Compliments when genuine and sincere are greatly welcome.

One of the greatest expressions of sincere appreciation couldn’t be explained any better than by the Queen of Soul, Ms. Aretha Franklin.

Aretha Franklin is an American singer and songwriter.

Ms. Franklin began her career as a child singing gospel at the church of her father, Minister C. L. Franklin‘s church. In 1960, at the age of 18, Franklin embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but only achieving modest success. Following her signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as “Respect“.

She has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards and is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide. She Franklin has been honored throughout her career including a 1987 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in which she became the first female performer to be inducted. She was inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

When Aretha sings and sends a message, the world listens.

Now that is respect.

These powerful lyrics blended to music will always stand the test of soulful time.

What you want
Baby, I got it
What you need
Do you know I got it
All I’m askin’  Is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)

Though she never asks for it, in our global female submission grappling industry, Francesca (Frankie) Zappitelli over time has absolutely earned it.

Around our female submission wrestling community? She has captured and earned our supreme respect.

“Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.”… Bruce Lee

Unlike the brilliant lyrics to Aretha’s ballad, she didn’t even have to ask for it.

By her steadfast work in our world, she has earned it and admiration abounds.

Frankie has worked with such well-known industry greats as Hit the Mats, Jackpin’s magnificent convention, Sleeper Kid, STJ Productions and others.

Femcompetitor Magazine raves about her and wrote an article about Frankie with love.

Frankie Zappitelli – A Submission Wrestler With The Wow Factor!

Ironically it’s what she is doing outside of the industry that is starting to capture the eyes of admirers around the globe, including Hollywood.

She has been listed by the artistic industry’s eyes to the world, imdb.com, as a co-producer in the captivating 2013 film, Life Of Crime.

Life of Crime, starring Jennifer Aniston, is an American crime comedy film written and directed by Daniel Schechter, based on Elmore Leonard‘s novel The Switch (1978), which includes characters later revisited in his novel Rum Punch (1992), which was adapted into the Quentin Tarantino film Jackie Brown (1997).

Life of Crime was screened on the closing night 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, at the 2014 Traverse City Film Festival and released in theaters on August 29, 2014.

Moviegoers who have seen the film loved it.

Film critics too. One of the most respected movie review sites rogerebert.com exudes, “Life of Crime” is a pretty engaging, and pretty authentically Leonardesque, comedic crime movie.

The amusing twists and turns of the script, the multiple instances of bracing humor and consistent tension, help the cast bring this small-scale thriller to the place it clearly wants to be. Well worth seeing, particularly for Leonard people.”

Great. For Frankie Zappitelli people too.

Though that is a Hollywood project, perhaps Frankie’s greatest pride and joy is her film that she wrote and produced, Ballerina I’m Not.

Here is the story as shared by moviesreview101.com, “Ballerina I’m Not starts as Francesca tells the story of what gave her motivation to dream of becoming a wrestler, being able to follow in the footsteps of the legends of the likes of The Fabulous Moolah, we witness the struggles at home she faced and the training she undertook to start in the industry.

We see the different styles of wrestling that Francesca learns through the years, we also see the professional friends and enemies, the hardships and sacrifices she has made along the way for her dream.”

Very intriguing. Naturally we wanted to rub shoulders with the stars of our world and Frankie has some of the most gorgeous shoulders that we’ve ever seen. We say that professionally of course.

And with respect.

Her film is garnering very positive reviews.

Here are two of them at amazon.com:

“Ballerina I’m Not definitely resonated with me. Glad I took the time to watch it, I share a similar story with Frankie, my mother was very very religious and there was a time that I had to step back and decide for myself where I wanted my life to go. I didn’t want to feel caged in a box with all these rules and regulations so I left my mother’s religion to pursue my music and I am so happy I live freely now. Let this be a message to everyone that is trying to pursue what they love but is letting something hold them back… take control of your own destiny and know you can do anything you put your time, energy and handwork into!!”

“Coming from a fringe wrestling fan I found this movie to be great at portraying what really goes into making it as a female wrestler, in what is predominately a male industry. Francesca brings different viewpoints into the film from wrestlers at different levels, which is nice, it gives a very good top to bottom feel. The cut scenes we’re well done, and gave me an opportunity to see what really goes into these matches. I’d strongly recommend this Documentary to anyone who wants to cut their teeth on what female wrestling is all about at the grass roots level!”

Femcompetitor Magazine had a chance to visit with the Canadian beauty in an inclusive December 1, 2017 interview.

We asked Frankie about what projects that she is currently working on?

“I have a mentor with whom I’m working with on her projects. I’m also writing and directing a short film with a poignant social commentary I will make next year, 2018. As for another documentary, nothing locked in but I want to keep on telling powerful stories.”

Very exciting. That led us to wonder about her future goals that she has in terms of future filmmaking and why?

“I want to keep on creating and telling stories. When you watch a wrestling match, you watch a battle of the wills, the babyface versus the heel (good vs evil) who will be triumphant? It takes you on an entertaining journey. In filmmaking, it goes above and beyond this, you can take people on a vicarious journey, not only to be entertained but also to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and come out the other side with a new enlightenment. It is such a powerful medium.”

It certainly is.

In her interview with the enjoyable movie review site itsjustmovies.com she adds, “I just finished a short film called “Frankie” that I’m proud of. I actually have a slate of films I’m developing: a horror creature feature, a psychological thriller and a love story with a MMA backdrop.”

Time travels swiftly taking us along at such a swift pace that sometimes it’s hard to catch our breath following the breathtaking career of Frankie who not only hangs out with the stars but also has a career guided towards those in the nighttime sky.

Whether it’s our global female grappling industry or the celluloid theaters of Tinsel town, we are very excited to watch Frankie’s ascension.

With love.

With respect.

~ ~ ~

https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/respect

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482661/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663207/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_of_Crime_(film)

https://www.amazon.com/Ballerina-Im-Not-Stacy-Kiebler/dp/B076ZTP6MX

http://itsjustmovies.com/exclusive-interview-francesca-zappitelli/

www.francescazappitelli.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ghJRbCydA

https://femuscleblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/francesca-zappitelli-wrestler-actor-and-filmmaker-interview-on-her-movie-ballerina-i-am-not/