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JENS PULVER

DRIVEN
~ PRESS KIT ~
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

INTRODUCTION
In 2010 Jens Pulver, the legendary mixed Table of Contents
martial arts fighter, and former UFC
Synopsis...............................................................3
Lightweight World Champion set his sights
on a comeback after four losses in the Bios..........................................................4, 5, 6, 7
cage. The beginning of this journey was
JENS PULVER | DRIVEN
captured in the documentary feature film A global community driven success story.........8
JENS PULVER | DRIVEN.
Cast & Crew.........................................................9
Hailed as “Beautiful,” “Emotional,” and “Raw and Powerful,”
JENS PULVER | DRIVEN transcends the traditional fight film, Viewer Reviews...................................................10
bringing us an intimate and unflinching look into the world of
Jens Pulver who, though brought up in circumstances that would Contact..............................................................11
have crippled most spirits, found the drive to persevere and
become a champion in his sport.
Press Clips.............................................12, 13, 14
Ultimately, DRIVEN is a film about a universal human struggle,
transcending loss, and overcoming hardship through the many
fights we all share in our pursuit of greatness. It is, poignantly, a film
about one man’s drive, in an increasingly dire American psyche, to
overcome the most trenchant of odds, and redefine his fate in a
quest to provide a more solid future for self and family than his own
meager inheritances would have allowed.

Jens Pulver’s story is everyone’s story, and through this journey we


find that is why Jens Pulver is so loved by fight fans around the
world.
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

JENS PULVER | DRIVEN


Synopsis

Filmed January through April 2010,


JENS PULVER | DRIVEN takes you
behind the scenes for an emotional
roller coaster ride that proves equally
heartbreaking and inspirational as we
follow legendary mixed martial arts
champion, Jens Pulver, on his ‘last
march’ toward a do or die comeback
after suffering four losses in the cage.

The result is an unprecedented in depth


look into the fighter, capturing an
intimate portrait of a man who rose from
a childhood laced with violence and
substance abuse, to become one of the
most loved and respected MMA fighters
of all time.

Ultimately, JENS PULVER | DRIVEN is a


story a b o u t th e u n i v e r s a l h uman
struggle to transcend personal loss in
the pursuit of greatness.

All of us share this fight, but not all of


us, like Jens Pulver, have it played out
in front of millions on pay-per-view. “Raw and powerful...can’t even begin to go through the range
of emotions this film evokes...I’ve seen a lot of fighter
documentaries, this blows them all away.”
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

BIOS
Director, Gregory Bayne
Gregory Bayne is a filmmaker living and working in Boise, Idaho. His work
as a producer, director, editor, and cinematographer has appeared in
several short, feature length and documentary films including Trudell,
which premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, the ESPN produced
Out of the Blue: A Story about Life and Football at Boise State, about the
2007 Boise State Fiesta Bowl Champions, and Purple State of Mind, a
2008 audience award winner at the Tallahassee Film Festival. His work
has shown theatrically, at film festivals worldwide (including the Sundance,
Seattle, Munich and SXSW Film Festivals), and broadcast nationally on
PBS, ESPN and the Sundance Channel.

Bayneʼs feature directorial debut, Person of Interest, hailed as “this


generationʼs Taxi Driver” released in 2010 and was downloaded over
40,000 times in its first month of availability. In 2011, the film will appear on
Cable and Internet VOD providers.

Bayne has been a guest speaker discussing the changing landscape of


film and media at Columbia University and the Los Angeles Film Festival,
and written articles for Filmmaker Magazine, renowned film producer Ted
Hopeʼs Truly Free Film Blog, and the film/technology website
WorkbookProject.com. He has been featured in FilmThreat, Filmmaker,
and MicroCinema Magazines, and WIRED Magazine.

Currently, Bayne is releasing his latest film, JENS PULVER | DRIVEN, an


intimate feature documentary about legendary mixed martial arts
champion, Jens Pulver, who rose from a childhood laced with violence and
substance abuse, to become one of the most loved and respected MMA
fighters of all time. The film, which has been hailed as“Beautiful,”
“Inspirational,” and “Raw and Powerful,” will embark on an international
screening tour this spring, and be released on digital, and retail platforms
this summer and fall.
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

BIOS
Writer, J. Reuben Appelman
J. Reuben Appelman is a multi-genre writer whose projects include the
feature documentary, Playground, Executive Produced by George Clooney
and Steven Soderbergh, Cha-Cha-Cha, which he wrote in collaboration
with Oscar-nominated director Michael Hoffman, the dramatic conspiracy
thriller, Person of Interest, a children's adventure drama, The Five, starring
Dan Lauria and Madisen Beaty (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button),
and the documentary film, Jens Pulver | Driven, which he wrote and co-
produced.

His poetry collection, Make Loneliness, was an Editorʼs Choice favorite in


the international arts quarterly, BOMB magazine, and was featured by
NPR literary critic, Andrei Codrescu. Appelman is a four-time grant
recipient from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, most recently having
been awarded a prestigious State of Idaho Writing Fellowship in Literature
for his investigative work on the serial abduction-murders of multiple
children outside Detroit, Michigan. The project, Murder City Shakedown,
is also the basis for his current screenwriting project, DETROIT. He
teaches creative writing at Boise State University.
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

BIOS
Executive Producer, Dylan Bruno
Dylan Bruno is an actor, writer and producer who's career has spanned
television, film and sports.

Best known from his 5 year stint in CBS' NUMB3RS as 'Det Colby
Granger', Bruno's TV career started in the Steven Spielberg drama HIGH
INCIDENT. Several other high profile TV and film appearances followed
including WHEN TRUMPETS FADE (HBO), SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
directed by Steven Spielberg, THE PENNSYLVANIA MINER'S STORY
(ABC) and WHERE THE HEART IS opposite Natalie Portman, among
others.

Bruno starred in and produced the 2001 independent feature GOING


GREEK written and directed by Justin Zackham, which piqued his
producorial interests.

As an athlete, Bruno began wrestling in high school on the varsity team


starting in 7th grade at 98 lbs. He qualified and wrestled in the Junior
Olympics twice in Iowa where he trained with Dan Gable and Jeff Blatnik.
In his freshman year of college, a torn shoulder ended his career, until he
discovered JiuJitsu and began training with Eddie Bravo and competed in
Grapplers quest and NAGA.

Bruno can currently be seen guesting on such shows as BONES, THE


MENTALIST and NCIS - -and will be seen starring in the Hallmark
Channel's movie titled FIXING PETE.

He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

BIOS
Jens Pulver
Jens Pulver grew up in an environment that few could imagine, and
that would cripple most spirits. At the age of seven, Jens had a
shotgun shoved into his mouth by his abusive father, who had lined up
the children and threatened to kill them all, starting with Jens. By the
age of ten, Jens was fist-fighting the man on a regular basis, and
losing daily.

From this brutal beginning, Jens Pulver spent a lifetime fighting to


overcome the poverty of his circumstance, corralling the physical and
spiritual demons of his childhood, and eventually unleashing them into
the world of Mixed Martial Arts, where he rose to epic proportions.

In 2001, Jens Pulver became the first Lightweight World Champion


under the now multi-billion dollar fight industry that is the UFC. Jens
Pulver’s image is branded into video games, t-shirts, athletic gear, and
the minds of millions of Mixed Martial Arts fans around the world.

Revered as a legend, yet constantly fielding demands to retire, Jens


Pulver is not finished by a long shot. He is still driven, still striving for
greatness, knowing that his future and his fate rest solely in his hands.

Since shooting DRIVEN Jens has returned to his winning ways with
an explosive return to the cage at XFO 38, submitting his opponent
in just 49 seconds.

Jens remains 2-0 in 2011 and is currently training for a May bout in
Chicago. In June Jens will appear as a playable character in 505
Games video game release, “Supremacy MMA,” by the Kung Fu
Factory.
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

JENS PULVER | DRIVEN


A global community driven success story
Jens Pulver | DRIVEN is a unique film in many ways, not the least of
which is the fact that it is, to date, 100% fan funded. Over 1,000 people
from around the globe have pitched in amounts ranging from $1 to
$1,000. Some for the rewards, some just because, and all for their
belief in Jens, and the film we have made.

This journey began with the posting of a 4 minutes teaser trailer to


YouTube on January 7, 2010. The trailer, which quickly rose to 10,000
views in its first week, sparked a fundraising campaign using
Kickstarter.com where Director Gregory Bayne was able to raise
$27,210 in 20 days from 410 contributors to fund the initial production
of the film, most pitching in $25 for a signed copy of the DVD.

Since the January campaign, our followers and contributors have


grown substantially creating an active global street team that now have
the film in their possession, are championing it, and are eager to have it
play theatrically within driving distance of their front porch.

To build on this momentum the filmmakers have launched the GET


DRIVEN 2011 - Open Source Film Tour, empowering fans and
organizations to screen the film, and keep the proceeds, in their
communities.

These efforts are chronicled at their tour site: http://


opensourcefilmtour.com
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

CAST & CREW


CREW
Produced & Directed by............GREGORY BAYNE

Written & Co-Produced by........J. REUBEN APPELMAN

Executive Producer...................DYLAN BRUNO

Music by....................................PATRICK BENOLKIN

Sound Design by.......................JACOB KINCH

Camera Operator.......................TRAVIS SWARTZ

Assistant Editor..........................ANDREW AGALSOFF

Re-Recording Mixer..................JACOB KINCH

Production Assistant.................GABI MADSEN

Production Stills........................ALEX COUEY

Additional Camera.....................ABEL PULVER

FEATURING
Jens Pulver

Kannika Pulver

Karson Pulver

Abel Pulver

Ricky Christian

Tony Fryklund

Scott Jorgenson
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

REVIEWS
VIEWER REVIEWS

“This is the most important MMA film ever made...shows all that's good about the human spirit...”

“Well crafted film… Hell of a story. Soul wrenching and inspiring. Although I love martial arts and warrior culture, I am not well
acquainted with the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Jens Pulver is an incredibly strong and compassionate individual. His is the very
definition of the word, “fighter”. I love the stark black and white interview sequences. Very good contrast to the kinetic fury of the
training footage. The painful memories of his father were well balanced with the sweet and touching relationship that he has with his
own son. As a father of three boys, I definitely felt a kinship with the man. I was amazed at the suspense I felt during the official
weigh-in sequence. Tight… Excellent flick.”

“I thought Riding Giants & Tyson were good, but this is by far the best documentary I have seen to date.”

“Raw, powerful, emotional…what a great film.”

“Wow! This movie is beyond just wow!”

“I could write a whole in-depth review of the film, but I think “brilliant” and “perfect” sum it up completely…Shot beautifully, scored
beautifully, sequenced beautifully.”

“I never thought I could enjoy a fight movie, but I was very wrong. Not only enjoyable but touching and beautiful as well.”

“This film was very moving and inspirational…(Jens) is a great man, a true champion and more importantly a good person.”

“Amazing. Simply amazing.”


JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

CONTACT

Gregory Bayne
Producer/Director
208.353.2505
greg@thislovelymachine.com
http://jenspulverdriven.com

Emmeli Bruno
Client Services Coordinator
Paolucci Communication Arts
2516 Via Tejon, Suite 114
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
310-791-2755 ext:314
323-898-5400 -c
ebruno@PaolucciCommArts.com
PaolucciCommArts.com
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

PRESS CLIPS
Jens Pulver and Gregory Bayne: Driven
by Ted Gruber for Chicagonow.com
 
A look inside of Little Evil's life has finally come to the homes of many MMA fans.

Jen's Pulver has been known as a groundbreaker for the sport of MMA and Director Gregory Bayne decided to capture that link between Jens and the success of
MMA. Many months went into the development and filming of Driven and it has become a success.

Both Jens and Greg were kind enough to sit down with me regarding the movie and what the whole process was like from start to finish.

Jens, with the massive following you have not only throughout your MMA career but outside of it as well, what were your first initial thoughts when
Gregory approached you on doing a movie?

My initial thought was here we go what's this, the fourth guy looking to do a movie about me.  The minute he and I spoke I knew who he was having watched "Out
of the Blue: A Film About Life and Football". I also knew he was experienced in the movie area so I was excited to see what he had in mind.

Throughout the movie there were some scenes that really brought us into your personal life that not many get to see of an MMA fighter. How did you
feel with the cameras being on you for a extensive period of time? The cameras didn't bother me at all during the filming process.

As for seeing that side of me, well in the words of Popeye I am what I am. I have demons that scarred me so bad it left me with an everyday roller coaster i just
want to hop the f*ck off.  So going inside of an MMA fighter that's ok, but inside the world of Little Evil? Hold on to your boots!

When you finally viewed the final product how did you feel the movie portrayed you and what it took to put it together?

I loved every part of it. I realized though I cry to damn much about sh*t, not that I care but beyond that it was cool to watch and even more fun getting to know
Greg. The guy is a trip and I enjoy the hell out of him, in the world of Little Evil it's great to meet people who aren't completely full of sh*t.

With your family and fans being very important to you, how do you think they will feel while watching this movie?

I hope to god they all get a boost in their morale. Hopefully they take a moment of self empowerment so they can stand on their own two feet with confidence and
pride.  So they better know the blue n brown eyed freak call Lil Evil.

How was the relationship with you and Greg regarding the input of what you wanted in the movie and what tweaks were made while in the editing
process?

He was perfect and he read my mind when it came to his filming, and he blew my mind on every clip he let me see.  I am lucky to know Greg. Where all the other
things driven, my gym, the Driven Inc shirts, are now gone... Driven the documentary remains, it is a gift that I received and is something we can now pass on to all
of you.
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

PRESS CLIPS
Jens Pulver and Gregory Bayne: Driven (Continued)
by Ted Gruber for Chicagonow.com
 
Gregory, with the extensive time it takes to develop a movie, can you walk us through how you got in contact with Jens and how the movie came about?

I met Jens in the fall of '09, soon after he had moved to Nampa, Idaho to open the Driven Training Center. An old friend of mine was involved with opening the
center, and had mentioned that I should meet Jens, as I might find him and his story interesting. He set up a meet, and for me it was basically decided after that. I
sat down with Jens, asked him two questions, and he talked for an hour. He was truly engaging. After that meet, I went off, did my research, began to develop my
idea for the film, and search for financing.

I was a couple weeks into this process when we found out Jens would be fighting in WEC 47. All of a sudden time was of the essence, and I realized I had the
perfect trifecta for a feature doc. truly compelling subject, with an incredible life story, in a time sensitive situation with a definitive end. I scrambled to get things
rolling, and after several failed attempts to raise financing, shot and put together the first teaser trailer and posted it on YouTube. Based on the groundswell that
created, I then launched the initial Kickstarter.com campaign that got us underway.

I knew from the beginning that I didn't want to do a traditional biography style film. I wasn't interested in conducting a number of "Tell me about Jens" style
interviews with colleagues past and present, or tracking down old footage and photos to do a 'Ken Burns' number with this film. I wanted to capture this moment,
meaning the lead up to WEC 47, as it happened, and concentrate solely on Jens, and Jens telling his story. To me, he was simply the best narrator for his story, so
the direction of how the film would come together was locked in from day one. Luckily, a number of people from around the globe latched onto that vision,
supported it, and we were off to the races.

You have directed other short movies, have you followed MMA well before the movie was being filmed, or was it something you had to learn about while
filming?

I have one other feature PERSON OF INTEREST that I did prior to this film, and have worked as an editor, and cinematographer on several other features over the
past 8-10 years. I knew very little about MMA before this film, and am still educating myself on the sport. I think that part of the success of the film is the fact that I
did not approach it from the angle of 'fan'; I was interested in Jens and his story. I've said it before, I'm driven by curiosity. I do this because I like to learn things in
the process. So approaching this sport cold allowed me to portray in such a way that the viewer would not have to be already versed in the sport to enjoy the film.
Jens's very universal human story drives the film, while the sport provides a very intriguing backdrop.

How much time did you interview Jens off camera before knowing that this was going to be the movie to be shot?

Literally, just in that first hour it was decided. It was so apparent in that first meeting that Jens was a compelling speaker, emotionally honest, and most important
of all, not camera shy.

With the movie being completed only a few months ago, what are your thoughts looking back at the process and what has Jens shown you throughout
the movie?

It's honestly been one of the highlights of my life thus far. Sometimes the best projects are the ones you fall into.  I couldn't be more grateful for having had the
opportunity to meet Jens, and for his allowing me to capture what we did in the film. He's a truly courageous individual, and the very definition of what it means to
be a fighter, all of which I think shines through in the film.
JENS PULVER / DRIVEN ~ PRESS KIT

PRESS CLIPS
Jens Pulver and Gregory Bayne: Driven (Continued)
by Ted Gruber for Chicagonow.com
 
Additionally, I'm astounded by the community of support that has risen up behind this film. To have this film to date be 100% fan funded is an incredible feat, that
neither I, nor Jens, take lightly. I'm very thankful for the support that we've received to ensure this film was made. It's not every day, as a filmmaker, that you get to
connect with such a large cross-section of people that are anticipating your work, so again, one of the highlights of my life thus far.

For the fans that want more information on the movie can go to the http://jenspulverdriven.com. Driven is a movie that took many months to complete and with the
Limited Edition Jens Pulver signed DVD's finally being shipped out, Little Evil finally reveals his life to his fans. Many knew of his background through Jens himself,
but not many get to see his life day by day on what it takes to be a father, husband, and MMA fighter.

Jens Pulver: Driven Local filmmaker takes on UFC's first lightweight champ
by Amy Atkins for the Boise Weekly

Some men are coaxed into lives of greatness. Others are pushed, the shoves leaving bruises on their psyches. Mixed martial artist Jens Pulver trod the latter path
to become a legend: He was the world's first UFC lightweight champion. But what comes up, must come down and Pulver's fall was that much harder because of
his struggle to the top.

Pulver is the subject of local filmmaker Gregory Bayne's new documentary Jens Pulver: Driven, which screens on Friday, Dec. 17, at the Egyptian Theatre. Driven is
a naked look at a man who suffered abhorrent abuse as a child and, as an adult, became a legend in his field due to a myopic focus on practice, fight, win. Bayne
filmed him during the weeks leading up to a career-deciding fight. After garnering the title of champion, Pulver lost four bouts in a row. He returned to the cage on
March 6 to try and regain some of his former glory.

Sitting in a diner booth, bright tattoos poking out from each of his sleeves, Bayne explained that getting Pulver to talk about himself was not a problem. "I met him
and he talked almost a full hour after I asked him maybe two questions," Bayne said, adding a slight laugh. "I found a guy who was engaging to speak with, really
open and seemed emotionally honest. Then he had this back story that was unreal. Then the fight came into play."

The film is made all the more intense through the anticipatory build up to the match. It is a combination of shots of Pulver at home or at the gym preparing for the
fight, and black-and-white confessional scenes in which Pulver speaks directly to the camera. He holds nothing back, and Bayne was right: Pulver is engaging. He
is also charming, quite emotive and raw to the point that it's uncomfortable at times to watch him bleed emotionally. But that is also what makes this documentary
so utterly viewable. Even if you had no idea what MMA stands for or why anyone cares about Pulver, by the end of the film you will have a better idea--on both
counts.

When BW called him in Chicago, where he is currently training, the one succinct statement he made was in regard to how he felt about having Bayne follow him
around: "I loved it."

Pulver will be in attendance at the Boise screening. He said he's a little concerned that no one will be there. Not because it isn't a great film--"Greg is a genius,"
Pulver said--but because he doesn't know why anyone would want to watch a movie about him. "I'm popular, but I ain't famous," he said.

But people will want to see this movie. And once they witness this tragic and triumphant tale of love, loss and redemption, Pulver may have more hands than he
can imagine gently tugging him back toward the top.

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