Declaration of Independent Wrestling

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENT WRESTLING (the documentary) is a "GO"! We need your help to make it the best we can!
We the independent wrestling fans, and we the fans of independent film, have one thing in common: independence. If there was a second thing, it would be they appreciate two of the coolest forms of storytelling on the planet. The Declaration of Independent Wrestling (DIW) will be the film that leaves fans feeling like they just watched a 5 star banger of an indy match: breathless, horse, with raised heartbeats, with heads and hands held high celebrating something mind blowing. But like any great indy match - we need the support of fans. It’s the community that makes independent wrestling what it is, and so will be the case with DIW. So check out what we are up to, see who we are, and we are sure you will feel like you watched a killer lucha libre match...in that you will want to throw money at us.

Q: WHAT’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENT WRESTLING ABOUT?
Wrestling! In all the weird and wonderful ways that it comes together and how different it can be from anything you may have ever seen. Ever seen a giant one eyed monster powerbomb a sea creature THROUGH A BUILDING? A man defy gravity doing a double backflip... AS A STRATEGIC ATTACK? Or a wrestling card that has more international flavor to it THAN MY NEAREST ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET? Or have you ever just looked at your wrestling and thought it would be better if it was; a bit more German? Surrounded by drag queens?

Did you answer with a “HELL YEAH!”? Then we are the documentary for you dear reader and future viewer! We intend to bring you all an intimate and detailed behind the scenes look into the world of professional wrestling and those that make it happen during the biggest and most eclectic week of entertainment in the sport: Wrestlemania Week.  DIW looks to cover: Impact Wrestling, Evolve, Shimmer, MLW, WXW, House of Glory, The WWN Supershow, DDT, Kaiju Big Battel, and many more! 

Q: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT WE MAKE DIW?
Because too many HAVE NO IDEA how cool and diverse independent wrestling is and everyone should damn well know!

Additionally, we’ve never had a moment like this in independent wrestling before and may not again! The bidding war is a foot! This will be a week of first time matches! Dream Matches! And possibly last matches!

Wrestling hasn’t had a major independent documentary on it in a very long time, and certainly never with the technology behind The Declaration of Independent Wrestling. Don’t you want your wrestling shoot on the same cameras as Daddy’s Home 2? ...Or the Avengers?

Other reasons why it is crucial we make this happen...

“Because no one can make it to every show! There is too much to cover! Too many places to be!  But we are going to try to do it even if it kills just Rob and definitely not Brendan” -Brendan

“Because Brendan committed to having a shot every time someone does an arm drag....He totally said this” -Rob

Wrestling may never be the same after this year. New promotions opening and old ones closing, talent moving to the “big leagues”, “big league” talent wanting to find their own voice on the independents, new money players, new talent, and new hotbeds of wrestling guarantee this week to be one of the most special times in wrestling. We need to capture it as best we can as it has not and may not always be here in the same way. SO DONATE NOW! Below are our perks!

WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE DOPE PERKS FOR DONORS OF ALL GIVING LEVELS!
That means your donation - no matter how small or how large - will come along with a perk.

$1 - $25: Social Media shoutout and a Special Thanks in the documentary! 
You also receive previous tier perks

$50: DIW Documentary Shirt
You also receive previous tier perks

$75: Shout out from Rob and Brendan on video updates!
You also receive previous tier perks

$100: Access to WWN Video on Demand content.  
You also receive previous tier perks

$250: Appearance on Brendan Loves Wrestling Podcast, drawing of yourself as a wrestler by the great illustrator Ben Granoff (5 available)
You also receive previous tier perks

$500: Invite to the screening!
You also receive previous tier perks

$1000: Interview with Brendan and Rob on the red carpet! 
You also receive previous tier perks

$5000: Producer credit and original logo drawing done by illustrator Ben Granoff.
You also receive previous tier perks
*Again, please note that perks DO stack!

Be on the lookout for more perks and swag to be announced!

Q: WHEN DO YOU NEED DONATIONS BY?
Basically? "Now". We are working under a tight time frame to meet our April 3, 2019 shoot date and will be using money as we raise it leading up to the shoot as well as in post-production.

Q: WHAT IS THE MONEY FOR?
1) THE BEST CREW IN THE WORLD! Seriously, we have a top notch crew and want to make sure they’re taken care of!

2) Rentals, Transportation, Food, Editing, Sound Design, Distribution, etc.

Q: HOW ELSE CAN I HELP BESIDES MONEY?
Please know that we'd consider you equally awesome whether you give $1 or $1000. We get it. If donating now is not an option, please help us spread the word about our documentary - follow us on the Gram, share on Facebook, tweet your encouragement and support to us, share this campaign with everyone you know! Hey, if you want you can even make a cheerleading video using #DIWdocumentary and post it on social media. We will make sure our awesome community sees it!

If you know any bloggers/podcasters who would love our documentary, spread the word to them, too!

Follow us on social media @DIWdocumentary on Twitter, IG, Facebook

Q: WHO IS MAKING THIS FILM?
Collectively our team has over 3 decades of production experience - we are incredibly resourceful and have made it work on everything from low- and no-budget feature films, to music videos, television, experimental projects and blockbusters. No matter the budget, we don’t (and won’t) rest until we put out a product we know will impact an audience on a mental, emotional, and visceral level.

Dominick Sivilli (Director, Cinematographer) 
Dominick Sivilli was born and raised in Astoria, Queens New York. Since the age of five he has been drawing and has taken his inspiration from his hand to the lens. New York shaped his personality and style: a soft core inside a hard shell. 

There is one word Dominick always keeps in mind while working on set: CINEMATIC. He is based in New York & Los Angeles. He has worked on 8 feature films, commercials and music videos since 2006. Recent feature credits include  "Striver's Row"  starring  Danny Glover ( Lethal Weapon , SAW, Predator 2) also recently worked with great actors such as Hakeem Kae-Kazim ( Black sails, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 24), and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Cloverfeild paradox, Black Mirror) 

Dominick loves new challenges and can take on any genre. He brings a good sense of humor on set and fantastic leadership mentality. Having excellent communication skills he achieves the over all goal and mood for each story with out compromise. 

Rob Alicea  (Co-Host, Producer)
Rob Alicea is a multi-award-winning director, screenwriter, and producer. Upon graduating from Hunter College, followed by the William Esper Studio, Rob began working in film and television as a production assistant, all the while developing his own indie film projects. He would take the skills he honed on-set and eventually transition to branded content production, where he would spend the next 5+ years developing projects for brands such as Papa John’s, BFGoodrich, Lycra, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, NFL, Lenovo and more. 

In 2017, Rob's first indie episodic project ADULTHOOD premiered at HBO’s New York Latino Film Festival critical acclaim. It was also in 2017 that Rob co-created the unscripted show Border Wives, which his company Leaving Normal signed on to co-produce with Bobby Flay’s Rock Shrimp Productions; the docuseries project is currently represented by William Morris Endeavor.

Brendan Sokler (Co-Host, Producer)
Brendan Sokler is an AEA/SAG-AFTRA actor in New York City. When not producing his own work through Punching Up Productions he can usually be found on the stages of The Pearl, The Pit, The Brick, The Flea...and many other theatres starting with the word "The." At The Flea he was the associate producer of the late night theatrical competition known as Serials and also acted in a Joel Shumacher helmed Neighborhood 3. When asked what Justice League member he thought Brendan would be good to play he said Green Lantern, but everyone else has said Flash. Brendan handles people the way master chefs handle a fine risotto: carefully and to the ire of Gordon Ramsey.

IF YOU'VE MADE IT THIS FAR... THANK YOU!
We are excited for this kickass journey. Be on the lookout for weekly video updates where we will document our progress and shoutout the fans and hype the big event!