After Dawson’s Creek became a hit on The WB, Varsity Blues made James Van Der Beek a movie star. But it was already filming when Dawson’s Creek began. Some fans found Van Der Beer on location in Austin, Texas.
“All the girls are amazed by him,” Ali Larter remembers in an on set interview featured on the Blu-ray Disc included in the 4K UHD. “In LA people aren’t really that starstruck. The little girls are squirming and we had to leave a restaurant once.”
Co-star Amy Smart added, We went out one night when we all first met each other. By two hours into the night, there was 15 girls surrounding him just in awe of him, partly drunk. So smiley, just so excited to see a famous star in Austin, TX.”
Director Brian Robbins confirmed Van Der Beer had to audition “like everybody else. As we were making the movie, his show blew up.”
On the set, Van Der Beek reflected on his football star character.
“I probably couldn’t have been any more different than Mox in high school,” Van Der Geek said. “Number one, my high school didn’t have a football team so I played baseball. I tried soccer for a year after a growth spurt, my feet had grown 3 sizes, disaster. Also in high school I started doing theater so I was more into that crowd than anything. I think I bring some of that to Mox because Mox is definitely not the typical jock.”
The 4K really captures the deep night sky above night games. The cuts from home to visitor sides make the colors distinct, seas of blue vs. seas of red, et. Al.
During the day, the bright Texas sun shines on the blue uniforms and green fields.
Grain is visible during the day. God, the ‘90s were great, shooting teen movies with class. Surround sound also brings the game crowd into your living room.