Cameron Schmucker does some camera tests with co-writers and co-stars Ryan Churchill and Nick Greco (from left).
About a decade ago, while I was still playing for the Green Bay Packers, a buddy of mine, Tim Lucke, came to watch a practice. As the afternoon was winding down, he looked over at one of the old houses located next to the Lambeau Field parking lot and saw a for sale sign. He and some friends stopped over to take a look. Thinking of all the money they spent on hotels and parking when going to see a game in Green Bay, they decided on the spot to purchase the house. It was one of the first houses in the shadow of the famed stadium purchased specifically to be a Packers party house. Many others have since followed suit.
I recently caught up with Ryan Churchill, a Beloit native, who has written a feature film about the house and Packers fandom. Churchill also plays one of the main characters in The Sixty Yard Line and is its executive producer. Full disclosure: I have a cameo in the film, which is set to start shooting Monday.
What inspired the film?
It was 2004 and I had recently moved to Los Angeles to act and write when I came back to Green Bay for a Packers game and to visit my good friend Tim Lucke, who had recently purchased a house next to Lambeau. After three minutes of being at the house, I knew it could be made into a movie. Later that evening, [former Green Bay Packers offensive tackle] Chad Clifton stopped by the house, and then I knew it absolutely had to be a movie. Once I got back to Los Angeles, I immediately started writing the outline of the script.
Give us the premise for the movie.
The Sixty Yard Line centers around Ben “Zagger” Zagowski and his best friend, and fish-out-of-water Bears fan, Nick Polano. They stumble upon a house for sale next to Lambeau Field and, on a whim, decide to buy it and become legendary Packer Party guys. It quickly becomes a ton of fun, but wrecks Zagger’s relationship with his longtime fiancée, Amy Etzman.
Who were your big hopes for the starring roles?
When it comes to low-budget independent films, you have to do a lot of hoping and wishing for huge names, and pray these names come on board for the love of the subject matter. We initially tried for huge names that were known Packers fans, like Justin Timberlake and Olivia Munn. On top of that, we wanted a cameo from Aaron Rodgers. But we also had common sense and knew these ideas would be a long shot, and in the end, their schedules didn’t permit them to even read the script. But we’re still looking at you, A-Rodge. His invitation to drop by the set is still open.
Who have you cast in the leading roles?
I play Ben, and Nick Greco, who is also the co-writer of the screenplay, plays Nick. Lea Thompson, who was in the Back to the Future movies, plays my mom, and Kimberley Crossman plays my girlfriend, Amy.
What have been the biggest obstacles to making the movie?
Acquiring funding and scheduling. I’ve been biting, scratching and clawing for 10 years to put together enough money to get the film shot. Currently, we are still gathering more funds for finishing and marketing. Then scheduling the shooting is a nightmare. When one little piece shifts, it creates a giant ripple effect through the rest of the schedule. We are shooting a low-budget film, so every minute has a dollar amount on it, and when it moves, it can mean the end of the film. It’s a constant struggle to hold the project together.
What made you think Green Bay and the Packers would be good material for a movie?
I grew up in this culture, and I firmly believe it’s by far the most positive and nurturing environment for anybody to be raised in. There is no other professional sports team that has a more supportive fan base than the Packers. The film is mostly about Wisconsin people and their relationships with family and friends. The Green Bay Packers just happen to be an amazing setting and backdrop to set our story into.
What are your expectations for the movie?
They are high. A good story is a good story, no matter what the budget. The chances of our film getting a 2,000-theater nationwide release are low, but we can expect it to be distributed widely throughout the Midwest, with possibly a smaller release in the New York and Los Angeles markets. In addition, we will look to digital distribution on iTunes or Netflix. Digital distribution is a rapidly growing distribution platform that can provide The Sixty Yard Line with considerable revenue opportunities.
