Athletics Media Relations Director Mark McGee takes on role in ‘My Many Sons’

Lipscomb University is in the spotlight once again because of the upcoming film My Many Sons. The movie, former Bison Casey Bond’s tribute to legendary basketball coach Don Meyer, has been filming in and around campus since mid-August, and several of Lipscomb’s own were involved. Mark McGee, Lipscomb Athletics’ media relations director and adjunct professor in the communication department, offered some insight into his experience. “I play Chuck Ross, Lipscomb’s number one fan,” McGee said. “Chuck was at all of our events, and he was usually very vocal.” McGee didn’t get the part by accident. His imitation of Ross’s signature slogan, “beat ‘em and beat ‘em bad,” prompted his co-workers to record it on a camera phone and send it in as an audition. That day McGee got a call from Bond asking him to play Ross. McGee is a featured character, meaning that he has no lines. However, he will have some close ups in crowd scenes, which are close enough for an interesting wardrobe. “The wardrobe lady gave me a plastic bag and a couple of hangers with Chuck’s jacket and t-shirt on them,” McGee said. “The bag had his shoes, his shakers, his megaphone, plus his hat. Everything I had on was Chuck’s.” The combination of McGee’s authentic clothes and Ross’ imitation impressed those on set. “On filming days, people I didn’t even know came up to me and said they wanted a picture made with Chuck,” McGee said. “They didn’t want to pose with me, they wanted to pose with Chuck.” The life of a featured character isn’t all fun and games, though. “It’s a...

Don Meyer biopic ‘My Many Sons’ begins filming at Lipscomb

Filming for the upcoming movie “My Many Sons” will be taking place on Lipscomb’s campus until August 16. The film will detail the life of the late, legendary Lipscomb basketball coach Don Meyer. Production of the movie will continue in various locations across Nashville over the coming weeks, as well as Aberdeen, South Dakota, the location of Northern State, where Meyer coached for over a decade. Former Lipscomb student-athlete Casey Bond is heading the project. Bond, whose Bison baseball career led to a stint in the Minor Leagues, starred in the Oscar-nominated film Moneyball in 2011. “My Many Sons” depicts the relationships that Meyer forged with his players throughout his career and the impact he had on generations of young people. This story is not about wins or records, but rather about Coach’s relationships with players and their families,” Casey Bond told Lipscomb University, “It’s about how one man took the time to build character in young people, which is something we desperately need in our world today. Coach Meyer made the most of a very difficult situation in his life and ran with it.” Bond will be joined in his producer role by longtime Hollywood producer Brad Wilson. The two will be producing the film under their production company Higher Purpose Entertainment. Bond will also be playing the role of Don Meyer’s son Jerry in the film. He will be joined in the cast by former Oscar winner Tatum O’Neal as Carmen Meyer. Veteran Hollywood actor Judge Reinhold will be taking on the lead role of Don Meyer. The film will offer students of the newly created Film...

Coach Don Meyer speaks to students during Athlete Leadership Chapel

Former men’s basketball coach Don Meyer spoke to a crowd of students, faculty, staff and alumni in Allen Arena Thursday in Athlete Leadership Chapel. Meyer, the namesake for Lipscomb’s basketball court, is one of the winningest coaches in college basketball and is set to be the subject of a feature film, co-produced and co-starring Lipscomb graduate and former MLB player Casey Bond. Meyer spoke this morning on a multitude of topics, ranging from servant leadership to how to judge someone’s character. Associate Athletic Director for Spiritual Formation Brent High introduced Meyer to those in attendance. “This is one of the Mount Rushmore guys in my life,” he said. Talking about how to identify a person’s character, Meyer mentioned billionaire CEO Warren Buffet’s three key traits when looking to hire a new employee. According to Meyer, Buffet looks for someone with a strong work ethic, intelligence and character. To Buffet, a person who possesses the first two but lacks the third is not an ideal candidate. Meyer strongly believes in the necessity of character in an individual, offering different ways to judge someone’s character. “I’ve never met a selfish person that was happy, and I’ve never met an unselfish person that was sad,” he said. Meyer said he believes that you can “tell a lot about a person when they’re getting their butt kicked.” He also noted that people should look for how people treat those who can’t do anything for them or do anything to them, citing Mets’ pitcher R.A. Dickey’s efforts to help those in need. Meyer quoted Mark Twain in his third point about judging people’s character, saying, “Kindness is...

Film about former Lipscomb Coach Don Meyer to shoot in Nashville

Per Aberdeen News, a film focused on former Lipscomb men’s basketball Coach Don Meyer is being planned. The filmmakers hope to shoot in both Nashville and Aberdeen, S.D. (home of Northern State University – the school where Meyer coached until his retirement in 2010). The film’s producers were scouting on location in Aberdeen this past week. The independent film, currently going by the working title of My Many Sons, has yet to be fully cast but hopes to secure funding and talent to begin production this year. The project is reportedly attracting notable names and anticipates a release window of 2013. The newly founded Moonglow Films will head up the project, with Hollywood veteran Brad Wilson serving as a producer. Carol Miller will serve as the screenwriter and a co-producer. Director Ralph E. Portillo will helm the project. Miller reportedly interviewed former Lipscomb and NSU players and read the biographical books How Lucky You Can Be: The Don Meyer Story and Playing for Coach Meyer to prepare for the screenplay. She also met with Meyer to discuss the project. The script has completed its first draft and is currently being re-written. Lipscomb alum Casey Bond, a former MLB player who recently starred in the 2011 film Moneyball, will have a role in the film in addition to having a producer’s credit. The idea for the film reportedly came to light when Lipscomb administration told Bond last fall that he should pursue making a movie about Meyer. Bond was very keen on the idea, and he pitched the project to Moonglow Films. “I just had an epiphany on how this movie...