Category: ‘30 for 30’

posted by on June 18, 2013 8:00 AM

Doug Collins gets ‘reunited’ with Mike & Mike and his prep pays off

Last week, former NBA All-Star and head coach Doug Collins spent the morning after Game 3 of the NBA Finals in ESPN’s Bristol studio cohosting Mike & Mike with Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. At the conclusion of his four-hour on-air stint, the 1972 U.S. Olympian took a few minutes to speak with Front Row about his experience on the set and a variety of other topics.

Collins, the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers this season, has years of broadcasting experience on television and radio. In the video above, he mentions a broadcasting tie he has with one of the show’s hosts that predates Mike & Mike. Even that experience did not prevent Collins from doing his homework for the co-hosting assignment. continue reading…

Filed in: 2013 NBA Finals, 30 for 30, NBAOnESPN

posted by on June 14, 2013 8:00 AM

Upcoming 30 for 30 documentary on surfing legend Eddie Aikau premieres at Maui Film Festival

This October, the second volume of ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series returns. One of the films in the upcoming slate will be Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau. Aikau was a big wave rider, famous for not only his incredible surfing skills, but also for his dedication to saving lives as a lifeguard at the dangerous Hawaiian beach, Waimea Bay. Aikau was lost at sea in 1978 when the crew of the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Hokule’a capsized and Aikau paddled out on a surfboard to try to find help. continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30

posted by on June 3, 2013 12:00 PM

Newest 30 for 30 Short: Cutthroat reminds SportsCenter veterans of gruesome injury

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Former NHL goalie Clint Malarchuk’s devastating injury is revisited in “Cutthroat,” ESPN’s newest 30 for 30 Short.

Vic Morren, now a senior manager in production at ESPN, was working as a production assistant on SportsCenter on March 22, 1989. This was the night Buffalo Sabres’ goalie Clint Malarchuk had his carotid artery severed in a horrific in-game accident. The incident is the focus of the latest 30 for 30 Short:Cutthroat published on Grantland. [Warning: This film contains graphic footage of the injury.] continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, Behind The Scenes, ESPN Films

posted by on May 6, 2013 3:19 PM

ESPN’s Features Unit seeks to continue its Emmy-winning ways

Editor’s Note: ESPN received 41 Sports Emmy Award nominations for 2012 across its platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN 3D, ABC, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and Grantland.com), led by five nods for E:60 (a total of 29 in five years), four each for Outside the Lines and ESPN Films including work by the Features Unit, and the first three ever for Grantland.com. The 34th annual Sports Emmy Awards will be held tomorrow night in Manhattan.

“And the Emmy goes to. . . ”

Ten times since ESPN’s Features Unit — a group within the Cross Platform Newsgathering Unit — was formed in 2002, the rest of that sentence ended with a product of their hard work. In fact, with 10 more possible winners in the awards to be announced Tuesday night in New York, the group has notched 50 nominations in 11 years. That’s not a bad batting average. continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, Announcements, Behind The Scenes, E:60, ESPN College Football, SportsCenter

posted by on April 23, 2013 4:05 PM

E:60 returns with NFL Draft special showcasing Auburn investigation, Alabama star RB, 30 for 30 short film The Irrelevant Giant

ESPN’s award-winning news magazine E:60 makes its Spring 2013 premiere tonight with an NFL Draft Special (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET), 48 hours before the event begins — also on ESPN — in New York City. This is the first of a four-episode E:60 Spring flight with shows also airing April 30, May 7 and 14.

The four features premiering tonight include an E:60 exclusive report on the Auburn football program; a profile of Alabama running back and prime draft prospect Eddie Lacy; an exclusive television presentation of the 30 for 30 short film The Irrelevant Giant; and a compilation of NFL stars’ draft day memories. continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, E:60, NFL Draft

posted by on April 23, 2013 12:00 PM

ESPN’s Todd Blackledge, 1983 NFL Draft first-round QB, reflects on being part of 30 for 30 film, Elway To Marino

Todd Blackledge led Penn State to the national championship in 1982 and won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s most outstanding QB. (Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)

Todd Blackledge led Penn State to the National Championship in 1982 and won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s most outstanding quarterback. (Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)

ESPN Films’ latest 30 for 30 production Elway to Marino, narrated by Tom Selleck, premieres Tuesday (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET). continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, NFLonESPN

posted by on March 27, 2013 11:03 AM

1972 Team USA basketball squad reunites in director Rory Karpf’s 30 for 30 Short, Silver Reunion

Forty years after the USA Men’s Olympic Basketball team declined their silver medals after controversially losing the gold to the Soviet Union, the 12 team members gathered together to ultimately either accept or refuse the medals for a game the players believe they never lost. continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, Behind The Scenes

posted by on February 20, 2013 2:37 PM

ESPN Films and espnW’s Nine for IX documentary series focuses on female sports icons, issues

NEW YORK — Yesterday, ESPN Films and espnW announced the film slate for Nine for IX, a documentary series focused on captivating stories of women in sports told through the lens of female filmmakers.

The nine-part documentary series from the producers of 30 for 30 is executive produced by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, a former SportsCenter anchor, and Jane Rosenthal. ESPN President John Skipper and Rosenthal were hosts to an exclusive first look for media, filmmakers and other sports industry members.

“Storytelling about women in sports is an ongoing effort at ESPN, and after the recognition of Title IX last summer, the Nine for IX series is a perfect extension and partnership between espnW and ESPN Films,” said Libby Geist, associate director of development for ESPN Films.

“The series tells nine distinct stories by female filmmakers for all our fans, male and female.”

Nine for IX film topics include an intimate look at Pat Summitt, college sports’ most successful coach ever; the largely unknown history of Katarina Witt and her link with East Germany’s secret police; and the focus of sex in the marketing of female athletes. The series is scheduled to premiere on July 2 on ESPN and the films will air over consecutive Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. ET.

Filed in: 30 for 30, ESPN Films, espnW

posted by on February 13, 2013 11:22 AM

Director Nelson George explores Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier’s style in 30 for 30 short film, Disdain the Mundane

The next installment of ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 Shorts premieres today on Grantland.com, showcasing basketball Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s unique fashion and broadcasting style.

Director Nelson George tells Front Row how this short compares to the long-form documentary he directed last year, The Announcement, and why he chose to tell Frazier’s story.

How would you compare directing a full-length documentary to a short like Disdain The Mundane?
Directing The Announcement took me into a variety of worlds: the world of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Showtime era, the late ’80s/early ’90s Los Angeles and the world of HIV activism. With Disdain, it was very focused on one man’s very special view of himself and style, both on court, dressing and in use of language. Magic Johnson’s story took place on a large canvas. Clyde’s piece is very intimate.

What did you learn from directing The Announcement that helped you on this particular film? continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, Behind The Scenes