Any New Yorker familiar with the hard-nosed West 4th street pick-up b-ball games that attract many onlookers (natives and tourists) should definitely be interested in seeing this new documentary feature titled Doin’ It In The Park.
We’ve been following it on its film festival/screening series travels since last summer, and it’s now set to make a limited USA theatrical run in NYC, beginning tonight, May 22nd at Maysles Cinema in Harlem.
Co-directed by Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau (their debut) Doin’ It In The Park…
… explores the definition, history, culture and social impact of New York’s summer b-ball scene, widely recognized as the worldwide “Mecca” of the sport. In New York City, pick-up basketball is not just a sport. It is a way of life. There are 700+ outdoor courts, and an estimated 500,000 players, the most loyal of which approach the game as a religion, and the playground as their church. The film lovingly uncovers this movement through the voices of playground legends, NBA athletes, and most importantly the everyday non-pro ballplayers who just love the game.
The co-directors visited 180 courts throughout NYC’s five boroughs to compile footage for the film, traveling to a majority of the locations by bicycle, carrying camera equipment and a ball in their backpacks, providing an unprecedented perspective on one of America’s most popular, and accessible forms of recreation.
By any means necessary, right?
A few of the folks you can expect to see in the film include: Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Kenny Smith, “Pee Wee” Kirkland, “Fly” Williams, God Shammgod, Tim “Headache” Gittens, Corey “Homicide” Williams, Kenny Anderson, Jack Ryan, Richard “Crazy Legs” Colon, Niki Avery, Milani Malik, and the Park Pick-Up Players of NYC.
So check it out starting tonight – those in NYC (or who will be in NYC) – May 22 at Maysles.
Check out the complementing Q&A sessions following each screening, below:
Wednesday, May 22nd following the 7:30pm screening there is a Q&A with key characters Jack Ryan, Niki Avery, and Milani Malik, moderated by SLAM Magazine Editor-in-Chief Ben Osborne.Thursday, May 23rd following the 7:30pm screening there is a
Q&A with dirs. Bobbito Garcia, Kevin Couliau, dir. of Wild Style, Charlie Ahearn, Henry Chalfant, Style Wars producer and moderated by author/filmmaker
Q&A with dirs. Bobbito Garcia, Kevin Couliau, dir. of Wild Style, Charlie Ahearn, Henry Chalfant, Style Wars producer and moderated by author/filmmaker
Friday, May 24th following the 7:30pm screening there will be a Q&A with co-director Kevin Couliau and photographer Charlie Samuels and Pete Kuhns, moderated by author/historian Claude Johnson of Black Fives.Saturday, May 25th following the 7:30pm screening there will be a Q&A with directors Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau
and author of “Heaven is a Playground,” Rick Telander.
Sunday, May 26th following the 7:30pm screening there will be a Q&A with Co-director Kevin Couliau and Executive Producer Nick Quested of Goldcrest Films.
Tuesday, May 28th following the 7:30pm screening there will be a Q&A with directors Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau.
Watch the trailer for Doin’ It In The Park below:
DOIN’ IT IN THE PARK: PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC – Trailer from Doin’ It In The Park on Vimeo.
