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Dan Millman speaks about  peaceful warriors, Mechlowicz and Nolte

By Maggie Grainger

May 29, 2006

San Diego--In 1980, gymnast Dan Millman published Way of the Peaceful Warrior, a book about the lessons he learned from a wise gas station attendant he called Socrates back in the 1960s.

The book quickly became an underground success and gained popularity through word of mouth and Millman’s inspirational speeches.

Millman said the process of adapting such a personal memoir for the big screen was an emotional process but one that was worth the pay off.

“I actually – my eyes filled with tears on a number of occasions,” Millman said about seeing his life played out on screen for the first time. “First with relief because it could have gone wrong in so many ways – it’s likes taking a painting and turning it into a sculpture.

“It was definitely true to the central message and heart of the book.”

Mechlowicz said he really tried to convey Millman’s mannerisms and character on screen as best he could even though he had only talked to the author a handful of times before filming began.

“Dan stopped by the set several times which was really nice because that really was an upper,” he said. “It was like it gave you a little juice shot.

“He really gave me the freedom to do what I would with the character and that was really comforting.”

It also helped to have a seasoned actor such as Nolte by his side as Socrates.

“(Nick Nolte) really grounded the character of Socrates,” Mechlowicz said. “You know there are some lines in there that can come off as preachy if not said by the right person and he really  brought it down to earth and made it seem real and important and he’s just one of the best in terms of actors.”

Millman said he couldn’t picture any other actors playing the two leading roles.

“We came together because Scott was destined to play my role – I think it was fated,” Millman said. “I’m a writer not an actor but I can really relate with Scott and how he has Nick to really play off of – it really pulls you into the reality of the moment.

“A lot of things fell into place to make this movie work.”

Millman said he is happy that the movie stayed so true to his book although some liberties have been taken to his life – especially in terms of his love life.

“(Scott’s) Millman and I don’t have everything in common,” he said with a laugh. “For one he’s taller, handsomer and a lot younger – His love life onscreen was more active then mine was in college so I kind of vicariously enjoyed the movie because of that.”

Something it didn’t stretch was the intense training gymnasts go through in order to perfect their sport.

Mechlowicz spent two months training with four other actors in order to build up his muscles and mentally prepare for the role.

“We all trained together which helped so much,” Mechlowicz said. “All four of us banned together to accomplish this almost impossible feat but because we were together we were pushing each other.”

He said at one point the trainers made the other actors leave so he could train by himself and he instantly noticed a change in his mentality and workout.

Millman said the film is much more than a biopic about his life – it’s finding true happiness and the journeys one takes in life.

“Many people have this misconception that spirituality from the East is about getting away from the body and sex and money and all things worldly and that’s really not the message of the movie,” Millman said. “It’s about learning self-mastering – Socrates never said to give up meat or sex or anything – it’s about weaning (people) off their tendencies and about being adaptable and flexible.

“There’s no magic in giving up sex and meat and everything will be perfect…about embracing life fully in a different way. This film is not about preaching from a mountain top. It’s about everyday life and finding a guy at a gas station who teaches you things and speaks through your own intuition and heart.”

- Peaceful Warrior opens June 2 in select theaters.

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