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      The latest film to join these ranks, “Pride” is inspired by the true events surrounding Jim Ellis who started a swim team for troubled teens in Philly. The film, starring Academy Award nominee Terrance Howard and actor-comedian Bernie Mac, opens nationwide today.

      The story centers on Ellis, played by Howard, a former swimmer, who coaches a group of talented African American teens from the Philadelphia Department of Recreation to the statewide championship with his formula of PDR – pride, determination, resilience.

       While there are less serious and even funny quips throughout the film, the inspirational drama remains an important concept. Howard agreed that it’s very important to tell these stories, even if we've heard them before. And in addition, he told reporters, the triumphs of African Americans in particular should be told.

      “For a long period of time, it was thought that that didn’t sell,” he said of having soldiering and prevailing black characters. “We believe in what we see, so seeing the example of Jim Ellis, it gives me a little more belief in myself. And the statistics show that almost one out of three African Americans can’t swim,” he continued. “We have three times the death rate from drowning as all other ethnicities. That’s a horrible figure to live with. And it’s because we don’t have the facilities in the inner cities. We need that, not just in the sense of having prestige, but in the sense of saving lives.”

Bernie Mac in 'Pride'

      Bernie Mac plays Elston, the rec department maintenance man who also is inspired by Ellis.

      “I saw Elston, when his life started leaving him; his home, his marriage. That’s where his bitterness began. It wasn’t personal towards Jim. He felt useless. All of a sudden he had nothing. But when Jim brought life back into PDR, you see how he took pride again. He cut his hair, he changed his clothes,” he said.

     Like Howard, Mac also took to heart the lessons learned from the film, particularly because they were familiar lessons he’d learned from his coaches growing up. In fact, the actor said that he built his character on mentors he’d had as a kid.

      “I knew Elston in so many ways,” he said. “[He was] those dudes at the South Town YMCA, the coaches, where I was a gym rat. That was my Jim Ellis, that was my Elston. I just took a little bit from each one of those guys. I’d reflect back to when I was playing sports. I just took a page out of all those gentlemen’s notebooks who helped me in my career.”

Coach Jim Ellis' story is told in 'Pride'

      In almost the same vein, Howard revealed that his portrayal of Ellis was an amalgamation also.

      “I only had a month and a half with Jim Ellis, so I asked Jim who were some of his heroes,” Howard explained. “[He named] Reggie Jackson, Thurgood Marshall, and Jim Brown. Having those references – because none of us are like ourselves, we are like a collection of the people that we like –I decided to gravitate toward the people that he gravitated to, and therefore I would have more of his spirit without imitating him.”

      Becoming the characters was also a fun transition for the two actors, who confessed that they are certainly fans of the ‘70s.

      “That was my favorite time,” Howard reminisced. “I wanted to grow an afro, but my daddy kept cutting my hair.” He said that what he like most about filming, was the fact that he could step into that era everyday.  “I looked forward to getting dressed every day on that set,” he said.

      Mac shared a number of memories he had from that time and agreed that doing a film based in that time was great fun for him, too.

      “I’m from the ‘70s,” he proudly said. “The ‘70s was a great beginning for me. It was a development stage for me. It was great music, great times, racism, problems, communities, real neighbors. It brought back my life. The style, the clothes, the ‘fro, the respect. All those things I grew up with. Great memories, you know? The ‘70s was groovy. It had shortcomings, but it had a lot of promises.”

      Promise, determination, and resilience were not just echoes of the film, but a way of life in training for it. Howard, who recreationally swims, told reporters that getting into competition shape for the film was certainly a feat.

      “I had to really get in shape because it’s hard to move that water out of the way,” he said. “It was a matter of getting comfortable with the water. We get in there thinking that we’re gonna fight it and move it. No, you gain momentum through slow acceleration and that’s what you don’t realize initially.”

      He also said that training to swim and working a little with the real life Jim Ellis taught him more than just how to glide through the water. He continued: “The hardest thing was to get in there and gently persuade the water around you. That plays into Jim’s vocal pattern, his nature. He has a very calm persuasive way of leading you into a wonderful place. It’s therapeutic listening to him. That’s what he teaches. He teaches you to become one with the water and you feel powerful.”

      The powerful story, also starring Kimberly Elise and Tom Arnold, comes to life on screen today. For more on the film, visit the website at: www.pridefilm.com.

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