We All Knew He Was The Best

Film Statement:
A documentary about a person’s life seems like old hat, as many documentaries have been created. Documentaries can dictate different elements of a person’s life, significant contributions that person made to society, or tell about the person’s life in general. But, some documentaries explain greatness, as in the case of John Flynn. From the moment John was born, importance highlighted his face.
John Flynn’s documentary examines his birth through his childhood and adolescent life, to adulthood. While John was growing up, it was clear that he was the best baseball player in town. Every citizen knew that one day John was destined to play baseball at a higher level than anyone from the small town of Alpha, NJ, had ever played at before. This documentary explains how John was born with a “baseball glove on his hand.” It follows John through little league baseball and high school baseball. The documentary shows the contributions John has given back to his hometown, but accounts the one tragic day changing John’s life forever.
In Flynn’s documentary, many of his friends and community members explain how he brightens up the day of every person he is around, and his love of the game. After viewing this documentary, it will be evident how John Flynn made the tiny town of Alpha large.

Background and Need:
Throughout John’s life, he never took for granted his skill of playing baseball. John knew he was the best player, but did not get a big head. The normal “Good game John,” from the local townsman was enough to please him.
When John was born, it was believed something special was in his genes. John’s first word was glove, and from the time he was able to take his first steps, he was carrying around a baseball glove. As soon as John was old enough to sign-up for little league, his parents, Bill and Martha, signed him up.
The locals all knew John was good, but many outside Alpha did not. The locals targeted the people outside of town by talking about him whenever they went to another part of the state. The common phrase when anyone left Alpha was, “That John Flynn is the most unreal baseball player you’ll ever see.”
The main objective of this documentary shows how John’s many accomplishments during his playing days should not overshadow who he really is. John is a perfect example of a person who realizes his greatness, but does not sit on the fact he is better than others. He treats everyone as a normal individual, as he knows everyone is created equally.

Approach, Structure, and Style:
Since this is a documentary of John Flynn’s life, interviews from his parents, town members and former coaches and teammates, help to tell his life story. Home videos of John when he was a baby, John playing peewee and high school baseball, and John helping the neighbors, show his excellence and unselfishness.
To begin the film, the narrator, Derek Michaels, his best friend, describes John when he was a baby. He says John’s parents knew he was destined to achieve. He interviews both Bill and Martha, and his parents say, “It was that twinkle in his eye that made him great.” A home video of when John spoke his first word is shown, as well as footage of John walking around with a baseball glove in his hand.
At the first practice of the year, John’s coach, Phil Hammer, knew John was going to be an exceptional player. As the season progressed, the crowds grew larger with people wanting to watch John. The Alpha Peewee team became a widely recognized team. Jacobs conducts an interview with Hammer, and Hammer explains how John was always telling his teammates to “Try harder. You’ll get them next time. Never give up.” As Hammer is recounting John’s little league days, home video will be shown of John playing, with Hammer’s voice being used as a voice-over.
One of John’s former teammates, Ray Small, explains John’s high school years. Small remembers how John progressed to not only the most dominant pitcher in Alpha, but also the most dominant pitcher in the state. When he entered high school, his coach, Jack Smith, had his eyes set on a state title for four straight years. Over the next four years, behind John’s strong pitching arm, that is exactly what occurred for Alpha High School. Home video of these games will be shown, as well as shots of the massive crowds that attended the games. Citizens who lived as far as 100 miles away would take the drive to Alpha just to see John pitch. His fastball had speed never before seen, and his breaking ball dropped as if no other. Scouts from Division I colleges and Major League Baseball Teams attended each game John pitched.
A local townsman describes John as, “Caring and always willing to help.” As John’s popularity grew, he was never fazed. He always displayed a helping hand around town. Whether it was mowing a neighbor’s lawn, or instructing younger kids about baseball, John put others above himself. Videos of John helping the elderly and giving back to his community is shown, as interviews of neighbors and other town members are conducted as voice-overs. John’s parents always wanted him to attend college, so when he was offered a Major League contract, he refused the offer.
But, this is when tragedy occurred. One night during the summer after his senior year, John and a few of his friends were party. John and his pals were minding their own business when two guys got in a fight. As the fight progressed, one of the guys pulled out a gun. The gun accidentally went off, and the bullet struck John in the shoulder of his pitching arm. John lived, but the doctors told him that with the damage the bullet did to his arm, he will never be able to pitch with the effectiveness he once had. One of his friends, Mark Justice, there that night with John, describes in an interview exactly what occurred. There is a reenactment of the situation to show the events that transpired that night.
Of course John was devastated, but he saw this as an opportunity. He went on to college and received his degree in Business Management. John came back to Alpha and opened up a local sporting goods store and became a coach for a little league team in town. At his store he sells items any young player would need to make him a better player – bats, gloves, shoes – and he offers advice to any individual who wants some. The film will cut to John at his store helping out customers. It will show him giving advice to current and future little leaguers, as town members describe the contributions he has made to their son or daughter. The team John coaches is one of the best in the league, as he encourages his players to have fun and not care about winning or losing. In his free time, John helps around the town – putting others above himself.
The documentary concludes with an interview with John. As Michaels praises John over and over for his greatness in baseball and contributions to the community, John sits unfazed. He says, “I am just like anyone else, a normal human being who is doing what I love,” as the film ends.

Budget:
A major expense for this project will be a round trip airplane flight from Raleigh, NC, to Allentown, PA. Upon arriving in Allentown, a rental car will be needed. It will cost $378 on Continental Airlines for the Raleigh to Allentown flight. A rental car from Hertz rental services will be $19 a day, and since I will need two days in Allentown, it will be $38 dollars to rent a car.
A hotel room at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Bethlehem will cost me $158 for two nights. Food should cost me about $40 for two total days.
Maxell Hi8 Videotapes will cost me $9.99 for a two pack.
The other equipment needed will be checked out from the Swain Equipment room.
There will be a contingency budget of $500. The total budget will be $1123.99.

Shooting Schedule:
On November 30-December 2, I will write my script and decide how I am going to collaborate the information. I will begin shooting on December 4. From December 4-6, I will shoot in Alpha, NJ, collecting interviews from John’s parents, friends and coaches, town people and John. I will get the videos from John’s baby years, peewee days and high school playing. I will return to Raleigh on December 6. On December 8-10, I will compile all the data, interviews and film that I have, and begin to edit it. I will do this until December 14. On December 15, I will release the final product.

Equipment List:
Camcorder, Hi8, #05
Battery Belt, #03
Lighting Kit, #01
Lighting Stand, “C” #01
Light Meter, #27
Sony Hi8 Digital Videotapes (2)
Tripod, #27
Microphone, #58, Wireless Lavalier (2)
Final Cut Pro

Conclusion:
This documentary tells about an incredible athlete and person. John Flynn was an ultimate athlete who did not get a big head from success. He continued to put others before himself, remaining at second tier. Flynn demonstrates that not all successful athletes are rude, and that some can have a good heart. But, if something takes your skill away from you, you remain the same person and show no regrets.

Works Cited
http://www.orbitz.com/App/FlightSearchResults

http://www.hertz.com/special_07/index.jsp

https://www.courtyard.com/reservations/

http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=1&cat=787&scat=&e=11000451