[Update 5-13-09: Broken name changed to Topping Point which reflects the title of the full-length feature film TOPPING POINT that is currently in development.]
Broken is a new film in production where swimming takes center stage to tell the story of pursuing your dreams during an economic crisis. Production company, Ontracc, describes it as a “film about a swimmer and a dancer who continue pursuing their disciplines amidst a second Great Depression”. The film has been scheduled for release in April 2009.
In January, Garrett McCaffrey, FloSwimming.org, interviewed Scott Ellison, Ontracc’s founder and production manager for Broken. The interview can be found here on FloSwimming.org. In the interview, Ellison said the movie was not going to be a gimmick movie, meaning that it would stay true to swimming but also present a compelling plotline to appeal to non-swimmers as well.
To further avoid the use of swimming as a gimmick, Ellison looked to cast an actor with excellent swimming experience so that a double would not be required.
The lead cast was just announced in February, but the film is described by Ontracc as a short film / new media project based on the future feature length film Topping Point, so the total production time will be shorter than a regular feature film. No further information was available for full length Topping Point, but it is listed as a feature film currently in development on Ontracc’s website.
I contacted Scott Ellison and inquired about the film’s running time and release plans. Ellison told me “BROKEN is only going to be about five minutes. Primarily, this short is just a test/demo for the feature film, TOPPING POINT, but I’m hoping it can stand on its own for film festivals and such. I’d also love to put it on Floswimming.”
I got in touch with the male lead, Jack Kubacki, who plays a collegiate swimmer in the film. He said filming in the new Woodlands aquatics facility wrapped up on March 4th.
The female lead, portraying a dancer with similar aspirations during hard times, will be Caitlin Kinney. Kinney already has some film experience from the movie Step Up, where she played the part of Ballerina/Dance Class Dancer.
> Check out a list of swimming movies at SportsInMovies.com
> Watch Caitlin Kinney dancing on AMTC
[Notice: Some statements were removed from the original post]
8 Comments:
Is this allowed? I feel like the NCAA wouldn’t want an athlete starring in a movie promoting that sport.
I’m wondering the same thing, Anonymous… I looked up the Division III regulation and compliance forms and found this:
You are not eligible in any sport if, after you become a student-athlete, you accept any pay for promoting a commercial product or service or allow your name or picture to be used for promot-ing a commercial product or service, unless:
• The individual became involved in such activities for reasons independent of athletics
ability;
• No reference is made in these activities to the individuals involvement in intercollegiate athletics; and
Is a movie a commercial service or product?
I used to be in the NCAA realm. The only way I know of that people are usually fine is if they have a previous career.
At Indiana, we had a men’s soccer player that was a model before being signed. So, he had the ability to still do it. Can’t remember if he had to stop taking money for a bit though.
Jason, I’ve heard that too about keeping a previous career. However, compliance with the employment rule is always a gray area.
For example, if you are going to teach swim lessons and everyone at the club knows you are a college swimmer, that obviously helps you get clients. And teaching swim lessons would not be “independent of athletics ability.” So you can argue your side but ultimately it’s a subjective decision on the part of the NCAA.
I contacted Scott Ellison about this, and he assured me that they had taken precautions to comply with NCAA rules.
I consulted with an NCAA coach
12.5.2 Media activities. A student-athlete may participate in media activities (e.g., appearance on radio, television, in films or stage productions, or participate in writing projects) and may receive legitimate and normal expenses when the student-athlete’s appearance or participation is related in any way to athletics ability or prestige. The student-athlete may engage in such activities at any time and may receive compensation at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locale for similar services. Further, the student-athlete’s name may be used to advertise his or her participation in such activity, provided the student-athlete’s status as a student-athlete is not used for promotional purposes.
Thanks for looking into this! That makes sense, as long as they’re not selling anything or marketing themselves as a student-athlete.
Also, interesting about the stage productions bit.. I never thought about that but college athletes in performing arts would obviously be making appearances
Just wanted to say a word or two. The aquatic facility that appears in “Broken” is the Conroe ISD Natatorium located in Shenandoah Texas. http://www.shenandoahtx.com/ The facility is close to the Woodlands but is not acctually in the Woodlands.
JB
Thanks for the correction JB, I was basing my assumption off of the Woodlands Tour video on floswimming, but the pool shown on the Shenandoah website is definitely the one from the film.
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