 I’ve
wanted to produce a documentary about Coach Dooley for at least six
years. I asked my long time friend Bob Pope to be the executive producer.
After several discussions he finally agreed. I immediately turned to
my friend Sherri Smith Brown to collaborate and write the script. Sherri
and I have worked together on several biographical documentaries including
programs on Georgia Governors Carl Sanders and Zell Miller as part
of the “Great Georgian” series, which aired on Georgia Public Television.
We also collaborated on a museum video titled “Hills and Dales: A Living
Legacy” which was produced for the Callaway Foundation in LaGrange,
Georgia. Sherri was the natural choice for a writer for the Dooley
video. I now had my executive team in place. By the way, “A Living
Legacy” just won a Telly award!
We began shooting in April 2006, at the Dooley’s home. Once I start
a project it seems to take on a life of it’s own, and this one was
no different. Interviews with Coach’s family and friends were shot
on locations in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. Along the way
we shot additional footage, collected still photos from family and
friends, and visited archives in Mobile and Auburn. It was truly coming
together.
Then the production came to a screeching halt. Late in September
I was diagnosed with cancer. After taking about five months off from
everything in my life, I’m now cancer-free and have resumed living.
By the way, please support your local Cancer Society and anyone you
know who happens to have this insidious disease. If my cancer wasn’t
enough, Bob’s wife Jerry died in November, just before Thanksgiving.
I wouldn’t know how to cope with the death of my wife, but Bob has
handled it with admirable courage. Now that we are both beginning to
move on with our lives, we have resumed the production with renewed
intensity.
During the production of this documentary I have become friends with
both Coach and Barbara Dooley. They are truly wonderful people. Coach,
an avid gardener, has given me several plants he propagated from his
garden and even gave everyone on the crew a Dooley Hydrangea after
one shoot. One evening I dropped by their house on my way to see Bob.
Barbara was cooking dinner and when she learned my wife was in class
that evening, she offered to cook dinner and to set another place at
the table for me. They are a wonderful couple indeed.
During this production, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some
of the finest video craftspeople in north Georgia. Alphabetically,
they are: Dan Aguar, West Chambliss, Sonny Dixon, Bill Evelyn, Ben
Hartel, Shannon Juhan, Ron Leverett, George Montiel, Mike Perkins,
Mike Smith, Ron Taylor, Mary Wooten, Jeani Wooten, William Weems (my
web designer), and still photographers Rich Merritt and John Nowak.
Good job and many thanks to you all.
I’m negotiating with Georgia Public Broadcasting for a broadcast
airdate. It should be in late August just before football season begins.
Once the documentary is completed I’ll be editing a two-hour version,
which will be available on DVD. It will contain footage and extended
interviews not included in the broadcast documentary along with a special
interview with Coach and Barbara together. No true Bulldawg fan will
want to miss this. It will be offered for sale through this web site
and a portion of the proceeds will go to several charities.
Send me an e-mail at info@vincedooleydvd.com and I’ll put your name
on our mailing list to receive information about the broadcast date
and time. I’ll also let you know when the DVD is ready for purchase.
Go Dawgs!
A note from Andy's wife,
Andy lost his battle with cancer last November. This project
was on hold while our sons and I tried to cope. Fortunately,
most of the work was done. Several people who had worked with
Andy, stepped up and agreed to finish the project in his memory.
To them I owe many thanks. The project is now finished and
I believe Andy would be proud. Andy always enjoyed the chance
to tell someone's life story. Thank you Coach Dooley for giving
him the honor of telling yours.
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