Clubhouse Conversations — Unstoppable

In this episode, cinematographer Salvatore Totino, ASC, AIC is joined by interviewer Suki Medenčević, ASC, ASBiH, SAS to discuss his work on Unstoppable — the biographical sports drama based on the true story of Anthony Robles, a wrestler born with one leg who nonetheless ascended to become an NCAA national champion.

Unstoppable is centered on Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome), who, born with one leg, endeavors to find success in wrestling at the national level. With the steadfast support of his mother, Judy (Jennifer Lopez), and the guidance of his coaches, Robles endures unique physical and mental challenges to earn a place on the wrestling team at Arizona State. The film marks the feature directorial debut of William Goldenberg, and yet another singular sports story shot by Totino, whose past credits include Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday and Ron Howard's Cinderella Man.

In this interview, Totino discusses his work with Goldenberg on crafting the film’s naturalistic look; the challenges of capturing wrestling’s intense, ground-level action; how his lighting and lens choices complemented the film’s sunlit Arizona backdrop; his use of practical lighting to help shape the atmosphere within the protagonist's family home, and more.

Salvatore Totino, ASC, AIC is a cinematographer whose credits include the features Any Given Sunday (1999), Cinderella Man (2005), The Da Vinci Code (2006), Frost/Nixon (2008), Angels & Demons (2008), Everest (2015) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), as well the TV series The Offer (2022).

Suki Medenčević, ASC, ASBiH, SAS is a cinematographer whose credits include the features The Great Water (for which he won the Camerimage Golden Frog award) and Bal-Can-Can (for which he won the València-Cinema del Mediterrani Best Cinematography award), and the series Them and Shining Vale.

You’ll find all episodes in our ASC Clubhouse Conversations discussion series here.