In the beginning I sort of got the impression that Irwin wanted a very realistic kind of movie, very streetwise, and much more gritty. And then in pre-production he started veering into a more colourful palette. I did one scene in which I used smoke and he didn't care for it very much. Another person directing could have said, 'Yes, I want it to be dark and moody' and it would have been a different movie. Here, New York itself imposes upon and attacks the characters, who have to harden themselves and fight back just to survive.
Security is non-existent.
The scene shows the preparations underway for the six-fight card that evening. From far off, the emotions that spark this fight seem minimalist, almost ridiculous. Watching on the monitor and seeing the picture framed close-up on Warden, however, one can see the emotions swell up, ready to burst. Life-threatening hazards are actually instruments of Fate. There's either an ambulance coming at you or a cab'll run you over, or somebody holds you up.