After Rich Middlemas graduated from the College of Communication and Information in 1997 with a BS in broadcasting, he moved to Hollywood and worked for the president and COO of Metro Goldwyn Mayer. In 2005, he branched out into independent producing, optioning the book Fifty Dead Men Walking, which was eventually adapted into a feature film starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Jim Sturgess.
In 2009, while he was following UT football recruiting, Middlemas was intrigued by a Memphis Commercial Appeal story about sixteen-year-old left tackle O.C. Brown and the struggles of the Manassas High football team. Middlemas and fellow filmmakers Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin met with Coach Bill Courtney and started capturing the challenges and struggles of the players on film.
The project evolved from the story of an individual player to one of the team and the volunteer coaches’ dedication to the futures of the young men. The three producers also became involved in the high school students’ lives while filming at the school. They taught video production to the advanced history class and helped them make their own documentary.
As it turned out, the underdog Tigers had a winning season and their first visit to the playoffs in the school’s 110-year history. Undefeated won the 2012 Oscar for the Best Documentary Feature, making Middlemas the first UT graduate ever to win an Academy Award.
Middlemas has served as a guest lecturer to the College of Communication and Information and the UT Cinema Studies program.
In 2009, while he was following UT football recruiting, Middlemas was intrigued by a Memphis Commercial Appeal story about sixteen-year-old left tackle O.C. Brown and the struggles of the Manassas High football team. Middlemas and fellow filmmakers Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin met with Coach Bill Courtney and started capturing the challenges and struggles of the players on film.
The project evolved from the story of an individual player to one of the team and the volunteer coaches’ dedication to the futures of the young men. The three producers also became involved in the high school students’ lives while filming at the school. They taught video production to the advanced history class and helped them make their own documentary.
As it turned out, the underdog Tigers had a winning season and their first visit to the playoffs in the school’s 110-year history. Undefeated won the 2012 Oscar for the Best Documentary Feature, making Middlemas the first UT graduate ever to win an Academy Award.
Middlemas has served as a guest lecturer to the College of Communication and Information and the UT Cinema Studies program.
Richard Middlemas
2015 Alumni Promise Award Winner
2015 Alumni Promise Award Winner
