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Documentary on Marquette basketball debuts at Sundance
Biztimes.com
Milwaukee Business News
January 23. 2014 11:00AM - Last modified: January 23. 2014 11:02AM
http://www.biztimes.com/article/20140123/ENEWSLETTERS07/140129893
Marquette University's 1977 national basketball championship was brought to life on the big screen last week when a documentary focused on the iconic "untucked" jerseys worn by the winning team aired at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
"Untucked," directed by Danny Pudi, who graduated from Marquette's College of Communication in 2001 and went on to act in primetime TV shows like Community [ITALICS], sheds light on a backstory to the national championship that has eluded many basketball fans.
At the centerpiece of "Untucked" are the famous "untucked" jerseys Marquette men's basketball players wore as they captured the national title under Coach Al McGuire. The jerseys were designed by player Bo Ellis, who had an intrinsic interest in fashion design and even took college courses in pursuit of design.
Pudi created the film as part of ESPN Films' 30 for 30 series, which is comprised of 30 short documentaries covering "issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009," according to the series' website.
Pudi became part of the 30 for 30 series through a Twitter conversation with ESPN. When the sports organization asked him if he would want to be involved with the series and if he had ideas for a documentary, he sat down with his wife, Bridget Showalter Pudi, to brainstorm.
The series required his film unfold in less than 15 minutes and focus on a top that was personal to him.
"For me, it was exciting because it was a chance for me to research something I was really interested in," Pudi said.
Beyond the jerseys, Pudi also wanted to explore the correlation between individual expression and team unity as well as the unlikely relationship between Ellis and McGuire, who Pudi refers to as "polar opposites."
Part of his intent in creating the film was to showcase how the two worked together and "gelled" to "create some really great things, not only a jersey but also a championship for Marquette."
Pudi has an intrinsic interest, himself, in collaboration and what results when individuals with very different backgrounds come together to create something they would have never imagined – a theme very apparent in the storyline of the 1977 team.
After review by a jury, "Untucked" was selected to debut in the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 16, an honor Pudi said he never anticipated after his year of filming and editing.
Filming for the documentary brought Pudi, along with fellow alumnus and co-producer Chris Marrs, back to the Marquette campus community, an instrumental place for Pudi's development, he said.
"It was a place where I guess I had a lot of discoveries, and I think it's nice to go back to that place sometimes and recharge my batteries and reground myself," Pudi said.
Dave Murphy, vice president of the Marquette's Office of Marketing and Communication, assisted Pudi and Mars with gaining access to past players from the championship era, their uniforms and key locations for filming.
"I'm really proud of the alums who have a passion for Marquette and want to connect back to the university and help tell our story," Murphy said. "And we're more than happy to support that and help the alums that are engaged and interested."
Support from both Marquette and Milwaukee made the project come alive, Pudi said.
"The whole Milwaukee community and Marquette was super helpful, and I couldn't have done this without their support," he said.
"Untucked" will make its next premiere on ESPN in March and will be available for viewing at www.grantland.com. A premiere of the film may also run on Marquette's campus but is still being confirmed.
Awesome.
Awesome.
Awesome.
Awesome.
Awesome.
This should help recruiting. In Utah.
Awesome.
Is this a full hour documentary or 15 minutes?
Quote from: swoopem on January 23, 2014, 03:55:52 PM
Awesome.
Is this a full hour documentary or 15 minutes?
15 awesome minutes.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on January 23, 2014, 03:52:43 PM
Awesome.
This should help recruiting. In Utah.
How about with 7'ers from B.C.?
Awesome.
Or, perhaps more appropriately, cool. Cool cool cool.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on January 23, 2014, 03:52:43 PM
Awesome.
This should help recruiting. In Utah.
How about when it premiers on ESPN in March?
only 15 minutes?
Quote from: Heisenberg on January 23, 2014, 04:08:39 PM
How about when it premiers on ESPN in March?
When it premieres on ESPN in March.......it will still be awesome.
Al always though individual expression was part of team unity. His only disagreement with Bo was probably when Bo, a skinny 6'9" - 190 lbs. decided to become a vegetarian his junior year and had trouble losing stamina in the 2nd halves of games.
Quote from: barfolomew on January 23, 2014, 04:04:47 PM
Awesome.
Or, perhaps more appropriately, cool. Cool cool cool.
Well done.
coolcoolcool
If Mu could swing the rights, I would love this being played at half-time of a game. Waaaaay more entertaining than a guy balancing on steel cylinders.
Groovy
(http://gorgview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/rango_gif.gif)
rad
(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4gjitK0Cg1qcctnf.gif)
Sea Shells and Balloons!
Well if this is going to devolve into a Community gif thread, I present:
(http://cdn.rsvlts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Allison-Brie-GIF-16.gif)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/rcujgg.gif)
(http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/screencrush.com/files/2013/02/brie-bust-open.gif)
A big Ali Brie fan I see.
It's part of the 30 For 30 Shorts series and will be on their website after it premieres. Been looking forward to seeing this since it was first announced.
http://espn.go.com/30for30/shorts (http://espn.go.com/30for30/shorts)
Bo Ellis was apparently a fan of untucked jerseys even before he designed one. The photos below are from his freshman season in 1973-74.
The one on the left is one of my favorite MU uniforms ever.
For the record, although we were the first to have the untucked jersey, we were NOT the first to have lettering underneath the numbers, as evidenced in this photo from the 1971-72 season vs Minnesota at the MECCA.
However, were we the first to have no letterin' on unis, as evidenced by the best big man in Wisconsin history shown in the same picture?
Looking at this pictures got me wondering ... why doesn't MU (or college sports in general) have throwback Uni games? I would love to see current players in some of these unis.
Kansas has been rocking some throwbacks this year. They're pretty cool too
Quote from: Heisenberg on January 24, 2014, 03:46:22 PM
Looking at this pictures got me wondering ... why doesn't MU (or college sports in general) have throwback Uni games? I would love to see current players in some of these unis.
MU wore throwback jerseys in 1997 to honor the 20th anniversary of the national championship. They were replicas of the arrowhead untucked jerseys that they wore in the championship game. The problem was that they did the replicas in the baggy, loose fitting style of the 90's. I remember thinking that they just didn't look quite right. Maybe that style was simply better suited for the 70's afterall. They looked kinda cheap too. Instead of embroidering the numbers, letters and arrowheads like the original jerseys, they just used iron-on decals. And they didn't even try to match the high top socks from the 77 season, which was one of the coolest things about the uniform. If they ever have another throwback night, I'd like to see them put a little thought into how to recreate the uniform in it's true, original style with the shorter shorts and the high top socks in blue and yellow.
Marquette University President's Society members are invited to join actor/comedian Danny Pudi, Comm '01, and former MU basketball star Bo Ellis, Sp '77, for
'Untucked'
A documentary on the making of the famous "untucked" Marquette jersey
Friday, Feb. 14
6:30 p.m. Doors open
7:00 p.m. Screening and panel discussion with Danny Pudi and Bo Ellis
Weasler Auditorium
1506 W. Wisconsin Ave., Marquette University campus
Register to secure complimentary reserved seating. Space is limited.
Quote from: Sir Lawrence on January 27, 2014, 03:30:35 PM
Marquette University President's Society members are invited to join actor/comedian Danny Pudi, Comm '01, and former MU basketball star Bo Ellis, Sp '77, for
'Untucked'
A documentary on the making of the famous "untucked" Marquette jersey
Friday, Feb. 14
6:30 p.m. Doors open
7:00 p.m. Screening and panel discussion with Danny Pudi and Bo Ellis
Weasler Auditorium
1506 W. Wisconsin Ave., Marquette University campus
Register to secure complimentary reserved seating. Space is limited.
Mr. chick and I will be in attendance. Any other scoopers?
Hot VD date, hey?