"5th Quarter" tackles real-life football drama
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - A college football player's tribute to his late brother inspired his team to a record season, and the poignant true story is now headed for the big screen.
Ryan Merriman, Aidan Quinn and Andie MacDowell will play the Abbate family in Rick Bieber's indie drama "The 5th Quarter."
After 15-year-old Luke Abbate was killed in a 2006 car crash and his organs donated to five people, Wake Forest (N.C.) junior Jon Abbate (Merriman) asked his coach to change his jersey number to Luke's number, five. Just before the fourth quarter of each game, the linebacker began holding up five fingers along with his parents, Steven and Maryanne (Quinn and, in final negotiations, MacDowell) as they sat in section five of the stadium.
After news of the personal tribute spread, even opposing players and fans were joining them by the thousands, inspiring the family to launch the Five Foundation (www.fivefoundation.com/) dedicated to educating young adults about responsible driving. Abbate's low-ranked team soon reached a school-record 11 wins and earned a trip to the Orange Bowl.
Writer-director Bieber acquired rights to the Abbates' story and will begin the six-week shoot October 16 on and around the school's Winston-Salem campus. Several real-life participants in the story will play themselves in the film, including the Abbates' Atlanta-based pastor, Jon Abbate's trainer and Wake Forest's game announcer.
"We've also licensed tapes of Jon's games to intercut with scenes shot in Wake Forest's stadium for a heightened sense of realism," said Bieber.
"Quarter" is the latest star turn for "Final Destination 3" star Merriman. Quinn will star in "Wild Child," and MacDowell will next be seen in the indie comedy "The Six Wives of Henry Lefay."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
