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STARZ Premieres Extraordinary Documentary About the NBA’s Transformative 2020 Season ‘Game Change Game’
LOS ANGELES, June 7, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Created by THINK450, Game Change Game, a poignant documentary about the extraordinary 2020 NBA season, which carried on in the face of COVID and a social justice reckoning, is out today for digital release on STARZ, the streaming network dedicated to narratives by, about and for underrepresented audiences.
The monumental film, which premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival for its theatrical release, is directed by Spike Jordan and Maxime Quoilin with the bi-coastal creative production studio Good Company and created by veteran media leader Christina Norman for THINK450, the partnership and innovation engine of The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
"The creation of this film came from our core mission as an organization to amplify the players and their collective voices," said Que Gaskins, President of THINK450. "As we saw our players come together to stand up for change, we knew we had the unique opportunity to document this powerful moment in time from the players' perspective. Game Change Game is a remarkable film, and we are excited to share it with more viewers this month through our partnership with STARZ."
The film affords viewers privileged access to "The NBA Bubble," the infamous bio-secure hub where the elite athletes carried out the 2020 basketball season during the pandemic shutdown. As it highlights their struggle with unforeseen sacrifice, loss, and their own morality amidst disturbing current events of the time, the documentary displays the players' bonds of fierce brotherhood while they use their platform to demand change.
"Game Change Game really captures all of the emotions that we were experiencing as players and as Black men during that very intense and pivotal time in our society," said CJ McCollum, NBPA President and one of the players featured in the film. "With so many different player perspectives in the film, it is truly a unique expression of our collective experience, and I am honored to be a part of it."
Threading together interviews with more than 40 notable stakeholders, directors Quoilin and Jordan highlight the series of events that led to the creation of the "bubble." They blatantly expose viewers to the waves of police brutality that took place during the same era and how many NBA players decided to take a stand and speak out against injustice - despite the pervasive cultural narrative that sports and athletes are, and should remain, apolitical. The interviewees include athletes like NBPA President CJ McCollum, Chris Paul, Jaylen Brown, as well as leading activists and artists.
Without the use of a narrator, the co-directors expertly craft a fluid storyline, by weaving, amongst the interviews, vital contextual footage from both the archives and the players themselves, including special family moments.
"The meaning of the film shifted as we lived through one cataclysmic event after another. Shot in real-time, it became a deep race conversation, on top of the already deep COVID conversation," said co-director Quoilin. "Ultimately, we hope that the documentary continues to spur an ongoing dialogue about racism and policing in the US and how we can each do our part to make equity a reality for everyone."
Good Company's impeccable reputation for culturally-relevant work and Quoilin and Jordan's bold visual storytelling style made them the perfect fit for a non-traditional sports documentary. Philadelphia native Jordan is known for his music videos like Nas' "Ultra Black" and Future & Juice WRLD's "WRLD on Drugs," while Belgium-born Quoilin is known for his work on Beyonce's Formation World Tour and the fiery Kanye West video, "Come to Life."
When tapped by THINK450, it was an easy yes for the filmmakers, who are both passionate basketball fans and frequent collaborators with uncanny creative sympatico. Together, the pair have previously collaborated on a variety of music videos, including Gunna's "Dollaz On My Head" and Meek Mill's "Believe."
"Max and I have this chemistry; we're on the same wavelength. During the shooting, I would turn to say something, and it was like Max already knew what I was going to say. We had the same intuition about what was needed on-screen," said Jordan.
One of the first shoots to go remote during the pandemic, Game Change Game was filmed in two phases. At first, the co-directors utilized a robust remote filming technology inspired by Errol Morris's Interrotron, which allowed up-close, face-to-face interviews with the players living in the bubble. Once the season ended and COVID restrictions eased to some extent, the directors filmed additional in-person interviews and incorporated a wealth of contextual footage.
Good Company had a hand in every aspect of the film's production. Despite unimaginable flux and emotion, they tirelessly documented the uncommon NBA season as well as spent an additional year honing the story's look and feel in post-production.
"After living through that intense, paradigm-shifting time, and now, coming out the other side of it with this release feels almost cathartic. We could've never expected the journey the world would go through, but it was all hands on deck for this project from the get-go," commented Producer Jonathan Lia, Good Company's Co-Founder. "I hope this beautiful portrait of the NBA's journey will remind viewers of the power of our collective voices and the strength and healing that can be found when we lean on each other."
The documentary can be found on STARZ across all platforms, including in their Juneteenth programming and throughout the month on STARZ linear channels.
Watch the trailer for Game Change Game on STARZ.
About the NPBA:
The National Basketball Players Association is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA's mission is to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, magnify the power of their collective will, and amplify their voices as leaders who will transcend sport and society globally.
The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including through the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, the filing of grievances on behalf of the players, and counseling players on benefits, educational and post-NBA career opportunities. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450, the subsidiary of the NBPA charged with managing the players' group licensing rights.
Dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members, the NBPA Foundation provides support and assistance to persons, communities, and organizations around the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need.
About Good Company:
Good Company is a bi-coastal creative production studio that develops and produces content and experiences at the intersection of art, music and cinema. They are behind some of the most iconic music videos and films of our time, including Beyonce's Lemonade. They also produce award-winning ad campaigns for brands like Meta and Nike and create breathtaking live performance visuals for artists such as Adele, Pharrell and Miley Cyrus.
Contact Information:Olia Ougrik
Raconteur LA Partner / Director of Public Relations
[email protected]
Crystal B. Williams
STARZ Executive Director, Corporate and Brand Communications
[email protected]
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Original Source: STARZ Premieres Extraordinary Documentary About the NBA's Transformative 2020 Season 'Game Change Game'
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Top Skateboarders Converge on Sharjah UAE for World Championships
Aljada Skatepark
Designed and built by California Skateparks, Aljada Skatepark is hosting the World Skate 2022 World Championships, January 29 - February 12, 2023.
VISTA, Calif., February 3, 2023 (Newswire.com) - The world's best skateboarders are performing their newest tricks this week at the massive Aljada Skatepark in Sharjah, UAE. Designed and built by California Skateparks, Aljada is hosting the World Skate 2022 World Championships for both Street and Park disciplines. After the new Champions are named next week, Aljada will remain as a permanent skatepark serving local youth.
"The facility is unique and has beginner, intermediate, and elite competition-level Street and Park courses and covers almost 90,000 square feet (8,360 square meters)," said California Skateparks VP Bill Minadeo. "This is an amazing opportunity for local youth to interact with the world's best skaters and host incredible events, like the World Championships."
The World Skate 2022 World Championships is a key qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics. While the Street skaters have already competed in one qualifier in Rome last Summer, Sharjah will be the first chance for the Park skaters to earn important points to qualify for Paris.
This weekend the Street skaters have their chance to earn the World title, with the Finals in the Men's and Women's competition taking place. The Street course at Aljada features a mirrored core section, with identical elements such as stairs and rails providing equal opportunity for both goofy- and regular-stance skaters to perform. The outer perimeter of the course includes more free-form features, allowing skaters to explore opportunities for unique tricks and combinations.
Next week, the Park competitors have their turn and attention will shift to the massive bowl, which differs from recent competition bowl designs. The traditional single deep end is replaced by two nearly 10-foot (3-meter) deep ends on opposite sides of the bowl. To take full advantage of that, a long, sloping channel flows into the bowl from the deck, allowing skaters to begin their routines with maximum speed. The volcano flyover feature included in the Olympic Park course has been replaced by a hip/transfer section extending into the bowl from the side, instead of being the bowl's centerpiece.
Both the street course and competition bowl are the result of the California Skateparks design team's nearly two-decades experience creating elite competition courses. In consultation with many athletes competing in Sharjah, the designers modified traditional contest elements and complemented them with new features that match the skaters' growing level of competitiveness and evolving style of tricks. From early practice footage seen from Sharjah, evidence suggests that the California Skateparks design team got it right, including social-media posts showing how much fun visiting pros are having at Aljada. Which is great news for Sharjah's local skaters.
For more information about the World Skate 2022 World Championships, visit www.worldskate.org/skateboarding.
To learn more about California Skateparks, visit www.californiaskateparks.com or contact Bill Minadeo: [email protected]
Contact Information:Bill Minadeo
Vice President
[email protected]
Original Source: Top Skateboarders Converge on Sharjah UAE for World Championships
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