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:

Director Scott Ellison informed me that Ontracc has decided to change the name of their short film / music hybrid project from BROKEN to TOPPING POINT – which reflects the title of the full-length feature film TOPPING POINT that is currently in development.

Here is a sneak peak that was posted on FloSwimming.org. Leave a comment on the FloSwimming.org board about this preview to get the movie hype going!

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

[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]