Tom Brainard

Interview: Tom Brainard

Crusader Entertainment - 'The Game of Their Lives'

January 23, 2004

If you haven't heard about it yet, you soon will. 'The Game of Their Lives' our country's greatest World Cup match will be coming to the 'big screen' in 2004. Here is the second installment in our interviews with Tom Brainard from Crusader Entertainment and the movie, 'The Game of Their Lives.'

SoccerLoop: In what stage of production is the film currently in?

Tom Brainard: Right now the film is being edited, typically a very lengthy process.

SL: Has a release date been set yet? If so, when?

TB: Not yet, but trying for third quarter of 2004.

SL: Will the movie mainly focus on the lives of Harry Keough and Frank Borghi or does it do a good job of distributing the character development?

TB: Without giving anything away, this is an ensemble film about "the team".

SL: We know most of the film was shot in New York, St. Louis and Rio, but were there any other places/cities that the movie will feature?

TB: No, that was it.

SL: I know Nelson Vargas from my time at the Miami Fusion. He was a player I was in the front office. What role is he playing in the film?

TB: Nelson is playing, and does a heck of a job I might add, the role of John "Clarkie" Sousa.

SL: We understand that John Harkes plays the role of Ed McIlenney in the film. We know how "Harkesie" is as a soccer player, commentator, and show host, but how is he as an actor?

TB: He's just as fluid as on the pitch.

SL: We read that you, Tom Brainard, will be playing the part of Joe Maca. How did you go from Executive Producer to the role of Joe Maca? Do you have any soccer background?

TB: In all humility, I had the role of Maca for a short while. Then a fine actor/ soccer player came along named Richard Jenik. As much as I love the sport, I am not a professional quality player. Richard is and we needed that authenticity on the field, so I happily took a different role and let Richard do what was needed.

SL: How life-like will the action shots be in the film? How much emphasis was put on reality?

TB: Given that I have no regrets about Richard playing Joe Maca, it is at least very clear to me that the authenticity that you will see on the pitch will be unprecedented in film.

SL: We understand that most of the cast has soccer experience. But of all the cast members, who is the true soccer talent/star?

TB: Harkes! 'Nuff said. Nelson Vargas has almost unmatched ball handling skills, Zack is gifted and has a heck of a foot. In fact, really everyone on this team came in to the film either being among the best or working there tails off to get there.

SL: How much of a role do the surviving players from the 1950 U.S. National Team have in the film?

TB: Well, lots of course, after all they are the living model for the history that we tried to remake.

SL: We've read and heard that Eric Wynalda is a technical director for the film. What exactly is his role in the project?

TB: Eric was one of the most necessary elements of the film he was on hand every moment of filming soccer to coordinate plays, maintain authenticity and basically make it rock and roll.

SL: Do you know if Major League Soccer will be getting behind the project in any form?

TB: Yes, but in an as yet unspecified capacity.

The Players and Cast:

Walter Bahr - Wes Bentley
Joe Maca - Richard Jenik
Harry Keough - Zachary Ty Bryan
Frank Borghi - Gerard Butler
Joe Gatjaens - Jimmy Jean-Louis
Frank "Pee Wee" Wallace - Jay Rodan
John "Clarkie" Sousa - Nelson Vargas
Ed McIlenney - John Harkes
Gino Pariani - Louis Mandylor
Charley Columbo - Costas Mandylor
Eddie Sousa - ???
Stanley Mortenson - Gavin Rossdale

Interview by: Steven Patton