In Pasadena, California, Diego Schaaf and his wife, Wei Wang, have quietly made a name for themselves in Hollywood. They specialize in turning actors into table tennis pros, often working behind the scenes on movies and shows. Notably, they have lent their expertise to films like “Forrest Gump” and “Balls of Fury.”
Their latest project is the A24 film “Marty Supreme,” which follows the career of legendary table tennis player Marty Reisman. Timothée Chalamet stars in this film, and his role demands that he convincingly portray a world-class player. That’s where Schaaf and Wang come in.
When Chalamet first heard about the project, he had trained for nearly seven years—sometimes even bringing his table tennis equipment to film sets. In an interview, he shared that he practiced during his downtime while filming “Dune” and “Wonka.” But it wasn’t until a few months before filming began that he met Schaaf and Wang.
Schaaf recalls watching Chalamet play and quickly recognizing his potential. Growing up in Switzerland, Schaaf played table tennis informally and later shifted his career to music before delving into film production. Now, he focuses on making table tennis scenes as authentic as possible, balancing action with storytelling.
Wang, hailing from Beijing, is an accomplished table tennis player herself, having been ranked fifth in her home country. She works closely with actors to perfect their techniques.
Their collaboration on “Marty Supreme” involved intricate details, like capturing the tension of tournament gameplay. Schaaf highlighted the importance of making the scenes feel real, with carefully crafted points and emotional stakes.
Interestingly, the film is generating buzz as a potential Oscars contender, showcasing the unique blend of sports drama and character-driven storytelling. As interest in table tennis grows, fueled by films like this, its popularity may just spike, capturing the hearts of new fans and inspiring others to take up the sport.
For further reading on the rising interest in table tennis and its cultural significance, you can refer to this report from the International Table Tennis Federation.
