From the Stevens Point Journal April 1, 2003:

Coming soon to a theater near you - Trivia: The Movie?

By Paul Chronis
Journal staff

Might the 2005 Trivia movie be about Trivia? A cinematographer is trying to put together an independent film documentary about what is billed as the world's largest trivia contest.

Patrick Cady, is best-known for his work on the award-winning indie film "Girlfight," which chronicles the journey of a female boxer. Cady is trying to assemble the Trivia project for a possible debut at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, according to Trivia organizer Jim Oliva.

The film, which has a working title of "Trivia USA," plans to give a behind-the-scenes look at Trivia. Now in its 34th year, the event drew more than 400 teams and 11,000 players in 2002. The contest is a fund-raiser for WWSP-FM, the campus radio station at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

"There's never been really anything that's been able to crystallize everything that is Trivia," said co-organizer John Eckendorf. "When you talk to somebody who hasn't played, they don't get it, but once they play and they answer a question, they're hooked. If the movie can portray that - if it can capture that - it will be a success."

Cady, whose wife is from Wisconsin, began filming bits and pieces of Trivia in 2001 and came back last year for more footage. He and a film crew are due back in Stevens Point next week to put more of the contest on film to show potential financiers, Oliva said.

If Cady can secure financing - a decision is expected later this year - filming would take place during next year's contest. Cady has rounded up eight film crews for the project.

"If he can come up with $150,000 to $300,000, this thing may go," Oliva said. The project also has attracted the attention of an executive producer from the VH-1 cable TV music channel, which has helped Cady promote the project to potential financiers, he added.

It's also possible that "Trivia USA" could be completed in time to be shown around the time of the 2005 Trivia contest, Oliva said.

In addition to "Girlfight," which won the director's and grand jury awards at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival, Cady completed the cinematography on the 2002 indie film "Sunshine State," with Angela Bassett, Edie Falco and Timothy Hutton, and the recent Comedy Central original cable television movie, "Porn 'n Chicken."

Chronis can be reached at 344-6100, Ext. 2512, or at paul.chronis@cwnews.net.