Time spent with Gale L. Fitzgerald
Words by Shelby Jones

While making my way to meet Gale L. Fitzgerald, the car passed by so many LA visions that I had a hard time focusing on what my questions would be for the former Olympic Silver Medallist now turned film producer. The weather was crazy nice so the song LA Woman kept dancing in my head along with that Obie Trice/G-Unit remix....I think the weather back east was cold so I smiled with a lil' laughter that I wasn't in that crap but I was on my way to meet with a great woman who is making major moves in film and entertainment. When we arrived, I was actually on-time, truly shocking. Already, Gale L. Fitzgerald was inspiring and improving me - it gets better.

When I arrived in Gale's office, which was busy with phones ringing and people hustling back and forth, the pace provided me with an extra boost for the interview. As I approached Gale, I was very impressed with her whole flow. Extremely passionate and calm at the same time is what I instantly felt. That's a hard combination to maintain. So we walk into her office and BAM, the window office view was breathtaking. One can see all of LA in its sprawling beauty and mind-healing sky. Aiiiight, let's rap.

SJJ - Gale, it is really a pleasure to meet you. This office is incredible. So how did a Jersey girl make it from Jersey to this amazing situation in Hollywood? Not to mention, the window office with a view from the top - I need one of these.

[laughter]

GALE - Well, I went to the public schools in Jersey, got a B.A. and Masters Degree from Montclair State College in Jersey and then I spent a year in Texas working on my PHD. Denton, TX was one of the worst ten months of my life. A real culture shock. Then I was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team in Munich, Germany and 76' in Montreal, Canada. And I won a Silver Medal in the Pan-American Games in Mexico City in 1975.

SJJ - Damn. You were busy.

[laughter]

GALE - Yes, I have been blessed to travel all around the world and came to LA in 1978 to train for the 1980 games but President Carter boycotted the games in Moscow that year. So I was like I am finally here in California so what do I do with my life? I taught at the university level but during that time, property taxes were lowered in California so income at the university level was bleak. In order to survive, I had to teach, and coach which became difficult driving all around the freeways and all that. So, I got an insurance license, sold life insurance for ten years, and then became an investment broker. Selling other peoples deals and finally I am getting a chance to sell my own deal. I have always wanted to make movies so seven years ago I made that decision. A year ago, I walked into this office as an investment broker for Film Star Releasing and in my second month, I found a company named Global Media that brought to us $500,000,000 dollars in pre-paid advertising credits.

SJJ - Ok, now that is real. Five Hundred Million. Whooo.

GALE - Yeah. I got promoted to a producer. Film Star had a three-year revolving print and advertising deal with Miracle Entertainment. So, they gave me three months to raise $1.5 Million for a movie called Tournament of Dreams. It's in post right now and might be distributed through Lions Gate. It's about an inner city women's basketball team and their trials and tribulations on and off the court. But what I did was instead of raising $1.5 Mill in three months; I raised $4.5 Million in one week. So now, I am the President of Sunset Hill Productions and my partner Jon Gentile of Film Star Releasing is the distribution company. We are in the beginning stages of producing and distributing our own movies.

SJJ - Wow. How did How To Catch a Gangster come to being that first film?

GALE - HTCAG is Jon's original idea but we are going to produce it through Sunset Hill and distribute it
through Jon's company, Film Star Releasing. This is our first project we are doing on our own.

SJJ - Being and Olympic athlete is an incredible accomplishment. What has it done for your life/career?

GALE - I was an Olympic Pentathlete but basketball was my number one love. Rucker Park and all that.

SJJ - Str8 ballin, hey?

GALE - Yeah. It allowed me to get my masters degree and travel the world. It has been a blessing. It has opened so many doors for me. Whenever I place that on my resume, for any job, it has always delivered a yes. Sometimes it is even harder to make the Olympic Team than the actual Olympics. So when I speak to young people, I always tell them, dream your dreams, set your goals and your will achieve it.

SJJ - Citius, Altius, Fortius....(faster, higher, stronger). That is the Olympic creed for the athletes, right?

GALE - Yes. [smile] It was phenomenal and because of that, I felt like I could do anything. I was representing myself, my family, my country. It was such an honor and I carry that experience with me forever.

SJJ - During your time in sports, you clearly were absorbing movies to fuel your passion for film. What are some of your favorites?

GALE - The Color Purple. That film held such strong passion. And for people of color it allowed us to see the past, future and present. I loved The Bodyguard.

[laughter]

SJJ - The Bodyguard? (hey, I was perplexed by that answer)

GALE - I just loved Whitney in the movie. She's so beautiful and the concept of having a bodyguard one day and a limo...[laughter]...well, I love sports type movies as well and of course The Godfather and films where our people have a chance to do their craft.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR PART TWO with THE ATHLETE, THE PRODUCER and THE SPIRIT