RivCO Film Students Cheer For 'Green And Gold' At Special Showing Of Local Filmmaker's Movie

TEMECULA, CA — Family, history, farming, and football mean much to Temecula resident and feature film producer Davin Lindwall. Recently, they shared the movie with high school film students at a screening at Temecula Valley High School's theater.

Earlier this year, he spoke with Patch about the film "Green and Gold," available to watch on Amazon Video, in Temecula and nationwide.

It's a story of faith, courage, and community that has drawn the attention of the Green Bay Packers and inspired the "Thank You Farmers" project, telling the story of a family who quite literally bets the farm on the success of their Green Bay Packers, he told Patch.

"My brother, Anders (who directed 'Green and Gold') and I grew up in a unique and remote part of the US," Davin Lindwall told Patch. They were raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the Northern Wisconsin border and are die-hard Packers fans. The film is set in that location and stubbornly remains there; even as major studios beckoned, they followed a different path.

Davin resides in Temecula now and has been there for over three years. His wife, Holly, and her family have lived there for many generations, he said. All understand a thing or two about deep community roots. Anders said the film is our heartfelt tribute to rural America's strength and perseverance.

Set against the backdrop of the 1990s, "Green and Gold" celebrates the enduring spirit of family, community, and football while focusing on the triumphant journey of a small-town farmer, played by multiple EMMY and Golden Globe-nominated actor Craig T. Nelson (Parenthood, Coach), Brandon Sklenar (It Ends with Us), Annabel Armour (Contagion), Madison Lawlor (Juniper), and the late M. Emmet Walsh in his final performance.

"The film highlights the stories of hardworking farmers confronting growing challenges in today's economy. Inspired by our roots and our grandfather, a dairy farmer, my brother Davin and I sought to tell an authentic story that honors rural America's farming community's grit, goodness, and unbreakable bond."

Developing stories was natural for the two brothers, something they always did, according to Davin.

"Nearly all of our stories were based in that Upper Peninsula area. We have so much affection for the environment, the culture, and the people up there. One day, they gave a potential investor an elevator pitch of 'Green and Gold,' and it struck a chord." He said. "Since then, it's been a labor of love, and years of mostly unpaid work, but the right doors have opened for us." That included landing key actor Craig T. Nelson to play Buck at an independent-friendly rate. The story was roughed out in 2018, and the script was ready by 2020. In the fall of 2021, they began principal photography, and since then, they have worked to produce and edit the work into a completed film.

Nelson said the story "felt personal" when he read the script."I felt a real connection to it because the Nelson family farm has been a working farm in South Dakota since the Civil War, and my wife's family were also farmers. Green and Gold captures the tenacity of small-town farmers and the strength of family and community. I was honored to play Buck and highlight the dreams defining many lives in America’s heartland.”

Adding depth to the story was a relationship formed with the Green Bay Packers.

"This marks the first time the team has partnered with a feature film on this level," the brothers said. "Green and Gold portrays the story of Packers fans' devotion to legacy and community," said Justin Wolf, the Packers director of corporate partnership sales and activations. "It's a must-see. We are proud to be part of a story celebrating supporting one another and showcasing the critical role that family farms play across our great state of Wisconsin and beyond."

The Lindwalls leaned heavily on their family story for the themes behind "Green and Gold."

"This is partly our family's story as well," he said. "Our grandfather was a small dairy farmer in this part of the world and struggled to keep it afloat. We've had reviewers and critics comment on how true, raw, and authentic the film feels - and that's because it mostly is. We based it on many true events, shot on real farms with real farmers and animals, and embraced the elements like snow and rain... The whole thing is very real."

The biggest reality check was an offer from what Davin Lindwall said was a "pretty big studio."

"Two weeks before principal photography, we got a call from a studio wanting to buy the film," Lindwall said. "Craig T. Nelson was on a plane. We were doing daily walk-throughs of the locations with our local farmers, and the train was moving, but we knew the offer was potentially the best we'd ever receive (and it was). The caveat was they wanted us to pause production and hold off on shooting for a year while also pivoting to shoot in a tax-incentivized state.

"We ended up turning down the offer as we didn't feel it was fair to the story," he said. "We knew it had to be shot in Wisconsin to feel right, and the farmers and communities who had already supported us so much up until that point."

Both brothers feel they made the best choice for the film, according to Davin.

"Either way, we ultimately chose what was right for the story, not for the money, which, funny enough, is a major theme in the movie."

Green and Gold was named an "Official Selection" and "Audience Award Winner" at the 2024 Austin Film Festival. The film received "Official Selection" and "Audience Choice" at the Heartland Film Festival for its compelling storytelling and emotional depth.

Watch it now on Amazon Prime Video.