Documentary on Marquette basketball debuts at Sundance

[Tugg Speedman]

See the end of the story ... in red.

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.

[jsglow]

Awesome.

[🏀]

Awesome.

[TallTitan34]

Awesome.

[Skatastrophy]

Awesome.

[mu_hilltopper]

Awesome.

This should help recruiting.  In Utah.

[swoopem]

Awesome.

Is this a full hour documentary or 15 minutes?

[MUfan12]

Awesome.

Is this a full hour documentary or 15 minutes?

15 awesome minutes.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Awesome.

This should help recruiting.  In Utah.

How about with 7'ers  from B.C.?

[barfolomew]

Awesome.

Or, perhaps more appropriately, cool.  Cool cool cool.

[Tugg Speedman]

Awesome.

This should help recruiting.  In Utah.

How about when it premiers on ESPN in March?

[ATVSandKARATE]

only 15 minutes?

[We R Final Four]

How about when it premiers on ESPN in March?

When it premieres on ESPN in March.......it will still be awesome.

[brandx]

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.

[🏀]

Awesome.

Or, perhaps more appropriately, cool.  Cool cool cool.

Well done.

[sarcastro]

coolcoolcool

[martyconlonontherun]

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.

[real chili 83]

Groovy

[reinko]

[LloydMooresLegs]

rad

[Hards Alumni]

[muwarrior69]

Sea Shells and Balloons!

[🏀]

Well if this is going to devolve into a Community gif thread, I present:

[Hards Alumni]

A big Ali Brie fan I see.

[Tums Festival]

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