March 2, 2006
 
RUTHERFORD ON FILM: Hollywood Comes to Huntington…Director McG Cheers for Marshall, Huntington, calls MU Football Story Inspirational and High Drama; Reveals His Vision for Beginning, Ending of Film
 
By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
 

Director McG, right
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- Describing the last few days as their most work intensive in Huntington, director/producer McG (Joseph McGinty Nichol) and producer Basil Iwanyk told members of the press that the tentatively titled, “We Are Marshall” will depict the city as a symbol of bouncing back from disseminating disaster.
 
Based on the 1970 air crash of the Marshall plane at Tri State Airport that took 75 lives, the story will inspire the world, said McG, who visibly displayed respectful and boisterous emotions after having visited the site of the crash and the memorial at Spring Hill Cemetery.
 
“I always knew about the crash, but what I did not know was what happened after the crash,” McG said. Associate Producer Mary Viola, a Long Island native and daughter of an Episcopalian minister, is credited with bringing the team’s rise to national prominence to his attention.
 
For the first time he revealed how he envisions the opening and closing shots of the production. He suggested that a shot would look down “from God’s eye” into the memorial fountain, then as the narration starts, the waters will be turned off. At the conclusion, the camera returns to the fountain as this time the water is turned back on as is the yearly tradition.
 
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Kalamazoo, Mich. native McG emphasized that he grew up in the 80s and 90s when everything was “great” around the world, then came 911, Katrina, Iraq, and the death of family members. “We [now] saw what it is like to experience grief; there’s no playbook for it.” He sees the town itself as a “character” in the film, and he radiated with enthusiasm to tell how Huntington “soldiered through” grief and rebuilt the football tradition.
 
The rise from the disaster evokes “everything that’s right with humanity,” McG said, calling MU’s progress an example of putting one foot in front of the other. He compared the upcoming film to “Terms of Endearment” or “Ordinary People” stating that the team’s progress represents the town “reacclimating to the gift of love” and the city’s ability to “fight back” and “keep on truckin’ “ during tough times.
 
Iwanyk and McG clarified several statements that have been circulating:
 
- The title “We Are Marshall” is dependent upon resolving a legal technicality with an entity other than Marshall University
 
- The production likely will not make a Nov. 10 release date that has been posted on several websites; 2007 might be more likely
 
- There will be a premiere in Huntington
 
- All of the EXTERIOR shots will be done in Huntington
 
Executive Producer Jeanne Algood, left
- The start of filming is dependent on Matthew Fox’s schedule with “Lost,” so the March 20 date could be moved back to April.
 
- The location for shooting stadium scenes has not yet been determined. Since Fairfield has been demolished, the new stadium could partly serve as a stand in, but the producers are also considering one near Atlanta, GA.
 
- MU fans will do the cheering no matter where the actual shoot takes place
 
- The interior of the Keith Albee will be used in the film
 
- Songs from the era with Carole King and James Taylor might be used
 
- He has heard a tape of Jack O’Shea (WKEE) broadcasting his show in 1970
 
- Actors have a more difficult time portraying ‘real’ characters than fictional ones
 
- He told Matthew McConaughey (Jack Lengyel) that he expects him to deliver his best performance to date in the Marshall movie
 
- Marshall will win the game in the movie
 
Following the news conference, McG, Iwanyk, Jeanne Allgood (executive producer), Brent O’Connor (executive producer), Mary Viola (associate producer) and other Warner Bros. executives headed to the Marshall-University of Central Florida basketball game.
 
When the clock ticked to eight minutes to go in the first half, Keith Spears, MU’s vice president for marketing and communications, introduced McG to the crowd. The director took to the microphone like a veteran cheerleader as he revved up the crowd. Although the picture’s tentative title is the famous “We are Marshall,” McG had not heard it in person. He said the fan spirit would help decide whether MU fans in Huntington will be the one’s shouting the chant in the film.
 
Before taking to the court, McG saw a long line of fans signing up at the “extras” booth for a chance to be in the film. Previously, describing himself as having grown up in a working class family, the director exhibited an exuberant personality going out of his way to smile, shake hands and interact with potential extras. During the news conference he indicated that “as many [extras] as possible” will be used in the movie. However, he warned that “it is lots of fun but pretty intense all day work.”
 
While hopefully production work will be completed by the Herd’s firsromised to return to see a football game in Huntington. In fact, he suggested that a few game shots might be sneaked into the film from the 2006 opener.