Review Fix Exclusive: Pete Sillen Talks ‘Unhittable: Sidd Finch and the Tibetan Fastball’

Review Fix chats with Peter Sillen , who discusses his Emmy-Nominated short film from ESPN Films, “Unhittable: Sidd Finch and the Tibetan Fastball.” Breaking down the inspiration process for the film and what the Emmy nomination feels like, Sill lets us know exactly what makes the film a special one.

About the Film:

The Peter Sillen-directed and C41 Media-produced ESPN Films: 30 for 30 documentary “Unhittable: Sidd Finch and the Tibetan Fastball” explores famed journalist George Plimpton’s 1985 Sports Illustrated hoax about a New York Mets prospect who dropped out of Harvard, spoke 10 languages, played the French horn, wore one hiking boot and threw 168 mph, originally aired on April Fools’ Day 2015 (the thirtieth anniversary of Plimpton’s famed article). Grantland notes that “‘Unhittable’ brings back all of the people who made this hoax possible, including Joe Berton, the bespectacled middle school teacher who truly brought Sidd to life.”

Review Fix: How did George Plimpton’s piece in Sports Illustrated affect you as a kid?

Pete Sillen: I was a freshman in my dorm room and remember my dad had called and asked me if I had seen the new SI issue? I hadn’t, he said go check out the article on the Mets and call me back.  Mets fan’s were the perfect audience for, “The Curious Case of Sidd Finch.” I loved it. We’d been waiting 16 years for some sort of savior and then wham…here he was in Port St. Lucie, in a Mets uniform, standing on the mound with Mel Stottlemyre. My father and I ended up debating whether or not it was real for at least an hour.  He called me the next morning from his office and said look at the cover date!  It was really kind of magical while you were under its spell. 
 
Review Fix: How do you take that inspiration and turn it into a documentary?

Sillen: Our Associate Producer, Mike Plant had mentioned that he was involved in an ESPN 30 for 30 and asked me if I had any good sports stories. Brendan and I started kicking around possible pitch ideas. The Sidd Finch Story was at the top of my list. For anyone who read Plimpton’s original article, it really just captured your imagination. So I wanted the viewer to experience that sense of suspended reality, whether or not you read the original, heard about it or knew nothing about it. That, wait, what? Could this really be true, moment? I structured the film to try and give people a little bit of that original spark.
 
Review Fix: What do you think you learned about yourself as a director by working on this?

Sillen: For me this project was all about doing justice to George Plimpton and the rest of the SI creative team. It was such a perfect merging of talents. These guys really put themselves out there. Sports Illustrated didn’t publish jokes, so making the call to run a 16-page April Fools prank was a big risk. Mark Mulvoy, made a bold choice. It takes people like him, people who have the vision, and the strength to push those around them to do great work, regardless of the consequences. It was a true collaboration and a lesson, I think translates well to filmmaking.

Review Fix: Why was the original story so important?

Sillen: George Plimpton created a modern fairy tale. It tapped into the all-American dream that every kid who ever picked up a glove has. It’s the story of the underdog. The person who against all odds somehow is the hero. Sidd Finch was George Plimpton’s alter ego. Plimpton had single-handedly create the genre of participatory journalism. It was interesting but it always seemed to be at George’s expense on some level. Here was George with all his world experience, freely creating a character that was awkward and eccentric but also the greatest pitcher ever…the perfect “literary” revenge of the nerds. Sidd Finch is really George’s gift to every person who ever dreamed of greatness. It’s a wonderful story and probably a top three April Fools gag.
 
Review Fix: Bottom line, why should someone check out this documentary?

Sillen: The Curious Case of Sidd Finch is a classic. Unhittable is the closest you can get to experiencing the magic of Sidd Finch as if you were back in 1985.
 
Review Fix: How does it feel to be nominated for an Emmy?

Sillen: I think I can speak for our whole C41 team when I say we’re very honored and super excited about the nomination. This is such a unique story, I’m just glad we’re able to introduce George Plimpton to a new generation of fans.
 
Review Fix: What’s next?

Sillen: I’m working with C41 Media on developing a couple of episodic projects as well as a feature documentary on the Masonic Order in America. We’re also pitching a few new 30 for 30 ideas.