A local film company has been shooting a new film this summer at Union High School and surrounding areas that focuses on former Newton football coach Ryan Smith and the impact he had on his players and school.
The title of the movie is “Gridiron Gospel,” which is based on the 36-year-old Smith and his wife Kristi and the impact of his two-year tenure leading the Tigers. In particular, it highlights how the coach uses his Christian values to not only teach football but also to help his players to develop into upstanding young men.
“It’s just cool that they wanted to do this,” Smith said. “I’m very honored that they wanted to do this, but this isn’t about me. This is about bringing young men to the Lord and really meeting people where they are. That’s what we did the entire time we were in Newton. We were just trying to meet their needs where they were.”
Ryan Hanner, who was an assistant coach at Newton during Smith’s tenure, went to his friend Danny Todd and said they should do a movie on this. Since then, the two formed a film company, Rydan Media, and began working on the movie.
“I told Danny that we had to do a movie on this,” Hanner said. “I lived it, and it’s great to be able to tell this story in our movie.”
The event that inspired the screenplay was when Smith baptized one of his players off-campus following a practice after the player committed his life to Christ.
The event, which was recorded and posted on social media, went viral and eventually was reported on by news outlets such as The Washington Post and Fox News after it drew the attention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
It also became a turning point in the season for Newton and sparked the Tigers to make back-to-back runs to the playoffs. Also, some of the team members were able to sign scholarships to play college football along with making an impact on so many in the community.
Britton Webb, who plays Smith in the movie, got a chance on Friday to meet the real Coach Smith, as Webb, Hanner and Smith performed a scene together in a hallway at Union Middle School. Webb said it’s an honor to play the role of Smith.
“It’s a wonderful role, and it’s a honor to get to portray Coach Smith on this movie,” Webb said. “I don’t want him to seem like a perfect person because he has flaws just like everyone else. So, that’s a big challenge to show that while still staying true to his character. I love the movie because it’s a combination of three things I love: faith, family and football.”
Todd said they have an offer with SMG to distribute the movie, but they have yet to make a deal. They began shooting the film in June and have been working mostly weekends to shoot the film, using many locations in the Union Public School District. Those locations include the football field, fieldhouse, high school and middle school.
“We’d like to thank the Union Public School District for allowing us to use their campuses for filming,” Todd said. “And thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible from providing meals to the extras that have helped us.”
Todd said they are still seeking additional extras to help on upcoming shooting days, including at least on the day when they will simulate a gameday.
Both in the movie and through his life, Smith hopes his actions can inspire young coaches and players that they don’t have to conform to what the world thinks coaches and athletes have to be.
“Throughout my coaching career, I’ve never tried to be someone I’m not,” Smith said. “A lot of coaches come up and think they have do things a certain way or act a certain way. They think that they can’t share their faith because a certain coach does it that way, but I’ve never been that way. I’m not going to compromise who I am.”
