WASHINGTON — It is a “Dave and Goliath” story, and filmmakers want help from Washington Redskins fans to tell it.
The project-in-waiting is a documentary surrounding the legal battle between team owner Dan Snyder and the newspaper reporter he sued, Dave McKenna.
In 2010, McKenna wrote “The Cranky Fan’s Guide to Dan Snyder” in the Washington City Paper, which ultimately drew a lawsuit from Snyder.
That lawsuit was a “catalyst” for the documentary, according to the producers anxious to make it.
“It’s the story of the downfall of a franchise,” says Judy Plavnick, a co-producer who once covered the NFL.
Producers and backers are trying to raise $99,000 to for the project, and they’ve turned to crowd funding to accomplish the goal. Donations come with perks ranging from an “Angry Dan” button to a director’s chair.
Thousands of dollars came in the first day the page went live. The project has raised more than $5,300 as of Wednesday morning.
The working title of the documentary is “Under Our Skins: A Dave and Goliath Story.”
A self-described huge fan who recently gave up her season tickets, Plavnick lists a number of things that have gotten under fans’ skins. Among them: the ownership, the stadium, the direction of the franchise and the win-loss record.
But she insists the film isn’t supposed to be a hit piece on one of the most criticized owners in professional sports. The hopeful idea is that Snyder would play a big part in the production, addressing the criticisms.
“What we want to do with this film is to give Mr. Snyder a chance to respond to all of that,” she says. “This really isn’t an us versus them situation.”
WTOP reached out to the Redskins for comment but has not heard back.
The other leading subject in the film, McKenna, says the battle of words was surreal at the time. He’s not opposed to the making of the documentary.
“I think there’s a great story to be told,” he says.
While producers say it is too early to talk about the kind of release the documentary would have, they plan to target film festivals initially.
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