McFarland USA is one of the most inspiring movies I’ve seen. It’s a true story about the 1987 McFarland High School cross country race team’s rise to fame. The movie follows novice runners from their home town McFarland, an economically challenged city in California, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school, with whom they ultimately bond to build not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well.
I loved the movie and found each character fascinating. At the press junket I attended on February 7th at the W Hotel in Hollywood, CA, I discovered some amazing facts about the town, cast and people they portray. Below are 10 McFarland Fun Facts that will inspire and give you a wonderful background about the movie. Please feel free to share with your friends by click on the share button.
10 McFarland USA Fun Facts
1) Real Time
60 year old Kevin Costner “Jim White” read about the McFarland high school race team years ago in Sports Illustrated. So when director “Niki Caro” asked him to do the role, he was happy to accept.
“Relationships that coaches establish with young people is something that carries through their life if it’s done right. There’s not a lot of Jim Whites, but there are Jim Whites, and he represents the best, really, of the best.” ~ Kevin Costner
2) No Special Effects
The extreme hill that the boys have to run up during cross country competition in McFarland is not a green screen or any other special effect. What’s more, during the recording of the scene porta potties were place at the bottom of the hill and director “Niki Caro” made herself run up and down it many times that day.
3) Active Duty
During the filming of McFarland USA Johnny Ortiz “Jose Cardenas” did not get to meet the character he portrays in the film because “Jose Cardenas” is actively serving in the military.
“It’s a great lesson to us, McFarland, that if we give our children, our young men, our young women goals, we let them see what’s possible, they can exceed beyond their own wildest expectations.” ~ Kevin Costner
4) Extreme Training
In order for Carlos Pratts “Thomas Valles” to get prepared for his role he ran 5 to 6 miles a day. Then he would go to the studio and rehearse the film. After he would do cross fit training at Brick Fitness in Redondo Beach California.
5) Local Pride
For the filming of McFarland USA, director “Niki Caro” used locals as extras in the movies and cast McFarland resident Sergio Avelar for the role of “Victor Puentes”.
“That’s deeply satisfying to me to – to go in and tell a story that is not only meaningful, but is true and real, and tell it with the real people.” McFarland director “Niki Caro”
6) Mrs. Coach
Cheryl White’s role as Mrs. Coach expands much further than the role is portrayed in the film. As the team mom, Mrs. White was known for taking care of the boys like their mom. On trips she would pack sandwiches. When Mrs. White accompanied them on trips, she made sure they all had beds, blankets, food and took showers
7) Off Track
Growing up actor Kevin Costner credits his high school basketball coach, Joe Vaughn, for helping him stay on the right course. Joe Vaughn is best known for leading the Buena High, California girl’s basketball team to 500 plus victories.
“It’s a great lesson to us, McFarland, that if we give our children, our young men, our young women goals, we let them see what’s possible, they can exceed beyond their own wildest expectations.” ~ Kevin Costner
8) Some Experience
Actor Rafael Martinez (David Diaz) ran cross country during his freshman year of college. Therefore, he had some understanding of the degree of his role before accepting the part.
9) Endless Fields
Although Kevin Costner played, fought and had friends with families who were pickers in Saticoy, California, he did not truly realize what pickers lives consisted of until after filming the movie.
“Bending down to work and seeing a field go forever, understanding that this is forever, this is every week, this is every day in all kinds of weather, um, the appreciation, um, of who these people are, this is as American story as you can possibly have. “ ~ Kevin Costner
10) Rebranded
The city of McFarland changed their logo to a silhouette of a runner running through the field, and underneath it is says “Tradition, unity, and excellence.” The logo was developed by a girl who attended McFarland High Schools.
Follow McFARLAND, USA on Facebook |Twitter
McFARLAND, USA is rated PG and opens in theaters everywhere on February 20th!
Leave a Reply