Former Aikenite filming SEC fandom
A former Aiken resident has Southeastern Conference (SEC) football fever and started "Pigskin & Magnolias: 12 Days of Fandom," a documentary to share his passion for the football community with others.
The goal is to visit and film in all 12 SEC stadiums, recording fans, and to finalize the documentary in the spring of 2010.
The final product will be edited into a documentary format and submitted to film festivals with the hopes showing it at all 12 SEC campuses and sharing it with other SEC fans. The undertaking is a family operation involving Josh Locklair, Victoria Locklair, Karen Johnson and additional family members.
"The idea was born out of many conversations I have had with other SEC football fans," said Josh Locklair, director, producer and screenwriter.
"My wife and I both grew up watching and attending football games, which started our passion for the games and tailgating. My parents are both Aiken residents and attended South Carolina. I was lucky enough to attend many great games in Columbia growing up. My wife and her sister are Georgia alumnae and enjoy Bulldog football.
"SEC football is such a shared communal experience in this area of the country every fall and draws just as many arguments as politics or religion, and fans follow it with the same energy and fervor. One's college football affiliation is very much synonymous with identity in the South, probably more than any other region, too," he said.
Locklair and his team gear up for a show by planning ahead for travel and coordinating with the schools, as well as conducting research.
"Fans are more willing to talk longer to someone who has done their homework and has reverence for their football team's mythology," said Locklair. "As college football fans, the research is the fun part, and it helps us make the proper connection with each fan that is interviewed; and in return, we hope it will connect with the audience."
"Pigskin & Magnolias: 12 Days of Fandom" filmed its first game as Locklair and Victoria traveled with
USC to Oxford, Miss., on Oct. 4, 2008. Since that time, the project has grown.
"We took our personal video camera with a cheap microphone and did three interviews," said Locklair. "We were really surprised at how willing fans were to talk on camera and how friendly all of them were. Delighted with the results, we decided we needed better equipment to take the project further and invested in an HD Camera, better microphone and have since acquired more grip equipment along the way.
"Part of our initial research for Oxford was reading the book 'Dixieland Delight' by author Clay Travis. 'Dixieland Delight' is Mr. Travis' 2006 fan memoir on going to all 12 SEC stadiums in one season. Recently, we got the chance to interview Mr. Travis for the documentary."
During the 2009 season and the 2008 season, Locklair and his crew have been surprised by the many new friends they have made.
"Fans have surprised us with their generosity and enthusiasm. It's hard spotting fans to talk to and pitching the project to them on game days," said Locklair. "Once they understand the project, about 80 percent of the fans we approach to interview are willing to talk on camera. Once one fan from a tailgate gets interviewed, we usually have more offers to interview from the same tailgate and from tailgates nearby. Curiosity and support from fellow fans on game days has us convinced there's a strong audience for the documentary."
On game day, some interviews are pre-arranged or sometimes Locklair and his team travel to the fan's hometown prior to the game and others are simply found on the tailgating scene. It is a continual surprise and the flair it adds to the production is priceless.
"We met former Ole Miss cheerleaders tailgating in The Grove (Mississippi) who gave us a great rendition of the "Hotty Toddy" cheer. We've met some die-hard fans along the way, some who travel up to 1,000 miles on a given weekend to attend a game. One fan traveled from Thailand one weekend to attend an Alabama game. Fans drive custom vehicles to games, dress up in elaborate outfits and spend small fortunes on their tailgates. They create this colorful, communal subculture of fandom each season that is fascinating due to their personal dedication to supporting their teams, and spending time with their 'football families' for six to 12 weekends per year," Locklair said.
Through out the past year, the Locklairs have met many fans who have changed their lives and views on SEC football.
"Many of the fans we've interviewed have invited us back to their tailgates at their respective schools as their guests. We fully intend to re-connect with all of our fans when the project is complete and when we're ready to tailgate with them as fans on a future game day. After meeting so many fans of rival schools, it's difficult to root against any SEC school now," said Locklair. "The process has taught us a lot about the community of sports fandom, sportsmanship and the independent film production process. The goal is to capitalize on this project and have it lead to more. It's been a great learning experience and a fulfilling journey. We hope it leads to something great for us, SEC fans and college football fans in the South."
Keep up with "Pigskin & Magnolias: 12 Days of Fandom" online at www.facebook.com/pigskinandmagnolias.
"Pigskin & Magnolias: 12 Days of Fandom" is a Three Dogs and a Chicken production.