USA: Comic actor Will Ferrell and company premiere latest sports-themed film 'Semi-Pro'

Record ID: 220425

  • Title: USA: Comic actor Will Ferrell and company premiere latest sports-themed film 'Semi-Pro'
  • Date: 20th February 2008
  • Summary: ACTOR WOODY HARRELSON TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDRÉ BENJAMIN, SAYING "Oh yeah, between shots we played, we'd make bets, Woody was actually good. He would do shots from behind the back, half court, I was like 'man, he's lucky'."
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA7FHBVFTFF22NYAO4AFYZH3IW4
  • Story Text: Actor Will Ferrell debuts another of his trademark comedies, this time tackling the basketball world with "Semi-Pro," his film in a string of sports-themed films. Ferrell was on hand at the red carpet premiere for the film, which included a mini basketball court and bikini-clad cheerleaders, where he showed true admiration for one of basketball's greats, Shaquille O'Neal.
    "This is Shaquille O'Neal, literally, Shaquille O'Neal collection. I'm not kidding. This is from his wardrobe, he had it custom made, that's why it comes down to my knees. The waist comes way above where he would normally wear the waist. He is tall -- 7'2," yeah," says Ferrell.
    In "Semi-Pro," Ferrell plays basketball team owner and one hit wonder Jackie Moon, who purchases the worst team in the American Basketball Association (ABA), the Flint Michigan Tropics. Set in 1976 against the backdrop of the real-life merger between the ABA and the National Basketball Association, the film tells the story of the Flint basketball team, which consists mostly of athletic misfits, and has to rise to the challenge to save itself before the league collapses.
    "Semi-Pro" also stars Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin of OutKast, and Maura Tierney. On the set, basketball played a regular part in the cast's daily routines even outside of filming scenes for the comedy, with pick-up games and hoops-shooting contests being a favorite pastime of co-stars Benjamin and Harrelson.
    "Oh yeah, between shots we played, we'd make bets, Woody was actually good. He would do shots from behind the back, half court, I was like 'man, he's lucky'," says co-star André Benjamin.
    Answering his co-stars claims about his basketball playing skills, Woody Harrelson replied, "I don't know where you heard that, that's just a rumor, that's just someone, that's just 'bragadoshio,' oh I don't know, I do like basketball though."
    Taking place a week after the resolution of the fourteen-week Hollywood writers strike, the premiere for "Semi-Pro" was a festive occasion marking the return to work for several people in the film and television industry. Will Ferrell expressed both happiness for the end of the strike, but also apprehension at the thought of another looming strike involving the Screen Actors Guild.
    "I'm obviously relieved and happy that it's overwith, and I think that was a rough period of time for a lot of people, and I hope the SAG strike isn't as painful, I hope there can be some early negotiations, because no one wants a strike," says Ferrell.
    "Semi-Pro" will be released by New Line cinema on February
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