Leelanau Sports Guy’s World

Here’s an interesting article on a northern Michigan man directing a Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer film about legendary college basketball coach Don Haskins.

Gartner goes hollywood - Traverse City-based commercial director makes first motion picture

Record Eagle article by Marta Hepler-Drahos

After more than three months on location in Louisiana and Texas, Traverse City-based commercial director James Gartner is wrapping up filming on his first motion picture.

Gartner, who is better known for his award-winning national TV commercials, is directing the Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer film “Glory Road.” The big budget movie stars Josh Lucas, Derek Luke and Austin Nichols.

“Glory Road” follows the true story of Don Haskins, who coached the first all-black starting lineup at Texas Western College (now the University of Texas at El Paso) to a 1966 NCAA basketball championship against top-ranked Kentucky. The victory was credited with opening the doors of universities across the country to black athletes, but outraged many who sent Haskins hate mail and even death threats during the racially charged era.

Read the entire article.