Pinedale man’s movie about Roberto Clemente is up for Emmy award

A sports documentary nominated for a 2026 Sports Emmy Award on a Hall of Fame baseball player had help from LeBron James and an attorney from Pinedale, Wyoming. “Clemente,” a film that debuted in September on the History Channel as well as in theaters, chronicles the life and legacy of Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Roberto Clemente. He was much more than one of the most accomplished baseball players of all time, ending his career with 3,000 hits, a .317 lifetime batting average, 12 straight Gold Glove Awards and 15 All-Star selections. Off the field, he was a champion for the downtrodden, holding clinics for children and fighting racial injustice in 1960s America. He died tragically in a 1972 plane crash while on his way to help Nicaraguan survivors of an earthquake.

John Scanlon, a former Washington, D.C.-based attorney who moved to Pinedale to join his family’s business, was a producer on the 1-hour, 41-minute project. “There are a lot of films out there, a lot of sports documentaries,” he said. “I think for us, obviously, this nomination is huge. I think the thing that speaks to everybody of any generation is that he was so much more than his career in baseball.” The film is competing in the Outstanding Long Sports Documentary category.

Scanlon is no stranger to the film industry, having helped produce the 2024 theatrical movie “Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.” He was invited by David Altrogee, the documentary’s director and writer, to become part of the project. “He called me about this project and said, ‘Hey, look, I could really use assistance from someone with producing experience, and frankly, I could use your legal skills. Would you be my producer?'” Scanlon said. He jumped on board and became the first producer, helping raise money, form a production company, get legal agreements in place, and assist with the creative side.

LeBron James, who has an executive producer role, came on board after the film’s team reached out to his business team. “He immediately said, ‘Yes,'” Scanlon said. Scanlon believes “Clemente” resonates with viewers because he was not only a star athlete but also a civil rights pioneer and humanitarian. A story included in the film involves Clemente driving by a father and son playing catch near the Pittsburgh stadium. “Roberto Clemente drove by and pulled over and just got out and started playing with him, giving the kid tips, and they invited him in for dinner,” Scanlon said. “And after that, he regularly visited his home. These were just strangers.”

The documentary was first shown at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, where it won Audience Choice for Documentary Spotlight. It was then picked up and licensed to show on the History Channel. The documentary can also be watched on Prime Video and Apple TV. The Emmy awards will be announced May 26-28 in New York City.

Scanlon continues to be involved in other film projects. One project set to begin shooting in Ethiopia in May is called “Lost Boys,” about two boys in the nation’s foster care system. “There is not much out there about the project now, but I think it will be a big deal when it is released,” he said. “It’s going to be a beautiful film and it’s going to have some high-profile stars attached.”