Spirit of the Game, a new feature film opening in theaters throughout Utah on Friday, October 7, tells the amazing true story of Elder Delyle Condie and the incredible impact he and the Mormon Yankees had on the LDS Church in Australia. Spirit of the Game was filmed entirely on location in Australia and based on the book Mormon Yankees: Giants On and Off the Court by Fred Woods. BYU Hall of Fame basketball player Elder Devin Durrant serves as one of the film’s executive producers. Actors Aaron Jakubenko, who plays Elder Condie, and Kevin Sorbo, who plays Condie’s father, Parley Condie, recently sat down to talk about their experiences making the film and the messages they hope the film will convey.

Aaron, how did you land the role of Delyle Condie in Spirit of the Game?

Aaron: Like any other project, I had to go through an audition process. I was still filming another show in Auckland, New Zealand, at the time so when the audition came through, I had to do an audition tape. I didn’t have a tripod, so my camera was sitting on top of a table and I had every book that I had stacked up too. Thankfully it did the job.

After two rounds of tapes like that, I flew back to Melbourne to meet with the team and run through some basketball drills before they gave me the role. And what a fun role it was!

Kevin, how were you cast in the film?

Kevin: I was approached as I am in any project. My manager sent me the script and I loved the story. Simple as that. I give scripts 20 pages and if they hold my attention, as this one did, then count me in!

Aaron and Kevin, had you heard of the Mormon Yankees basketball teams before reading the screenplay?

Aaron: Never! That’s what intrigued me so much about the story. To learn how they helped shape basketball in Australia whilst over there on their missions was pretty amazing.

Kevin: I had never heard this story before. I found it pretty interesting and wanted to be part of it. Of course, the chance to shoot in Melbourne didn’t hurt either!

Aaron, did you know much about Mormons and Mormon missionaries before reading the screenplay?

Aaron: I grew up in a Christian family, so as a child I was surrounded by the LDS Church, but I hadn’t spent any time with Mormons. When I was cast, I dove right into it, read every brochure I could find and went to some local LDS Churches and made friends with some lovely Mormon people. And it was fantastic to have their support with any questions I had along the way.

Kevin, how about you? Did you know much about Mormons and Mormon missionaries before reading the screenplay?

Kevin: Absolutely! I have a number of Mormon friends and am well aware of the missions they go on throughout the world. I’m lucky enough to have a place in Park City. I have had more than 25 years of experience skiing in Utah and have shot five movies in the Salt Lake City area as well.

Aaron, if they don’t know you, viewers of the film will be surprised to learn you are Australian because you nailed the American accent.

Aaron: Oh thank you! Well, I just came from an American show where I'd spent the 6 months working with a US accent. Although it was a completely different character, that helped a lot. I also have a fantastic voice coach, Anna McCrossin-Owen, who I have worked with for years.

Aaron, were you a basketball player before shooting the film?

Aaron: I played a lot when I was younger, but no one on the team had played like this before. In 1956, basketball was a very different game so we had lots of training sessions where we all got together as much as we could before and during filming and learned all the different techniques they had back in the '50s. Higher dribbling, under arm free throws?

It was really bizarre at first but we all had such a great time and it really helped with forming that bond between the cast/team members, which was one of my favorite things about the shoot. All of the missionaries/players became such good friends throughout filming and I felt like that comes across on screen.

Aaron and Kevin, what do you hope the audience takes away from Spirit of the Game?

Aaron: I think it’s a beautiful and inspiring story about fighting for the things you’re passionate about, while not sacrificing your values and who you are to get there. And I think that's incredible. I’ll be so excited if people walk away from this with that little bit more passion for the people and the things they love. And to just enjoy the escape that the journey of this film takes them to.

Kevin: Just that it will bring a little more light to what the Mormons do to spread the word of God to the world. Most people would never take the risks and chances that Mormons do to be so open about their faith.

Don’t miss Spirit of the Game, a moving new feature film that tells the unlikely true story of the Mormon Yankees — a team of dedicated missionaries in 1950s Australia sharing the gospel through basketball. Spirit of the Game — only in theaters beginning Friday, October 7th.

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