The Hill is appearing on the big screen this fall, as part of the film The Mighty Macs. The film tells the true story of Immaculata College’s women’s basketball team and their improbable rise to prominence in the 1970s. Selected scenes were filmed at The Hill School, as well as West Chester University, Immaculata College, and various locations in Pottstown, Philadelphia, and West Chester, with production occurring at The Hill in June of 2007. Scenes at The Hill were shot in Gillison Court, several locker rooms in Sweeney Gymnasium, and outside the David H. Mercer Field House. A hallway in Sweeney was also converted to a train station for one scene.

 

Between graduation, alumni events, and summer camps, the cast and crew of The Mighty Macs were under a very tight schedule during their time at The Hill in 2007. Shooting lasted one day, with a two-day set-up occurring beforehand to buff the gym floors, install Hollywood lighting, and create the "train station" inside Sweeney, among other things.

Hill alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and students over 18 had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate in the film as extras. Despite temperatures that rose into the low nineties, the extras greatly enjoyed their time on set.
The cast and crew enjoyed their time at The Hill as well. During a break in the 2007 shoot, director, co-writer, and producer Tim Chambers explained, “We picked The Hill School for several scenes because the campus has great architecture. It was a challenge to find locations for a period movie -- but The Hill School has been worth the extra travel time for our cast and crew because the School is so beautifully maintained.”

Like the basketball team whose story it tells, The Mighty Macs is itself an underdog of a film. Although production on the film was completed in July 2007, finding a distributor proved difficult. Originally titled Our Lady of Victory, the film was made possible through the financial backing of Pat Croce, co-owner of Quaker Media, LLC with Tim Chambers, and widely known in the Philadelphia area as the former president of the Philadelphia 76ers. The film was budgeted at $6.5 million, a large budget for an independent film. The film was originally scheduled for theatrical release in spring of 2008, but delay after delay has pushed the release date back three years.

Perhaps the film’s struggle to be seen by a wider audience is appropriate, given its core messages of determination and the importance of dreams.

Chambers spoke to local television news crews while filming at The Hill. “It’s really not a ‘girls’ basketball movie’ as much as it is about believing in yourself and making a commitment to pursue your dreams. I think that’s really what we’re trying to capture in making the movie.” 
 

Actress Carla Gugino, who stars as basketball coach Cathy Rush, agrees. “[These girls] had been taught to be humble, that girls are the lesser sex,” she told Sports Illustrated. “I think this story has a lot to say about something I think is very important – the equality of dreams.”

Despite its struggles, the film has garnered positive reviews at film festivals and test screenings from moviegoers and critics alike. At the California Independent Film Festival in 2010, The Mighty Macs won Best Music Score and received nominations in three other categories, including Best Picture, Best Director (Tim Chambers), and Best Actress (Carla Gugino).

The film also stars David Boreanaz as NBA referee Ed Rush; Marley Shelton as a young nun and Assistant Coach, Sister Sunday; and Ellen Burstyn as Mother Superior. To see the official trailer, film stills, and more, check out the official Mighty Macs website.