Exclusive Interview: Jeff Celentano Discusses ‘The Hill,’ the Seventeen-Year Journey Bringing Rickey Hill’s Story to Life, and More

Director Jeff Celentano’s latest film, The Hill, is knocking it out of the park with both audiences and critics alike. Based on a true story, The Hill recounts the remarkable real-life journey of Rickey Hill’s improbable path to Major League Baseball—a tale of resilience, perseverance, and faith. This sports drama features stellar performances from Dennis Quaid and Colin Ford and is currently streaming digitally. Pop Culturalist recently caught up with Jeff for an insightful conversation about The Hill, its triumphant reception, and what lies ahead for this dynamic filmmaker.

PC: The script came to you in an unconventional way. How did those early conversations with Rickey ultimately lead you to directing this film? What was that collaboration like as you brought this inspiring story to the screen?
Jeff: When I met Rickey for the first time, we instantly connected. We felt comfortable with each other, and I conveyed all the elements that made him trust me to tell his story. Subsequently, I flew to Dallas, Texas, and presented Rickey and his financial partner with a reel I had assembled to illustrate the look and feel of the movie. It left them astounded; no one had ever done something like that before. I provided them with everything, right down to how the score would sound. Following that, they had no reason to doubt that I was the perfect director for Rickey’s story.

Regarding the collaboration between Rickey and me, he shared a lot about his life story, which further fueled my excitement, in addition to the existing script he had. I found that the initial draft of the script leaned more towards a Hallmark movie, whereas I envisioned it as a grand, sweeping, epic inspirational feature film akin to Field of Dreams. At that juncture, I embarked on a quest to find the most exceptional writer I could, ultimately securing the renowned Angelo Pizzo, famed for Hoosiers and Rudy, as our screenwriter.

PC: You’re a multifaceted storyteller. Have you found that your experience as an actor has influenced the way you direct, write, and produce, and vice versa? How have they complemented each other?
Jeff: Well, it’s the most powerful tool I use in my arsenal to direct a movie. I was trained by the great acting teachers Sanford Meisner and the legendary Stella Adler. They both taught me a great deal about the technique of breaking down a script and telling a story from an acting standpoint, which I apply in all my work today. This, combined with my experience working with Robert Altman and my years of experience on sets as an actor, helped me hone my skills and understand how to run a crew smoothly and effectively.

One of the biggest advantages of being an actor with professional training is when you communicate with a star as their director, you know how to speak their language. This often translates into them saying, “Yes, I want to work with you.” Most directors lack knowledge about acting, especially the craft and technique involved in a performance.

PC: Rickey has encountered significant adversity throughout his life, which is prominently featured in the film. As the director, how do you create the space for your actors to navigate that emotional journey? What was it like collaborating with Colin Ford and Dennis Quaid, and fostering an environment where they could experiment and explore?
Jeff: I’m a very loose director in the sense that I allow the actors to enter the set, find their places, rehearse a bit, and feel out the scene and where they want to be. Then, I’ll discuss with them their performance and what I believe the scene requires. Robert Altman once told me, “Just hire great actors and then sit back and watch.” So, that’s pretty much what I do. It sounds funny, but he’s right.

Dennis Quaid is a total professional and very easy to work with. He loved his part and understood it immensely, so I didn’t have a lot of work to do with him. We tested each other in the beginning, and after that, he really trusted me.

Colin Ford also implicitly trusted me. I had hired him six years prior, and Dennis was there to assist me in casting. So, when we had the film up and running six years later in 2021, I cast him again, and I think that established a trust that wouldn’t normally have been there.

The thing about working with actors is they must feel like you understand their language, and they have to trust you completely because truthfully, their career is in your hands.

PC: With the film now released, was there a particular scene that you were excited for audiences to see?
Jeff: There are a few. [laughs] One of them is the scene when Dennis’ character must punish his son Robert for lying to him. Dennis breaks down during the scene, which wasn’t supposed to happen. It was so pure and beautiful, and Dennis said he remembered his father in that moment, and all this emotion flooded back to him.

Then there’s a scene in the church when young Rickey tells his father he wants to play baseball but also wants to be part of the church. He can’t do one without the other. It’s very touching and funny at the same time.

The third scene I absolutely love is the one where the family’s car breaks down on the side of the road, and it starts raining. Despite everything appearing to go wrong, the whole family comes together and laughs about the unfortunate circumstances. Adversity in the face of tragedy. It’s extremely touching and funny.

Finally, Dennis’s confession at the pulpit at the end of the film, where he confesses to his congregation that he’s been a terrible father and breaks down. It’s just heartbreaking and very powerful. It’s a beautiful performance from Dennis.

PC: This project has been seventeen years in the making. What has it meant to you to see the response that it’s received?
Jeff: It feels incredible. It’s a feeling like I’ve never experienced before. Honestly, the power this film has and what it’s done to people emotionally has made all the effort worth it. It sounds so cliché, but it’s true when you have people coming up to you after a screening, crying their eyes out and hugging you. It’s indescribable to have moved people in that way. Then, they tell you that their autistic son had no purpose before, and now, after seeing my film, they feel like they can do anything. That’s just overwhelming. I’m getting emotional just recalling that moment.

PC: Outside of The Hill, what’s next for you?
Jeff: I have several films in various stages of production. One is a beautiful film about a legendary horse race across 1,200 miles of America called The Glory. It’s a very powerful and inspiring love story.

I’m also working on a film called The Caterpillar about a young boy who loses his mother on Halloween night in a horrible accident. The boy, only eight years old, and his father have never been close. The next morning, the boy refuses to take off his caterpillar outfit, and you don’t know why. He continues to wear it, and it’s only at the end that he reveals the heartbreaking reason behind it. The story follows the father’s journey as he navigates this situation and strives to get closer to his son. It’s a very emotional and inspirational story with a happy ending, akin to movies like Wonder or Kramer vs. Kramer.

I’m deeply drawn to inspirational stories with conflict and struggle that ultimately uplift and inspire audiences, much like The Hill has done. Onward and upward. I aim to create more films that resonate with people and have a positive impact on their lives, perhaps even surpassing the success of The Hill. That’s my goal.

To keep up with Jeff, follow him on Instagram. Watch The Hill wherever you stream movies.