GREENVILLE \u2014 A new documentary shot in the Upstate will tell the story of a Super Bowl-winning football team and its on-field triumphs \u2014 as well as the often untold stories of struggle, deep bonds and life after the NFL.<\/p>\n
Adapted from the book, \u201cOnce A Giant,<\/a>\u201d by Gary Myers, the documentary is filming mostly at Hotel Hartness in Greenville County. It tells the story of the 1986 New York Giants, whose team included players from the 1981 national championship-winning<\/a> Clemson football team.<\/p>\n Two brothers brought decades of film industry experience to direct and produce the documentary, which is financed by Winter State Entertainment<\/a>. Sam Sokolow recently joined the World Cinema Program at Clemson University, and Alec Sokolow has written screenplays, most notably for \u201cToy Story.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s all part of a push to bring film production<\/a> to the Upstate.<\/p>\n South Carolina already has some history with film and TV production: \u201cThe Notebook,\u201d \u201cArmy Wives,\u201d and \u201cOuter Banks\u201d have all been filmed here. Production has largely gravitated toward the coast.<\/p>\n Sam Sokolow arrived at Clemson to build out a film production department. Students have gone on to work with Winter State, a Minnesota-based production company that recently opened an office in Greenville<\/a>.<\/p>\n The goal is to get productions off the ground here, build out a crew base and attract larger productions. Sam said he believes that will lead major productions from studios with HBO Max, Netflix or Amazon to the Upstate.<\/p>\n The Sokolows grew up in New York cheering on the Giants with their dad. The brothers shared the same bedroom, and even though they were six years apart Alec remembers talking with Sam and liking the same things. That current runs throughout their Giants\u2019 story.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a movie about a sports team, but it’s not a sports movie,\u201d Alec said. \u201cIt’s a movie about brotherhood. It’s a movie about the love and the commitment that these men have had to each other for now, 40-45 years.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Giants safety Terry Kinard, a Sumter native, said he was thrilled when he was called to sit for the interview. The Sumter native won a National Championship with Clemson in 1981 and was later drafted to the Giants.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s always fun when we get an opportunity to get back with the guys,\u201d Kinard said.<\/p>\n To Kinard, winning a Super Bowl is \u201cthe pinnacle of everything.\u201d He said the team learned from its mistakes when it fell short in the postseason the year prior to winning the Super Bowl. They returned with focus and stayed healthy that year.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to be not only good, but you have to have a lot of luck inside,\u201d Kinard said.<\/p>\n