5-time Emmy Award Winning Director/Producer, Nick Nanton has created a new documentary feature film Presented by Real Heroes and DNA Films/Dicks+Nanton Productions, titled, ‘Rudy Ruettiger – The Walk On.’
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the 1993 film, ‘Rudy’, this new documentary by Nick Nanton takes a closer look at the real Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger. The film catches up with “Rudy” today, as he describes his faithful journey of following his dream to play football at the University of Notre Dame. It also details Rudy’s challenges in later writing his inspirational true-life story, and the process he took to having it made into a major motion picture. ‘Rudy Ruettiger – The Walk On’ also features interviews with a variety of people – both famous and unknown – that were touched, or, inspired by Rudy’s true-life story in a way that changed their own outlook on life, or, how they were motivated to pursue their own dreams. One of those featured in this new film is me, Thomas Lowrey (at the time), a 14-year-old drummer from Orange County, California. This is my own ‘Rudy’ story…
Have you seen the movie ‘Rudy’ yet? I can assure you that it is not what I expected! People that don’t know, assume that it is a football movie, but it is not. In fact, Rudy Ruettiger himself told me that the film ‘Rudy’ is a love story. I really like that description, because you can feel it after the movie ends. ‘Rudy’ was a boy that was a very poor student because he suffered from Dyslexia, that dreamed of playing football at the University of Notre Dame, even though he was only 5’6, 165 pounds. ‘Rudy’ is without a doubt one of the most inspirational films ever made! I saw the movie several times as a young musician and athlete, and it really put me in a great place, mentally. Watching that movie is uplifting and I feel it helped me believe in myself! If you ever need to get fired up for the big game, the big show or anything that is challenging – watch ‘Rudy’ and get inspired!
The reality is that ‘Rudy’ inspires so many people in the world. To this day, thousands of people have taken tours at the University of Notre Dame. And do you know what the majority of folks in tour groups walking around that campus ask about? They ask about Rudy! I know, I was there…
A couple of years ago, I attended the Notre Dame summer Ice Hockey Camp on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. I had been playing ice hockey since I started skating when I was 3 years old, and was playing Pee Wee ‘A’ travel team hockey at the time when my parents gifted me the trip to attend the Notre Dame hockey summer camp with one of my teammates from Orange County Hockey Club, Liam Kerrigan. I was totally pumped up and ready to go! Aside from playing ice hockey on the Irish ice, I couldn’t wait to walk around the campus, just like Rudy did in the movie and see what that would feel like. I had to visit the grotto and see the golden dome and “Touch Down Jesus!” I wanted to be there!
My parents and I agreed that you could feel a spirituality that comes over you when you are on the campus of Notre Dame. It was an awesome feeling, but hard to describe. When we later talked with Rudy about that feeling, he knew exactly what we were talking about. He said he still gets that feeling so many years later.
When we checked in for the camp, it just happened that one of my ice hockey camp mates was Danny Ruettiger, the son of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger. As a result of that lucky timing, I was fortunate to have met the real Rudy (not the actor, Sean Astin who played Rudy in the movie), while I was at Notre Dame! How awesome is that! After ice times each day, I would take a few minutes to speak with my parents, and I got to know Rudy. He and I talked about life, and of course, how much I loved his movie. Rudy asked me, “what was the message of the film?” I told him that the message was to “believe in yourself, and to work hard… and anything can happen. Dreams can come true!” Rudy told me to “Believe in your dreams” and to remember, “it is always too soon to quit!”
Rudy actually asked about me. He sincerely wanted to know if playing ice hockey was part of my dream. I told Rudy that hockey was a fun hobby, but my real passion was playing the drums! He loved that, and he wanted to know more about my drum story. It turns out that Rudy loves music, and he told me the story of how he actually met and spoke with Elvis Presley once when Elvis came to play a show at Notre Dame! Rudy was a football player, and on the Notre Dame Boxing team. He worked Security for the Elvis gig there and that is how he met the King of Rock ‘n Roll!
Rudy also asked me about the steps I was taking to help make my dream come true. I told him about my journey with music and the drums and what I had already accomplished behind the drums. Rudy was impressed that I had a dream and a goal already at such a young age. He spoke about how you “have to go for it yourself, that no one will give you anything. You have to want it, and you have to work for it!” Just talking with Rudy over that week at camp truly inspired me! He really has a gift of motivating people. I did not know when we met that he works now as a motivational speaker!
I also saw how nice Rudy is to everyone, from the Head Ice Hockey Coach, to the guy that drove the Zamboni, to the janitor, he treats everyone with respect and kindness. He said, “Thomas, treat everyone you meet with respect. You will see the same people on the way up, that you will see on the way down.” One of the most special things I got to see was watching Rudy speak with people, that really never knew who they were talking to. They just assumed he was a nice guy that likes to talk! It was an awesome week, and the Irish hockey camp was something I will never forget.
Rudy stayed in touch with my family and I after we left Notre Dame. About one year later, Rudy told my parents about the documentary film, and asked me to be a part of it! He didn’t want the focus in the film to just be about football. He knows that people have dreams and goals in every walk of life, every school, or, profession. And he thought my drum story and my dream to be a professional drummer may inspire other young people to follow their own dream, just like Rudy did at Notre Dame. I was so excited to have been asked. This film would be a first for me!
Photo above: Here’s Rudy talking about the documentary film at lunch with my sister, Kylie and our family. He brought the hats for us!
Months later, on the day of the filming, Rudy called me during the car ride to Los Angeles. He asked me if I was nervous? I told him I was excited, but not nervous. Rudy said, “Believe in the dream, Thomas!” What an honor to have been asked to be a part of this film!
Do you want to know something crazy: The filming for the Rudy documentary was part of three days in a row of awesomeness! I filmed my part for the Rudy movie, and then the next day I recorded the Van Halen Sunset Sound show “Produce Like a Pro” with Warren Huart. And the day after that I played a live show with Oingo Boingo Dance Party at the Coach House. And this happened two weeks after I turned 14 years old, and was still in the 8th grade! I’d love to have as many weeks like that one for the rest of my life!
Photo above: Filming my scene with Director, Nick Nanton for his documentary film, Rudy Ruettiger – The Walk On
I met with Director Nick Nanton, and his film crew for ‘Rudy Ruettiger – The Walk On’ in Los Angeles about 2 weeks after I turned 14 years old for the filming. In my interview for the film there was no script. The Director, Nick Nanton just talked with me about Rudy while the camera rolled. I spoke about how Rudy inspired me, and inspires so many people to believe in their dreams. In the film I said, “If you don’t have a Rudy in your life, you need to get one.” I meant that you should surround yourself with positive people. People that will support you, and help you on your own personal journey.
Photo above: From the book adapted from the film. You can read the transcript of what I said in the film in this book. Remember, there was no script for the film, this just came from the heart.
The film was released on Amazon Prime when I was starting my Freshman Year at Orange County School of the Arts. I am humbled and honored to be part of this inspiring new film. I am proud to be able to call ‘Rudy’ my friend. I hope that by being a part of this film project that I am in some way representing the next generation of kids that have a passion, and are following their own dream – and have been inspired by Rudy’s story.
Photo above: I was unable to attend the movie premiere because I was in Tech Week dress rehearsal for a live show with Orange County School of the Arts. So, my dad attended for me at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California. Here they are after the movie premier.
Photo above: The documentary film, Rudy Ruettiger – The Walk On subsequently won a 2018 Suncoast Regional Emmy Award for DNA Films, and Nick Nanton. Rudy sent me this photo!
If you want to learn more about Rudy, please read his autobiography, ‘Rudy – My Story’. There is so much more that happened to Rudy that was not in the movie! Also check out Rudy’s website rudyinternational.com for information about his motivational speaking shows!
Thanks “Coach” – Thomas Lowrey
Here are some words from Rudy & Nick Nanton:
“Thomas is a talented drummer, and has a unique ear for the rhythm and sound of music! -Very Gifted! And besides being a great drummer, Thomas is a great young gentleman that speaks to our youth through hard work and belief! Hey Thomas, don’t abandon your feeling for the dream!” – Rudy Ruettiger
“It was great to have Thomas’ perspective on Rudy. The movie is 25 years old this year, but it is still every bit as relevant today. I love how Thomas used Rudy’s message to inspire him to continue fighting for his dream to play drums, and I hope Thomas in turn inspires many others to fight for theirs too.” – Nick Nanton, Director, ‘Rudy Ruettiger – The Walk On’
Photo above: Post Script – One day Rudy stopped by the drum studio to say hello to the family. He is wearing a thomasondrums T-shirt and trying out my drums! How cool is that! Thanks “Coach” (if you didn’t know it, Rudy calls everyone “Coach”).
