Taming the Beast - The Story

Director and Writer

Chris Michael Fretwell
Chris Michael Fretwell launched his career with his award-winning boxing short film “The Pugilist’s Son,” Which Starred Gary Stretch and Paul Barber and was Executive Produced by Hollywood Producer Mark Stewart.

After writing and developing a slate of shorts and feature film scripts, he went on to take the helm as Writer and Co-Director on “Taming the Beast”, a feature sports documentary about former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall, with appearances from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone.

His latest short film, The “Turn of the Screw”, received multiple awards from around the world and was viewed at BAFTA & Oscar qualifying festivals & is available on Amazon Prime. Chris is now gearing up to Write & Direct ‘The Turn of the Screw’, an upcoming feature film based on his award-winning short.

Eddie Hall and Chris Michael Fretwell - Director

Director and Producer

Josias Tschanz
Josias Tschanz is a Swiss-Canadian director and producer based in Vancouver, Canada. With a degree in Film & Theatre from the University of British Columbia, Josias has cultivated a diverse portfolio, directing projects across Japan, Argentina, India, and Europe. His work has been featured on networks such as CBC, Showcase, IFC, Mystery Channel, WDR, and Netflix, earning accolades at festivals worldwide. Josias’s debut feature film, ‘Neutral Territory’, received acclaim with a coveted screening in Times Square during the New York Film Festival.

His latest documentary, ‘The Fire In Our Hearts’, was handpicked by the Whistler International Film Festival for its prestigious ‘First Look’ program last December. Currently, Josias is at the helm of ‘The Belonging’, a compelling documentary produced by Cineworx Switzerland, featuring soccer stars Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla FC), Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), and Breel Embolo (Monaco FC).

Concurrently, he’s co-directing and producing ‘Taming The Beast’, a feature documentary showcasing icons like Eddie Hall, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone, set for release through Generation Iron Brands (IGB) in 2024.

Josias Tschanz with Eddie Hall

Editor

Mike Jackson
Mike Jackson is an Emmy-nominated editor, as well as an award-winning director. Mike has cut features and broadcast television programs for Disney, Legendary Pictures, CBS, The History Channel, and other networks and studios.
Shows he has worked on include the award-winning documentary feature ‘Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson’, zombie feature ‘Dead Rising: Watchtower’, and the multi-award-winning gay coming-of-age feature ‘Golden Delicious’, as well as the pilot for Disney XD’s ‘Mech-X4’, and episodes of ‘Glutton for Punishment’ and ‘Dan Rather Reports’.

His editing on the CBS / History Channel documentary ‘Beyond Top Secret’ was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy. Mike has also directed a number of award-winning shorts and began his film career as a concept artist on the classic animated series ‘Reboot’. He lives in Vancouver with his partner Lesley and their two black cats.

Mike Jackson, Editor

The Composers

Sandra Stadler, a composer and pianist, honed her craft at the Zurich University of the Arts, studying piano and composition (BA), followed by composition for film, theatre and media (MA). Beyond film music, her musical prowess extends to composing concert music for diverse ensembles, and engaging as a v ersatile pianist, singer, and songwriter.

Bänz Isler, a composer and guitarist, expanded his musical expertise at the Bern University of the Arts where he earned his BA in music and media art. Advancing his studies, he completed an MA in composition for film, theatre, and media at the Zurich University of the Arts. Beyond film music, Bänz is active as a guitarist, songwriter, and sound designer. Meeting at the Zurich University of the Arts sparked a fruitful collaboration between Sandra and Bänz, which has been ongoing since 2012.

Their joint belief in the power of collective creativity led to the establishment of SONDER Film Music in 2016. From their studio in Bern, they continue to create and produce compelling film music, underlining the power of synergy in art.

Producer - Line Producer - Executive Producer

Guido Baechler, with a background in business administration, initially faced challenges pursuing his passion for filmmaking in Switzerland due to the absence of a Hollywood-like industry. After selling his audio-video wholesale business, he moved to the United States, managing a Swiss pharmaceutical company in Florida before venturing into the film business. Alongside running the Baechler Gallery in Palm Beaches, the family then relocated to Western Australia.

Baechler, inspired to start a video production company named Jeridoo, eventually moved back to Texas In 2004 he initiated America’s first online barter store for films, Jeridoo, and simultaneously ventured into television technology, bringing non-linear editing to television stations. Baechler’s transformative moment came with the success of his art-house documentary “Bodmers Journey,” sparking a creative and entrepreneurial fusion. He delved into scriptwriting, producing films, and even authored his first novel, “Magentar – re.EVOLUTION – Book 1.”

The Baechler Family’s journey continued from Texas to Canada, and back to Switzerland. In 2017, Baechler expanded Jeridoo Productions into the Jeridoo Universe, a conglomerate of Jeridoo companies with notable films such as “Iron Sky 2 – The Coming Race” and “Bilal: A New Breed of Hero” recognized as one of the best animated movies and Oscars shortlisted.