EXCLUSIVE: How ‘Paperweight’ Came Together Behind the Scenes
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Paperweight has officially hit Prime Video, offering a thrilling look at a musician’s journey into the world of MMA.
The sports documentary follows Andrew P. Oliver as he prepares for his first fight, capturing every grueling workout, moment of doubt, and lesson learned while training alongside UFC stars Westin Wilson and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
Directed and produced by Oliver and Dan Johnson, the film blends adrenaline-fueled action with heartfelt comedy. The result is a story that is both inspiring and entertaining.
We caught up with the directors for an exclusive look at the creative risks, surprises, and decisions that shaped the film, giving fans a rare peek behind the curtain:
What sparked the idea for the movie in the first place?
“The original concept was something we were sitting on for a few years. Initially, the thought was to do it with boxing. But we had no ties to professional boxing or professional MMA at that time.
In 2023, I (Andrew) connected with a friend (Matt Hannan, who ends up being the physical therapist featured in the film) over a drink and I told him about the idea. He quickly mentioned that he works with two MMA fighters, Wonderboy and Westin Wilson, who might be interested in the idea if it was presented to them.
I was honestly skeptical that they’d want to be involved with it, just due to the fact that the concept was a bit ridiculous to purposely get fully plunged into that world with no experience. But next thing you know I’m meeting with Westin and the ball started rolling and never stopped.
Pivoting from boxing to MMA made a ton of sense in the end. It made for a much more entertaining scope of combat for the film.”
How did you land on the name, and what does it symbolize for you?
“We had brainstormed a number of ideas for names. The ‘Paperweight’ name we landed on was a light bulb moment because it has so many layers of meaning behind it.
Dan had a concept to play on words when it comes to weight classes. We rifled through a bunch of options until it hit us—Paperweight.
On its face, it plays off of the weight divisions in fighting (lightweight, heavyweight, etc). It insinuates that the Paperweight division is for the comically inexperienced protagonist in the movie.
But it also nods to the movie Paper Lion, which was a 1968 film with a similar concept—except with football instead of MMA. In that movie, a journalist with no football acumen plunges himself into the NFL for a game, which has a lot of parallels to what we did.”
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that convinced you this story had to be told?
“When we started production for Paperweight, we had just finished production of our first movie How To Break A World Record. It wasn’t really our desire or intention to immediately start on a second film before the first movie had even been released.
But when both Wilson and Wonderboy agreed to be a part of what would be Paperweight, we knew we had to go ahead and make it happen. Things can change so fast in professional sports, so there was no guarantee that if we put a pin in the concept that we would’ve been able to shoot it later down the line.
So as a result, when we released our first movie, we were already shooting our second.”
What was the biggest gamble you took during production?
“A bit of a spoiler, but the entire plot line of the film hinged on the fact that there’d be a showdown at the end of the movie as the climax—like a final test / final boss. Westin told us initially that Wonderboy would be down to be that fighter at the end of the film to provide the cinematic beatdown.
Only problem is, we didn’t know Wonderboy or have any direct contact to him. We were going off of Westin’s word, which is trustworthy. But, someone like Wonderboy has a unpredictable schedule and could get offered an actual UFC fight, for example, in which case that would have to take priority. In short, his availability wasn’t guaranteed from our perspective.
But we decided to go full steam ahead and shoot what was nearly the entire movie, knowing that we might not have the final scene we needed.
Alls well that ends well though because Wonderboy showed up and showed out—and was an absolute legend about it at that. But there was a span of a couple months where we weren’t sure if our entire body of work was at major risk due to variables out of our control.”
Aside from the Wonderboy situation, were there other moments where the project almost fell apart?
“It wasn’t a make or break moment, but at the end of the film, Westin has a UFC fight—a fight he ended up losing. We had planned a glorious reaction scene to close out the film where we celebrated his win.
The loss was not on the roadmap. But, it actually made for a more heartfelt dialogue towards the end of the movie when it comes to the pressures and anguish that comes from losing a high profile fight in the pubic eye.
Before the movie closes, Westin does indeed get the victory in his next UFC outing after that, so we still got to ride away on a high note.”
Did you have a backup plan if he had said no?
“Yes, we would’ve found another fighter. But the tenor and tone of the movie was that there was a mysterious legendary figure waiting at the end of the line. Wonderboy, being the legend that he is, fit that bill perfectly.
A replacement fighter would’ve required a complete tone change. It more than likely would’ve been a bit lackluster for the movie finale from a lore standpoint.”
Did the story evolve much during filming, or did you stick close to the original script?
“The base premise stayed pretty constant. Because it’s a reality documentary though, we were constantly coming up with new ideas for scenes on the fly. That approach has been kind of a signature for us—we have a basic storyline that is set in stone. But all the details and side quests we take to get there are open to our interpretation as we film.
We have fun with it. Our movies aren’t scripted scene by scene or line by line just by nature of what they are. We document our adventures in real-time. So we have the opportunity to make that as interesting or hilarious as we want to with the things we decide to try along the way.”
Were there any happy accidents or unexpected moments that ended up making the movie better?
“During multiple of the training scenes in the movie, Westin was often chastising Andrew’s defense (or lack thereof) because he was exposing himself to head kicks. He saw the future, because he ended up predicting what would be the most lethal blow of the finale.
Another unexpected detail was the development of Westin’s UFC walkout song. That concept and idea for the song was discussed on camera during the film and the song was then promptly produced during the making of the movie.
Westin would then go on walk out to that song for his UFC fights moving forward. It made for a nice storyline in the film.”
What do you hope audiences take away after watching?
“We hope that viewers enjoy the camaraderie of the crew and want to see those same friends embark on another adventure together in the future. Our goal, in a way, is to invite the viewer into our world. Almost like they’re physically there, along for the ride with us.”
If you had to describe this film in one word, what would it be and why?
“Genuine.
It’s an honest look at not only the skills and toughness of professional MMA (and professional sports). But also the mental aspects of being in the public eye, and fighting in front of millions. Dealing with the glory that comes with the victory, and the backlash and mental tolls of defeat.
The story is presented through the lens of an authentic camaraderie between old friends and new as they all venture through it together.”
Now that it’s finished, what does the movie mean to you personally?
“The reactions to the movie so far prove what we set out to do. Which was to provide people with a wholesome, scrappy and non-pretentious film that lets them go on an adventure with us as they watch it.
In a world where films are often heavy, or take themselves too seriously, we want to fill a void where people can just relax and have fun. From a personal standpoint, that’s the type of content we want to continue to create.”
Who is Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson?
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is one of the most respected and beloved figures in mixed martial arts. A former UFC welterweight title challenger, Thompson joined the promotion in 2012 at the age of 28.
Since, he has built a remarkable career that now spans over a decade. At 42, he continues to compete at the highest level, cementing his legacy as a true veteran of the sport.
Over the years, Thompson has earned the reputation of being one of the nicest mfers in MMA. Whether it’s apologizing mid-fight after landing a clean strike or agreeing to keep a bout standing, Wonderboy sportsmanship is unmatched. He always treats his opponents with respect.
Even in the most intense staredowns, he’s smiling, offering handshakes, and sharing hugs with his opponents. His unique blend of elite striking, longevity, and genuine positivity has made him a fan favorite for years.
Who is Westin Wilson?
Westin Wilson may have entered the UFC later than most, but his impact has been immediate. At 36 years old, he made his promotional debut in 2023.
This came after years of grinding on the regional scene and building a reputation as a dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist. With 12 career wins by first-round submission, his finishing instincts make him a constant threat on the mats.
A close training partner and friend of ‘Wonderboy’, Wilson’s time learning alongside the UFC legend helped shape his late-career breakthrough. His journey is highlighted in the film, including the high of earning his first UFC victory in June after the setback he faced in January.
We actually spoke with Wilson ahead of that January fight:
So what happens when you take an average guy off the street and put him in the cage with one of the world’s best fighters? Find out by watching Paperweight, now streaming on Prime Video!
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