The story of their improbable victory, told in the disney movie mcfarland, usa, comes to theaters on february 20. Mcfarland, usa movie is inspired by a 1987 true story, in which an inexperienced group of young latino runners with exceptional athletic skills and. The only opening jim can find is one in mcfarland, california, one of the poorest towns in america, with a. Mcfarland usa succeeds because its white characters own up to their privilege. Jim white is to thomas right and gary adams is to white s right. Mcfarland, usa also known as mcfarland is a 2015 american sports drama film directed by niki caro, produced by mark ciardi and gordon gray, written by christopher cleveland, bettina gilois and grant thompson with music composed by antonio pinto. To the locals in mcfarland population,500 regarded as one of the states poorest towns jim white known affectionately as blanco is a living, breathing legend. Erins experience inspired the major motion picture, freedom writers starring academy. A look at the real mcfarland usa kids and coach jim white. James jim white born may 14, 1941 in sweetwater, texas failed verification is an american track and field coach, a former high school cross country coach at mcfarland high school. Inspiring reallife coach jim white of disneys mcfarland. I recently had the opportunity to meet and interview kevin costner, coach jim white, cast and real life heroes behind mcfarland usa movie. Jim white, a school football coach at odds with the system and players, takes a job as an assistant football coach at mcfarland.
We pit the mcfarland, usa true story against the movie. Meet coach white and the diaz brothers inspirations for. White discusses the upcoming disney running movie mcfarland usa starring kevin costner, now set. Im a big fan of david baldacci, and i absolutely love his amos decker. Interview with coach jim white of mcfarland usa huffpost. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them. The film stars kevin costner as jim white, the schools coach who lead the team through a number of 1980s social issues to win a. They are portrayed to be 15 and 10, a few years younger than they actually were at the time of the first state title in 1987 the girls were in college at the time. Mcfarland, usa by niki caro kevin costner, maria bello. What was jim whites personality from mcfarland answers. The film was coproduced by walt disney pictures and mayhem pictures. Mcfarland usa succeeds because its white characters own up.
The official facebook page for musician and artist jim white. Jim white retired from coaching the mcfarland high school crosscountry team in 2003. Grazie alla forza dei legami familiari, al profondo. Were there books or instructional manuals that you leaned on. This book addresses urban ecology, green technology, problems with climate change prediction, groundwater contamination, invasive species and many others topics, and offers a guardedly optimistic interpretation of humanitys place in nature and our unique caretaker role. Jim white, the inspiration behind movies like mcfarland. Meet the reallife hero coach played by kevin costner in mcfarland, usa.
Mcfarland, usa is about more than a team of runners and. And the fact that it was based on a true story just makes it even better. There is a minor tendency towards schmaltz and overlength 15 to 20 minutes should have been trimmed, as well as some undernourished dialogue, and as in other. Its about community and becoming people of character. The film depicts him as a football coach in boise, idaho in 1987, who lost his temper with a backtalking student, threw a shoe at the kids head, and was fired. When a disagreement strips him of that position as well he isnt sure what to do next. The social reach of mcfarland, usa is more than the story of a team of runners and a brokendown coach who show what they are made of.
Why did mcfarland usa create the fake backstory about. Coincidentally, the movie brought in over 45 million bucks with a budget of 17 million, so calling it a hit movie is more than fair. Cheryl white, wife of coach jim white, comforts mcfarland high crosscountry runner salvador medina while ermelinda ozuna does the same for runner. The real jim white, subject of the disney movie, mcfarland usa, and runners visit northside christian church in fresno. In the movie mcfarland usa, which is based on the true story of a white man, mr. Jim white costner is a football coach at a prestigious high school. After a halftime outburst he is fired and takes a job in mcfarland high as an assistant football coach. Its an impoverished agricultural community thats predominantly made up of mexicanamerican farmers and produce pickers. Come and meet legendary coach white and while your there take a movie tour where you will have a. Their story is extraordinary not only for their athletic achievement, but for what they had to overcome to even be in. Mcfarland, usa the 1987 mcfarland cross country team.
White, who moved his family from the midwest to mcfarland, california a small town near bakersfield. One of these leaders was jim white, cross country coach at mcfarland high school, whose teams won nine california cross country state. Thomas pov from the story mcfarland usa love story by pumpgirl345 with 15,185 reads. From 1987 to 2003, his team won nine state championships in divisions iii and iv, as well as numerous lesser titles. Why does greg gutfeld wear a ring on the middle finger on his left hand. What we can all learn from the movie mcfarland usa the. Interview with coach jim white the presbyterian outlook. The boys from mcfarland were the unlikely champs of california crosscountry.
White finds the potential for crosscountry in few students at the school. Jordans father, terry lewis, was the head coach for shafter during those same years. The pgrated motion picture, which opens nationwide feb. In an interview, coach white spoke about what makes great coaches and great runners, and why mcfarland is still his home. Why did mcfarland usa create the fake backstory about jim white. Walt disney pictures disneys newest film mcfarland, usa tells the true story of how cross country coach jim white rounded up a group of latino teens with uncertain futures and made them into champions an achievement he says reflects gods glory. Mcfarland usa 2015 opens with the words based on a true story, followed immediately by a fabricated backstory of how jim white kevin costner ended up in rundown mcfarland, california. We found 63 records for jim white in foresthill, san diego and 60 other cities in california. Erin gruwell is an american teacher known for her unique teaching method, which led to the publication of new york times bestselling book, the freedom writers diary. In the forthcoming mcfarland, usa, kevin costner plays reallife high school coach jim white, who in 1987 led his team of unlikely crosscountry runners to victory in. Jim white s wife cheryl white was played by actress maria bello in the hit film, mcfarland, usa.
Mcfarland usa succeeds because its white characters own up to. Mcfarland coach jim white and runners visit northside. Coach jim white interview for mcfarland starring kevin costner. Jim white is to thomas right and gary adams is to white. Mcfarland a leading independent publisher of academic. The movie mcfarland usa helps demonstrate the amount of work that it takes to be an agricultural worker, as well as the perseverance of the human spirit. James jim white is an american track and field coach, a former high school cross country. Kevin costner plays reallife coach jim white in disneys mcfarland usa, the story of a group of teenage pickers crop workers who became california state crosscountry champions. I wanted to know if mcfarland had changed through the years and danny jumped in to answer you know, growing up in mcfarland, we didnt have much. In 1987, football coach jim white kevin costner loses his job at a high school for losing his temper and throwing a shoe at a kid. David diaz is behind victor wearing a white tshirt and mcfarland hat. Jim white costner finds his days as a football coach numbered when an incident with a player leads to his dismissal. Mcfarland usa 2015 opens with the words based on a true story, followed immediately by a fabricated backstory of how jim white kevin. The faith behind disneys mcfarland, usa the christian.
Julie and jami are depicted in the mcfarland, usa movie. Mcfarland, usa is a 2015 liveaction sports drama film which was based on a true story of a latin high school track team from mcfarland, california. High school coach jim white transformed his community through. Kevin costner stars as jim white, a former highschool football coach who, in 1987, moves his family from idaho to mcfarland, ca, a farmrich but economically poor area that is predominately latino, to accept the only teaching job he can get after he is fired due to an abusive encounter with a player on his team. Jim white is married to cheryl white and has three daughters. Jim white in california ca 63 records found whitepages. I love books books to read my books the words reading quotes book quotes reading books art quotes reading time. Thomas valles, of the mcfarland cougars 1987 team, hoists the california southern area championship trophy. Jim white thought he had passed the torch to his faithful assistant. The city of mcfarland invites artists to submit proposals for a sitespecific outdoor p ublic art installation to be exhibited in and around the new jim white blanco park on east sherwood. Upcoming free online hope forums strategies for lifes.
Jim white said that the only one who had some doubts was the brothers mother, she told them,i love the film, but they didnt make me strict enough. Many leaders have a significant impact on the lives of others. Walt disney pictures mcfarland, usa starring kevin costner hits theaters everywhere on february 20, 2015. Costner plays jim white yes, his last name is white. Uploaded from my forscene account bonnie laufer interviews coach jim white who inspired the making of mcfarland which stars kevin. Join facebook to connect with jim white and others you may know. He gets interested in building up a crosscountry team, but has to adjust his ways to suit the system. Kevin costner plays jim white, a teacher and crosscountry coach at a mostly latino high school in mcfarland, california, based on a true story and set in the 19871988 school year. Meet the real jim white, thomas valles, cheryl white and mcfarlands diaz family. Running for their lives, the 2004 gary smith story that inspired the kevin costner movie mcfarland, usa. The real jim white and wife cheryl white actually have three daughters, tami, julie and jami. So here coach white is in the fall of 1987, driving his family to a new town and a new lastchance joba lowly post teaching science and p. A good friend of mine growing up, jordan lewis now the head coach of shafters crosscountry team competed against mcfarland during many of the jim white championship years, and he knows jim personally. We recently conducted a poll among visitors and the memory man series was voted the 8th most favourite series by all readers.
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