What is it? Over & Under is a new series following the Arizona State University Swimming & Diving Team and their journey to rebuild the legendary swim program after a series of state-wide budget cuts threatened the team’s very existence. Produced by Ontracc LLC, and presented by The Sun Devil Swimming Association, this web series follows a swim team from their first dryland practice of the season all the way through to the spring conference meet. It’s filmed like a reality show (but without the zany gimmicks) and provides a real world view of a swim team known for their perseverance.

Why is it so important? This series will give a broader audience access to the personal struggles college teams are faced with on a daily basis. Because the men’s team at ASU was officially cut and then officially reinstated – the program serves as an inspiration to college teams everywhere. By publicizing the story of their perseverance, Over & Under could lead the rally cry for the full spectrum of “non-revenue” sports fighting to stay afloat.

Where to watch. Watch previews from the first episode on Facebook beginning May 2010. ‘Like’ the page to receive the latest announcements about the series (facebook.com/overandunder).

Check out the series intro to get a feel for the show:

I’ve gotten a chance to check in with Jack Kubacki, swimming star of the promotional short film Topping Point, after his summer in L.A. But what has dancer Caitlin Kinney been doing since appearing in the film and finishing her season on So You Think You Can Dance?

Since September, Caitlin has been on tour with the rest of the Top 20 from SYTYCD Season 5. The Season 5 Tour will continue through November 21st, 2009 with a final stop in Everett, Washington.

Caitlin managed to pick up her own copy of the short film Topping Point during her busy tour schedule. You can find out more about the film by becoming a fan of the Facebook Page.

Below is one of my favorite dances performed by Caitlin during SYTYCD Season 5, the now famous ‘Jai Ho’ Ballywood dance:

My AOL Instant Messenger interview with Jack took place on Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 7:00pm. Jack played Adam Rand in the recently released short film version of Topping Point. A feature length movie of the same title is currently in development by Ontracc, LLC.

EricT: Jack thanks for taking some time to talk with me this evening!

Jack: Anytime

EricT: What have you been up to since you finished shooting the short film?

Jack: I returned home from Houston and finished up my spring semester. I had kept in touch with Scott [note: Scott Ellison, Co-Owner/Director] and others from Ontracc and decided to move to Los Angeles for the summer. I was living out there from the beginning of June, right after my sister’s high school graduation, and returned to Reading, PA in early August.
Jack: I’ve been keeping busy, with swimming especially. I really want my senior year to be great.

EricT: So you still kept up with training out in LA?

Jack: Yeah, Scott and I were originally training at the USC pool in the morning but moved to Santa Monica College out of convenience. Scott is a dedicated guy, and I was able to help him improve his swimming while also having someone to motivate me to stay in the water on a regular basis amidst all distractions of LA.
Jack: I thought this summer was successful, I am in much better shape now than I normally am entering college swim season. I think that is why I am so excited about this year.

EricT: That’s great!
EricT: So did you plan your own workouts, or did your coach send you anything he wanted you to get done?

Jack: For the most part I planned my own workouts. I take most of my coach

AMERICAN OLYMPIC SWIMMERS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION

TOPPING POINT DVD & POSTER TO SUPPORT FUTURE USA OLYMPIC SWIMMERS

College swimming programs are being shut down at an alarming rate as universities across the United States feel the squeeze from an intense recession. Olympic swimming hopefuls once enjoyed full college scholarships and top notch training facilities as they prepared to represent their country, but now they are being shutout. Swimmers without funding are swimmers without a future.

Don

My copy of the Topping Point promotional short film arrived today. The cover and disc artwork look very professional, so props to Photographic Design Lab for their work on that.

As far as content goes, there’s nothing on the DVD that you can’t find over at the Topping Point fan page on Facebook. However, purchase of a DVD includes a donation to the Husky Swimming Foundation, a non-profit seeking to reinstate UW’s Swim Teams. I also got the DVD version because I wanted to check out the HD 1080p digital quality on my TV and surround sound that puts my computer monitor to shame.

Here is the synopsis as it appears on the back of the DVD cover:

“Topping Point is a short film based on a feature-length film currently in development. The film is about a passionate Olympic swimmer who competes as the only athlete representing the United States as it teeters on the verge of a collapse.

This short film version explores the beginning of this story and will be used to pitch the feature-length film to major studios. Please show your support by becoming a fan of the film on Facebook and by spreading the word to other swimmers.”

If you want to purchase your own copy of Topping Point, head over to the Ontracc online store where you can choose to buy the DVD or DVD + Donation.

To watch the DVD features online, become a fan of Topping Point on Facebook by clicking here (link).

BROKEN Enters Final Stages of Post-Production
Los Angeles, CA, May 6th, 2009

After two months of post-production work, Ontracc has locked picture on BROKEN and has submitted the project to expert colorist Frederik Bokkenheuser and sound designer Nick Dei Rossei for finishing touches.

BROKEN is a short film / music video hybrid based on the first act of TOPPING POINT, a feature-length film currently in development, and features a track by Trifonic, an electronic duo based in San Francisco.

TOPPING POINT follows American swimmer Adam Rand as he fights for his chance to compete in the Olympic Games. He’s only a few months out from fulfilling his dream when a sudden disruption in the supply of Mid East oil sends the US economy into a second Great Depression. Food shortages and a lack of electricity make training nearly impossible, and rising tensions between the West and East threaten to preempt the Games with a massive World War. Fearing the consequences any conflict could bring to his home and family, a Middle Eastern oil billionaire, Ansari, decides to funnel his money into keeping the Games on schedule and, under the guise of another company, sponsors Adam’s Olympic efforts. Ansari hopes that Adam’s story will inspire a nation to rise from its economic setback and come back stronger