Private Project

Noontime Legends (Director's Cut) - Part 1

A dedicated group of aging basketball playing enthusiasts have been gathering to play full-court 5 on 5 twice a week for closing in on 20 years. They've experienced the exuberance of deep camaraderie and the sadness of deep loss. This film by Paul Ingles (one of the players) is part documentary, part fantasy treatment - exploring what it might look like if the media actually treated the players like the legends they are in their own minds. (Director's Cut) - Part 1.

  • Paul Ingles
    Director
    The Weeds in Our Own Backyards, A Soldier's Passage
  • Paul Ingles
    Writer
    The Weeds in Our Own Backyards, A Soldier's Passage
  • Paul Ingles
    Producer
    The Weeds in Our Own Backyards, A Soldier's Passage
  • Paul Ingles
    Key Cast
    "Paul Ingles"
    The Weeds in Our Own Backyards, A Soldier's Passage
  • Tim Nenninger
    Key Cast
    "Tim Nenninger"
  • Steve Martin
    Key Cast
    "Steve Martin"
  • Lou Tilley
    Key Cast
    "Lou Tilley"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Paul Ingles

Paul has been in broadcasting since 1975 and has experience as a producer, news and sports reporter, recording engineer, editor, on-air personality, consultant, trainer and manager. More recently Paul has been training as an actor and doing independent filmmaking.

Paul has worked at radio and television stations in North Carolina, Washington, DC, Ohio and New Mexico. More recently, as an independent radio producer, he has filed reports for NPR as well as numerous other public radio programs.

He has produced radio programs on music, popular culture, literature, media literacy and other topics that have been distributed either by NPR, PRI or independently to public radio stations around the world. His programs include a series of well-received specials on the history of The Beatles as well as documentaries on Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin and others. Paul is also the producer of the Peace Talks Radio series.

Paul is president of both Good Radio Shows, Inc.(a 501(c)(3) non-profit) and Cedar Creek Studios, Inc.

Paul was also under contract with NPR for 11 years as its Liaison to Independent Producers. Producers are encouraged to contact him with any and all questions about maneuvering through the public radio universe as an independent.

Paul's radio awards include the 2003 Edward R. Murrow Award from the RTNDA for Best Use of Sound in a piece produced for NPR's Living on Earth. He has also won two NFCB Golden Reels for his feature and news reporting for NPR, in addition to many Silver Reel and Special Merit Awards from NFCB. He won 4 awards in the 2008 New York Festivals Competition.

His chief projects now are long-form music documentaries that have been aired by scores of stations across the country and the public affairs series called PEACE TALKS RADIO which presents conversations about peacemaking history and nonviolent conflict resolution strategies for daily life.

The acting bug bit him around 2010 and he stated taking performance classes at Albuquerque’s Sol Acting Academy. In 2016, he released a film short which he wrote, directed and starred in called THE WEEDS IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS that won notice at several film festivals.

His first feature-length film, A SOLDIER’S PASSAGE (2019), based on the passing of Paul's father in 2016 won notice at several film festivals in 2019 and 2020.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

UNM’S LONGTIME NOONTIME HOOPSTERS HAVE THEIR STORY TOLD ON FILM

Wander through the University of New Mexico Johnson Center gymnasiums at noontime in the last 15, 25, or 40 years, and you will have probably seen some not-too-young men and (sometimes) women playing basketball - even though it might seem on the surface that they maybe all should have retired from the game long ago. Since about 2004, this game for older players, all UNM Faculty or Staff members, has been an organized Tuesday/Thursday operation called “THE NOONTIME LEGENDS” and has drawn a loyal troupe of 25 to 30 players between the ages of 26 to 70 for all these years.

One of the “Legends” is Paul Ingles (63 years old), who is also a filmmaker. Since 2006, Paul has occasionally been filming The Legends and has created a full-length documentary of the history and magic of the group.

“It’s remarkable enough that such a broad range of ages are able to gather and execute fast-paced, full-court, competitive basketball games,” says Ingles, “but it’s also that the group consists of such a broad range of workers from all corners of the campus community. We have plumbers, electricians, professors, researchers, librarians, accountants, University VP’s and representatives of most every ethnicity you can think of.”

“And we all care deeply about each other and about making a steady, successful perpetual series of games going,” adds Ingles.

The group has also weathered the loss of two beloved players who died violent deaths over the years. UNM English Professor Hector Torres was murdered in 2010. Five years later, UNM Electrician Daniel Sanchez was killed when his motorcycle was hit by a drunk driver.

“Since losing Daniel and Hector,” says Ingles in the film, “it’s really changed how I feel about this group. Frankly when I DO see them, twice a week, I kinda want to put my arms around them and give them the biggest hug possible.”

Ingles also says he hopes his film goes deeper than the obvious points of fun, fitness and fraternity in Noontime Legend gatherings. He did in-depth interviews with 25 of the players to explore, what he calls, the “zen” of the game and this group.

“I do think that basketball is one of those workshops for life,” says UNM sociology professor Richard Wood (59 years old), “because it’s complex, because it involves other people.
Because you have to make choices in the moment. Not just about basketball but about how you’re going to relate to this guy who just fouled you...”

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing with The Legends. And issues like over-competitive, rough and argumentative play are dealt with in the film.

Ingles says there’s a bit of a surprise “big finish” to the documentary that bends the film into what he calls “a bit of a docu-fantasy. It’s fun. These Legends finally get to be presented like the legends they are in their own minds.”