The transformative power of youth athletic programs is celebrated in the latest installment of DICK’S Sporting Goods’ “Sports Change Lives” campaign. Directed by the Hudson Dusters of Greenpoint Pictures, this short film charts the inspirational story of football coach Donta Green and the Westinghouse Academy Bulldogs, the first recipients of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation’s 75for75 Sports Matter Grant Program.
Inspirational and heartwarming, the film reflects the triumph that can come out of adversity, and each person’s power to make a positive difference in the world. The film opens on a shot of the rusted steel underbelly of a bridge, giving the viewer a sense of life in the Homewood neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which experienced a profound economic downturn after the closing of the local steel mills in the 1980s. The unvarnished look of the town is juxtaposed with the impassioned and galvanizing spirit of Green, who holds the reins of the football team at Westinghouse Academy. Last year, the coach led the Bulldogs in an astonishing run to the state championship after an undefeated season. Aware of the hardship players face in the community, the coach and his staff provide belief, support, mental toughness, and structure to the youngsters on the team. The coach is building more than just a team. He’s building a family and a path of opportunity for the underserved youth of Homewood.
“We love making pieces that celebrate people like coach Donta Green–everyday heroes who genuinely change kids’ lives daily and the whole community in the process. We wanted to do him justice with a film that he, his kids, and his community could be proud of forever. Something that lasts,” said Michael Kuhn who teamed with Niles Roth to form the Hudson Dusters.
Launching in honor of DICK’S 75th anniversary, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation 75for75 Sports Matter Grant Program will select 75 deserving youth sports organizations nationwide in 2023. As the first recipient of a $75,000 grant from the program, Westinghouse will use the funds to continue changing their players’ futures. Among the benefits is a new weight room so that the players can properly train. Previously, some 50-plus team members had to share just a couple of barbells in a school hallway.
Client DICK’S Sporting Goods Production Greenpoint Pictures The Hudson Dusters, director; Tatiana Rudzinski, exec producer, partner; Leah Donnenberg, exec producer; Karen Berkowitz, head of production; Lexy Leeds, sr. producer, post producer; Amalia Bradstreet, producer; Nate Corbin, DP; Mason Cash, DP, B unit. Editorial Ben Schwaeber, editor. Sound Design Bobb Barito, sound designer. Color Company 3 Nick Metcalf, colorist.
Comcast’s Xfinity, GS&P Take A “Wicked” Turn With Short Featuring Cynthia Erivo, Ariane Grande and The Magic Of Oz
Comcast and Xfinity have released this short, “Stay Connected to Your Dreams,” to celebrate the November 22 release of Universal Pictures’ feature film Wicked.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, based on the generation-defining blockbuster stage musical, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. This short follows their journeys from childhood to present day, where they take on the iconic roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. Along the way, Wicked fans will be delighted by Easter eggs, including props from the film and Broadway show, and will experience emotional, real-life moments featuring the two stars. The short film was unveiled today (11/12) on Erivo and Grande’s social channels and can be viewed across television, social media and on an Xfinity site.
“Stay Connected to Your Dreams,” which is directed by Wicked DP Alice Brooks, ASC (via production house Superprime) in collaboration with Wicked director Jon M. Chu, taps into the power of connection, friendship and achieving your dreams. It begins with Grande and Erivo’s childhoods, and how Wicked fueled their love for music and film. It then moves through their teen years and into adulthood where Grande shared the fateful tweet in 2011 that playing Glinda in Wicked would be her dream role. The short film concludes with the actual footage from the videoconferencing call back in 2021, where both women learned they’ve been cast in the coveted roles of Elphaba and Glinda.
In addition, the short film will be the first-ever 4DX spot shown across the country. Theater-goers will feel the magic of Oz, complete with an immersive cinema experience combining on-screen visuals with synchronized motion seats... Read More