Mike Flynt chatted about being the inspiration for the new Angel Studios movie “The Senior,” starring Emmy winner Michael Chiklis, which will be in theaters on September 19th.
The synopsis is: At 59, Mike Flynt might be too old to play college football—but not too old to settle unfinished business. Nearly 40 years after leaving his team, he returns to his alma mater to face the moment that changed everything.
Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he fights for one last game—not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible.
How did it feel to have a film “The Senior” made on your life?
The term surreal is so overused but that is the best description that I can make about the experience.
We were there for most of the filming and to hear someone being called by your name and watching them do some of the things that you had done in your past, was just fascinating.
What did you like most about this movie?
The movie accurately portrayed my life in that I was not a man of faith in the early years of my life, but that changed (thanks to Eileen) as I got older.
I also loved the fact that my contractual agreement with Wayfarer Studios was honored and there was no foul (offensive) language in my movie.
What was it like working with the cast and crew?
I believe most of the film crew was from Ten Acre Productions out of Austin, Texas…but there were also crews from Los Angeles working on the set as well.
I have worked hard all my life and so I recognize and appreciate hard work, and the whole crew was just amazing!
I was so impressed with their work ethic and the quality of work that they did.
Frankly, I was pretty amazed by their accomplishments…and they took such great pride in their work! They really cared about the quality of their work. They were a blessing!
Can you tell me about the role that your faith has played in your life?
Eileen used to talk to me about church camps and trips when she was young, and it used to be that when I would hear a certain song or hymn being sung in church.
I would ask her if that was a really old hymn, because she would know all the words and I had never heard the hymn before.
So, after I accepted Christ as my Savior, I began to think back on all that I had missed out on in my relationship with Christ, throughout my young life, and how different my life might have been had I had someone that made it a priority to see that I was in a Bible believing church learning about Christ.
I guess that’s one of the places where Romans 8:28 comes into play. My life before and after Jesus is such a contrast. I was a good person but I was so lost and had no idea that I was lost.
For many years now my relationship with Christ has grown and continues to grow as I truly seek each day to walk in a manner worthy of Him.
What did this screenplay teach you about yourself?
I have learned over the decades in my walk with Christ, that pride is the devil’s workshop.
Sure, I lived my life but to make it into a commercial enterprise then I needed to get out of the way and allow the professionals to offer something to the public that was entertaining, inspirational, encouraging and timeless… for children, men, and women… people of all ages.
There are so many areas that I am so limited in and I just needed to step back and allow the professionals to tell my story.
Even though you say to yourself that you will never quit on something or someone that you believe in…it’s great to see that reinforced in a major motion picture, telling your life story.
What does the word success mean to you?
Throughout our lives we make thousands of choices. I have told young people for years that they need to understand the power of their choices, because not even God will intervene in their choices, unless they ask Him to. It’s called free will.
At age 77, I have a lifetime of memories based on choices that I have made.
My advice to others is to boil those choices down to two paths they can take…”am I going to be good or am I going to be great?” Being good will get you through life and you will be content with where you are and who you are, but more than likely, nothing more.
When you make the choice to be great then you enter into a realm of unlimited possibilities! And this choice (as previously stated) is made many, many times every day.
Am I going to be good in my relationships (Mother, Father, sister, brother, friend, husband, wife, neighbor) or am I going to be great? Am I going to be a good student or a great student…employee, employer and the list goes on and on. But it is the cumulative effect that the choices to be great (or good) have on your life.
There are no standards to measure yourself by, no score that you need to accomplish…this is about each of us as individuals living our private lives and making this decision (Am I going to be good at this or am I going to be great?) over and over again each day, in all those minor or major situations.
Success to me is looking back on my life and knowing that I made a lot more choices to be great that I did to settle for just being good.
What would you like to tell our readers about “The Senior”? (What’ the one thing you want them to get out of it)
It is very difficult to take a rifle shot and narrow this down to one thing… but I believe that it is so important for individuals that see my movie, to do all that they can to overcome the regrets that they have in life. We cannot change the past but we can change the meaning of the past.
I knew that I couldn’t go back 37 years and do anything about those young guys I let down all those years ago, but I felt like if I could help a bunch of young guys today, then for me it somehow made up for those guys I let down all those years ago.
So, do something today to make up for that mistake (regret) that you have from the past.
Thank God that He knows your heart and your motives in why you are doing what you are doing, and then trust Him to give you peace about what you are doing and ask Him to bless your efforts to do it and honor Him.
