Duration: 1:21

http://tinyurl.com/53nyv6 He was an outstanding young man of great character who served? and my hope is, will continue to serve?as an inspiration to the young people of this country. ?John F. Kennedy on Ernie Davis In America in the late 1950s and early 60s, one young man became a symbol for a country grappling to move past its long-held views of people of color. His unprecedented journey unfolded as he shattered not only sports records, but also perceptions of what was possible for an African-American at the time. His name was Ernie Davis, but fans knew him better as The Elmira Express. This film is a tribute to his courage. Based on a true story, The Express follows the extraordinary life of college football hero Ernie Davis (ROB BROWN of Finding Forrester, Coach Carter). His quiet fight for equality and respect forever changed the face of the game, and his civil rights story continues to inspire new generations. Born in 1939 and raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country by his grandmother and grandfather (CHARLES S. DUTTON of Secret Window, Gothika), before moving to Elmira, New York, Davis hurdled social and economic obstacles to become one of the greatest running backs in college football history. Under the guidance of legendary Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder (DENNIS QUAID of The Rookie, Any Given Sunday), he became a hero who surpassed Jim Browns achievements and became the first African-American player to be awarded the Heisman Trophy, college footballs highest individual honor. Fleder was interested in the project that would allow him to explore the life of the man behind the legend of The Elmira Express. While he agreed with his producer that this was about more than great football, he wasnt sure the screenplay was ready. Fleder remembers, John sent me a script of The Express that I liked and didnt love, but I was intrigued. A few months after I read the script, I found this 1989 article on Ernie Davis from Sports Illustrated that put the story in context of Ernie coming after Jim Brown, as well as the country and the civil rights movement heating up. That was just what it would take to clinch his signing on for the film. Fleder understood that the film needed to tackle the more subtle forms of racism that allowed a black man to play sports but not enjoy the same civil liberties as his white teammates. All of a sudden, I found a new story of Ernie Davis: Ernie in the context of what was happening in the country, as well as what was happening before him, Fleder continues. That became the key to dramatize his story. Ernie wasnt some complicated, bad guy. He wasnt Jake LaMotta from Raging Bull; he was a really sweet kid. I felt that there was a much deeper story to be told than what was told in some previous drafts. With a renewed interest in the project, the director worked with Leavitt and Davis to develop the script into a version the team felt honored Ernies story and gave an arc that would lend well to film. There are figures like Ernie that are as important to the culture as Jackie Robinson, Fleder says. What I love about the story is it feels like the way Seabiscuit does; its this one little, beautiful story in the big canvas of the Great Depression. In the civil rights movement you have a lot of great stories, and Ernies is a great story against that canvas. Invaluable to shaping the film was the assistance of former Syracuse and Cleveland Browns star running back (and Ernie Davis mentor), 1956 Syracuse alum and No. 44 legend, Jim Brown. Brown met with Fleder early on in the development process and was able to not only help mold the football and civil rights aspects of the story, but to help Fleder understand the personal elements of his good friend Ernie Davis. About their many conversations, Fleder remembers: Jim Brown said it best when he told me, Ernie Davis could live in a black world and the white world pretty seamlessly. He didnt threaten people. He had this gift of getting along with everyone, beyond race, and thats a compelling trait. As Brown put it, Ernie was a peacemaker. With the core team secured, the studio and filmmakers would begin to cast the players of Ernie Davis lifeon and off the field. Footage Courtesy of Universal Pictures A BlackTree Media Production Hosted by Mr. Kelly Henton Produced by Jamaal Finkley Edited at BlackTree TV Studios Culver City CA us on our social network at v