Film ‘Green and Gold’ scores beyond Wisconsin setting
Showings of “Green and Gold” are scheduled to run through Thursday, which may leave only a few days to catch the Wisconsin-themed film in a theater.
Sibling filmmakers Anders and Davin Lindwall are graduates of West Iron County High School and you needn’t be a hometown reviewer to say they’ve done their community, their state(s), and the Green Bay Packers proud.
Richard Roeper’s review in the Chicago Sun Times is headlined, “‘Green and Gold’ tells a stirring Wisconsin story even a Bears fan could love.”
Need we say more?
While the story revolves around a somewhat-contrived Packers bet, the most compelling threads in “Green and Gold” relate to harmony and kindness. The film is being shown coast to coast in a world that can always use some more of that.
Interestingly, before shooting began in Wisconsin, the Lindwalls received an offer from a studio that wanted to buy the project and film it in Alabama for tax incentive purposes. It was by far the best offer the independent filmmakers would receive, but they turned it down.
Which was all in character.
Business Professionals of America, a national student organization, called attention last week to the Lindwalls’ path to success. In high school, the brothers earned multiple top honors for the West Iron BPA chapter in state and national digital media and video production contests.
They continued that success in film school and went on to launch their own video production company, Childe, based in California and Colorado.
“Green and Gold” is their debut feature film.
“Anders and Davin were talented and passionate students,” said Lee Rometti, a former West Iron business and technology teacher. “They could have pursued many different career fields and found success in them all. But they have always been very creative and had stories to tell.”
Their ties to West Iron remain. Students were able to visit the “Green and Gold” production set in the Green Bay area and Childe has provided internships as well.
“After the Lindwalls moved on to college and then to their own businesses, they continued to invest in my program and students,” Rometti said. “They often came back to encourage, teach and inspire my high school students. They were always available to give advice to and critique my BPA students’ videos for competitions.”
The Lindwalls have been recipients of paying it forward as well.
As reported by the Green Bay Press-Gazette, on the second day of filming actor Craig T. Nelson pulled Anders Lindwall aside and asked where the production’s second camera was. They had only one, the director explained. Nelson volunteered to cover the cost to rent a second camera.
He has been the film’s most ardent promoter since.
In an interview with The Daily News, Anders Lindwall described “Green and Gold” as a community project, citing the film’s many hometown contributors, including extras, choir members, organizers, facilitators and more.
After the film’s nationwide debut, a collective bow would seem to be in order.