“We Believe,” the authorized Chicago Cubs documentary, debuts locally June 2 at the cutting-edge the theatre in theWit, the new Loop hotel, before an invitational audience.
“We Believe,” ironically filmed in 2008, the 100th anniversary of the last time the Cubs won a World Series, is about the powerful relationship with Chicago’s hometown sports team — the excitement, loyalty and heartbreak.
What especially distinguishes the doc is the approval it was given by the Cubs’ organization and the cooperation of Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Association, says Cutters’ Tim McGuire, one of the producers.
The idea to produce an upbeat film about the Chicago Cubs was shared by producer Chad Smith, whose background is investment banking, and producer/director John Scheinfeld (“The U.S. vs. John Lennon”).
A Northwestern University graduate, Scheinfeld contacted his former classmates McGuire, Cutters’ partner/edit Chris Claeys and DP Richard Christian of Sedgwick Productions and brought them into the project.
Scheinfeld also arranged for financing of the $1.5 million budget through a group of Chicago investors.
Production got underway in February, 2008, after the producers convinced the reluctant Cubs officials that the film would be highly professional and positive, a proud tribute to the team and its city.
Within weeks, management committed to participating in the film and provided “extraordinary access to players, Wrigley Field and the teams’ archives,” McGuire said.
The next nine months were spent shooting more than 250 hours of footage, including 14 games at Wrigley Field.
