Two Hoosier filmmakers are taking a shot at making Indiana’s next iconic sports movie.
Just in its beginning stages, the upcoming “Untitled French Lick Project” will tell the story of how legendary Indiana State University basketball coach Bill Hodges convinced Larry Bird to play for the Sycamores.
Bird had just dropped out of Indiana University and was back home in French Lick, considering if he’d ever play basketball again. Hodges found himself in a similar funk, having just left his job at Armstrong State in Georgia. He concocted a plan – get Bird to play for him, and maybe save his career.
"It's how Larry and Bill found each other how they needed each other, and how together, they put together really the most incredible run [to the 1979 NCAA Championship],” director Patrick Wood said.
Wood grew up in Ft. Wayne, went to Ball State and has spent the last 20 years as a producer in Los Angeles. When the pandemic hit and Hollywood shut down, he started writing the story about his childhood hero – something he had always wanted to do, but never had the time for.
"And the first thing I did is I called Steve (Zukerman),” Wood said. “If I'm going to do something and it's going to happen in Indiana, I'm going to do it with (him).”
The former Ball State fraternity brothers began to put the project in motion. They’ve gotten Hodges involved in sharing his story and are hoping to start filming this spring or summer.
Wood describes it as a “love letter to Indiana” in the same vein as “Breaking Away.” The plan is to shoot in Terre Haute and French Lick, and maybe even Bloomington, too, if they can work things out with IU.
"I'm just I'm excited about getting it done in Indiana,” said Zukerman, who was born in Indianapolis and is producing the project. “Indiana folks, Indiana crew, a lot of Indiana cast. We want to stay true to the to our roots.”
If all goes according to plan, production will be finished in late 2022 or early 2023.
