I’m a lucky guy. Over the years, I’ve played basketball with Michael Jordan, swapped dirty jokes with Larry Bird,  rode in a jeep with the President of the United States, sang with Garth Brooks, danced with the Black Eyed Peas and hugged Cindy Crawford (a little too long, I was told!) But I gotta tellya,  that few things have ever brought me more pleasure than working with Jeff Bednarz and Jack Waldrip on the short documentary, “6″.

I’m serious. Though, hugging Cindy WAS pretty sweet.

It was a helluva lot of fun! No clients, no script.  A pickup full of cameras and a great idea waiting to be put on film! Along the way, we ate chicken fried steak at Mary’s in Strawn, drove through the Waggoner Ranch, met some great storytellers up in Follett, watched the sun come up on a cold December morning in the Panhandle,  and alot spent time with my friend, Jeff Bednarz.

Bednarz and the folks at Directorz are terrific.  I love working them.  Jeff and I have done some pretty amazing stuff over the years. I particularly enjoyed chasing Lance Armstrong across Iowa…he on bycycle, us in the back of pickup. Me, hollering, “Peddle harder, you pussy!” Jeff, laughing his ass off. You can see that video at video at www.jimbobdallas.com!

But “6″ was even more special than the Lance video, since it dealt with three of my favorite things…small Texas towns, six-man football and film making.  I remember the first time, I saw Jack Waldrips’ rough cut. I cried. I finally had helped make something that I was extremely proud of.  ”6″ is basically the story of Follett and Strawn, two small towns from different parts of Texas, that are playing in the Six-Man State Championship game. But it is much more than that! It is also the story of the importance of high school athletics to these small towns. As the mayor os Strawn said, “Once you lose your school and your bank, it’s a ghost town.” You also get to know the coaches and the kids that make up the teams. These are men and boys who  truly play for the love the game. I love the last line of the movie.  Jeff Jeff asks a player from Follett what he will miss most about playing football, he said, “being in the light.” Beautiful!

Thanks again to Jeff and Jack, two of the best anywhere. Can’t wait to do it again…soon.

PS: This weekend “6″ will premier at SXSW at the Alamo Theatre. I can’t make it because tickets are $300 each and being the cheap so-and-so that I am, I will take a pass on it. I tried to get producer Jeremy Besser to spring for  the ducats but he is even cheaper than me. He said no. Have fun guys…