Critically Acclaimed Documentary Centered on LGBT Sports Community to Premiere on Campus
October 01, 2019
Distinguished Old Dominion University alumnus David McFarland '84 will return to campus for the Hampton Roads premiere of "Alone in the Game," a documentary he wrote and produced, on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. in room 102 of the Mills Godwin Life Sciences Building.
The AT&T original documentary, which for nearly a year has been featured at film festivals worldwide, follows a group of athletes and sports figures from the NFL, NBA, MLS and NCAA, among others. The 90-minute film features the personal stories of LGBTQ athletes who deal with living their most authentic life or hiding in fear that their sports careers will come to a crashing end if the truth comes out. Viewers will hear from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, former ESPN President John Skipper, former NBA center Jason Collins, former NFL lineman Ryan O'Callaghan and MLS Cup champion Robbie Rogers, as well as Olympic medalists Gus Kenworthy and Megan Rapinoe.
"We're giving viewers a rare look into the lives of these elite athletes' unique journeys and open their eyes to the daily challenges these athletes face on and off the field of play," said McFarland, "Alone in the Game" creator and executive producer. "With added attention to this issue, I'm hopeful we can affect real change at the highest levels of American sport and that the next generation of LGBTQ athletes will be judged by their athletic performance, rather than their sexual orientation or gender identity."
After the screening, McFarland, a former ODU student-athlete, entertainment executive, public speaker and award-winning writer and producer, will take part in a panel discussion. Other panelists include Jake Reeves, ODU, coordinator of LGBTQIA+ Programs and Initiatives; Maggie Robinson, a senior forward on ODU's women's basketball team; and Zain Welsh, of the LGBT Life Center, as well as others.
The screening is sponsored by Student Engagement and Enrollment Services (SEES), ODU Athletics, The LGBT Life Center and Outwire757.
A business administration graduate, McFarland lives in Los Angeles and serves as executive vice president and principal of Studio 4 Networks, the first family of video-on-demand cable networks providing high-quality educational and health and fitness programming. He is also a partner in a real estate investment and finance company.
During his three-day stay in the area, McFarland will meet with students and campus groups, including student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators; gay cultural studies students and film students; the Office of Intercultural Relations; and the ODU Safe Space Committee. He plans to attend the home football game against Western Kentucky on Saturday.
For additional information about the film:
https://www.facebook.com/AloneInTheGame/
https://start.att.net/exclusive/audience/alone-in-the-game-documentary