It was early 1979 and I found myself in a small waiting room at the MGM Studios
in Hollywood. I was there to read for the part of a reporter in the sequel to Sylvester
Stallone's Academy Award winning, ROCKY.
When my name was called, I expected to meet with a group of casting directors as
is usually the case, but to my surprise, only one person sat on the other side of a
small desk -- Stallone himself.
His greeting was as warm and down to earth as Rocky Balboa and after telling him
a little bit about myself, we got down to business. I can remember him searching
through the script to find a part that had the most lines.
"Here, try this," he said in that trademark accent as handed me the page.
One read and that was it.
"Very nice. Are you available next Tuesday?" (Looking back, I'm surprised he
didn't offer to pick me up!)
Just like that, I had been cast by one of the biggest movie stars in the world. I would later find that Sly sees life through the eyes
of those on the outside looking in. He believes in opportunity for all.
The scene in the movie takes place at the boxing commissioner's office as Rocky announces his rematch with Apollo Creed,
played by Carl Withers, and was actually filmed in an abandoned bank building in downtown Los Angeles. It took two days to film
less than as many minutes.
One of the other actors cast as a reporter was an KABC-TV news anchor and former Miss America, Tawny Little. We had met on
the ABC lot while I was hosting segments for ABC-TV's "Kids Are People, Too," and ended up hanging out together during most
of the Rocky II filming.
Stallone reminded me of someone else who
did as much behind the camera as he did in
front of it: Dick Clark.
Every shot was blocked out carefully and
nothing happened until Stallone was ready.
Yet, everyone seemed to be enjoying them-
selves, knowing that we were working on
another possible blockbuster.
When the scene was done, Sly thanked
everyone and posed for pictures with a
few of the actors, including Tawny and
myself.
We all met again at the premiere held at
Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood and received a special gift from Sly: a satin jacket similar to the one he wore in the
movie with the ROCKY II emblem on the back. It is encased and hangs proudly on my office wall.
Several years later, I hosted the ground breaking ceremonies for the new Planet Hollywood in San Antonio and was pleased
to be sharing the stage with Sylvester Stallone. He kidded me about being shorter than him (Stallone stands 5' 8") and I asked
if there would be anymore Rocky sequels, as Rocky V had just been released.
He said, "You never know."
ROCKY BALBOA can be summed up in that very statement, "You never know.....until you try."
While the original ROCKY movie was about an unknown getting his shot at the title, ROCKY
BALBOA is about what many consider to be a "has been" facing seemingly insurmountable
odds as he tries to let out what Rocky calls in the film, "the stuff in the basement."
The stuff in your heart.
There's a little bit of Rocky in all of us. That's why we have enjoyed the ride and will continue
to be attracted to any story that speaks to our soul. Because no matter where you are in
life, "It ain't over till it's over." -Rocky Balboa
Absoulutely!
Sonny Melendrez
Back to SonnyRadio.com
(c) 2006 Sonny Melendrez
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