PASADENA, Calif. — When a film or television project needs a convincing table tennis scene, Hollywood often turns to a low-profile but highly respected husband-and-wife team from Southern California.
For more than three decades, Diego Schaaf and Wei Wang have quietly helped actors transform into believable table tennis players, shaping scenes in major films, TV shows, commercials, and music videos. Their latest high-profile project: preparing Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” a buzzy A24 film that hit theaters on Christmas Day.
Turning Actors Into Athletes
Schaaf, 71, and Wang, 64, run Alpha Productions out of Pasadena, where they specialize in choreography, technical accuracy, and match design for table tennis scenes. Their work dates back to 1993 and includes iconic titles such as “Forrest Gump,” “Friends,” and “Balls of Fury.”
When director Josh Safdie approached Schaaf about working with Chalamet, the veteran consultant admitted he wasn’t familiar with the actor’s fame. A quick text to his niece cleared that up instantly.
Despite Chalamet’s years of casual training, Schaaf and Wang were brought in just months before filming began to elevate his game to a professional level believable for the big screen. After a brief assessment, Schaaf said he was confident the actor had the athletic ability to pull it off.
Precision Behind the Scenes
Schaaf handled the broader production elements, including designing match sequences, hiring elite table tennis players as extras, sourcing period-accurate equipment from the 1950s, and coordinating how tension built during rallies.
“The points had to make sense technically and emotionally,” Schaaf explained. “But it couldn’t feel like a typical sports movie. It had to feel cinematic and authentic at the same time.”
Wang, a former elite competitor originally from Beijing, focused on technique and movement. A former top-ranked player in China who later became a U.S. national champion and Olympian, she is known for spotting flaws in footwork and timing that casual viewers might never notice—but professionals would.
“Table tennis is not just about the hands,” Wang said. “It’s your whole body. Footwork, balance, rhythm—it’s like dancing.”
Training in Private
Chalamet trained regularly with the couple in Los Angeles, eventually moving sessions to his home for privacy. Some scenes required him to perform without a ball due to computer-generated effects, an unexpectedly demanding task that required precise coordination between imaginary shots and body positioning.
To help memorize complex rallies, Chalamet reportedly gave individual points nicknames, allowing him to distinguish subtle variations between sequences that might otherwise look identical on screen.
The couple also coached Tyler, the Creator, who plays a fellow competitor in the film. According to Wang, he had never played table tennis before but quickly became enthusiastic enough to buy his own table after his first lesson.
A Niche Craft in High Demand
Schaaf and Wang joined the production on location in New Jersey and Japan, working closely with dozens of professional players and stepping in during filming to maintain consistency in technique.
Both attended the film’s Los Angeles premiere and said they were impressed by Chalamet’s commitment. “He pushed himself harder than we ever needed to,” Schaaf said.
With “Marty Supreme” now released, the couple has returned to running their local table tennis clubs. While no new Hollywood projects are currently scheduled, Schaaf says they’re always ready for the next call.
“It’s a small niche,” he said with a smile. “But when someone needs it done right, they know where to find us.”
