Sports television producer Matthew Vinick’s documentary about the the spirited rivalry between West Hartford’s ‘first families’ of football, is complete, and will be shown in the Conard High School auditorium.

Past and present coaches at the Nov. 20, 2010 Mayor’s Cup Conard vs. Hall football game. From left: Robert McKee, Frank Robinson, Rob Cersosimo, Frank Robinson III (in background). Conard file photo

By Ronni Newton

After shooting and sifting through hundreds of hours of film and spending months in the editing process, “All in the Family,” Matthew Vinick’s documentary about the Hall vs. Conard football rivalry and the families that make it so unique, will premiere on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014.

“I’m very excited about the final product,” Vinick said Thursday.” At 1:45, it’s a little longer than I hoped it would be,” he said, but he said those who have previewed it assured him it was the appropriate length. “It’s a fast and moving hour and 45 minutes.”

“I think it gives people the flavor, the intensity, and the spirit of the rivalry,” said Vinick. He said the combination of the unique moments in the rivalry’s history that he chronicled, combined with the scenes from the 2013 season, capture those elements that make the crosstown rivalry so special.

“I’m so thankful to both families for sharing their resources,” said Vinick. He said the project would never have been so successful without the Robinson’s personal scrapbooks, the Cersosimo’s exhaustive film library, and the records of Eddie Litos. “Without those, this would have been impossible,” Vinick said.

The documentary premiere will begin at 7 p.m. There is no charge for admission, but Vinick said there will be a donation box with all collections going to the football programs at Conard and Hall. “I did this completely pro-bono,” he said, but he hopes that the football programs will benefit.

Vinick is hoping for a good crowd, and said the response so far has been “spectacular.” He has been contacted by alumni coming from out-of-town, and his own father is flying in from California for the premiere.

Vinick doesn’t know when the documentary will be show again, but is hopeful that all who want to see it will find a way to be able to do that.

For more details about the documentary, click here.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!