Podtalk: Screenwriter Alex Convery Reaches Rarified ‘Air’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 29, 2023 - 10:48am

CHICAGO – The “Black List” of Hollywood means something totally different in the current vernacular. This list contains the un-produced screenplays of the highest quality, either optioned and not sold or in turnaround from an attempt to produce. One of those screenplays on the List was “Air Jordan” by Chicagoland native Alex Convery. Once eventual director Ben Affleck got involved, the finished film became “Air.”

“Air” features Affleck collaborator Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a basketball guru who is essentially an evaluator for which college player will represent the Nike basketball shoe once they go pro. The year is 1984, and Nike is a sluggish 17th in the athletic shoe market, with Founder Phil Knight (Affleck) having cash flow issues with his newly public company and with just have enough money for one more roll of the dice … to get basketball phenom Michael Jordan to sign with the Nike basketball. Sonny takes a risk and goes straight to the source … Michael’s mother Deloris (Viola Davis), and soon history will be made. Alex Convery wrote the story of the film.

Screenwriter Alex Convery of ‘Air’ (inset)
Photo credit: Twitter @AlexConvery

Alex Convery is a Chicagoland native who went to USC Film School, and had written (as he describes in the Podtalk) seven screenplays since graduation, one of which was “Air.” How he got it produced is part of the story he tells below …

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, screenwriter Alex Convery describes the journey of “Air” …

Trailer for “Air” …

CLICK HERE to listen to the 4.5/5 review of “Air” by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com.

”Air” is currently in theaters, since April 5th. Featuring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis. Written by Alex Convery. Directed by Ben Affleck. Rated “R”