Boxing Short by Queen’s Native Really Packs a Comedy Punch

We're all familiar with the man-child’s of the world, but Jessica Catalano is quick to acknowledge that the female counter exists. "It's somebody who is undercooked, who uses her looks, and thinks eventually they'll get somebody to pick them up and save them,” said the Queen's filmmaker. True or not, the caricature definitely exists in her ten minute short, and she has no problem revealing the inspiration for the title character in a boxing comedy called Raging Doll.

"Yes, yes, it's me," the screenwriter doesn’t hold back, and as funny as the admission is, the delivery packs not only a knockout punch but recently won Best Pilot at the Dances With Films Festival.

A well-earned accolade, Catalano plays Lee, who is aimlessly drifting through life. In her mid-30s, the Bronx character may have had some dreams of boxing success, but the sweet science has become a vehicle to stay in shape and help find Mr. Rich and Handsome.

A funny premise on its own, the comedy goes into high gear with the introduction of a world-class boxer. Played by Laila Zakirova, the 17-year-old is actually a nationally ranked fighter, and in her first acting role, the punchlines land as well as her real-world blows.

Of course, it’s inevitable that the onscreen worlds collide. The insecure wannabe that is Lee must run afoul of the prodigy, and yes, there will be blood.

Laughter too, art imitating life in Catalano’s case is more past tense. “There’s a lot of making fun of my former self,” she said.

The journey was first, though. “It was kind of ridiculous thinking that one day things would change, that I wouldn’t have to do anything. I’ll be fine, all this would be taken care of,” Catalano remembered. “But eventually life kicks your ass, and you get humbled.”

That said, 2022 may have been the moment she started to successfully fly from the seat of her pants. Angry and depressed over a few things from her personal life, she found herself in a boxing gym in Hempstead, Long Island. “I just needed to hit something,” Catalano joked.

In truth, her hook in was a bit more complicated. “With the rise of women’s boxing, I found it interesting. These girls, they are so powerful, they are so devoted, and they were more disciplined than me.”

So the hope was that boxing could fill a void. “I didn’t feel powerful,” she said, “and that’s how I wanted to feel.”

At the same time, the complete novice knew how tall the order was. Catalano felt kind of ridiculous and that her sudden appearance in the gym was insane. She also was able to step back and recognize how the absurdity could have other avenues. “I was like, this could be a short film,” she revealed.

Still, her hard self-judgement to this point does contain a degree of poetic license. Catalano was never just sitting around and waiting for the world to fall into place. Into movies and writing, she said, “I always knew that’s where my talents would likely end.”

The creative was also lucky enough to go to PS 107, where the arts were really pushed. “We were always doing plays, music and theater,” she said. “There’s such an incredible program there.”

Nonetheless, she was hesitant to embark into the uncertainty of filmmaking as a career. “I didn’t think it was a viable path,” said the writer-actor.

So she went to FIT. “I loved costuming,” Catalano revealed.

Not enough to get grade grades, she took care of important business elsewhere. “I was heavily influenced by NYC, partying and going out,” Catalano recalled.

Even so, her head was still in the right place. “I definitely wanted to write and make movies,” she said, and once out of college, the graduate got serious.

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Catalano began reading script after script and took her first screenwriting course. “I don’t know what happened, I just started going,” she said

Ten years later, there’s still plenty of remnants on her hard drive. "Like a lot of us, you write a million things. They are either undercooked or half-baked," she said. “You circle back to them, I did that a lot.”

Or you make your own breaks and luck can then have a way of looking like skill. The production had a boxer ready to do the part, but she got hurt in Olympic trials. “I didn’t know what to do,’ said Catalano.

So pressed for time, the writer had an epiphany with her director. "Wouldn’t it be so funny if the boxer was a kid," she remembered.

So with the revelation, they started looking online and found Laila. “Her dad owns a gym in Staten Island, and she was on the rise,” said Catalano.

From there, they reached out. “Her mother was like, yes, she wants to do it,” said Catalano.

What the duo found out was that the boxer was a very sweet girl who turned out to be a natural actor. “She didn’t need a lot of direction,” she said.

Either way, those duties fell on Ruthie Marantz and dovetailed well with the star. A writer herself, said Catalano, “My natural talents and abilities jump off with her. So we do really well together.”

The same goes for the onscreen chemistry with Yamaneika Saunders. Playing the trainer, her character helped set up the floundering state of Lee, and there’s no floating like a butterfly with the character’s street smart stings. “She’s just so brutal, and we needed brutal,” clarified Catalano.

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Another natural, the comedian really got her points across and delivering the comedy blows could have proven dangerous where punches were already being thrown. At times, Catalano said, “I wanted to hit her.”

Joking of course, an element of rage was not just contained to this film. “From day one, I knew I'd want her to be in this. She's a Bronx legend, a Hollywood legend, and besides the Raging Bull reference which got her an Oscar nod, Cathy [Moriarty] is a brilliant comedic actress,” assured Catalano.

More no nonsense, the icon plays a tough-tongued waitress who embodies the Bronx, but only existed on paper before any deal was finalized. “Somehow, I was lucky enough to meet producer Rob Simmons after I sent him a cold email. I wrote her in the script, not really knowing if it was all going to happen,” Catalano remembered.

Good to be out front, reality eventually set in, and there were fears that the Queens native bit off more than she could chew. “I thought I'd be intimidated by her, but I was actually in my glory just having her as a scene partner and on our set,” said Catalano.

Of course, a little star power never hurts. “Getting Cathy to join us was the icing on the cake for this project,” she said, “I'm still so grateful that she did it.”

A boost that had her seeking a New York premiere, and as the festival circuit can be a “crap shoot,” she liked the upfront nature of Dances With Films. “They were truly transparent,” the award winner said.

The audience at her screening was also an open book, and to her delight and surprise, they reacted like it was a bestseller. “I was like, oh my God, they laughed at every joke,” she beamed.

Of course, the hope is that a festival win can raise a project’s profile and usher in the agents and distribution deals. “No, not yet,” she resigned herself to the nature of the business.

Resume builder is more like it, she’s OK with the drill. “I’m willing to do the work,” Catalano asserted.

At the same time, the filmmaker is grateful for how the work has done her. “I learned how to be a better leader,” Catalano said.

All together, with her young costar committed, she has a few ideas ready to go. The same goes for Monday morning, and back to her day job in a dermatologist’s office.

No problem, this girl has long been able to take a punch. “If you work hard enough, never give up and can handle the rejection, you’ll be able to do it,” she said.

Or if you’re one of those people who are stuck like she was, the writer thinks Lee’s story can point them in the right direction. “Some people just need a punch in the face,” Catalano laughed, and since the formula worked for her, it’s some pretty good parting wisdom.