Disney’s McFarland USA will make you want to run to the theater in uno, dos, tres…McFarland! You see what I did there? I totally just cheered for them. Seriously though, you’ll want to run to your car after watching McFarland USA. FYI I HATE RUNNING! Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend a press conference with Kevin Costner (Jim White, Niki Caro (Director), Carlos Pratts (Thomas) (who coincidentally looks like my son’s gymnastics coach), Johnny Ortiz, Sergio Avelar, Hector Duran, Rafael Martinez, Ramiro Rodriguez (Danny), Michael Aguero, Coach Jim White, Danny Diaz, David Diaz and Damacio Diaz
Coach Jim White said something during the press junket that truly touched me. “I think my whole philosophy on everything is about attitude. I had to have a good attitude, and I had to transfer that to the kids, a good attitude. In order to achieve anything, it has to be your attitude. That is the only thing that you can control. I can’t control other feelings about me. I can’t control what happened yesterday or what’s going to maybe happen tomorrow. But the most important thing for me to transfer to these kids is the attitude of hard work can transfer into the classroom, and into your jobs, and into their real lives. So when you have problems in life and we had problems with building the team and outfitting the team, putting shoes on the team. But it’s how you let the problems affect you in life that’s the main thing, that’ll get you down. So yeah, these kids were my kids, yeah.”
What Jim White said hit close to home. It truly is all about your attitude in life. A gymnast that I am close to recently found out while at the top of her game, that she needed shoulder surgery to repair a labrum tear and rotator cuff tear. Most gymnasts would give up. Most gymnasts would decide that their career was over. Not this gymnast. She has decided she will be back and better than before. She’s determined to work hard and be on top again. She could have given up. She could have quit. But, she didn’t. She has a strong work ethic and that along with her tenacity and drive means that she will be on top again.Still inspired and motivated from watching “McFarland USA” with my friend Carmen, I decided the day of the press junket that I was going for a jog with my husband when I got home. This movie based on a a true story of Mexican immigrant “pickers” and their children becoming cross-country champions is certain to inspire you too. From the moment you see the White family driving past orchards in the Central Valley and Jim White’s daughter asks, “Are we in Mexico?” you’re guaranteed to be intrigued and the tenacity and strong work ethic will leave you inspired and motivated to be better. The cross-cultural friendship is close to home for me.
Getting to meet Ramiro Rodriguez who plays Danny was definitely a highlight at the McFarland USA Press Junket. I don’t ask for photos, but this kid will have you crying. “Don’t believe me just watch.” So, I was quite happy to get a #selfie with him.
Someone asked Ramiro during the press junket, “Ramiro I’m impressed with your fitness. I am, seeing you running, very chubby, it should have been difficult. How do you do it? I mean was that possible? Was that on purpose, to be chubby, or?”
Ramiro responded, “Um, well, honestly, I wasn’t like this until like my junior year. Um, I had one year off of soccer because I – that’s what I do; I play soccer. And after that, like I just gained weight. And like ever since then, like I just can’t lose it, and like no matter what I do, like I try and I try. And man, I could run like how I used to, but like I just can’t lose the wait, but. I mean I’m pretty fit for myself, I think.”
I wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed by the question because as a person who has struggled with weight my entire life, I didn’t feel that it was fair. He’s not skinny but he’s clearly healthy if he’s running six miles a day. However, I think that he handled that question with charm like a pro for a kid from McFarland that has never acted a day in his life.If I were ever in a bind, this is the guy I would want on my team. If you’re not cheering for him against the pompous and rich pricks from Palo Alto by the end of the movie, I’m quite convinced you didn’t cry during “Bambi” either and that’s just not normal. We all love Kevin Costner and I love him more now.
We also got to meet the men behind the movie Jim White, Danny Diaz, David Diaz and Damacio Diaz as well. Danny who is portrayed by Ramiro is below.
I love when the Diaz’s mom wakes them up in the morning, prepares dinner for them, etc. My favorite line in the movie is, “You don’t say to me no.” Her love and devotion to her family and friends is portrayed as strict but understanding. Dinner time is a must and the kids moved back home because of the family values that the their parents instilled in them.Thomas, “You play golf?” Palo Alto Kid, “Yeah, I do.” Thomas, “This ain’t golf.”There was way too much to cover in one blog post and I don’t want to tell you the entire story because all I keep envisioning are the hills they run up that are like the hill to my house, never-ending. I’ll leave you with this. Run to the theatre on the 20th, to see uno, dos, tres…McFarland!!! You’ll be glad that you did. Juanes has a great single and the soundtrack will have you dancing on the way to the theatre. Follow McFARLAND, USA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcfarlandusa Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypictures McFARLAND, USA is rated PG and opens in theaters everywhere on February 20th! Follow along with #McFarlandUSA Watch the trailer here.
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