Inspired by their lifelong love for the Green Bay Packers and a grandfather who was a dairy farmer, brothers Anders ’08 and Davin ’14 Lindwall brought together a number of APU alumni to put all their talents and years of hard work into a story they hold close to their hearts. Green and Gold, which won audience awards at the Austin Film Festival and the Heartland International Film Festival, stars renowned actors such as Craig T. Nelson, Brandon Sklenar, and the late M. Emmet Walsh. The movie will be released in theaters nationwide on January 31.
The plot follows a fourth-generation dairy farmer, Buck (Nelson), and his granddaughter as they fight to preserve the land their family has owned for generations. Buck places a large bet on the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl, a risk that can either make or break his aspirations. A story of resilience, faith, and the connections we value, the people behind the scenes each have a redemptive story of their own as they worked toward this heartwarming film.
Having graduated from APU’s cinematic arts program, Anders, director and one of the writers of Green and Gold, had learned to approach filmmaking with courage and a hope to tell compelling stories. “From the start, our professors placed an immense amount of trust in us by placing cameras in our hands and encouraging students to just try things out,” he said. That same courage drove him and everyone involved in creating this upcoming film to strive for excellence, and cultivate a positive environment throughout the process.
Many of the crew members shared fond memories of their days on set, like celebrating Brooks Malberg’s ’14 (executive producer, line producer, UPM) birthday on their first day of filming, taking in the beautiful landscape in the middle of large fields, and getting to work on a project with a group of talented individuals who share APU roots.
“Working on Green and Gold never felt like a job because the project was built out of passion, and the people along the way were so important to us, making the experience a fun one,” said Davin. Malberg echoed these sentiments. “When you get to create something with good, genuine people, it makes a huge difference. The community is what drew me into APU, and getting to see that carry through in our careers has been really special.”
Corey Martin ’14, (composer) who graduated from APU’s music program, was inspired to pursue the movie industry by his film major friends who lived in Smith Hall with him freshman year. Learning from professors who were industry professionals enabled Martin to ask plenty of questions, hear people’s stories, and discover how to use his composition skills to live out his calling. “APU taught me to be faithful when you’re doubting yourself, which helped during every step of the film we made because it was intense and required us all to persevere.”
Martin’s wife, Natalie ’12 (vocalist), touched upon the fact that APU gathers a community of people who are incredibly uplifting, kind, and committed to doing their best. “Having a group of people believing in something bigger than themselves creates an atmosphere that has allowed us to succeed,” she said.
What started as a group of friends having fun with their film and music classes at APU has led to a crew that is professionally driven and passionate for storytelling. “One of the greatest joys for me has been working with people who I’ve collaborated with for years on various projects and watching Green and Gold reach its heights,” Anders said. With each new milestone, the cast and crew of the film can celebrate their years of dedication.
A total of twelve APU alumni poured their skills, time, and passion into this project: Anders Lindwall ’08 - writer, director; Davin Lindwall ’14 - producer; Brooks Malberg ’14 - executive producer, line producer; Corey Martin ’14 - composer; Natalie (Nichols) Martin ’12 - vocalist; Dominic Laing ’08 - additional editor; Jeremy McDaniel ’09 - second unit cinematography and camera operator; Chadwick Trentham ’08 - production consultant ; Blake Heal ’08 - production consultant; Bo Butterworth ’08 - production consultant; Lauren Martinez ’08 - production consultant; and Ben Helms ’08 - trailer sound mixer.
Green and Gold will be in theaters nationwide on January 31, 2025. To buy tickets, click here.