January 23, 2025 • 24 mins
Award-winning writer and director Anders Lindwall discusses his new drama, "Green and Gold." "Green and Gold," a celebration of family farmers, community values, and football, will be available in theaters nationwide on January 31st, 2025! Click here to watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/cIYZ5rWQNtg?si=8UOVGyNZJxU_BZVB
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Featuring Real Farmer: Dave & Tamie Grasse, Philip & Mary Bley, and John Sawyer, foreclosure looms over Wisconsin dairy farmer Buck (Craig T. Nelson). With mounting debt and the land his family has cultivated for four generations at risk, Buck refuses to give up his legacy without a fight. Buck's granddaughter (Madison Lawlor) works alongside him but dreams of a career in music. Her aspirations are fanned by an emerging friendship with a famous musician (Brandon Sklenar), but chasing her dreams might take her far from the farm. With time running out, Buck places a daring Super Bowl bet on his beloved Green Bay Packers, risking it all to save everything he holds dear.
You can monetarily support The Jan Price Show by becoming a patron and making a tax-deductible donation to The Jan Price Show. For an even larger impact, sign up for a monthly recurring donation! Click on the link below for the details: https://creative-visions.networkforgood.com/projects/236266-the-jan-price-show-s-fundraiser
We are on Bluesky! Click here to follow us: https://bsky.app/profile/thejanpriceshow.bsky.social
Featuring Real Farmer: Dave & Tamie Grasse, Philip & Mary Bley, and John Sawyer, foreclosure looms over Wisconsin dairy farmer Buck (Craig T. Nelson). With mounting debt and the land his family has cultivated for four generations at risk, Buck refuses to give up his legacy without a fight. Buck's granddaughter (Madison Lawlor) works alongside him but dreams of a career in music. Her aspirations are fanned by an emerging friendship with a famous musician (Brandon Sklenar), but chasing her dreams might take her far from the farm. With time running out, Buck places a daring Super Bowl bet on his beloved Green Bay Packers, risking it all to save everything he holds dear.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Jam Rice Show All about Movies. You're listening to
the Jam Prier Show All about Movies, and today my
guest is Anders Lynn Wall. Hello, Anders, and we're going
to talk about this really heartwarming film entitled Green and Gold.
So welcome to the show. Anders, Yeah, thanks so much
(00:20):
for having me. It's a pleasure to have you. This
is a great film to start off the new year with. Actually,
so it's heartwarming, it's touching. It's based on a true
story which I always love, and it just it's just
it made me cry. And I always when a moves
me emotionally, that's what movies are meant to be as
far as I'm concerned, and I say that all the time.
So it really did touch me. So the audience knows
(00:44):
of what we're going to be talking about. Why did
you give the audience a brief synopsis of what Green
and Gold is all about?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, it's a really simple film, and it's a story
of an old dairy farmer in Wisconsin who finds out
that his family farm something it's a multi generational army,
is going under and so the story follows him and
his granddaughter trying to save the little farm from going
back to the bank. So yeah, where the Packers coming
to play is he works a deal with the banker
(01:12):
to extend the life of his loan if the unlikely
Packers win the Super Bowl. And so the story kind
of follows really the family story of the grandfather, granddaughter,
and then in the background it's sort of this Packer narrative.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And it stars the wonderful I just adore him, Craig T. Nelson. Nelson,
who's been around by his own accord, he says fifty years.
He's been performing for fifty years. But I want to
read a quote that really tells you a lot about
what this film is about. From Craig T. Nelson. He said,
among all the great projects I've had the privilege to
(01:44):
be a part of in my life, this film might
be my favorite at this stage in my life. A
story that has heart like this and tells the truth.
That is what I was seeking, and that truth is
what I wanted to impart to my children, grandchildren and
great grandchildren. I thought that was such a beautiful quote
and tells you so much about the heart and soul
(02:05):
of Green and Gold. When you read that or heard
that quote from him, what were your first thoughts.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
You know. The first time I heard him mention something
like that was we were on set actually towards the
end of filming, and you know, I just because this
is my first movie, I had never had the opportunity
to do this, and so but towards the end of filming,
I remember he pulled me aside and said, all of
this has felt so real. He's like, I can't believe
how real it's all the whole experience, and he's like,
(02:31):
I think this might be one of my favorite projects
I've ever been a part of. It totally floored me,
you know, I mean, here's a legend who's been around
forever doing this with some really really amazing projects. But
I think he just, you know, I think the story
just really resonated with him. And that's I mean that
in hindsight, from that moment, I was like, Okay, I
guess I can see why. I mean, he took a
flyer on us. We're no namers making our first movie,
(02:54):
and he reads the script and there's something in the
script that just really really struck him. And then I
think our overall is really what continued to resonate with him.
And you know, but I don't know, it's like a
humbling that's a humbling thing to hear. But you know,
I also, like I think at the end of the
day when he said, like a story that has truth
and heart, like I know, you know, even if I
get a chance to make more movies like this, one
(03:15):
will always have so much heart in it and so
much that I believe is right and true and good.
And I think that's where Craig really aligned as.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Well, And that's what those are the kinds of stories
we need now more than ever. I was at a
function last night with some filmmakers and I've said it
many times, but I'll say it again. I think movies
are really going to save us through some of it
has throughout you know, decades, movies have been obviously, you know,
when we're going through hard times, it's the films that
(03:45):
help get us through those difficult times, and certainly the
depression in World War two, and you know, other catastrophic
events like the assassination of President Kennedy and his brother
Robert Kennedy. And it's the films that you know that
can uplift us and make us feel better about humanity
and not to go into grief and despair about what's
(04:07):
going on in the rest of the world. And I
think there's a shift. I feel a shift in the
movie industry to find more enlightening and heartwarming kinds of stories.
There's so many of them to be told. But that's
what's going to save us through these dark times that
we you know, that we're going through that many people
are feeling.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
I couldn't agree more. I mean, that's you know, it's
not really cool when you're a young filmmaker to make
a real wholesome, heartwarming film, Like there's nothing zeitgeist about it,
there's nothing provocative in the story. But I think what's
happened historically with film, you know, like one of the
main components of story, right is drama and conflict, And
for a long time, I think filmmakers were like, oh,
(04:48):
I want to represent the reality. The world is dark,
the world is you know, life is hard, and it
certainly is. But I think in my from my perspective,
the way in which those stories are I guess the
amount of stories that are showing like the dark side
of life and the hard things of life is unbalanced
compared to the good things in life, and it's like
a John Denver, It's it's hard to write a happy song.
(05:09):
It's hard to make a happy movie that's not a
Hallmark movie, right right, and it really is. Like that
was a real challenge for us, was the whole time.
We wanted to run this line of like we want
it to be hopeful, we wanted to be uplifting, but
we don't want it to be cheesy, Like we really
don't want it to be cheesy. And so both by
trying to tell the truth with the harsh realities, you know,
like life on the farm, countered that with the reality
(05:31):
of there's a benevolent community, especially in that part of
the world, that really exists and rallies around each other
and loves one another. Neighbors really take care of each
other up there, and that is true, that happens all
the time. And so that's that's what you're hoping this
story could.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Highlight, and it doesn't. This actually became the community. Where
did you film this? By the way, we.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Filmed in Door County, Wisconsin.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Primarily Okay, and the community came together to help make
this movie. So it takes a village as they say, yeah,
you know, the.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Packers are in the film. The Packers sort of represent
this collective community, you know, their community owned sports team.
And Dad, I.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Did not know that was a new That was something
I had never heard before until I was doing my research,
and I was really surprised about that. That was that's
pretty amazing in itself. It says a whole lot.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Oh yeah, it's so special, I mean, and that was
the impetus too for us wanting aside from being a
huge passionate Packer fan my whole life, it was it's
like a team that has this It's bigger than just
one owner who sits on top of the chair. It's
this large community who sort of is interested in participates
in the sports franchise. But yeah, the folks at Door County,
I mean, my brother and I had a hunch just
(06:42):
from growing up there that people would open doors and
help us. But you know, because even when we were
in high school, if we wanted to film a hospital scene,
the hot the local hospital will say like sure, just
you can use that hallway over there, like you don't
have to sign anything. It's just they help you out.
It's not because we're filmmakers. They help us out because
that's just what they do. The level of generosity and
participation from farmers to the city of Sturgeon Bay, like
(07:06):
people shutting down streets for us for free so we
could drive a tractor through. There were just so many amazing,
benevolent offerings that people just poured out on us, like, oh, yeah,
you need a tructure, you can use this one. Here,
I'll bring it down there. You guys can have it
as long as you want. You know, that type of spirit.
And when you're filming in other parts of the country,
that doesn't happen. You get to pay for everything. You
gotta get nickeled and dined. And but I think for them,
(07:29):
you know, there's not a lot of movies that get
shot up there, but they're really interested in the arts,
and I think for them it was fun to see.
And you know, to have a guy like Craig be
our representative from Los Angeles and couldn't have been a
better person because he was so he dignified everybody encounters.
You know, he would sit down with the farmers and
ask them questions about their life. He would you know,
people be yelling at the coach and he would just
(07:51):
be like, you know, go talk to anybody. And and
so it was I think there was a lot of
mutual benefit for everybody.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Involved with Yeah, oh that's part of the Midwest values too,
the heartland there, no question. Then it's represented there. And
then Craig t Nelson sang the national anthem at a
Packers game. I mean, how did that come about? And
he has a really good voice.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, it was funny. So we when we were when
we were partnering up with the Packers organization, we actually
me and my brother pitched it to them. We said, hey,
what could we have somebody sing the national anthem? Because
so Jackson Brown, the artist, just gave us a bunch
of music just because he loved the project and wanted
project to have good music in it nice and so
initially we're like, maybe Jackson could sing on behalf of
(08:37):
the film. And then we're like, you know what, Craig's
been so intertwined through the whole process of and I
was like, maybe we should give him a chance and
see if you want to do it. So I called
him and he said, yeah, let's do it. And then
I called the Packers and said, hey, what if Craig
can sing? And they said can he audition? It was
his last audition he did, you know, because he just
gets projects given to him now. But he Craig graciously
(09:00):
went into a studio and sang the national anthem and
it sounded really, really good, and so yeah, the packers
gave them the thumbs up, and yeah, in front of
eighty thousand people at about ten degrees fahrenheit, it was freezing.
You know, Craig's eighty years old and saying the national.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Anthem, that's very awesome, very awesome. Yeah, really is. People
have to find that clip. We'll definitely try to include
it when we put it out there. And let's talk
about Culvers because they were very big in filming this
and I'm not sure if everybody's familiar with Culvers and
the project that they also fund.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Yeah, well, thanks thanks for asking about that there. So
when you're an independent film, you know, you're always looking
for any angle you can of support, and some of
that you know, can come through studios. And for us,
we just had the idea of what if we got
a brand, What if we got a brand who aligned
with us enough, didn't want to change the movie, but
would basically provide us, you know, sponsorship, cash to help
(09:53):
us activate on a really large scale. Like, you know,
to punch away above our class. And so we knew
about Culver's just from growing up there. There. They're the
Midwest in and Out is how I describe them, And
maybe in and Out describes themselves as the West Coast Culvers.
I'm not sure, but yeah, they're They're just a lovely brand,
have a great spirit culture and they've had this thanky
Farmer's project which has been going since twenty thirteen where
(10:15):
they donate a bunch of money to agricultural education. And
so there, Wisconsin based, have a huge passion for farmers.
And so we got the project in front of them,
and you know, I wasn't sure what the reaction was
going to be, you know, like this is my first
time doing it. But your marketing team had tears in
their eyes and they said, you know, we don't want
to change a thing about this movie, like we're hands
off with it, but we want what can we do
(10:36):
to help get this message out? Yeah, like that's the
real truth of it. And so we ended up. I
felt I was like, hey, I want to help represent
you know, like try to match your level of gratitude,
Like can we put in some kind of little product placement.
So there's a little product placement that we we volunteer
to put in it just as like to try to,
I think, just to try to represent our gratitude because
you know, they're activating this on a level that we
(10:58):
would never have been able to otherwise. And so and so. Yeah,
their stores are printing on posters and sticking them in
bags of food, and they're a proud supporter of f
FA Future Farmers of America, which is a nationwide training
ground for young farmers. And we, you know, we hope
the film can really inspire that group of people, love,
particularly young farmers, to see the value and what they're doing,
(11:19):
to see stewardship in a real important way, and to
know that, you know, the rest of the world Seeson
values them and appreciates the hard work, and we need them.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
We need them.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
I don't know a farm.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I don't know how to farm either, And when you
realize that it's generations and generations of farmers, this is
what they know, and that's obviously what's in the story too.
It's just when you see what they go through and
how difficult it is to be a farmer today, it's
just mind boggling that they even continue to do it.
And in the story, the granddaughter does not want to
(11:51):
continue to be in the family business. And that's part
of a little bit of the conflict. In doing the
research you wrote this too, or what one of the
writers on this that in the character of the granddaughter,
you saw yourself. Do you want to talk a little
bit about that.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting, like I so, my my
brother and I our grandfather was a dairy farmer, and
so we grew up kind of and our family still
had the farm. It wasn't functioning at the point when
we came around, but we still had the land and
a neighboring farmer and our cousins were involved with that fay,
and so we kind of grew up around agrarian lifestyles
(12:26):
and small you know, in particular small town and right
on the Michigan Wisconsin border, and and it was you know,
as a kid, you're just like, all I want to
do is get out of here. That's You're like, I
just want to go see the bigger things. I want
to I want to go see what else is the
world has to offer. And then you know, halfway through,
(12:47):
like the first the first draft of the script, I
realized I was writing my own I didn't know that
I was writing my own character into Jenny, you know,
and and I desire that long mean that the young
have for There's a monologue where Craig says, you know,
you'll go chasing your hopes and dreams. You're gonna go
(13:08):
looking for that thing to feel that emptiness inside you.
And that was what it was. It's like you're trying
to figure out what is missing in your heart and
in your life that could fulfill it. And you realize,
you know, those of us as we start to get
I'm still a young guy, and maybe I'm on the
second half of my life, but I'm getting close. You
start to realize the different things that are important to you,
(13:30):
and and the beauty that was around you the whole
time that you had been just totally missing and totally
blind to. There was one particular moment I remember I
was trying to when I was in college. I was
trying to go meet my favorite author, and my mom
was like she was trying to understand. She's like, why
do you want to go meet this author? I was like, Oh,
he's inspired me, you know, He's written all these great
(13:51):
things he's such a great man. And she's like, she's like,
if you're just missing all the amazing people that you
grew up around you poor years and years into shaping
you and sculpting you. She's like, you should go spend
some time with them and and invest into them, and
and and so I think, you know, that's sort of
the spirit that that I think I'm excited about is
(14:14):
kind of this spirit of not looking for green or
greener grass all the time, you know, especially with social media.
You know, as young folks, it's it's like you're all
you're bombarded with everything else but where you are. And
I think this film hopefully can can be a good
reminder of two people. You know, right where your feet
are probably has some really amazing things around it. You
(14:36):
just need the right eyes to see it.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Beautiful. That's beautiful. And you have a very wise mother
by the way too, So the apple doesn't fall too
far from the tree. For sure. You moved, so you
went to college in LA correct film school in LA
And then so you decided to come back and film this.
(15:00):
How was that for you to go back and to film? Uh,
you know in this town and you know near you
where you grew up. What was that like for you
after having been away for quite a while.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, you know, I mean, the the advantage you have
to it is like you see it all with new
eyes again, you know. And and for us, you know,
my brother and I, that's where we want to film
a lot of our projects. The stories up there are
just you know, stories we're so familiar with, and you
got to you got to preach what you know. You know,
it's like this, these are the people that I know,
the world that I know. So I think it was
(15:34):
just so there was an extra spirit of life givingness
to it. You know, these independent projects are hard. It's
like it's war there. You're just up against so many
odds and deadlines and and I don't think you know
a lot of folks on the outside who've never done
it before recognize just the the pace and the difficulty
of it. And you know, nobody's getting paid, and everybody's
(15:57):
just you know, I'm moving with my brother and I
which had young kids, we're moving our wives up there,
and you know, it's it's tough. And but to know,
I remember there was one scene in particular where we
had there was a choir we needed for this scene,
and my sister organized a bunch of folks from our
community and they drove, you know, two and a half
(16:18):
three hours down and just sat in this church building
with us. And I remember looking around and there's you know,
thirty people that I knew growing up my whole life.
And I was just like, it's just so special when
you can do it, when you can do filmmaking with
people who love you and care about you, and they
(16:38):
don't care about just the fame and what you're trying
to do or the sexiness of the Hollywood thing. They
just care about you, and they believe in the stories
that you're trying to tell and put out in the world.
It's like that, it's really really special. I get I'm choked.
I'm choked up he's thinking about you know, just it's ah, yeah,
(17:00):
it's amazing. I wouldn't want it any other way, especially
far first film.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
That's wonderful. That's so wonderful. That's why I love what
I do. So I get to give people like you
a voice in talking about their passion and their projects,
and you know, and how important independent films are very important.
Those in documentaries so very extremely important. There's another wonderful
(17:24):
story about Craig T. Nelson that I'm going to ask
you about the camera, the second camera. Do you want
to share that story because I think that just again
tells you so much about his character, about who he is,
and and you can feel and when you watch this
movie the love that went into making it, it comes
(17:47):
across on the screen and you know, and that comes
from the top down, you know, you and your brother
is the producer. Your brother was supposed to be on
the show today but is having difficulties traveling right now.
Unfortunately he produced. But but also from the you know,
the lead actor and actress. Usually they set the tone
of of how the film is going to go, and
(18:08):
uh and he set a beautiful tone, Craig T. Nielsen did.
So do you want to share that story? Because I
thought that really said a whole lot about who he is.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Totally. Yeah, no, it's and it shocked me, you know,
because this is so It was on day two of filming.
And from my perspective, you know, all I've known of
Craig is you know, this this myth this mythological person
that I've seen in movies and and says yes to
being on this this part of our film. You know,
we zoom once he flies out, we have like four
(18:39):
days of the prep and rehearsal and we start shooting
and then day two. So I don't know him that
well at this point, right it's it's he's a mystery.
I'm a mystery to him. And he pulls me aside.
He's like, Andrew's come here. He's like, where is your
second camera? You know? I started cracking up. I was like, Craig,
my brother was negotiated with you. He's trying to get
(19:00):
you an expressive machine because we didn't have the cash
for it, Like, we certainly don't have cash for a
second camera. And I was like, this is independent film,
we get one. And he goes, well, well, how much
do those things cost? You know? And I was like,
I don't know. I mean, I can get you a number.
I'd have to ask, you know, some of the producers,
that kind of thing. He goes, He goes, well, you
(19:22):
know what, whatever it is, take it out of my
rate and if you need more, just let me know.
And I'm happy to contribute and make sure we can
get second camera here. And I turned and I was like, what, Like,
who does that? You know? Here he is eighty or
at that point he was seventies seven, seventy eight. He's
(19:42):
rolling around and you know, cowshit in Wisconsin with us,
and then he's like on top of that, he's just
lavishing us with his laughter and his wisdom and you know,
his kindness. And then to do that, it was just
it was just an abundance and you could tell it's
like this man operates from a spirit of abundance. And
(20:04):
that's where you know, I've told people, you know, different
people know him as a legend for the work he
does in film, and it's like I know him as
a legend from a lot of different like intimate moments,
and that in that camera really reflects that to me.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, beautiful, I got you know, I got tears in
my eyes just with you telling that story and and
chills too. Just so beautiful. Again, it exemplifies who he
is and what this film is all about, because it's
all about that in community and helping each other and
being there and being strong. I also want to just
briefly talk about because I think it was the last
(20:39):
performance for Emmett m Emmett Walsh, who we all have
seen in so many, many, many films about the years
and he's such an incredible actor. What was it like
working with him?
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Yeah, it was a beautiful Emitt was so sweet, you
know in his I shouldn't say swet, he's really he's
like a sailor.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
He's got the mouth of a sailor. You know, he'd
be like he'd just kind of be grumbling around. But
it was but it was sweet in the sense where
you could tell there's a real tenderness to him. And
you know, he was doing this because him and Craig
were friends, and so Craig just had asked if Emma
could be a part of the project, and Emma graciously said, yeah,
I'll put me in whatever role you want, and so, yeah,
(21:27):
emm it was just he's just such a he's such
a kooky character, you know, I think that's a It's
like you've seen him in all these different, wide variety
of roles over the years, and uh, and it makes
sense to me after meeting him why he does what
he does. But I remember his last scene in the film,
he's in the in this hospital and we filmed it,
(21:49):
and you know I should I shook his hand and said, hey,
you know, Emma, thanks again, I know you didn't. He
didn't have to do any of this. This is all
just such a gift. And and he just started like
walking away down the hall and he's like, you know,
you did real good kid. I hope it gets you
your next one. I like how we turned around. I
just have this image of like emmittt walking down the hall,
and but he was just yeah, he was lovely and yeah,
(22:14):
just he was kind of he was just funny too.
You know, he's such a character. There's a lot of
great outtakes that nobody will ever see about him and
Craig Riffin in this bar and.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Yeah, oh you'll have to do it. You'll have to
do an outtake real or when it goes on DVD.
You know how they add those bonus you know bonus things.
Where can people just touch my heart with all of this,
thank you so much? Where can people see green and
gold anders?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, So we have a short theatrical guaranteed window. So
I keep saying that because everybody's like, oh, yeah, I'll
see it when it's out in theaters. But it's like, no,
we get short run. We have I think it's guaranteed
like four to seven days, depending on what theater, but
it'll be nationwide in theaters January thirty first. People can
(22:59):
pre order tickets already on Fandango or Fathom Entertainment or
through our website, greenogoldmovie dot com. You can find it's
in again one thousand theaters nationwide, so there should be
one close to just about everybody.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Wonderful, Everybody, seek out Green and Gold. Take your family.
It's a family film, it's a good film. You'll you'll
all feel really wonderful and your hearts will be warmed
when you walk out of that movie theater. So thank you,
with you much success with the filmmanders, you and your brother,
so thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Thanks for what you do here. We need this kind
of thing for us as filmmakers.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
So thank you well, thank you. I appreciate that. And
on that note, for everyone out there who would like
to monetarily support the Jam Price Show all about Movies,
you can now give a tax free donation and you
can do this through Creative Visions. Go to creative visions
dot org. That's creative visions dot org and go to
(23:56):
the podcast section and find the Jam Price Show and
you could make a one time donation or a monthly
donation or however you would like to give it, and
it's tax free. But by also donating to the Jam
Price Show, you're also supporting documentary and independent filmmakers because
a portion goes to them too, so it's a win
win for everyone. So thank you in advanced the Porty
for supporting The Jam Price Show All About Movies. Thank
(24:19):
you again, Andrews will wish you much much success. Thank
you Jam, The Jam Price Show All About Movies,
The Jam Rice Show All about Movies. You're listening to
the Jam Prier Show All about Movies, and today my
guest is Anders Lynn Wall. Hello, Anders, and we're going
to talk about this really heartwarming film entitled Green and Gold.
So welcome to the show. Anders, Yeah, thanks so much
(00:20):
for having me. It's a pleasure to have you. This
is a great film to start off the new year with. Actually,
so it's heartwarming, it's touching. It's based on a true
story which I always love, and it just it's just
it made me cry. And I always when a moves
me emotionally, that's what movies are meant to be as
far as I'm concerned, and I say that all the time.
So it really did touch me. So the audience knows
(00:44):
of what we're going to be talking about. Why did
you give the audience a brief synopsis of what Green
and Gold is all about?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, it's a really simple film, and it's a story
of an old dairy farmer in Wisconsin who finds out
that his family farm something it's a multi generational army,
is going under and so the story follows him and
his granddaughter trying to save the little farm from going
back to the bank. So yeah, where the Packers coming
to play is he works a deal with the banker
(01:12):
to extend the life of his loan if the unlikely
Packers win the Super Bowl. And so the story kind
of follows really the family story of the grandfather, granddaughter,
and then in the background it's sort of this Packer narrative.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And it stars the wonderful I just adore him, Craig T. Nelson. Nelson,
who's been around by his own accord, he says fifty years.
He's been performing for fifty years. But I want to
read a quote that really tells you a lot about
what this film is about. From Craig T. Nelson. He said,
among all the great projects I've had the privilege to
(01:44):
be a part of in my life, this film might
be my favorite at this stage in my life. A
story that has heart like this and tells the truth.
That is what I was seeking, and that truth is
what I wanted to impart to my children, grandchildren and
great grandchildren. I thought that was such a beautiful quote
and tells you so much about the heart and soul
(02:05):
of Green and Gold. When you read that or heard
that quote from him, what were your first thoughts.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
You know. The first time I heard him mention something
like that was we were on set actually towards the
end of filming, and you know, I just because this
is my first movie, I had never had the opportunity
to do this, and so but towards the end of filming,
I remember he pulled me aside and said, all of
this has felt so real. He's like, I can't believe
how real it's all the whole experience, and he's like,
(02:31):
I think this might be one of my favorite projects
I've ever been a part of. It totally floored me,
you know, I mean, here's a legend who's been around
forever doing this with some really really amazing projects. But
I think he just, you know, I think the story
just really resonated with him. And that's I mean that
in hindsight, from that moment, I was like, Okay, I
guess I can see why. I mean, he took a
flyer on us. We're no namers making our first movie,
(02:54):
and he reads the script and there's something in the
script that just really really struck him. And then I
think our overall is really what continued to resonate with him.
And you know, but I don't know, it's like a
humbling that's a humbling thing to hear. But you know,
I also, like I think at the end of the
day when he said, like a story that has truth
and heart, like I know, you know, even if I
get a chance to make more movies like this, one
(03:15):
will always have so much heart in it and so
much that I believe is right and true and good.
And I think that's where Craig really aligned as.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Well, And that's what those are the kinds of stories
we need now more than ever. I was at a
function last night with some filmmakers and I've said it
many times, but I'll say it again. I think movies
are really going to save us through some of it
has throughout you know, decades, movies have been obviously, you know,
when we're going through hard times, it's the films that
(03:45):
help get us through those difficult times, and certainly the
depression in World War two, and you know, other catastrophic
events like the assassination of President Kennedy and his brother
Robert Kennedy. And it's the films that you know that
can uplift us and make us feel better about humanity
and not to go into grief and despair about what's
(04:07):
going on in the rest of the world. And I
think there's a shift. I feel a shift in the
movie industry to find more enlightening and heartwarming kinds of stories.
There's so many of them to be told. But that's
what's going to save us through these dark times that
we you know, that we're going through that many people
are feeling.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
I couldn't agree more. I mean, that's you know, it's
not really cool when you're a young filmmaker to make
a real wholesome, heartwarming film, Like there's nothing zeitgeist about it,
there's nothing provocative in the story. But I think what's
happened historically with film, you know, like one of the
main components of story, right is drama and conflict, And
for a long time, I think filmmakers were like, oh,
(04:48):
I want to represent the reality. The world is dark,
the world is you know, life is hard, and it
certainly is. But I think in my from my perspective,
the way in which those stories are I guess the
amount of stories that are showing like the dark side
of life and the hard things of life is unbalanced
compared to the good things in life, and it's like
a John Denver, It's it's hard to write a happy song.
(05:09):
It's hard to make a happy movie that's not a
Hallmark movie, right right, and it really is. Like that
was a real challenge for us, was the whole time.
We wanted to run this line of like we want
it to be hopeful, we wanted to be uplifting, but
we don't want it to be cheesy, Like we really
don't want it to be cheesy. And so both by
trying to tell the truth with the harsh realities, you know,
like life on the farm, countered that with the reality
(05:31):
of there's a benevolent community, especially in that part of
the world, that really exists and rallies around each other
and loves one another. Neighbors really take care of each
other up there, and that is true, that happens all
the time. And so that's that's what you're hoping this
story could.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Highlight, and it doesn't. This actually became the community. Where
did you film this? By the way, we.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Filmed in Door County, Wisconsin.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Primarily Okay, and the community came together to help make
this movie. So it takes a village as they say, yeah,
you know, the.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Packers are in the film. The Packers sort of represent
this collective community, you know, their community owned sports team.
And Dad, I.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Did not know that was a new That was something
I had never heard before until I was doing my research,
and I was really surprised about that. That was that's
pretty amazing in itself. It says a whole lot.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Oh yeah, it's so special, I mean, and that was
the impetus too for us wanting aside from being a
huge passionate Packer fan my whole life, it was it's
like a team that has this It's bigger than just
one owner who sits on top of the chair. It's
this large community who sort of is interested in participates
in the sports franchise. But yeah, the folks at Door County,
I mean, my brother and I had a hunch just
(06:42):
from growing up there that people would open doors and
help us. But you know, because even when we were
in high school, if we wanted to film a hospital scene,
the hot the local hospital will say like sure, just
you can use that hallway over there, like you don't
have to sign anything. It's just they help you out.
It's not because we're filmmakers. They help us out because
that's just what they do. The level of generosity and
participation from farmers to the city of Sturgeon Bay, like
(07:06):
people shutting down streets for us for free so we
could drive a tractor through. There were just so many amazing,
benevolent offerings that people just poured out on us, like, oh, yeah,
you need a tructure, you can use this one. Here,
I'll bring it down there. You guys can have it
as long as you want. You know, that type of spirit.
And when you're filming in other parts of the country,
that doesn't happen. You get to pay for everything. You
gotta get nickeled and dined. And but I think for them,
(07:29):
you know, there's not a lot of movies that get
shot up there, but they're really interested in the arts,
and I think for them it was fun to see.
And you know, to have a guy like Craig be
our representative from Los Angeles and couldn't have been a
better person because he was so he dignified everybody encounters.
You know, he would sit down with the farmers and
ask them questions about their life. He would you know,
people be yelling at the coach and he would just
(07:51):
be like, you know, go talk to anybody. And and
so it was I think there was a lot of
mutual benefit for everybody.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Involved with Yeah, oh that's part of the Midwest values too,
the heartland there, no question. Then it's represented there. And
then Craig t Nelson sang the national anthem at a
Packers game. I mean, how did that come about? And
he has a really good voice.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, it was funny. So we when we were when
we were partnering up with the Packers organization, we actually
me and my brother pitched it to them. We said, hey,
what could we have somebody sing the national anthem? Because
so Jackson Brown, the artist, just gave us a bunch
of music just because he loved the project and wanted
project to have good music in it nice and so
initially we're like, maybe Jackson could sing on behalf of
(08:37):
the film. And then we're like, you know what, Craig's
been so intertwined through the whole process of and I
was like, maybe we should give him a chance and
see if you want to do it. So I called
him and he said, yeah, let's do it. And then
I called the Packers and said, hey, what if Craig
can sing? And they said can he audition? It was
his last audition he did, you know, because he just
gets projects given to him now. But he Craig graciously
(09:00):
went into a studio and sang the national anthem and
it sounded really, really good, and so yeah, the packers
gave them the thumbs up, and yeah, in front of
eighty thousand people at about ten degrees fahrenheit, it was freezing.
You know, Craig's eighty years old and saying the national.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Anthem, that's very awesome, very awesome. Yeah, really is. People
have to find that clip. We'll definitely try to include
it when we put it out there. And let's talk
about Culvers because they were very big in filming this
and I'm not sure if everybody's familiar with Culvers and
the project that they also fund.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Yeah, well, thanks thanks for asking about that there. So
when you're an independent film, you know, you're always looking
for any angle you can of support, and some of
that you know, can come through studios. And for us,
we just had the idea of what if we got
a brand, What if we got a brand who aligned
with us enough, didn't want to change the movie, but
would basically provide us, you know, sponsorship, cash to help
(09:53):
us activate on a really large scale. Like, you know,
to punch away above our class. And so we knew
about Culver's just from growing up there. There. They're the
Midwest in and Out is how I describe them, And
maybe in and Out describes themselves as the West Coast Culvers.
I'm not sure, but yeah, they're They're just a lovely brand,
have a great spirit culture and they've had this thanky
Farmer's project which has been going since twenty thirteen where
(10:15):
they donate a bunch of money to agricultural education. And
so there, Wisconsin based, have a huge passion for farmers.
And so we got the project in front of them,
and you know, I wasn't sure what the reaction was
going to be, you know, like this is my first
time doing it. But your marketing team had tears in
their eyes and they said, you know, we don't want
to change a thing about this movie, like we're hands
off with it, but we want what can we do
(10:36):
to help get this message out? Yeah, like that's the
real truth of it. And so we ended up. I
felt I was like, hey, I want to help represent
you know, like try to match your level of gratitude,
Like can we put in some kind of little product placement.
So there's a little product placement that we we volunteer
to put in it just as like to try to,
I think, just to try to represent our gratitude because
you know, they're activating this on a level that we
(10:58):
would never have been able to otherwise. And so and so. Yeah,
their stores are printing on posters and sticking them in
bags of food, and they're a proud supporter of f
FA Future Farmers of America, which is a nationwide training
ground for young farmers. And we, you know, we hope
the film can really inspire that group of people, love,
particularly young farmers, to see the value and what they're doing,
(11:19):
to see stewardship in a real important way, and to
know that, you know, the rest of the world Seeson
values them and appreciates the hard work, and we need them.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
We need them.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
I don't know a farm.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I don't know how to farm either, And when you
realize that it's generations and generations of farmers, this is
what they know, and that's obviously what's in the story too.
It's just when you see what they go through and
how difficult it is to be a farmer today, it's
just mind boggling that they even continue to do it.
And in the story, the granddaughter does not want to
(11:51):
continue to be in the family business. And that's part
of a little bit of the conflict. In doing the
research you wrote this too, or what one of the
writers on this that in the character of the granddaughter,
you saw yourself. Do you want to talk a little
bit about that.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting, like I so, my my
brother and I our grandfather was a dairy farmer, and
so we grew up kind of and our family still
had the farm. It wasn't functioning at the point when
we came around, but we still had the land and
a neighboring farmer and our cousins were involved with that fay,
and so we kind of grew up around agrarian lifestyles
(12:26):
and small you know, in particular small town and right
on the Michigan Wisconsin border, and and it was you know,
as a kid, you're just like, all I want to
do is get out of here. That's You're like, I
just want to go see the bigger things. I want
to I want to go see what else is the
world has to offer. And then you know, halfway through,
(12:47):
like the first the first draft of the script, I
realized I was writing my own I didn't know that
I was writing my own character into Jenny, you know,
and and I desire that long mean that the young
have for There's a monologue where Craig says, you know,
you'll go chasing your hopes and dreams. You're gonna go
(13:08):
looking for that thing to feel that emptiness inside you.
And that was what it was. It's like you're trying
to figure out what is missing in your heart and
in your life that could fulfill it. And you realize,
you know, those of us as we start to get
I'm still a young guy, and maybe I'm on the
second half of my life, but I'm getting close. You
start to realize the different things that are important to you,
(13:30):
and and the beauty that was around you the whole
time that you had been just totally missing and totally
blind to. There was one particular moment I remember I
was trying to when I was in college. I was
trying to go meet my favorite author, and my mom
was like she was trying to understand. She's like, why
do you want to go meet this author? I was like, Oh,
he's inspired me, you know, He's written all these great
(13:51):
things he's such a great man. And she's like, she's like,
if you're just missing all the amazing people that you
grew up around you poor years and years into shaping
you and sculpting you. She's like, you should go spend
some time with them and and invest into them, and
and and so I think, you know, that's sort of
the spirit that that I think I'm excited about is
(14:14):
kind of this spirit of not looking for green or
greener grass all the time, you know, especially with social media.
You know, as young folks, it's it's like you're all
you're bombarded with everything else but where you are. And
I think this film hopefully can can be a good
reminder of two people. You know, right where your feet
are probably has some really amazing things around it. You
(14:36):
just need the right eyes to see it.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Beautiful. That's beautiful. And you have a very wise mother
by the way too, So the apple doesn't fall too
far from the tree. For sure. You moved, so you
went to college in LA correct film school in LA
And then so you decided to come back and film this.
(15:00):
How was that for you to go back and to film? Uh,
you know in this town and you know near you
where you grew up. What was that like for you
after having been away for quite a while.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, you know, I mean, the the advantage you have
to it is like you see it all with new
eyes again, you know. And and for us, you know,
my brother and I, that's where we want to film
a lot of our projects. The stories up there are
just you know, stories we're so familiar with, and you
got to you got to preach what you know. You know,
it's like this, these are the people that I know,
the world that I know. So I think it was
(15:34):
just so there was an extra spirit of life givingness
to it. You know, these independent projects are hard. It's
like it's war there. You're just up against so many
odds and deadlines and and I don't think you know
a lot of folks on the outside who've never done
it before recognize just the the pace and the difficulty
of it. And you know, nobody's getting paid, and everybody's
(15:57):
just you know, I'm moving with my brother and I
which had young kids, we're moving our wives up there,
and you know, it's it's tough. And but to know,
I remember there was one scene in particular where we
had there was a choir we needed for this scene,
and my sister organized a bunch of folks from our
community and they drove, you know, two and a half
(16:18):
three hours down and just sat in this church building
with us. And I remember looking around and there's you know,
thirty people that I knew growing up my whole life.
And I was just like, it's just so special when
you can do it, when you can do filmmaking with
people who love you and care about you, and they
(16:38):
don't care about just the fame and what you're trying
to do or the sexiness of the Hollywood thing. They
just care about you, and they believe in the stories
that you're trying to tell and put out in the world.
It's like that, it's really really special. I get I'm choked.
I'm choked up he's thinking about you know, just it's ah, yeah,
(17:00):
it's amazing. I wouldn't want it any other way, especially
far first film.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
That's wonderful. That's so wonderful. That's why I love what
I do. So I get to give people like you
a voice in talking about their passion and their projects,
and you know, and how important independent films are very important.
Those in documentaries so very extremely important. There's another wonderful
(17:24):
story about Craig T. Nelson that I'm going to ask
you about the camera, the second camera. Do you want
to share that story because I think that just again
tells you so much about his character, about who he is,
and and you can feel and when you watch this
movie the love that went into making it, it comes
(17:47):
across on the screen and you know, and that comes
from the top down, you know, you and your brother
is the producer. Your brother was supposed to be on
the show today but is having difficulties traveling right now.
Unfortunately he produced. But but also from the you know,
the lead actor and actress. Usually they set the tone
of of how the film is going to go, and
(18:08):
uh and he set a beautiful tone, Craig T. Nielsen did.
So do you want to share that story? Because I
thought that really said a whole lot about who he is.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Totally. Yeah, no, it's and it shocked me, you know,
because this is so It was on day two of filming.
And from my perspective, you know, all I've known of
Craig is you know, this this myth this mythological person
that I've seen in movies and and says yes to
being on this this part of our film. You know,
we zoom once he flies out, we have like four
(18:39):
days of the prep and rehearsal and we start shooting
and then day two. So I don't know him that
well at this point, right it's it's he's a mystery.
I'm a mystery to him. And he pulls me aside.
He's like, Andrew's come here. He's like, where is your
second camera? You know? I started cracking up. I was like, Craig,
my brother was negotiated with you. He's trying to get
(19:00):
you an expressive machine because we didn't have the cash
for it, Like, we certainly don't have cash for a
second camera. And I was like, this is independent film,
we get one. And he goes, well, well, how much
do those things cost? You know? And I was like,
I don't know. I mean, I can get you a number.
I'd have to ask, you know, some of the producers,
that kind of thing. He goes, He goes, well, you
(19:22):
know what, whatever it is, take it out of my
rate and if you need more, just let me know.
And I'm happy to contribute and make sure we can
get second camera here. And I turned and I was like, what, Like,
who does that? You know? Here he is eighty or
at that point he was seventies seven, seventy eight. He's
(19:42):
rolling around and you know, cowshit in Wisconsin with us,
and then he's like on top of that, he's just
lavishing us with his laughter and his wisdom and you know,
his kindness. And then to do that, it was just
it was just an abundance and you could tell it's
like this man operates from a spirit of abundance. And
(20:04):
that's where you know, I've told people, you know, different
people know him as a legend for the work he
does in film, and it's like I know him as
a legend from a lot of different like intimate moments,
and that in that camera really reflects that to me.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, beautiful, I got you know, I got tears in
my eyes just with you telling that story and and
chills too. Just so beautiful. Again, it exemplifies who he
is and what this film is all about, because it's
all about that in community and helping each other and
being there and being strong. I also want to just
briefly talk about because I think it was the last
(20:39):
performance for Emmett m Emmett Walsh, who we all have
seen in so many, many, many films about the years
and he's such an incredible actor. What was it like
working with him?
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Yeah, it was a beautiful Emitt was so sweet, you
know in his I shouldn't say swet, he's really he's
like a sailor.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
He's got the mouth of a sailor. You know, he'd
be like he'd just kind of be grumbling around. But
it was but it was sweet in the sense where
you could tell there's a real tenderness to him. And
you know, he was doing this because him and Craig
were friends, and so Craig just had asked if Emma
could be a part of the project, and Emma graciously said, yeah,
I'll put me in whatever role you want, and so, yeah,
(21:27):
emm it was just he's just such a he's such
a kooky character, you know, I think that's a It's
like you've seen him in all these different, wide variety
of roles over the years, and uh, and it makes
sense to me after meeting him why he does what
he does. But I remember his last scene in the film,
he's in the in this hospital and we filmed it,
(21:49):
and you know I should I shook his hand and said, hey,
you know, Emma, thanks again, I know you didn't. He
didn't have to do any of this. This is all
just such a gift. And and he just started like
walking away down the hall and he's like, you know,
you did real good kid. I hope it gets you
your next one. I like how we turned around. I
just have this image of like emmittt walking down the hall,
and but he was just yeah, he was lovely and yeah,
(22:14):
just he was kind of he was just funny too.
You know, he's such a character. There's a lot of
great outtakes that nobody will ever see about him and
Craig Riffin in this bar and.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Yeah, oh you'll have to do it. You'll have to
do an outtake real or when it goes on DVD.
You know how they add those bonus you know bonus things.
Where can people just touch my heart with all of this,
thank you so much? Where can people see green and
gold anders?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, So we have a short theatrical guaranteed window. So
I keep saying that because everybody's like, oh, yeah, I'll
see it when it's out in theaters. But it's like, no,
we get short run. We have I think it's guaranteed
like four to seven days, depending on what theater, but
it'll be nationwide in theaters January thirty first. People can
(22:59):
pre order tickets already on Fandango or Fathom Entertainment or
through our website, greenogoldmovie dot com. You can find it's
in again one thousand theaters nationwide, so there should be
one close to just about everybody.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Wonderful, Everybody, seek out Green and Gold. Take your family.
It's a family film, it's a good film. You'll you'll
all feel really wonderful and your hearts will be warmed
when you walk out of that movie theater. So thank you,
with you much success with the filmmanders, you and your brother,
so thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Thanks for what you do here. We need this kind
of thing for us as filmmakers.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
So thank you well, thank you. I appreciate that. And
on that note, for everyone out there who would like
to monetarily support the Jam Price Show all about Movies,
you can now give a tax free donation and you
can do this through Creative Visions. Go to creative visions
dot org. That's creative visions dot org and go to
(23:56):
the podcast section and find the Jam Price Show and
you could make a one time donation or a monthly
donation or however you would like to give it, and
it's tax free. But by also donating to the Jam
Price Show, you're also supporting documentary and independent filmmakers because
a portion goes to them too, so it's a win
win for everyone. So thank you in advanced the Porty
for supporting The Jam Price Show All About Movies. Thank
(24:19):
you again, Andrews will wish you much much success. Thank
you Jam, The Jam Price Show All About Movies,
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Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.