Of all the dramatized true stories we've seen on TV lately, this one is definitely different. Made with rhythm, fun and energy, with an image blurred like a forgotten videotape and a constant sense of movement to move story and characters forward, Winning Time is the story of the birth of the Lakers dynasty, made with a -glamorously- old-fashioned aesthetic and with the energy, pace and fun of an NBA game.
The series -which will air exclusively in Greece on Vodafone TV with a new episode every Monday- is based on a book by Jeff Perlman about the Showtime Lakers and the era of Magic Johnson, Jerry Bass and Pat Riley. Directed by Adam McKay (of Don't Look Up), and featuring a cast full of familiar faces (John S. Riley plays the team's new owner, Jerry Bass, Adrienne Brody plays Pat Riley, Jason Clark plays Jerry West, and many others), the show constantly finds something entertaining to show the viewer - even the uninitiated, who has no idea about the ins and outs of the NBA world.
At its heart, after all, Winning Time is more than just a biographical story (or, more accurately, several biographical stories packaged into one). It's a frenetic narrative about how the world of sport meets the world of entertainment, starring some of the most vibrant and colourful figures on television this year - each a hero and heroine with different goals and foibles. Together, they all form this delightful throwback origin story of both Magic Johnson and the Lakers dynasty around him.
A few days ago we had the opportunity to attend an exclusive panel with the creators (writer Max Borenstein and director Adam McKay) and the cast of the series (John S. Riley as Jerry Bass, Quincy Isaiah as Maggie Johnson, Adrienne Brody as Pat Riley, Solomon Hughes as Karim Abdul-Jabbar, DeVon Nixon as Norm Nixon).
That's all that was discussed, about Magic Johnson, about sports as entertainment, about making a sports drama for everyone, and about whether or not the NBA and the Lakers support the project.
I. DIRECTOR ANTREM MACKAY ON MAJIK AND NWA
Is it true how at first many people didn't take Magic seriously? They didn't think he could prevail the way he did?;
Adam McKay: Yeah, I think with Magic what was so great about him was that mix of joy and skill and winning medal. Up to that point you had the Red Auerbach era in the NBA of the ‘60s. And Bobby Knight. You know, three passes and a shot. And that's so awesome about Magic, because we know his smile, we know his great creativity, but beyond that he was a true winner.
So what's so exciting about this story is that you could really see this style, which previously people would eye-roll for, becoming the new dominant style in the NBA. And I think one of the reasons we were drawn to Jeff Pearlman's story is because that's where you see this integration of so many different cultures into this unlikely thing that became the modern NBA.
It's a perfect series for people who don't know what the NBA is. What's the process of putting something like this together, the intricacies of following the inner workings of this organization but making it understandable to everyone.
Adam McKay: I think one of the fascinating things about this kind of story is that we saw it in the decades before with boxing and baseball where they became the kind of sports movies that everyone could understand. It's this idea of mano a mano Or, in the case of Million Dollar Baby, it's woman against woman. [pp. McKay seems to be confusing the term «mano a mano» - which in Spanish means «hand to hand» - with «man against man.»] And I think what's so exhilarating about this show is that basketball has a similar drama in it.
The series uses a fresh way of storytelling as it introduces the Laker dynasty. Often Jerry Bass speaks directly to viewers, there are playful references and on-screen notes. What tone were you trying to achieve?;
Max Borenstein: We were trying to have fun above all else, but it's a show of skill and showmanship as well. We're talking about one of those moments where sports became entertainment. Jerry Bass' Lakers, because that was his vision, to find the most flamboyant way to take the audience on this journey with him. That's why we followed those storytelling methods as well.
II. AND ACTORS AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS
What's it like to play Magic and Karim? It's a lot of pressure, but also a lot of demands. You have to capture their basketball side as well, right?;
Quincy Isaiah: I play an idol. Me? My first love was basketball. That's what I wanted to be. So to perform one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game is incredible. And because it's a show about basketball, I was trying my best to make sure that every sample of basketball on screen was something that I could then relax and say, «I did okay. If anything, I looked like him on the court.».
[all laughing]
Quincy Isaiah: Magic, Karim, there's a reason they're idols, okay? It's hard to emulate them, but we can give you a glimpse, a little bit of the quintessence of who they were on the court.
Solomon Hughes: Absolutely. There was the performing part, and then there was the physical part of trying to turn into a silhouette of these boulders. I think that the advantage we had in that era was YouTube. There's a lot of game footage, highlights, etc. So we studied how they were moving around the field. That was an important part, but on the other hand there was also the freedom in knowing that absolutely no one can do the shy hook like Karim. So I'm going to do my best and that's about it.
Max Borenstein: From our point of view, having people who can play and look the part was a huge difficulty. Karim is a boulder, as Solomon said, and an intellectual. Whereas Magic had the charisma of a movie star. And there aren't even many movie stars with that much charisma! Finding someone who could fit into Magic's shoes and still have the same energy was not easy.
Adam McKay: I would say that this was the biggest casting challenge I have faced in my life. Even to this day, I still can't believe that Quincy and Solomon got in the way. It's unbelievable. These guys are - they can play ball and they're talented actors and they're thoughtful and they're good partners. I've never experienced anything like this in all the years I've been doing this job. As has the whole cast. It was really cool to see this cast come together, because the Showtime Lakers story involves so many different characters and so many different perspectives and backgrounds. But that's why we were drawn to it in the first place.
How do you get the basketball pieces to have the look you want? It helps that the main characters are two actors who can act.
Adam McKay: This is very important. We wanted the basketball part to look good and we were very fortunate with the actors we had. And DeVon is a very good basketball player, not just an actor. DeVon, remember when we were talking about you needing to hit your long range shots?;
DeVon Nixon: Yeah, there was a lot of pressure on me, man. I remember one scene we did and it started with me shooting for three, and I was monologuing, I was like, «Look man, you can't let everybody down, you gotta put it in.» And because of the whole production we felt part of the era, with the uniforms and everything. So I was in the mindset, I was thinking «let's go, let's go, I've got it». And Jason Clark did say, «Man, you've got it all!» But yeah, we did have to do all that.
Adrienne Brody: It was an awesome thing, to see how everyone who came to play in the series played, and those on the opposing teams as well. Jason and I would sit in the stands and watch and it was endlessly entertaining. But also impressive! And the inventive way of shooting was impressive too. It's so inventive, because it conveys that connection and the movement of the game and puts you in it. But basically we were very lucky to have so many talented people.
DeVon Nixon: And I want to give credit to the extras because they did a great job. They totally put us in the mood. When we played against opposing teams they even did some real trash talking! Someone might say «We hate you, Magic is useless» and of course I was like «...what???». [everyone laughs] Or, you know, «Karim's old, he's fat». What? So, you know, and it kind of helped us play with momentum, like we were burning to win.
III. THE FACTS AND THE FICTION
Is it true that the NBA and the Lakers family are not excited about the series?;
Max Borenstein: We made this show as fans, with a tremendous amount of respect and love for all these characters, for the NBA, for the Lakers, and I hope that shows on the screen. But I can just imagine how weird it must be to have a movie or a series on your life or on any aspect of your life. So I can't guess how everyone else feels, I know it would be weird for me too. But from our perspective, we made this series as fans, with great love and with great appreciation.
Did you talk to Pat Riley at all?;
Adrienne Brody: Pat Riley has a complicated, wonderful life. And much of what we feel for Pat is because we know he holds a special place in our hearts and minds. And he's a true leader, not only in this sport, but he carries so much prestige with him. He's also written a lot of books and, like Jeff Pearlman's book, he's been a very important source for us, for details and for the relationships between the characters in this story. All of that helped us. It was ammunition for me. So I hope to do him justice.
But you haven't talked to him about the part.
Adrienne Brody: No, Pat and I haven't discussed it. No. But he knows I'm a big fan.
John, how were your scenes with Michael Chickles? We have two masters going head-to-head in the Jerry Bass versus Red Auerbach scenes. And you also play the more fun side of Jerry Bass, including the parties at the Playboy mansion.
John S. Riley: Michael Chicklis is a great actor and is a commanding presence, not least because of his character, Red Auerbach. With Red there was an inherent drama there, a conflict, but Michael in his own right has tremendous power. He's got an intense energy, like he's always coming to win.
Also, the stuff we show on the show, some of it is based on the historical record, and some of it is filled in the blanks by our writers, and I didn't know the difference. I never wanted to know the difference. I didn't want to know what really happened and what didn't happen, because I had to play as if it all happened. So yeah, the scenes between Jerry and Red were very intense. Jerry, in our story, thought that maybe this guy was going to be his mentor. He was thinking, He's been doing it for so long, he's already won so much, maybe he's tired and wants to help someone else. Of course that was not the case. Red Auerbach was a fierce fighter.
As for the hedonistic side of my character, well, you know. Late ‘70s. That was the scene for a guy his age, especially in Los Angeles.
Adrienne Brody: If you were lucky.
John S. Riley: Yeah, I don't think... I don't know...
Adrienne Brody: Or a billionaire.
