City Lax the Movie: An Interview with the Lacrosse Documentary Filmmakers
30 Nov
A few months ago we posted a movie trailer for a new lacrosse documentary named: “City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story”. The trailer looked amazing and featured an inner-city lacrosse program for Denver youths.
At the time there was little information available on the project, and many of our readers were anxious for more details. We went out on a mission to uncover what the City Lax movie project was all about. Our research led us to Gabriela Cowperthwaite, who directed the film.
Gabriela was kind enough to grant us the first exclusive interview regarding the film. Check it out below, and stay tuned for the latest on City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your production background?
I’ve been directing, writing and producing documentaries for television, for the past 10 years. My partner, Tor Myhren, is Chief Creative Officer at Grey Advertising. This is our first feature documentary.
How did the concept for the City Lax documentary come about? Did you or your team have any previous ties to lacrosse?
My college friend and partner on the film, Tor Myhren, told me “a great idea for a documentary” back in 2007. His brother Erik is actually the guy who introduced lacrosse sticks to a group of Denver inner-city kids. After a bunch of phone conversations with Erik, I flew out to Denver which is where I’m originally from, set up production in my dad’s office, had a cameraman move into my parent’s basement, and he and I started shooting the entire City Lax season, from the moment they discovered what a lacrosse stick was, to the finale in the state championship.
We had no idea what to expect. I figured they could lose every game or win every game. But even though we had no expectations, the turn of events during the season and what went down in their personal lives, completely blew us away. It was crazy trying to plan our day to day production. I’d expect something to happen, then the opposite would play out. It was kind of a rush – kept us on our toes.
Was it challenging filming the kids? Did they mind being on camera?
I think it’s the age, but 11-12 years olds aren’t really playing to the camera. I think if we filmed a bunch of high schoolers, we’d have gotten more guarded, more camera savvy kids. Our kids were totally raw.
Who is involved with the City Lax project?
Rod Allison and Erik Myhren are the founders of the City Lax program. George Moore, one of the City Lax coaches was the first African American to play at Navy and Karl Wimer, another coach was one of the first All Americans out of Colorado. Then there’s Denver City Lax’s other coaches, Gregory Crichlow, Mac Freeman, Brad Johnson, as well as youth lacrosse supporters Burke McHugh, Rob Gormley, Ted Baruch. Everyone from lacrosse enthusiasts to power players in Denver had a hand in helping the team.
In terms of the film, aside from myself and Tor Myhren, we had Jonathan Ingalls as our cinematographer, Carlos Nino and John Forte (formerly from the Fugees) scored us some tunes. We interviewed lax player and Maverik Lacrosse co-founder, Kyle Sweeney, we highlighted the Jamboree, the biggest Tournament west of the Mississippi, and scored some pro and college footage in there. Really cool how everyone poured themselves into it.
Where are you at with the project right now and what are the next steps?
We’re almost at the finish line. We’re applying to festivals, and will hopefully have a premiere sometime in early 2010.
When will the movie be available to the general public to view, and how will they be able to view it (theaters, DVD, etc..)?
We hope to have it up on the big screen, but really, we just want to get this in front of as many people as possible. We’ll be letting everyone know if we get into any festivals so folks can see it then. Then we hope it gets picked up so people can catch it at a theater in their hometown, or catch it on tv. We’ll be doing DVDs no matter what.
How can people stay current on the latest info regarding City Lax the movie?
We’l be updating our website: http://citylaxthemovie.com frequently. People can also email me directly at: gabrielacowper@gmail.com or info@citylaxthemovie.com. But most of all, we’ll be updating everyone through websites like LAXFUnews.com until you’re sick of us!
Many thanks to Gabriela and Tor for their time and the great
information they shared regarding City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story!
City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story (Trailer)
I think the trailer is great. It caught my interest and I’m excited to see what happens with this whole story. I sure hope it works out for these guys. Terrific subject for a documentary.
It is one of the greatest documentary I have seen! I hope President Obama gets to see it too and be
proud of what people are doing to make real education happen in the USA!
The film is a testament to how life skills are transmitted: via relationships with caring and positive adult role models.
For me, the film crushed the stereotype that poor black kids are unpredictable sub-human predators to be feared. The kids in the film beautifully articulate the fact that economic poverty does NOT equal social poverty! They are children with values, talents and dreams!
I thought the one scene with the mother talking about how it was good for her kids to see “another lifestyle” indicates the attitude that I commonly encounter when I am in a non-impoverished group that is confronted by the impoverished. The youth in the film eloquently explain the tragic circumstances (parents murdered or in prison) of their “lifestyle” that they had no control over and certainly did not choose. I see many justifiably angry children who are upset by the confusing adult responsibilities thrust upon them (due to their “lifestyle”) that effectively cancel their childhood. The film captures, like never before, this loss-of-childhood anger flaring up on the lacrosse field as well as the struggle to control/redirect the anger.
The public perception of poverty is often that it is somehow deserved, that the victims brought it upon themselves and have only themselves to blame. How can we blame children for the circumstances that they find themselves in, that they had nothing to do with and have little, if any, control over? Yet we do. We believe the myth that poor people, including children, are lazy and have no ambition to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” The children in the film destroy this myth.
The teacher in the film warns: “if you do not give a 7 or 10 year old a chance to do what they do best . . .” To me, this is about the necessity of joy to positive youth development. Even the simple joy from striving to master a strange game (that is just about fun) is somehow a profound and crucial experience.
City Lax is a powerful documentary about restoring childhood.
The boys have always enjoyed playing the City Lax teams. They play fun, aggressive and hard. They make excellent opponents. They may not have the experience yet, but watch out. City Lax may just be the toughest league to beat in the years to come. Watch out Vipers!