Rob Brown, who is playing Ernie Davis in the movie "The Express," poses for a photo during filming on the University campus.
“The Express” On Campus
6/22/2007 2:32:33 PM | Football
Filming of “The Express,” a Universal Pictures feature film based on the life of legendary Syracuse University running back Ernie Davis, took place on campus Thursday and Friday, June 21 and 22.
Rob Brown (“Finding Forrester”), who is in the starring role as Davis, was present for the film work in Syracuse. The scenes shot at SU included Davis’ arrival on campus, a meeting with athletic director Lew Andreas, and jogging through campus with a teammate. In addition to the scenes with dialogue, the crew filmed scenic shots of the historically pertinent campus buildings to be incorporated into the film.
“This is a great, great day for Syracuse University,” said Dr. Daryl Gross, director of athletics at SU, at an on-site press conference on Friday. “This is a story that needs to be told all over the world. We all know how great Ernie was to this University.”
“It’s fitting and proper that this is our last day shooting. We couldn’t “cheat” this campus in Chicago,” noted Brown. “This campus is really unique and it’s kind of overwhelming now that I’m here. First of all, being in these shoes, literally, and playing this character, and now being around campus is surreal.”
“Everyone has been amazingly welcoming to us here at Syracuse University,” noted executive producer Derek Dauchy. “It’s been a genuine pleasure working with everyone at the University.”
“We want to make sure that every scene that we have, every bit of film that we shoot has as much authenticity as possible.”
The film began shooting the first week of April in the Chicago area. Northwestern University’s Ryan Field was used to replicate Archbold Stadium, The Cotton Bowl and various other stadiums in which Syracuse played during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Various other sets were used throughout the city of Chicago and surrounding areas. The filming in Syracuse will mark the conclusion of Director Gary Fleder’s (“Runaway Jury”) 53-day shoot.
Another important figure on campus during the Friday shoot was Reggie Schwartzwalder, the wife of Ben Schwartzwalder, who coached Davis at Syracuse. Schwartzwalder was more than an interested observer on the set – she played an extra in one of the scenes.
“The Express” is the life story of Davis, who came to Syracuse from Elmira in 1958 and led the Orange to the school’s only national championship in 1959. He became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, in 1961. Despite being the first player taken in the 1962 NFL draft, Davis never played a single game of professional football. He died of leukemia in 1963, at the age of 23.
Monday, June 08
Friday, June 05
Sunday, May 24
Saturday, May 23
