Inspired by PRIDE
by Dr. Tom Snyder, Editor of Movieguide
March 13, 2007
HOLLYWOOD, CA (ANS) -- Movies can inspire people, even the people who make them. The cast and crew behind the new sports movie, PRIDE, starring Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac, recently told MOVIEGUIDE® they were all inspired not only by the story the dramatic movie tells but also by working on the movie.
PRIDE, which comes out March 23, is based on the true story of Jim Ellis, a teacher and swimming coach in Philadelphia who works with inner city youths, among others, for the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. When he started coaching in 1971, he managed to turn around a recreation center, giving hope to the whole community, especially its youths.
"There's this genuine humanity, kindness in Jim Ellis. . . [a] not willing to give up hope," Howard said. "That's what I see in Jim's eyes."
Howard spoke about what Jim's story means to the African-American community.
"We're stuck in this mentality that we've come from slaves," Howard noted. "We forget we were a free people before slavery. We have to have pride in our beginning to see our finish. We have to be determined and resilient, like a blade of grass. When we swim, we cross our arms and gently persuade the water around us. Children have to learn how to persuade the opposition around them."
Kimberly Elise, who plays an elected official who helps keep the recreation center open, said she was inspired by the script and was even more inspired when she heard that the story was basically true.
"That even made it more exciting," she said.
Kimberly added she only wants to do inspirational stories where the characters she plays at least evolve in a positive direction. Thus, she'd like to see more stories like REMEMBER THE TITANS and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (two other MOVIEGUIDE® Award winners.
"I won't degrade myself or women or people," she added.
Michael Gozzard, one of the scriptwriters, noted that even recently he heard someone say that black people can't be good swimmers. The movie proves such people wrong. In that light, he said the message of the movie is, "Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do something. Never say never."
He added, "I hope the movie inspires one person to become a teacher or coach like Jim Ellis. That pool saved a neighborhood."
Bernie Mac, who brings a light, heartwarming touch to the movie, occasionally peppers his speech with biblical allusions from his Christian background.
Mac said he was also inspired by the young African director, Sunu Gonera's, vision for the movie.
"He told me about his vision for the script," Mac said. "He [also] told me about his dream [for his career]. It was refreshing to hear somebody else's dream. I [like] to help give somebody else their dream. Everybody needs help. Jesus had 12 disciples. That's not a bad thing."
Mac said he likes to get away from Hollywood, so he stays in his hometown, Chicago. He also said he doesn't like the "microwave mentality" in modern society that wants everything now.
That's one reason he likes the story in PRIDE so much, because it can focus children on sports like swimming, track and golf where there's not an immediate financial reward, as there often seems to be in such sports as basketball, football or even baseball.
Mac said he also likes the story in PRIDE because it teaches "the first will be last and the last will be first," a reference to one of the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
"We need good films like PRIDE and AKEELAH AND THE BEE [a MOVIEGUIDE® award winner, by the way]," he added. "Those are the stories that I want to be allowed to do. I'm not a fan of the Hollywood attitude [just doing something to win an award]. I'm still blue collar. I love my craft. I want to do good work."
Sunu, the director, said they wanted to do a movie that honors Jim Ellis and what he's done with so many children in Philadelphia.
"He's really an inspiration," Sunu added.
Norman Vance, another scriptwriter, said while referring to the racial aspect of the story, "It's for people not to forget their past, what they've gone through."
Kevin Phillips and Evan Ross, who play two of the teenager swimmers in the movie, said they were inspired to be in such a movie with this kind of cast.
"It's like a dream come true," Kevin said. "It was such an honor working with Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac."
"I fell in love with the craft [of filmmaking] in general," Evan added. "Ever since working on the film, I've felt a new confidence."
Coach Ellis hopes the movie will inspire people to become more interested in swimming and more interested in improving their communities.
"I look at coaching as an art form," he said. "The pool is my canvas, my piece of clay."
Tom Arnold, who plays Ellis' coaching nemesis in the movie, said he hopes the movie will reveal to people the "humanity" of great coaches like Jim Ellis, a humanity that the public doesn't always see.
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
