Documentary chronicles the life and career of sports legend Bo Jackson
ESPN Films’ 30 for 30, presented by Buick Verano, will premiere You Don’t Know Bo on Saturday, December 8 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPNHD, immediately following the conclusion of the Heisman Trophy Presentation. The film explores the feats of the former Heisman trophy winner from his childhood to his early days at Auburn University and through his career as a professional baseball and football star. The trailer for the film can be viewed at espn.com/30for30.
“With each 30 for 30 film, we aim to tell a story that resonates with sports fans and few, if any, athletes in professional sports have captured the nation’s attention the way that Bo Jackson did in his prime,” said Connor Schell ESPN Films vice president and executive producer. “From his college career to his professional baseball and football careers, and even his mainstream appeal with Nike’s “Bo Knows” marketing campaign, Bo Jackson’s achievements help him remain one of the most captivating and revered athletes of all time, nearly two decades after his retirement.”
You Don’t Know Bo, directed by Michael Bonfiglio and produced by @radical.media, takes a close look at two-sport athlete Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson and the creation of a legend. As the only athlete ever selected to play in the NFL Pro Bowl and the MLB All-Star Game, Jackson will forever be known as a cultural icon who looms larger than life as one of the most famous athletes of all time. This film examines the truths and tall tales that surround Jackson, and how his seemingly impossible deeds captured the country’s collective imagination for an all-too-brief period in time.
“Bo Jackson is like a superhero straight out of a comic book,” Bonfiglio said. “If we had scripted this story it would feel like a cliché, but what’s so incredible is that for the most part, the legend of Bo Jackson is actually true. And the parts that aren’t true have been cemented into the minds of fans to somehow become the truth.”
All of the 30 for 30 films from this past slate are available on iTunes and Amazon.com. The 30 for 30 Film Favorites Collection, a new gift set including the most popular titles from ESPN Films, is also available on DVD. Fans can get additional information at www.facebook.com/espn30for30 and www.twitter.com/30for30.
**A preview copy of the film is available upon request**
About ESPN Films
Created in March 2008, ESPN Films produces high-quality films showcasing compelling sports stories. In October 2009, ESPN Films launched the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated 30 for 30 film series. Inspired by ESPN’s 30th Anniversary, the films that made up the series were a thoughtful and innovative reflection on the past three decades told through the lens of diverse and interesting sports fans and social commentators. Additional projects from ESPN Films include, among others, the critically acclaimed and Television Academy Honor-winning 16th Man, Cannes Film Festival official selection The Two Escobars, and the Peabody Award-winning Black Magic. More recent projects include Catching Hell, from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, and The Announcement, from filmmaker Nelson George. 30 for 30 Volume II has featured documentaries Broke, directed by Billy Corben, and 9.79*, directed by Daniel Gordon. For more information on 30 for 30, go to espn.com/30for30/.
Recent Comments