Starting on Thursday, the Marcus Point Theatres will be airing the documentary ‘A Road At Night’, a powerful film about former Wisconsin Badgers player and coach Howard Moore and his family, for the next
week through February 19th.
The 73-minute documentary directed by renowned John Roach focuses on the story of Moore and his family and a tragic night on a Michigan highway in May of 2019. Earlier this week, head coach Greg Gard had a powerful message about the documentary, Moore and his family, and the importance of showing.
“We live in such a fast news cycle, 24-hour news cycle. Within 10 hours or so, they’ll forget about who we played yesterday,” Gard said to reporters on Wednesday. “But that tragedy can’t get lost in yesterday’s news cycle. And I think everyone around Howard and specifically the circle of people that have really helped push on this documentary with the intent that it— we don’t want to let this story die. And that’s not because it’s a horrific story and you want to keep telling bad things, but it’s also a reminder of what real life can be like, and it gives you some perspective.
“And obviously, John Roach did a great job of putting together the documentary. It is very emotional. It was emotional filming it when he interviewed me for it. It was emotional for me watching it. And every time I’ve watched it, it just takes you back to a time that seems surreal. How the hell can something this bad happen to this family and to somebody so outgoing and so helpful to other people that has done so much for other people? So I think what the intent was, obviously, for everybody that can get out there and see that. I know it unveils tomorrow night at Marcus Point Theater and the panels that will go on. I’ll be on the panel tomorrow night. I’ll be a little busy Friday night. But other people, I know Stan Van Gundy’s coming in to be on one. I know some former players are going to be up there. I think Jerrell’s going to be there at some point in time.
“The proceeds obviously will help the Howard Moore family and help Howard with his ongoing care, which is, it’s pretty consistent full-time care that he needs. And, the responsibility and burdens that’s put on Howard Sr. and Trennis to care for their son and raise their grandson. It just— just things like you start thinking about and replaying the actual event and all the things that happened because of the event and how people’s lives were forever changed. Obviously, you have Jaidyn and Jennifer, that lives were lost. But, and that, I said, that forever changing of lives didn’t stop in May of 2019 or in June 2019 when he had his heart attack. That’s ongoing every day.
“I get somewhat removed from it because not that you don’t think about him because our offices are named after the Moore family, and I see it every day, but you get so caught up in today’s world and that you lose sight of, holy, holy, that really happened. I mean, and I remember going through it at that, it was like I was in a bad dream. Like, when are you gonna wake up from this? Day after day. And you know, that early morning phone call that I got and then the flight to Michigan and then everything that transpired from that, and then the day that we found out he was being rushed to UW Hospital with a heart attack, was like, ‘this can’t be real.’ This can’t be— something this tragic doesn’t happen to people, right? This is, this is something you see in a movie that’s made up by Steven Spielberg or something. Like, life isn’t this bad.
“And, and it was, and it is, but that family is as courageous and as strong as any people I’ve ever met on earth. And they’ve, they’ve tried to take what was such a horrific, horrendous event and time in their lives and tried to in any way possible spin it to a positive to help others. And it’s a great lesson for all of us. So hopefully people can get out, all you viewers and listeners out there, you can get out there, obviously, the 13th through the 19th. And hopefully the attendance and turnout are so good that Marcus will decide to extend, run it longer. And that would be awesome because that would be more beneficial for ultimately the— for Howard and his family.”
You can buy tickets for the showings and donate to the cause at aroadatnight.com. Get tickets for the public premiere and benefit on Thursday, Feb. 12, including a meet-and-greet with former players, coaches, and Howard Moore’s family. Featuring special screening events with Filmmakers on Feb. 13, Wisconsin Badgers on Feb. 14, and Faith Discussion on Feb. 15.
