Chicago-native actor
Phil Donlon prepared
for his latest role
by attending
baseball camp
and hanging out
with Roger Clemons
Chicago-born actor Phil Donlon got a taste of the big leagues while preparing to portray a player who watches his last chance to get there fade away.
High & Outside: a baseball noir is a film about the great American pastime. In the tradition of The Natural (at least the book) and Bull Durham, it is a tale of yearning in a season that ends with long shadows of early autumn.
Donlon plays Phil Harding, a 33-year-old “minor league baseball player (who) refuses to believe his career is over and takes desperate measures to keep his dream alive,” according to IMDb.
Standing between him and the majors are a serious lack of funds, a failing marriage, a domineering father, and a failure to make the only team that “he thought could give him his shot.”
The lengths he travels to make it happen are described as “reckless.”
HIGH & OUTSIDE TRAILER
In preparation for the role, according to the release, “Donlon attended professional baseball training camp in Palm Springs prior to filming, allowing him to develop physical skills for his character and spend time with players including 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Roger Clemens.”
The actor also signed a one-day contract with the minor league Souix City explorers, and some of the actual footage from the game in which he played appears in the film.
Director Evald Johnson also brought some big league savvy to the project. The son of former big-league manager and player Tim Johnson, he quite literally grew up in the game.
Other cast members include legendary actors Ernie Hudson and Geoffrey Lewis in his final role.
High & Outside: a baseball noir was nominated for Best Film and Best Screenplay at Raindance Film Festival and for Best Narrative Feature at Austin’s Film Festival. It will premiere with Donlon on hand at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Friday, September 7th, Saturday, September 8th, and Wednesday, September 12th.
For more information about the film, click here.
