Rocky Balboa: Courage, Integrity, Faith, Victory The Movie

Rocky
at the base of the steps Your Business Blogger was in Philly recently and wondered about the Rocky statue that was briefly at the top of the 72 steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Since September, the statue is now at the base of the steps.

So I decided to ask the man who might know, Sylvester Stallone.

Why? I asked him.

Rocky Sly says, It's better where it is -- at the base of the steps. At the top was the completion -- the end -- but it's not the completion that counts -- it's the journey. The Effort; The Passion.

Or, as Rocky says in the movie, The Beast trying to get out.

The step-climbing, the process, the journey, reminded me of Earl Nightingale's definition of success: The progressive realization of a worthy goal.

Success on this side of eternity and finishing the fight, the race, for the other side of eternity. The passion and The Passion.

The new Rocky movie was about the beast, the fire in the gut getting out and lighting up the world.

The Completion and incidentally, The End.

Your Business Blogger and Charmaine were guests for a premier showing of the film in Your Nation's Capital a few weeks ago. A must see. Blood and a beating and a victory...although not quite what you would think. And not quite a tie.

The pre-screening was at the Regal Theater on K Street in Georgetown, DC.

After the viewing, we were invited with a few dozen of our closest new best friends to meet Sylvester Stallone at the Four Seasons.

I made a little wager with Charmaine: when Rocky walked in, he'd get a standing O. Charmaine said O, no -- it will be respectful silence.

As it happened, we were both right; both of us winning. (A nice way to end a marital debate, as well as a movie) When Sly walked in (with only three handlers, security out of sight) there was enthusiastic applause -- but not standing and shouting as I would have thought, and I almost did, Charmaine enforcing a restraining order on my arm...

Sylvester Stallone at three score years and zero body fat and six Rocky movies (Rambo et.al. aside) strolled in wearing a comfortable-looking blue long sleeve shirt and blue jeans and funky shoes Charmaine could not ID. He sat at the head of a long conference table to talk about The Final Rocky Movie.

His Faith made him do it. And Jesus was in the details.

The music score kept up the motivation: A big score for a little man, he says.

The music alone is enough to have Rocky Top any opponent.

Rocky Balboa at the Top
Museum of Art, Phildephia
Totally Rocky.com But not without effort. Stallone says that he's one of three Republicans in Hollywood -- and that influences getting work -- don't let anyone say otherwise.

No wonder Sylvester Stallone was comfortable in Washington, DC: Congress now looks just like Hollywood...

Except Hollywood might have more conservatives than Congress.

Sly (we are on first names, natch) is a real professional at work, especially in how he worked the room. He is immediately likable. I'd vote for him. And see his movies.

(And he embodies the difference between liberals and conservatives:

Reagan was an Actor who became a Politician.
Clinton was a Politician who became an Actor.

Stallone is genuine. Authentic. Transparent.)

He spent some 40 minutes sharing his Faith and eternal values and how that made the movie moving. He loves Jesus and Liberals hate him. (Both Jesus and Rocky.)

The Diva and The Dude with
Art in Philadephia There is room all over Philly for all manner of "art" but not Rocky at the Top of the Museum of Art. The Rocky Statue is not considered art but only a "movie prop."

ROCKY
A. Thomas Schomberg, 1982 Where marketing meets real life.

DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer, says in Stallone still packs punch with Rocky

Besides filming most of the movie in the city, mostly in Kensington and South Philadelphia, Stallone has made several trips the last few months. The Rocky Balboa statue returned in September to the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, not far from the steps where the fictitious hard-luck fighter made movie history. And Stallone promoted the movie at a Philadelphia Eagles game earlier this month, earning another boisterous reaction.

Not many movie characters are as synonymous with a city as Rocky and Philadelphia.

Rocky Balboa
Faith Based Resource Kit
GET THE BOX
free Also see Faith Based resources

Thank you (foot)notes:

Management training tips and for more on Philadelphia and business, see:

John Wanamaker, Half of my marketing budget is wasted...problem is...I don't know which half.

Benjamin Franklin, A success story -- read how Franklin got Benjamin's.

John Kerry, Learn how swiss cheese cost him the election at Pat's Steakhouse.

Clowns in Philly, What two groups of people should never be at a negotiation table?

Rocky Balboa is in theaters now. And be sure to stay to the very end -- terrifc clips of common tourists running and boxing at the top of the steps. Required activity when visiting Philadelphia. Like eating at Pat's.

Full Disclosure: 2 movie tickets were provided at no charge, no popcorn and no request for a favorable review. I did attempt to sell out. The PR team didn't bite.

See Movie Review: Rocky Balboa.

In Brief: ROCKY BALBOA

RottenTomatoes has more.

There are six Rocky movies:

Rocky 1976 - Oscar for best picture
Rocky II 1979 - he wins the title
Rocky III 1982 - Mr T and Hulk Hogan
Rocky IV 1985 - Dolf Lungren (I must break you)
Rocky V 1990 - Tommy Morrison
Rocky Balboa - out this week

Stallone once said in an interview that he wanted to stop with the first one. That Rocky would be one punch from winning the title but was shocked at the crowd wanting blood and would turn and walk away; satisfied that he went the distance.

Directed by
Sylvester Stallone

Writing credits (WGA)
Sylvester Stallone (written by)

Sylvester Stallone (characters)

Cast (in credits order)

Sylvester Stallone .... Rocky Balboa

Burt Young .... Paulie
Antonio Tarver .... Mason 'The Line' Dixon

Geraldine Hughes .... Marie

Milo Ventimiglia .... Rocky Jr.
Tony Burton .... Duke
A.J. Benza .... L.C.

James Francis Kelly III .... Steps

Talia Shire .... Adrian
Lou DiBella .... Himself

Mike Tyson .... Himself
Henry G. Sanders .... Martin
Pedro Lovell .... Spider Rico
Ana Gerena .... Isabel
Angela Boyd .... Angie
Louis Giansante .... Bar Thug
Maureen Schilling .... Lucky’s Bartender
Lahmard J. Tate .... X-Cell (as Lahmard Tate)
Woody Paige .... ESPN Commentator #1 (as Woodrow W. Paige)
Jay Crawford .... ESPN Commentator #3
Brian Kenny .... ESPN Host #1
Dana Jacobson .... ESPN Host #2
Skip Bayless .... ESPN Host #3
Charles Johnson .... ESPN Host #3 (as Chuck Johnson)
James Binns .... Commissioner #1
Johnnie Hobbs Jr. .... Commissioner #2

Barney Fitzpatrick .... Commissioner #3
Jim Lampley .... HBO Commentator #1
Larry Merchant .... HBO Commentator #2
Max Kellerman .... HBO Commentator #3
LeRoy Neiman .... Himself
Bert Randolph Sugar .... Ring Magazine Reporter
Bernard Fernández .... Boxing Association of America Writer
Gunnar Peterson .... Weightlifting Trainer
Yahya .... Dixon’s Opponent
Marc Ratner .... Weigh-In Official
Anthony Lato Jr. .... Rocky’s Inspector
Jack Lazzarado .... Dixon’s Inspector
Michael Buffer .... Dixon’s Inspector
Joe Cortez .... Referee
Carter Mitchell .... Shamrock Foreman
Vinod Kumar .... Ravi
Fran Pultro .... Father at Restaurant

Frank Stallone .... Dinner Patron
Jody Giambelluca .... Dinner Patron
Tobias Segal .... Robert's Friend #1

Tim Carr .... Robert's Friend #2

Matt Frack .... Robert's Friend #3

Paul Dion Monte .... Robert's Friend #4
Kevin King Templeton .... Robert's Friend #5
Robert Michael Kelly .... Mr. Tomilson

Nick Baker .... Irish Pub Bartender
Don Sherman .... Andy
Stu Nahan .... Computer Fight Commentator
Gary Compton .... Security Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rick Buchborn .... Tomilson Rocky Fan
Ricky Cavazos .... Boxing Spectator (uncredited)

Produced by
Robert Chartoff .... executive producer
William Chartoff .... producer
Kevin King .... producer
Guy Riedel .... co-producer
Sylvester Stallone .... executive producer
Charles Winkler .... producer
David Winkler .... producer
Irwin Winkler .... executive producer

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
J. Clark Mathis (director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sean Albertson

Casting by
Diane Heery
Sheila Jaffe

Production Design by
Franco-Giacomo Carbone

Art Direction by
Michael Atwell
Jesse Rosenthal

Set Decoration by
Robert Greenfield

Costume Design by
Gretchen Patch

Makeup Department
Carlton Coleman .... makeup lab technician: W.M. Creations
Carlton Coleman .... mold maker: W.M. Creations
Scott H. Eddo .... makeup department head
Rich Knight .... makeup lab technician: W.M. Creations
Rich Knight .... mold maker: W.M. Creations
Matthew W. Mungle .... prosthetic supply
Nicole Venables .... personal hair stylist: Sylvester Stallone

Production Management
Udi Nedivi .... unit production manager
Carey Smith Ludwig .... post-production supervisor (as Carey Len Smith)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Katie Carroll .... second second assistant director
Christina Fong .... second assistant director
Rip Murray .... first assistant director
Christian Pichler .... second second assistant director
Ken Twohy .... crowds assistant director

Art Department
Adrienne Boyd .... art department coordinator
Curtis Coyote .... painter: Philadelphia
Jonathan A. Davidson .... key construction grip
Mathias Fain .... set dresser
Sean Ginevan .... leadman
Alberto Gonzalez-Reyna .... assistant art director
Brandi Hugo .... art department assistant
Kent H. Johnson .... property master
Joseph Kearney .... construction coordinator: LA/Las Vegas
Eric Knight .... stand-by painter
Robert E. Knight .... head paint foreman
Paul Maiello .... construction coordinator
Jonah Markowitz .... assistant art director
Cameron Matheson .... set dressing gang boss
Scott Owen .... set dresser
Randy L. Parisian .... scenic artist
Drew Pinniger .... props
Jolie Scherberger .... set dresser
Billy Stearne .... props
Billy Stearne .... set dresser
Kathleen Walker .... art department coordinator

Sound Department
Adam Blantz .... utility sound technician
Anthony J. Ciccolini III .... supervising sound editor (as Chic Ciccolini III)
Vincent Cirilli .... pro tools engineer
Brian John Gardner .... apprentice sound editor
Vincent Guisetti .... foley artist
Tom Hartig .... boom operator
Lisa Jaime .... music editor
Daniel J. Johnson .... music editor
Pamela Kahn .... foley artist
Larry Kemp .... adr editor
Tateum Kohut .... sound re-recording mixer
Howard London .... adr mixer
Steve Maslow .... supervising sound mixer
Chris McGeary .... music editor
Kyle Rochlin .... foley mixer
Lynn Sable .... assistant sound editor
Mark Ulano .... production sound mixer
Dan Wallin .... music scoring mixer

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan .... special effects director

Visual Effects by
Adam Avitabile .... digital compositor
Lloyd Lee Barnett .... digital compositor
Chad Buehler .... 2D visual effects supervisor
Chad Buehler .... lead compositor
Cyntia Büll .... digital compositor
D. Walt Cameron .... digital compositor
Eric D. Christensen .... senior staff: RotoFactory, Inc.
Marie Victoria Denoga .... digital compositor
Sharon R. Eisenberg .... rotoscope artist
Henrik Fett .... visual effects supervisor
Jenny Foster .... visual effects coordinator
Mark Freund .... visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title
Scott Gaynos .... digital artist: RotoFactory
Brian Hanable .... digital effects compositor: Pacific Title
Andreas Jablonka .... digital compositor: LOOK! Effects inc.
Michael Kaelin .... digital compositor/matchmover: LookFX
W. Regan McGee .... digital artist
C. Andrew Nelson .... digital effects artist: RotoFactory, Inc.
Chad Schott .... digital compositor
M. Zachary Sherman .... digital effects artist
Tefft Smith .... digital effects artist: LOOK! Effects inc.
Rene Tougeron .... visual effects producer: RotoFactory, Inc.
Justin van der Lek .... digital compositor
Stephen Wilson .... digital compositor
Doug Witsken .... digital compositor
Jennifer Yu .... digital artist

Stunts
Mark De Alessandro .... stunt coordinator/double

Other crew
Susan Paley Abramson .... casting associate
Nicole Agostino .... production assistant: Philadelphia
Sean Albertson .... supervising editor
Anthony Almaraz .... costumer
Gil Amaral .... transportation coordinator
Joe Biggins .... inflatable mannequins
John Bramley .... still photographer
Paul Bronkar .... digital intermediate colorist
Gary Burritt .... negative cutter
Rod Calarco .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Cathleen M. Carden .... local assistant production accountant
Mark Catania .... grip
Christann Chanell .... costume department assistant
Seth Clark .... first assistant editor
Heather Cohen .... travel coordinator
Malika R. Cohen .... set production assistant
Danielle Colli .... casting assistant
Fred Cooper .... grip
Scott Crabbe .... key digital video assist operator
L. Chip Crosby Jr. .... transportation captain
Amy Cutler .... parking assistant
Dante .... extras warm-up comedian
Benjamin Davidow .... production assistant
Gabe de Kelaita .... production assistant: Las Vegas
Tracy Dixon .... extras casting
Sean Donnelly .... location assistant
Robert Drwila .... assistant editor
Debbie Durkin .... special thanks
Federico Ferreri .... production assistant: Philadelphia
Rudi Fischer .... assistant parking coordinator: Philadelphia
Stephen Fischer .... location scout: Los Angeles
Stephen Fischer .... key assistant location manager: Los Angeles
Colette Gabriel .... camera loader
Harley Glantz .... graphics producer: HBO
Steven James Golebiowski .... second accountant
John Graber .... second assistant accountant
Peter Gray .... 24p high definition systems engineer
Julia Grove .... editorial assistant
Vanessa Gutin .... production secretary
Staci Hagenbaugh .... location assistant
Paul Harb .... additional editor
Paul Harb .... montage editor
Barbara Harris .... adr voice casting
Tammy Lynn Howell .... production assistant
Honora Jackson .... costumer
Cheri Jacobs .... first accountant
Baron Jay .... stand-in
Gregory F. Johnson .... grip: Philadelphia
Gregory F. Johnson .... grip
Kurtis Johnson .... accounting clerk
Dan Jones .... electrician
Kathleen Kelly .... key medic
Kirk Kelly .... transportation
Michael Kelly .... transportation
Kelsey Kimes .... driver
Rachel Klein .... post-production supervisor: HBO
Monique LaMontagne .... set location assistant
Gary LaPoten .... production consultant
Michael Asa Leonard .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Talia Leone .... office production assistant: Philadelphia
Terren Lin .... parking assistant
Tali Lipa .... accountant
Avery Little .... location site representative
Jason Loftus .... local casting associate: Philadelphia
Paul Lohr .... electrician
Matt Lombardo .... set production assistant: Las Vegas
Adam C. Londy .... set production assistant
William Louthe .... electrician
James Lowder .... transportation coordinator
Rob Mabin .... electrician
Justin G. Maguire .... production assistant
Caroline Mah .... transportation secretary
Sheryl Main .... publicist
David Malley .... assistant production coordinator
David Matusek .... apprentice editor
Jason A. McCauley .... parking coordinator: Philadelphia
Terry Meadows .... gaffer: second unit
Isaac Mejía .... set production assistant
Tim Metivier .... first assistant camera
Tony Milus .... assistant: Antonio Tarver
Kelly Moran-Brown .... production coordinator
Jerimiah Morey .... assistant colorist
John Morrone III .... transportation coordinator: main unit
John S. Moyer .... camera operator: "b" camera
John S. Moyer .... steadicam operator
Francine Natale .... local rigging gaffer: Philadelphia
Matthew S. O'Brien .... office production assistant
Brian S. Osmond .... first assistant camera: "a" camera
Justin Panzanaro .... grip
Sharon Pinkenson .... film commissioner
Mark Pricskett .... photo double
Katie Pruitt .... set production assistant
David Raynor .... assistant production coordinator: Philadelphia
Brian H. Reynolds .... key grip
Shannon E. Riggs .... assistant: Guy Riedel
Julian Ruhe .... assistant location manager
Jose Ruisanchez .... assistant: Charles Winkler, Billy Chartoff and David Winkler
J. Celeste Salzer .... assistant: Mr. Stallone
Leon Sanginiti .... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Gregory Santoro .... production assistant
Daniel D. Sariano .... assistant camera
Evan Schiff .... assistant editor
Paul Schreiber .... key location manager
Paul Schreiber .... location scout: Los Angeles
Jason J. Scott .... production assistant
Mike Sime .... video playback engineer
Hope Slepak .... costume supervisor
Richard Streeter .... production assistant
Sean Kevin Sweeney .... extras casting
Tommy Taormina Jr. .... stand-in
Brian Taylor .... production assistant
James 'Biff' Thomsen .... electrician
Scott Trimble .... location scout: Los Angeles
Mike Tsucalas .... set production assistant: Las Vegas
Marion Tumen .... script supervisor
Daniel L. Turrett .... camera operator: "a" camera
Bill Vergos .... assistant: Burt Young
Michael J. Walker .... additional camera operator
Larry Wallace .... gaffer
Michael L. Watson .... extras
Ken C. Wu .... set production assistant
Dave Zarenkiewicz .... location scout

Posted at 11:15 AM
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