Interview with Eric Guggenheim, Miracle

Q. Why did you write Miracle?
A. I'm drawn to stories about redemption and second chances. For me Miracle was always less about hockey and more about those themes.

Of course I also responded to the fact that this was the ultimate David versus Goliath story. But the biggest draw was the coach, Herb Brooks. In Brooks you had the makings of a terrific character. He wasn't very likeable, but what's interesting is that he made a conscious choice to be that way in order to bond his team together. And even if that wasn't apparent, his backstory made him incredibly sympathetic. Also, the notion that a hockey team could lift the spirits of an entire nation was very intriguing to me.

Q. Do you need sports experience to write a sports movie?
A. I don't think so. During my career I've been hired to write scripts about hairdressers, ballet dancers, SWAT team members, and Vietnam vets; and I'm none of those things. That having been said, experience can bring some verisimilitude to the story that you might not otherwise get - or would only get - after a good amount of research.

I think it all depends on who the writer is. You could have a writer who's really passionate about track or cycling, but spends too much time focusing on the intricacies of the sport at the expense of character and story, because those intricacies are what interest him the most. On the other hand that same passion can sometimes elevate the material. The right person to tackle a golf film could be the person who plays twice a week or it could very easily be the person who has never picked up a club. Therefore, if you're going up for an open writing assignment, I've discovered that sometimes that experience and background is very important to the person hiring you.

Q. Are you using sports to tell a different story?
A. If you're not, I think you will end up with a very uninteresting movie. In the best "sports movies," the sport just happens to be the setting.

Q. What separates a good sports movie from a bad one?
A. If all you have is that big game, you're lost. The film has to be about something else. Take Seabiscuit for example. It's a story about loss and healing that just happens to be set against the backdrop of horseracing. Jeff Bridges' character lost his son, Tobey Maguire's character lost his family. Chris Cooper's character lost his way of life. Working with the horse and each other helped to ease those losses.

Q. What makes a movie a sports movie?
A. If your story revolves around a coach or an athlete, it will get branded a "sports movie." I think that's unavoidable.