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Filming has begun on the documentary which is supposed to trace the unlikely acquisition by “Hollywood” of the National League team Wrexham by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The making of a documentary had been discussed as one of the reasons behind the duo’s decision to take control of the North Wales club, which was supported by fans in November.
Manager Dean Keates revealed that production has begun this week and captain Shaun Pearson said filming has picked up.
“They asked to come and follow me the other day to do a couple of bits,” Pearson said, speaking to Radio Wales Sport on Friday night.
“I was expecting maybe two people to arrive and the next thing I know there are a couple of black vans, three cars and about 10 people pop up, all at my house.
“I think this is something we are not used to as players.
“We’ve had one person with us for a few weeks and this week he has taken a quantum leap with many more TV crews around.
“Now that we see a lot more cameras here, we might see people in their best gear and definitely some new haircuts.”
Far from being a distraction, Pearson says the documentary crew has become so ingrained that they are extended members of the first team circle.
“The main man who is making the documentary, the producer, is almost like part of the group in a sense now and we try to include him in all the fines,” he said.
“He really became part of the team and I think he wants us to win as much as we want to win, which is a pleasure.
“But it’s not that bad and to be honest we didn’t lose until Tuesday night so obviously it helped with a recovery rather than a dip in results.”
Altrincham’s home defeat was Wrexham’s first in six games and the first since the takeover was supported by members of the Supporters Trust.
The club’s efforts to get promoted to the EFL, from which they were demoted in 2008, will undoubtedly be the main focus of the documentary.
But Pearson believes engaging the city and community as part of a larger narrative will also be central to the series.
“We haven’t been told what the line will be – we just know they’re shooting on a daily basis,” Pearson said.
“It won’t be purely football as they are going around the city with different people.
“I guess it will be the football team that will be at the center of that type of thing, rather than just football purely.
“It’s the one thing in the city that brings together more people than anything else and if the football team is doing well, in general the city is doing well behind too.
“Everything gets better with it so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
“The important thing for us as a group of players now is that it becomes another motivation: can we be the group that takes the club?
“Since I have been here, this is what we have desperately wanted to achieve and whether it is now, next year or otherwise, we are desperate to achieve it while I am here.”
Wrexham – the football club and the wider community – have been buoyed by the acquisition and the Reynolds and McElhenney are unlikely to be involved.
News of their interest was announced after an uncertain period for Wrexham and other low-league clubs that had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
After the 2019-20 season was halted in March, Wrexham sacked staff and players and admitted the crisis posed a “threat to the survival” of the club.
“Last season, when the season ended early, we went on leave and all the players suffered pay cuts to help the club survive,” added Pearson.
“Even at the beginning of the season you were a bit worried because we didn’t know if the season would start and if it started, it would be completed.
“People would lie if they said they weren’t worried about how we were going to get our salaries all season.
“But with all of this you’d like to think it’s safer.
“The club officials were good people before and would have done our best anyway. But the circumstances we are in, you never know what could have happened.”
The harsh reality of footballing life in the fifth tier of English football is a world away from the glitz and glamor of Hollywood.
“Your motivation at about this level every year is to get yourself a contract for the next season, be it here or elsewhere,” Pearson added.
“Even before the takeover, to be honest with you at the level you are at you will not improve on this football team.
“But even more so now, with obviously some finances in there and the people you’d like to think of will be motivated and want to do well.”
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