Generation Iron, the premier New York City-based global digital media company focused on health, fitness, bodybuilding and strength sports, will debut its latest original documentary Bradley Martyn: The Influencer on Amazon, Google Play and Apple TV in all English-speaking territories, on December 1, 2023.
Award-winning filmmaker Vlad Yudin delves into the extraordinary life of Bradley Martyn, the YouTube fitness sensation and social media juggernaut, who boasts over 10 million devoted followers. Beyond the chiseled physique and charismatic online persona lies a compelling story of resilience and transformation. At just six years old, Martyn faced the devastating loss of his father to suicide, a trauma that haunted him throughout his youth. Yet, through unwavering determination and a passion for bodybuilding, he harnessed his pain to become an inspiration to millions, using fitness and positivity to uplift both mental and physical well-being. The film explores the complicated past behind the fitness star, while also chronicling his current activities as the owner of the popular Zoo Culture Gym during the pandemic, while also expanding his coaching business, and connecting with his loyal fans.
The film also features members of the extremely popular Canadian-American entertainment brand The Nelk Boys – Kyle Forgeard, Salim Sirur, Gabriel Poncio Souza, Aaron “Steiny” Steinberg, Arthur Kulik, and Jordan Nwanne, as well as Steve Deleonardis (Steve Will Do It), TikTok star Noah Beck, and Mike Tornabene.
Following is a review by film critic Dr. Laura Wilhelm.
Supposedly, gyms are non-essential businesses. At least, they were classified as such under COVID-19 and shut down all over the United States.
Vlad Yudin’s new documentary Bradley Martyn: The Influencer takes issue with this classification. We humans are social creatures, and good gyms can be vibrant social hubs. The emotional and physical support they offer us can enrich and even save our lives.
Knowing this, Bradley Martyn chose to keep his Los Angeles gym Zoo Culture open in spite of governmental orders to shut it down. The ensuing court case ultimately dropped all criminal and civil charges against him.
Counter to the stereotype of the strong silent athlete, the interview subjects in Yudin’s film wax eloquent about the whys of what they do as well as the hows. Martyn opens up candidly about the suicide of his clinically depressed father, which drove his own wheels of success toward a lucrative and influential fitness empire.
This cynic sometimes views certain kinds of capitalist enterprises as nothing more than excuses to part suckers from their money. This engrossing film and its eloquent subjects have helped to change her mind about gyms. They may not be her own brand of sacred space, but clearly they are for so many others. And the purposes they serve to synergize improvement are well worth documenting and emulating.
Dr. Laura Wilhelm holds a B.A. in Russian and Classics from Reed College and a Ph.D. in Russian language, literature, and linguistics from the University of Kansas. Born in Philadelphia, Laura has lived in Los Angeles since 1994 and covered the exciting local and international entertainment scene in publications such as Cold Heat News, FVM Global, Hollywood Weekly, The Hollywood Times, Indie Entertainment Magazine, and Magic Image Hollywood Magazine. Dr. Wilhelm runs an award-winning consulting company called LauraWil Intercultural; teaches courses on professional writing and public speaking; and serves as a board member, judge, and media partner for the French Riviera Film Festival.