A pair of dyamite Mike Farrell-directed E:60 documentaries, “Southpaw” and ‘Unrivaled.”
Earlier this year, I wrote about my viewing of the E:60 documentary, Southpaw: The Life & Legacy of Jim Abbott. As many of the E:60 docs are, it was an emotional journey through the subject’s life.
In this case, it was even more special because I’d once met Abbott. A floormate in my freshman dormitory at Eastern Michigan University had graduated with him from Flint Central High School and Abbott paid Kramer a visit shortly in mid-March 1986.
I was so fired up after watching Southpaw, I wondered if it might be possible to discuss the making of that film (or any E:60 documentary, really) with someone, so I reached out the ESPN media contact for the film and lo and behold, I had the opportunity to speak to the director, Mike Farrell.
A native of Canada, Farrell traces his sports fandom to Joe Carter’s epic walk-off World Series winning home run in 1993. He’s sort of been hooked ever since.
During our Conversation I learn about his evolution in the sports media world and what it takes to craft feature-length documentaries. Farrell even shares what he believes are some of the best recent sports-themed documentaries out there:
- 2023’s The Deepest Breath about free diving
- 2021’s The Alpinist about solo climber Marc-Andre Leclerc
- 2020’s ESPN 30-for-30 feature entitled, Lance, about cyclist Lance Armstrong