Barking Fish Entertainment has launched a GoFundMe campaignto finance a film about Marty Brennaman, who's entering his 46th and final season as the Reds' radio voice.
Producer Terry Lukemire seeks to raise $75,000 for a 90-minute documentary, How We Lookin’? The Marty Brennaman Story.
All proceeds will benefit the Reds Community Fund and the Dragonfly Foundation, says Lukemire, who produced the Pete Rose documentary, 4192: The Crowning of the Hit Kingin 2010.
The movie will include all of Brennaman's historic baseball calls: Hank Aaron's 714th home run to tie Babe Ruth in his 1974 Opening Day debut as Reds announcer; the Reds’ 1975, 1976 and 1990 World Series titles; Tom Browning’s perfect game in 1988, and Rose breaking Ty Cobb's all-time hit record in 1985. Brennaman, Reds players, broadcasters and club executives will share their favorite stories in the film, he says.
"Marty will be telling his story straight at the audience with support from his colleagues, friends and fans. I haven't done any pre-interviews with him, as he and I both have discussed wanting a more spontaneous feel when we do the (shoot)," Lukemire says.
Lukemire and Josh Sneed, a producer on the film, are going to spring training to start making the film.
The GoFundMe money will cover crew, equipment rental, travel, insurance, legal fees and other costs, he says.
"We wanted to use GoFundMe as a supplement to get going while we lock in our sponsors. We are going 501(c3) through the Cincinnati Film Society so that the net proceeds of the film go to both The Dragonfly Foundation and the Reds Community Fund," Lukemire says.
He will explore all options for distributing the film – broadcast outlets, film festivals and online streaming platforms. A premiere screening for How We Lookin'? will be held in late summer "provided of course everything goes as planned," he says.
"The more successful the film is, the more we can help support the mission of these wonderful charities," he says.
Brennaman starts his last Reds Radio season on WLW-AM at 3 p.m. Saturday when the Reds and Indians play in Goodyear, Ariz.
