LOS ANGELES — Rickey Hill knew at an early age, above all things, that he wanted to play baseball.

Playing ball is when he felt the least disabled.

“The Hill” is based on his life story and shows how Hill (Colin Ford) overcame his physical disabilities and his father’s persistent worry for his health to fulfill his dream of playing Major League Baseball.

The film’s director, Jeff Celentano, told Spectrum News he made a film for everyone.

“This is not a sports movie. Dennis Quaid said the best sport movies are not about the sport. This movie is not about faith. It is about a kid searching for the love of his father and trying to achieve the impossible,” he said.

Celentano said what is surprising about Hill is that he “is like a bull.”

“He walks around like he has no issues. He’s got so much steel in his body. He has six cages, 14-inch rod, and like nine screws in his back. He is so resilient. That guy, you just can’t kill him,” he said.

Celentano says something people might find interesting is that the pitches and balls throughout the film are not actually there. They are all digitalized.

“After the movie ‘Rust,’ we are not allowed to throw any projectiles toward an actor. I had major league pitchers throwing balls, with no balls in their hands,” he said. “They were freaking out. They were like, ‘Jeff, I can’t throw air. I am a pitcher.’ I said, ‘just fake it.’”

“The Hill” opens in theaters this weekend. It stars Dennis Quaid, Colin Ford, Joelle Carter, Randy Houser, with Bonnie Bedelia and Scott Glenn.

Click the link above to watch the full interview with director Jeff Celentano.