyms

03:14

and I know what it takes in this business

03:16

and it's not an easy business whatsoever.

03:19

- Yeah, but your energy, you have so much energy.

03:20

You're always up to things, doing things, your businesses,

03:23

your physicality, all of it.

03:25

To me, working with you, like when you first came

03:27

to set on the very first day,

03:29

I've really never worked with anybody

03:31

where when you came to set, there was like a crowd.

03:34

Like everybody was like craning their necks.

03:37

- Ah.

03:38

- Yeah, "Oh God, is he coming?"

03:39

"Ooh, is he?"

03:39

You have this incredible charisma, it shows in the movie.

03:43

As soon as your character comes in, it's like, get a shot-

03:47

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

03:48

- You know, the movie's sort of like,

03:49

"Oh, it's so fun, so fun, okay what's gonna happen?"

03:51

Whoa, then the whole thing takes off.

03:53

- Yeah.

03:54

- It's so cool.

03:55

- Grew legs for sure.

03:55

It wasn't, you know, a cameo in and out type of vibe.

03:58

And then as I got in, it certainly grew legs,

04:01

I don't know remember exactly how it started.

04:03

- They wanted an interview-

04:04

- I know the location was different,

04:05

it was supposed to be Hong Kong, then it was Italy.

04:07

So I was gonna be landing, I was in gonna be in Hong Kong,

04:11

and I dunno whether I was bouncing out of an apartment or-

04:12

- I just-

04:13

- [Conor] I was bouncing out of something.

04:14

- Something, but I just remember that

04:15

they wanted you to have a good intro.

04:17

I remember, 'cause you didn't have an that kind of intro-

04:19

- No, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

04:20

Well, they gave me a good one and I'm happy with it.

04:22

You know.

04:23

- And an outro too.

04:24

- An outro as well.

04:24

[Jake and Conor laughing]

04:25

- It's good.

04:26

The first idea of getting Connor, I was like, "Good luck."

04:29

You know?

04:30

- [Conor] Mhm.

04:31

- And then slowly it started to become reality

04:32

and I thought, "No way."

04:34

"It can't, no way."

04:35

And then I remember where I was,

04:36

I was biking, I was on a bike in France-

04:41

- Were you, yeah?

04:42

- It was like 1:00 AM,

04:43

and I was coming home from a dinner.

04:44

- Right.

04:45

- I was biking home, and I got a phone call,

04:46

and it was like, "Conor's in."-

04:48

- [Conor] Yeah.

04:48

- And I was like, "Oh!"

04:49

I was like, "No way."-

04:50

- [Conor] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

04:51

- And then I was like, "Oh shit, we have to fight."

04:52

- It would've been a hard no for me,

04:53

it was always a yes to work with yourself, you know,

04:56

I've always been a fan of your work,

04:58

and always an admirer your work.

04:59

Especially Doug Liman as well, a phenomenal director-

05:01

- Yeah, yes.

05:02

- Joel Silver, the producer, he was

05:03

action man Joel is in the industry.

05:05

And, you know, then you think about the story itself

05:08

and the movie itself.

05:11

You know, the "Road House", the fights, it just,

05:13

all of it hit home and I was always gonna do it.

05:14

- You're a huge fan of the original "Road House", right?

05:17

- Oh, huge fan of the original-

05:18

- Yeah.

05:19

- Sure, yeah.

05:20

So maybe I wanted to get in there

05:21

to make sure it was gonna be looked after, you know,

05:23

and I'm happy with it.

05:24

I think, you know, I know there's a lot of people

05:26

that are gonna be out with a magnifying glass, you know,

05:28

want to be cynical and want,

05:30

you don't wanna punch something.

05:30

But I believe everyone fans,

05:32

especially fans of the past one, are gonna love this one.

05:35

And it's, you know, it's a new addition for them.

05:37

- A question everybody asks me

05:39

is whether or not someone's gonna

05:40

get their throat ripped out.

05:41

- [Conor] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

05:42

- That's a big question.

05:43

- Yeah there was load of things, you know,

05:44

if you think about the amount of things

05:46

that we could've done-

05:47

- I know.

05:48

- And that can be done.

05:49

- I know.

05:50

- You know, and who knows what happens in the future,

05:50

but could have been a bit more homage to-

05:51

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

05:52

- But it's a re-imagination, it's not the same story.

05:55

- [Jake] Yeah.

05:56

- It's a trope off of the story.

05:57

- [Jake] You can't match it-

05:58

- The UFC, and I absolutely love, fight fans and myself,

06:01

a fighter, when the intro on the crowd,

06:04

that was so, so worth it

06:06

to make that trip to Las Vegas-

06:07

- So worth it.

06:08

- To lock down the UFC.

06:09

We timed walk-ins, in between walk-ins, you know,

06:12

so we're using the real crowd.

06:13

We went to the weigh ins,

06:14

Jake had a weigh in against

06:15

a former UFC fighter, Jake Hieron-

06:18

- That's right.

06:18

- They squared off against each other.

06:19

And I was in the crowd getting the crowd hyped up for this.

06:22

So I was a fan.

06:23

But, you know, when it all came together in the movie,

06:25

it was all so worth it.

06:26

- [Producer] And I remember real fight fans being like,

06:28

"What is going on here?"

06:29

Jake Gyllenhaal looking shredded at the weigh-in.

06:32

- Yeah, 'cause that would've been

06:34

the first time they'd seen-

06:35

- I know, right?

06:35

- There was no messing about in the preparation of our show,

06:38

there was a lot of really intense work for preparation,

06:40

and then on set was no less intense.

06:43

It was hard work.

06:44

- [Producer] How did that all come about?

06:45

Whose idea was that, and what was the logistics involved

06:48

in like making that happen?

06:49

- Well, it was important from the very beginning

06:51

that we have the UFC involved,

06:53

because obviously my character was written

06:55

as a character who was an ex-UFC fighter.

06:57

And it was just essential to the whole thing-

06:59

- It was hit miss at times, wasn't it?

07:01

- It was.

07:02

- It was gonna be maybe XFC or something like that.

07:03

- Mhm, but also-

07:04

- 'Cause obviously Dalton's history,

07:05

the story is he's killed somebody,

07:07

and the UFC didn't really want that.

07:09

I was like, "Hold on, well maybe let's veer away from that."

07:12

But no, that had to be the story,

07:13

so we got there in the end, but it was almost lost,

07:15

the UFC was like,

07:16

the partnership almost fell through then in the end.

07:18

But thankfully we got there because

07:20

everyone knows the optic on that walk, it's iconic-

07:22

- [Jake] Yeah.

07:23

- And it just, it livens it,

07:24

the movie just comes to life there, you know what I mean?

07:26

That the way I felt it.

07:27

- We shot the movie and we had had all these

07:29

supposed flashbacks scenes, we hadn't shot them yet,

07:32

Actually, we prepared a month after to go to the UFC,

07:36

I think it was 283, the night before I got COVID.

07:39

And so we had to scrap the plan to go back to Vegas for 285.

07:43

It ended up being an incredible night, 285, that was-

07:45

- That was the Jon Jones, was it?

07:47

- Yeah, yeah.

07:47

- It was a great night.

07:48

- It was like.

07:49

- Yeah.

07:50

- The energy was so incredible, it was like,

07:51

everything worked in the right way.

07:52

And, you know, it takes a village to do something like that

07:55

because essentially all we had was,

07:57

we were told by UFC we had either anything between

08:00

45 seconds to seven and a half minutes,

08:02

depending on how far the other fights went-

08:03

- This is in cage?

08:04

- In cage-

08:05

- In the cage, yeah.

08:06

- Because depending on how long the fights went-

08:07

- Yeah.

08:08

- How far they went, we wouldn't know.

08:09

- [Producer] Yeah.

08:10

- So like you could have 45 seconds,

08:11

so we had to design three plans.

08:13

- How did you feel going into the octagon with the crowds?

08:16

Nervous, you must have been,

08:17

you've never fucking done it before

08:18

and you're in the actual live place.

08:21

There was a real fight before you

08:22

and there was a real fight after you.

08:23

- Yeah that was, I was high for four days after.

08:26

- Were you, yeah?

08:26

- Oh my gosh, I was-

08:27

- That's what happens.

08:28

I don't sleep for about 48 hours at least-

08:29

- I can believe it.

08:30

- Even probably more.

08:31

- I can believe it.

08:32

- You're just full of adrenaline,

08:33

and it's a mad, post fight is a mad experience.

08:35

- Jay said to me, Jay Hieron, and he said,

08:37

before we went in there, and we could feel the crowd,

08:40

we could feel the crowd going, he goes,

08:41

"Let's make it real, you can hit me for real if you want."

08:43

- [Conor] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

08:44

- You know, it was like everything switched, you know?

08:46

Everything switched-

08:47

- Yeah he probably would've liked that,

08:48

he probably would've wanted a smack,

08:49

but you pretty much did.

08:51

[Jake laughing]

08:51

You cracked him with a good knee, you know-

08:53

- Yeah.

08:53

- They were watching, their shots were good,

08:54

you came through, you represented the sport,

08:57

you represented the movie and, you know, fair played, yeah.

09:00

- Thanks, man, that means a lot coming from you.

09:02

It's, again, the thing I think often,

09:04

I'm sitting here with Conor McGregor, like,

09:06

I remember watching him fight and come up

09:08

and then become a phenom.

09:10

And then all of a sudden, thanks to like

09:12

this incredible job I have,

09:13

all of a sudden I'm sitting across from him-

09:14

- Yeah.

09:15

- And we've done something together, you know, it's like-

09:16

- Same, exact same, likewise, my man.

09:17

- It sort of blows your mind.

09:19

It's interesting circle in that I trained here,

09:22

and then I remember in a similar way

09:24

was like when I met Eminem, like when I met Marshall,

09:27

when we were doing promotion for that movie-

09:29

- Yeah.

09:29

- And I met him before that a little bit,

09:30

but really when we were doing promotion.

09:31

I was like, "My God, I've been such a fan for so many years"

09:34

"and now I'm sitting across someone who I idolize"

09:36

"and who's so incredible at their job."

09:38

This sport has brought so many people together

09:40

of all different levels, of all different skillsets.

09:44

And that's what's incredible about this gym is like,

09:46

you look around when you're here and they're beginners

09:48

and they're kids-

09:49

- Yeah.

09:49

- And then they're experts-

09:50

- Yeah.

09:51

- And then they're retired pros and-

09:52

- Yeah.

09:53

- Everybody's a community here.

09:54

- Can you imagine the people that have walked

09:55

through these doors over the years?

09:57

- No, and I remember walking one day, you know,

09:58

you walk any given day, and this is probably,

10:00

but I remember walking down the halls here

10:02

and there was just blood all over the floor.

10:03

You know what I mean?

10:04

You know, this is a place-

10:05

- [Conor] Yeah.

10:06

- That has great history, great history.

10:08

- So you both were familiar with each other

10:09

before working with each other, fans of each other even.

10:10

- [Jake] Mhm.

10:12

- [Producer] How did expectations versus reality meet up?

10:16

- This guy's great-

10:17

- Above and beyond, for sure, above and beyond.

10:18

I needed a bit of support, I'm you know,

10:20

a novice at this game, at his game, the acting game.

10:24

So Jake was able to gimme tips and pointers,

10:26

and, you know, Jake and everyone on cast,

10:28

they were very patient with me.

10:30

So it meant a lot to me, and, you know, for sure.

10:33

- One of the things I was so, so impressed by

10:36

was the first thing he ever said to me was, he said,

10:39

you said, "Jake, I'm a white belt in this."

10:41

- Yeah.

10:42

- "And I'm here to learn."

10:43

- Yeah.

10:44

- And from somebody who is in your position to say that,

10:47

I thought, again, referencing MMA,

10:50

I think Mixed Martial Arts

10:52

brings out a humility as well-

10:53

- For sure.

10:54

- Takes profound confidence-

10:55

- 100 percent.

10:56

- And a big ego-

10:57

- 100 percent.

10:57

- And all those things,

10:58

but I think within the space, there's this humility,

11:00

and I was really moved by that, and I think so was Doug,

11:02

I remember talking to him

11:04

after he spoke to you for the first time,

11:07

and I was just, that's exactly the attitude I think-

11:10

- Yeah.

11:11

- To come in and try and make something great-

11:12

- Yeah.

11:13

- And you absolutely did.

11:14

I learned a lot,

11:15

and I was a fan of his for many years before.

11:19

What's your biggest challenge as a new actor and?

11:22

- Oh, jeez, I mean a new actor, I came in right at the top.

11:26

I got in right beside yourself.

11:27

I got, you know, guidance from Doug Liman,

11:30

onto Joel Silver, you know what I mean?

11:32

I was looked after, you know, I got right in there.

11:34

So as far as like challenges,

11:36

what a normal rising actor would get, it's not comparison.

11:40

For me it was almost the shock of the workload of it.

11:43

You know, you're talking 15 hour days, even 18 hour days,

11:46

and then you've got a few hours rest now, back in.

11:48

- Mm.

11:48

- That just took me by surprise, you know.

11:50

But I was very blessed, man, very lucky.

11:53

I don't know what it is and how I got in here

11:56

and, you know, I just made some smart moves

11:58

and, you know, committed myself and let's see how it goes.

12:02

That final fight scene is a great scene, isn't it?-

12:03

- So good.

12:04

- When we were shooting it and I was like,

12:06

'cause the first one is so good, you know,

12:09

coming in with the thing, and then we go around

12:11

and it's just, that's such a great scene.

12:12

And then when we were doing the next one,

12:15

or the the last one, not the next one, the last one.

12:17

I was thinking, "Maybe the other one, the first,"

12:20

"the early one's better."

12:22

But then when you see it, no-

12:23

- It's great.

12:24

- Oh, it's cinema magic it is, yeah?

12:26

That's a hats off the Garrett Warren.

12:28

- Absolutely.

12:28

- Those guys, those stunt guys were unbelievable-

12:30

- Garrett and Steve, yeah.

12:31

Unbelievable.

12:31

- All across the board, we had great backing,

12:34

great support, great team.

12:35

- Garrett Warren and Steve Brown, who our fight coordinator,

12:37

our stunt coordinator and fight coordinator, respectively.

12:39

They choreographed a lot of these fights.

12:42

But then what they're so great at

12:43

is that they allowed us to put our own spin on things-

12:47

- Yeah.

12:48

- Because when I, like for instance, the first slap fight

12:50

was first a punch fight, and then I had this idea that,

12:53

oh it'd be kind of funny if it was a slap fight-

12:54

- Yeah, that was great, it was brilliant.

12:56

- And they were like-

12:56

- [Conor] Way better.

12:57

- "Oh, that's a great idea."

12:58

- Yeah, and that was great about them-

12:59

- [Jake] Yes.

13:00

- That they were very, yeah, you know, accommodating.

13:01

So they'd come up with a, you know, concept,

13:03

and then we'd say, "Well, this feels nice."

13:05

And then it'd be like, "Yes, that's it, yeah."

13:06

And then we'd all be just one team in unison.

13:10

- But you would constantly,

13:11

the thing that was incredible about having Connor was that,

13:14

you know, he would come up with something, he'd go,

13:16

"Ah, I don't believe that."

13:17

"Nah, fight fans aren't gonna like that."-

13:19

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, or it would've been peculiar about that,

13:22

that would've been my thing,

13:23

I would've been peculiar about that-

13:24

- Yeah, but you also like, you guide me through things too-

13:25

- Yeah.

13:26

- Like when we were grappling I remember you telling me-

13:27

- Yeah just like body talk, talk in the body,

13:28

and just to make the shot more realistic,

13:30

the way the body mechanics would be.

13:31

And it worked, it absolutely worked.

13:33

- So do you, like when you watch movies, fight movies,

13:36

or just movies generally where there's action,

13:38

do you notice when it's bad?

13:40

Do you notice that?-

13:41

- I mean, you would, I'm more,

13:42

I go into it a imaginative state, you know,

13:44

I don't really, I wouldn't critique it so much,

13:48

I would just enjoy it for what it is.

13:50

- Yeah.

13:51

- But, you know, being involved in it personally,

13:53

you know, knowing the history of the "Road House",

13:56

the classic that it is, the cult classic that it is.

13:58

And knowing now the UFC is involved, you know?

14:00

- Yeah.

14:01

- I was for sure picky with it.

14:03

You know, little details on a punch, on certain punches.

14:07

Jake knows how to throw a backhand,

14:09

knows how to throw a jab, knows how to throw shots.

14:11

- Yeah, yeah.

14:12

- But, you know, sometimes you just need a little,

14:13

just a little reminder of,

14:15

and then you're able to do it and then, boom-

14:17

- But also it's-

14:18

- Makes the shot look way more.

14:19

- We were shooting things like in-

14:21

- [Conor] Slow motion.

14:21

- Slow motion, but like long takes.

14:23

- [Conor] Yeah, yeah.

14:24

- So it wasn't like we could go and focus on

14:26

one punch or two punches.

14:27

A lot of times there were

14:28

eight, nine, 10 combinations at a time-

14:30

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

14:31

- And so you'd get six of 'em,

14:32

but then you'd miss two in the middle,

14:34

and then you'd get the last two-

14:35

- You have to go, yeah.

14:36

- And so for me, my mind didn't work that way,

14:39

we shot a lot of those things at night too-

14:41

- Yeah.

14:41

- A lot of those fights were at night-

14:42

- Yeah, that's right, yeah.

14:43

- 3:00 in the morning or something.

14:44

- Yeah, yeah.

14:45

- And your brain starts to go like.

14:46

- Yeah, you're a bit delirious.

14:46

- Yeah.

14:47

- What I will say is I've never seen a movie like it,

14:50

as far as absorbing shots.

14:52

- Yeah.

14:53

- And fight scenes, I've never seen it, it was,

14:54

the methods, like looking, when I get close to you,

14:57

don't let no one get this close-

14:59

- I know.

14:59

- And then bang him with my head.

15:00

That's like I've given you a full smack of my head.

15:02

- I know.

15:03

- You know what I mean, and the methods we've done-

15:04

- Do you remember, wait but do you remember

15:05

when we were shooting it, and I remember you,

15:06

you were like, looking at it you were like,

15:09

"Is it really making contact?"

15:10

"Is it really?"-

15:11

- Yeah.

15:12

- Then we did the four pass process,

15:13

and you were still like, "I don't really."

15:14

And I was like, "It's gonna look cool."

15:15

Remember that?-

15:16

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

15:17

- That was so interesting to me because-

15:18

- So talk to them on the four pass project.

15:20

- Four pass is him faking hitting me

15:22

and me responding to it,

15:23

being really close and him going like that

15:25

and me hitting back.

15:26

And the second pass was, the pad was replacing me,

15:29

and then Connor would-

15:30

- I'm smacking the pad, yeah.

15:31

- Head but the pad.

15:32

And then the next pass was he was the pad,

15:34

and then it would hit me.

15:35

- Yeah.

15:36

- And then the last pass was slow motion

15:37

where Connor was just going.

15:38

[Conor and Jake imitating whooshing]

15:39

- I loved that part-

15:40

- Into my head, I go.

15:41

- I loved it, it was like we were kids, then.

15:42

- Yeah like kids, yeah yeah-

15:43

- Felt like we're kids.

15:44

Three of 'em, what an experience.

15:47

The scene where I burst through the road house

15:49

and the fucking car, I got a hold of a vehicle-

15:52

- Oh yeah.

15:52

- And go through the car, and then I'm stuck in the car,

15:54

I can't get it out.

15:56

And just as I'm about to get out,

15:57

Jake runs over, slams it into me, bang.

16:01

And we had to just repeat it 'cause Doug was like,

16:03

"No it's not believable."

16:06

Now we were supposed to practice it, I was,

16:09

my first time on set, right, my first time doing this role,

16:11

so some of the times I might've, you know,

16:13

I was a little off on a day, you know,

16:16

just it was an overwhelming one at times, right.

16:18

And one of the days we were supposed

16:20

to practice before we done it, and I didn't show for it.

16:23

And they weren't happy, no one was happy.

16:24

You know, I wasn't even happy myself, I was just,

16:26

I was only supposed, whatever,

16:27

I won't get into the politics about it, but,

16:29

[Jake laughing]

16:29

I was there, I should have been there a little bit earlier,

16:31

I wasn't, yeah, and they weren't happy with me.

16:33

But I'm getting the door smacked off me, right,

16:36

and it's over and, bang.

16:37

And Doug is the director, Doug saying,

16:39

"No, it's not real enough."

16:40

"You should have been here, we were practicing."

16:42

And I said, what?

16:43

And then I have a fucking black eye,

16:45

the door was actually-

16:45

- He did have a black eye.

16:46

- Smacking me in the fucking,

16:47

I was actually getting full whacks of the door.

16:50

I'm saying, "What do you mean it's not real enough?"

16:52

"I'm actually getting hit with the door here."

16:53

It's a real car door-

16:55

- Not, but it-

16:56

- It was as real as it gets, man.

16:58

I was holding, we're not fighting on a little dinghy,

17:00

not a dinghy, what's it called?

17:01

Pontiac, what it's called-

17:02

- Yeah, a dinghy, a dinghy, yeah, yeah.

17:03

- A dingy, and it, the boat goes like that,

17:05

I'm holding through the water-

17:07

- Under the water.

17:08

- Crazy, crazy stuff on me first one.

17:10

But, you know, we a mess, we done it, we fucking roasted-

17:13

- You remember the rope that was connected to the door?

17:14

And I had to slam the door,

17:15

but there was a rope that was connected to it-

17:17

- Yeah, yeah.

17:17

- Every time I did it I was like,

17:19

"I don't wanna crush Conor's leg."

17:20

- Yeah, 'cause my leg is like, ooh,

17:21

and the rope was like, it's just a rope that's stopping it-

17:23

- Like this close to his leg.

17:24

- But accidents can happen on set,

17:25

and I only come on from a horrific leg injury.

17:28

Something like that, ah.

17:29

- Yeah.

17:30

- But we had a great time, man, Jesus,

17:31

we made a classic I feel-

17:33

- It's so fun.

17:33

- We made a good one for the people,

17:35

and I'm excited for them to see it,

17:37

I really am excited for them to see

17:38

and see how the response is.

17:40

- Same.

17:40

- [Producer] What's in the future

17:41

for Conor McGregor, the actor?

17:42

- Oh I don't, you know, I'm in talks now,

17:46

in talks for fighting, for a fight, you know,

17:48

so I'm looking to get back in competition.

17:50

- [Producer] Yeah.

17:51

- Hopefully June 29th,

17:52

then hopefully September for Mexican Independence Day.

17:54

- I'm not up for that, I just want you to know.

17:56

[Jake and Conor laughing]

17:57

- Yeah, no, you know, it's time for me

17:59

to get my competitive game going again.

18:01

You know, so that's what I'm focused on.

18:03

- [Producer] Just 'cause you're doing this

18:04

doesn't mean you're not still a fighter, you're not still-

18:06

- No, I mean I don't, this isn't, I don't really,

18:08

this is Jake's game, you know?

18:09

Fighting is my game.

18:11

- [Producer] Yeah.

18:12

- So, but it was enjoyable

18:12

and I'm enjoying the whole process

18:14

and I always said,

18:16

like people would ask something like will I do it again.

18:18

I said, wait 'till the movie comes out,

18:21

and let me see how I feel about it,

18:22

and then I'll go from there.

18:24

- I'd love to work with him again.

18:25

And there are a lot of cool ideas.

18:28

- Yeah.

18:29

- So.

18:30

- [Producer] You should make a real UFC movie some day.

18:31

- I mean the UFC is a movie in a lot of ways-

18:34

- Yeah, it's one you can't script-

18:35

- I mean embedded, all that stuff-

18:36

- You can't script the UFC.

18:37

- I mean the stories of the fighters

18:38

and as you follow them, as everything ebbs and flows.

18:41

One of the most beautiful things I think about it too,

18:43

and I would just say in terms of your story,

18:45

is also the way in which you are in, you know,

18:50

success but also in defeat.

18:51

- [Conor] Mm.

18:52

- Like to me, that's a story of you

18:53

that I find so inspiring.

18:55

- Mm.

18:56

- You know-

18:57

- Yeah.

18:58

- And I think so many people do.

18:59

- Mm.

19:00

- And that game, particularly the UFC-

19:00

- [Conor] Yeah.

19:02

- Like that fight game is a different game.

19:03

It's different in the UFC than isn't boxing and stuff.

19:05

- It's an addictive business.

19:06

- Mm.

19:07

- It is an addictive business.

19:08

- [Jake] Mm.

19:09

- That's why I'm eager get to get back in, I'm not,

19:10

my story's not done yet.

19:11

You know, I came off of a big heavy injury,

19:14

I got the chance to do this movie.

19:16

But you know, I gotta get back in there now.

19:19

You know, I've been out handing out the flyers,

19:21

it's time to get back to the shop now.

19:22

You know, that's kind of where I'm at.

19:24

- Well, you're welcome back to our shop anytime.

19:26

[Conor laughing]

19:26

- Thank you.

19:27

You're doing Broadway now with Denzel Washington.

19:30

- Yeah.

19:31

- [Conor] Wow, Shakespeare.

19:32

- Yeah.

19:33

- That's gonna be intense, my man.

19:34

- Yeah.

19:35

- When, what, talk to me on the process of that,

19:36

because you were talk, remember we were talking on set

19:38

and you were saying about Broadway

19:39

and it's a different game, it's a different kind of-

19:40

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

19:41

- You actually prefer Broadway, do you?

19:42

Is that what you said to me?

19:44

- Well, I love being in front of an audience.

19:46

I mean, when I got into the ring in the same way-

19:48

- [Conor] You felt that, yeah.

19:49

- It felt familiar in the way.

19:50

Totally unfamiliar in a lot of other ways.

19:52

But to me, that's the same thing as you walk in,

19:55

you walk in front of a live audience every night-

19:57

- [Conor] Yeah.

19:58

- And you have a challenge, and challenge is

19:59

to tell a story with this group of people.

20:01

And particularly for me,

20:03

the challenge has always been something I wanted to set

20:05

with Shakespeare, who is, you know,

20:08

goes without saying is Shakespeare.

20:10

- When is it coming out?

20:11

- Next year.

20:12

- So you'll go into now preparation for that,

20:14

and it'll take a good year of preparation.

20:16

- Yes.

20:17

- So you'll be practicing on stage,

20:18

and then yous will release it next year?

20:19

I can't wait for that, my man, I'll be at that.

20:21

- Okay.

20:22

- [Conor] For sure.

20:23

- Okay.

20:24

- [Conor] I'll be at.

20:24

- Great.

20:25

- Denzel and everything, man.

20:26

That's something else, isn't it?

20:27

- Legend, yeah.

20:28

- What's the Shakespeare story, what's it called?

20:29

- Othello.

20:29

- Othello, yeah.

20:30

- Yeah.

20:31

- Very good.

20:32

You just do one show a night,

20:33

or what way does the shows work then?

20:34

- Two days a week you do two shows.

20:34

- Two days a week you do two shows a day.

20:36

So four shows a week.

20:37

- Eight shows a week.

20:38

- Oh, eight shows, okay.

20:39

I'll do a cameo,

20:40

I'll be like the tree or something, you know.

20:41

[Jake laughing]

20:42

Is that.

20:44

- I, uh.

20:45

[Conor laughing]

20:46

- I play a great tree.

20:47

- "I did Shakespeare, I did Shakespeare."

20:49

[Jake and Conor laughing]

20:51

- Because I can't read Shakespeare.

20:52

[Jake and Conor laughing]

20:52

No, I look forward to that one, man.

20:54

- Thank you-

20:55

- [Conor] I look forward to that for sure.

20:55

- [Producer] All right, guys, thank you.

20:56

- Brilliant.

20:57

Jake, thanks man, great day with you.

20:58

Thank you so much.

20:59

- Same.

21:00

- [Producer] Awesome.

21:00

- Appreciate you.

21:01

- Thank you so much guys.

21:02

Thank you all.

21:03

[upbeat dramatic music]

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