"The Sixth Man: A Krazy Love Story" Premiere
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Coach Cal with "The Sixth Man" director and Winchester native, Jason Epperson[/caption]
Somewhat lost in the controlled chaos caused by BBM and the Pelicans-Wizards "alumni" game was this past Thursday's premiere of “The Sixth Man: A Krazy Love Story” at Lexington’s own Kentucky Theater.
If you were lucky enough to attend the private gala that took place prior to the 9 and 11 pm premieres (more like 9:30, but I digress) then you may have seen some very well-dressed local legends milling about. My invitation to the Blue Carpet event must have been lost in the mail, but my path still crossed with Coach Joe B. Hall’s in downtown Lexington. It felt quite serendipitous, and I didn’t bother pretending not to stare—I’m easily star struck...
Coach Cal was on hand for the private screening and evidently had nothing but praise for the film.
My friend and I, tickets in hand, ambled our way down to my favorite Lexington theater to see "The Sixth Man" for ourselves at 9 pm--the line to get in stretched from the Theater to the corner of MLK and East Main. You people are crazy.
After a 25-minute delay, we were finally in the theater! Hooray! I was criticized by a fellow moviegoer on my choice of attire--a grey sweatshirt and Bengals hat. Sorry KSR, I let you down.
Fellow George Rogers Clark High School graduate and director/producer of the film, Jason Epperson, took the mike and thanked the buzzing crowd for coming out to the Kentucky on a worknight. "I love you Big Blue Nation." We know Jason, we know.
[caption id="attachment_143381" align="alignnone" width="238"]
Front side of the ticket[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_143382" align="alignnone" width="698"]
So this must be the backside![/caption]
I don't want to spoil too much of the documentary for those of you who haven't gotten the chance to see it, but as Coach Cal iterated above--it's time well spent for any Kentucky basketball fan.
The movie featured appearances from a number of famous faces in sports, journalism, and pop culture--Laura Bell Bundy, Josh Hopkins, Steve Zahn, Jay Bilas, Kevin and Brian of the Backstreet Boys (fangirling,) Kyle Macy, Kenny Walker, Joe B. Hall, and of course, John Calipari. Yes there were many other appearances, some of which evoked strong reactions from the crowd of moviegoers--Matt Jones got quite the cheer when first gracing the screen.
Another celebrity, Josh Hutcherson, aka Peeta Mellark of The Hunger Games is a far greater Cats fan than I had anticipated--the Peeta spoke of his fandom and devotion to the Big Blue Nation for a large portion of the movie. If only we could get Louisville-native Jennifer Lawrence on board we'd really have something..
Aside from the celebrity of it all, Epperson and company went behind the scenes at many UK-centric such as the National Championship and Big Blue Madness campouts, and it was feel-good viewing for the audience. Can't really go wrong.
Yet my favorite moments were unquestionably those that featured face time with passionate fans who aren't necessarily famous. Seeing a bevy of Kentucky fanatics in their own homes, watching NCAA Tournament games in the waning minutes, was both hilarious and completely relatable. UK fans wear their emotions on their sleeves and sometimes, you kind of lose it (while being filmed for a documentary.)
The movie also featured some interviews of "celebrities" only a true Kentucky fan would know of--Darren Moscoe, the "Dancing Guy" at Rupp Arena, the 2 blue Spider-men of the UK student section, and the 2 gentlemen, one a Cat, the other a Card, who got physical at a Georgetown dialysis clinic.
There's even some highly emotional moments in "The Sixth Man," such as the highlights of just a few of the children whose lives have been touched by Kentucky basketball and its stars--such as cystic fibrosis patient Reese Kemp.
All in all, the movie was well-worth the time, even with a Christian Laettner appearance..
The message of "The Sixth Man" was clearly "you people are absolutely crazy." But it's ok, that's what makes Kentucky fans so special, and the most passionate in sports; even an outsider watching this film couldn't argue otherwise. Well, maybe Doug Gottlieb.
You can purchase "The Sixth Man: A Krazy Love Story" on their website later this month.
@BrennanKSR
Coach Cal with "The Sixth Man" director and Winchester native, Jason Epperson[/caption]
Somewhat lost in the controlled chaos caused by BBM and the Pelicans-Wizards "alumni" game was this past Thursday's premiere of “The Sixth Man: A Krazy Love Story” at Lexington’s own Kentucky Theater.
If you were lucky enough to attend the private gala that took place prior to the 9 and 11 pm premieres (more like 9:30, but I digress) then you may have seen some very well-dressed local legends milling about. My invitation to the Blue Carpet event must have been lost in the mail, but my path still crossed with Coach Joe B. Hall’s in downtown Lexington. It felt quite serendipitous, and I didn’t bother pretending not to stare—I’m easily star struck...
Coach Cal was on hand for the private screening and evidently had nothing but praise for the film.
My friend and I, tickets in hand, ambled our way down to my favorite Lexington theater to see "The Sixth Man" for ourselves at 9 pm--the line to get in stretched from the Theater to the corner of MLK and East Main. You people are crazy.
After a 25-minute delay, we were finally in the theater! Hooray! I was criticized by a fellow moviegoer on my choice of attire--a grey sweatshirt and Bengals hat. Sorry KSR, I let you down.
Fellow George Rogers Clark High School graduate and director/producer of the film, Jason Epperson, took the mike and thanked the buzzing crowd for coming out to the Kentucky on a worknight. "I love you Big Blue Nation." We know Jason, we know.
[caption id="attachment_143381" align="alignnone" width="238"] Front side of the ticket[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_143382" align="alignnone" width="698"] So this must be the backside![/caption]
I don't want to spoil too much of the documentary for those of you who haven't gotten the chance to see it, but as Coach Cal iterated above--it's time well spent for any Kentucky basketball fan.
The movie featured appearances from a number of famous faces in sports, journalism, and pop culture--Laura Bell Bundy, Josh Hopkins, Steve Zahn, Jay Bilas, Kevin and Brian of the Backstreet Boys (fangirling,) Kyle Macy, Kenny Walker, Joe B. Hall, and of course, John Calipari. Yes there were many other appearances, some of which evoked strong reactions from the crowd of moviegoers--Matt Jones got quite the cheer when first gracing the screen.
Another celebrity, Josh Hutcherson, aka Peeta Mellark of The Hunger Games is a far greater Cats fan than I had anticipated--the Peeta spoke of his fandom and devotion to the Big Blue Nation for a large portion of the movie. If only we could get Louisville-native Jennifer Lawrence on board we'd really have something..
Aside from the celebrity of it all, Epperson and company went behind the scenes at many UK-centric such as the National Championship and Big Blue Madness campouts, and it was feel-good viewing for the audience. Can't really go wrong.
Yet my favorite moments were unquestionably those that featured face time with passionate fans who aren't necessarily famous. Seeing a bevy of Kentucky fanatics in their own homes, watching NCAA Tournament games in the waning minutes, was both hilarious and completely relatable. UK fans wear their emotions on their sleeves and sometimes, you kind of lose it (while being filmed for a documentary.)
The movie also featured some interviews of "celebrities" only a true Kentucky fan would know of--Darren Moscoe, the "Dancing Guy" at Rupp Arena, the 2 blue Spider-men of the UK student section, and the 2 gentlemen, one a Cat, the other a Card, who got physical at a Georgetown dialysis clinic.
There's even some highly emotional moments in "The Sixth Man," such as the highlights of just a few of the children whose lives have been touched by Kentucky basketball and its stars--such as cystic fibrosis patient Reese Kemp.
All in all, the movie was well-worth the time, even with a Christian Laettner appearance..
The message of "The Sixth Man" was clearly "you people are absolutely crazy." But it's ok, that's what makes Kentucky fans so special, and the most passionate in sports; even an outsider watching this film couldn't argue otherwise. Well, maybe Doug Gottlieb.
You can purchase "The Sixth Man: A Krazy Love Story" on their website later this month.
@BrennanKSR
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