‘The Sheik’ provides look into wrestler’s unusual lifestyle

April 24, 2015 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Famed retired wrestler The Iron Sheik’s life is documented in a new film, “The Sheik.”
Reminder Publications submitted photo

There are a couple of great recent documentaries that are currently on Netflix that are well worth your time.

The Sheik

What I love about a good documentary is that it can suck you in even if you aren’t initially interested in the subject.  You don’t have to be a fan of professional wrestling to watch this film about the life and career of the Iron Sheik, who calls himself the “most famous Iranian in the world.”

Shot over a number of years by two brothers who were lifelong fans of the WWE bad guy, “The Sheik” details the ups and downs of a talented athlete and somewhat difficult personality.

Khosrow Vaziri came to this country with multiple honors for his amateur wrestling, but it was turning pro and becoming a “heel” that put bread on the table. It was also the Iranian revolution and the taking of American hostages that really put him on the pop culture map.

One should note that Iran does not have “sheiks” as part of its culture, but that didn’t stop wrestling fans from hating Vaziri in the way wrestlers work so hard to achieve.

His great fame, though, was stopped cold when he and good guy wrestler Hacksaw Jim Duggan were caught traveling together – unthinkable when professional wrestling was presented as “real” – and stopped by police who discovered drugs in the car.

Vaziri, after years of battling drug abuse, poor health and obscurity, is now more famous than ever in his 70s thanks to Twitter and his own unique take on the English language and his self-esteem.

Although at times bordering on having the same captivating power of an auto accident, “The Sheik” is a solid film about a compelling subject.

Showrunners

It’s fascinating to me that at a time in which television is being dominated by cheaply made “reality” shows that this may be the golden age of the “showrunner.”

A showrunner is more than just a producer. He or she is the creator or co-creator of a show and is a writer as well. These people are the guiding lights for a production. They are making decisions about casting, story arcs, as well as the day-to-day issues of getting a show done and ready for air.

The men and women behind such programs as “Bones,” “Backstrom,” “Men of a Certain Age,” “Lost,” “Rizzoli & Isles,” among many others are seen in this film.

Although it is not necessarily a new phenomenon, the attention being paid to showrunners by people outside of the television industry is relatively new and this documentary interviewed a wide variety of people with the title.

It should be no surprise that creating a television drama or comedy and being responsible for its operation isn’t a walk in the park.  The showrunners spoke candidly in the movie about conflicts with network execs, the way a production can take over your life and the pain of cancellation. They also spoke about the need for leaving a show and how the success of a show can bring power to its performers, which can diminish that of a showrunner.

This was fascinating to me as it brought light to how current television shows are made. The writing process was examined in detail with teams of writers gathered in a room with walls frequently covered with white boards loaded with notes.

It may be inside baseball for those of us interested in the entertainment industry, but if you enjoy dramatic television this should be of interest to you.

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