SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Swarthmore College Athletics Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
Alex Schmidt appeared as an extra in the top-rated Netflix movie
Hustle, which released earlier this month and remains the top movie on the streaming platform.
Produced by Adam Sandler and Lebron James, the film stars Sandler as a basketball scout who discovers a talented streetballer Juancho Hernangomez. The film features a lengthy list of past and present NBA figures, such as Julius Erving, Tobias Harris, Anthony Edwards, Kenny Smith and Boban Marjanovic.
"Adam Sandler was one of the hardest working people I've ever seen," said Schmidt. "It was funny to reflect on the different stages of my life and which Adam Sandler movies I was watching throughout those stages, it was surreal to think that this phase of life will be remembered as the time I was in a movie with him."
Schmidt appears in the film as a streetballer named "Big Country," who accepts an open challenge to score against Hernangomez. Sandler overheard one of the extras on set call Schmidt "Big Country" and thought it was funny. So he decided to put it in the movie and have everyone in the crowd chant "Big Country" during the scene.
Schmidt makes his big screen debut at the one hour and 18 minute mark where his character does a modification of Hakeem Olajuwon's famous Dream Shake. Schmidt says he practiced the move in his driveway for an hour each day.
"I was mainly in disbelief when I was on set," said Schmidt. "I was trying to really enjoy the moment for what it was and to not get ahead of myself about what my scene may or may not be, as many scenes in previous movies got cut before the premiere. I remained focused because I knew I was there for work and I had spent a lot of time practicing for my scene."
Schmidt found out about the role through his brother, who discovered the posting on the wall at his Jiu-Jitsu gym. Although he had never auditioned or appeared in a movie before, Schmidt felt like the role was a good fit due to his basketball background.
The 6'9" center played college basketball at Augsburg University, Concordia College Moorhead and Delaware Tech, while he also tried out for the Sixers G-League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats.
Mike Fisher, Nicole Kornet and Oliver Morton were in charge of casting streetballers for the film and decided to give Schmidt the opportunity. Schmidt showed up to street ball rehearsals, where the casting team went through each basketball extra one by one.
"I wouldn't say I was nervous," said Schmidt. "I was amazed at the cameras and everything that goes into a working movie set, but when it came down to my scene, I was able to tune out the cameras. I just focused on the move I'd rehearsed weeks prior and practiced every day prior to film day. It was easy for my scene to feel like second nature because I wasn't acting any lines, I was just playing basketball."
The most special moment of the film for Schmidt was sharing a screen with Sixers legend Allen Iverson. Shortly after his scene, Schmidt appears once more in a montage of highlights while Iverson appears on screen reacting to Hernangomez's dominance.
Growing up as a Philly sports fan and basketball junkie, Schmidt never imagined being in a movie with a Sixers legend. Watching the scene unfold felt unreal for Schmidt.
"When I finally saw the movie, I couldn't believe it," said Schmidt. "I was in a Philly movie playing basketball, and my clip on the screen was split with a Sixers legend! A younger me would not believe the story if you told him. I feel a deeper appreciation for Philadelphia and the role it's played throughout my life in cultivating a love for the game, and the love it has always seemed to give back."
"I had the opportunity in high school to play AAU for Gym Rats as the lone Delaware kid amongst a roster full of south Jersey and Philly kids. It opened a lot of doors for me and instilled an appreciation for Philly culture. Philadelphia is the greatest sports city in the world and it was a privilege to be in a Philly sports movie."
Another special moment for Schmidt was getting the opportunity to share the experience with his family and friends. Schmidt threw a watch party at his house and invited his family and friends over to watch the movie with him.
"Sharing the moment with them was really special," said Schmidt. "A couple of my friends that came were teammates at one point, another used to come to my college games, and it was really special to share that moment with people that helped shape me as a player and person."
