Pickleball Movie: A Game Changer

 

Filmmaker Reveals Pickleball's Hidden Heart and Soul Machu Latorre's documentary uncovers the transformative community and personal side of the pickleball phenomenon Latorre's passion for showcasing the power of sports shines through in her mission to fully document pickleball for audiences. Her own journey discovering the game has mirrored that of countless players whose lives have been changed by this welcoming community. Through her Kickstarter-funded film, she aims to spread the inspiring message of how we can all connect across generations, backgrounds and borders through the shared joy of play. 1:02 - How did you get interested in sports growing up in Spain? Machu was very active as a girl in Spain. Since women's sports were limited at the time, she played a lot of street soccer with boys. She also became one of the pioneers on the first women's basketball team started in her hometown by a local gentleman. Basketball ended up being her main sport for a long time as she played in the national league. 2:57 - What made you interested in pursuing documentary filmmaking? Machu originally came to the US to study filmmaking. While researching a script about immigration issues, she met a support group sharing personal stories. Hearing their powerful stories made her realize documentaries could make more of an impact than her script. This led her to work with renowned documentary directors and fall in love with the genre. 9:29 - Why did you think a documentary about pickleball would interest audiences? Machu originally had skepticism about pickleball herself. But the more she learned through playing and interviewing people, the more she realized there were great untold stories beyond common controversies reported in the news. As a filmmaker, she saw an opportunity to showcase the community and personal growth people discover through pickleball. (Watch Trailer)

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Filmmaker Brings Heart of Pickleball to Big Screen

Machu Latorre's documentary reveals personal stories behind the world's fastest growing sport Introduction with Machu Latorre (0:00) As the lines blur between niche subcultures and mass pop culture phenomena, filmmaker Machu Latorre noticed an unlikely activity exploding in popularity among Americans of all ages - pickleball. This quirky paddle sport with a funny name was spreading like wildfire, but remained shrouded in misconceptions. Sensing compelling personal stories within this nationwide pickleball boom, Latorre embarked on an odyssey to uncover the real community heartbeat propelling its growth for a feature-length documentary film titled “The Game Changer.” Early Love of Movies (2:57) Latorre’s artistic instincts were evident from childhood during frequent family trips to the local video store near her hometown in Spain. There, she would eagerly browse the shelves with her father, soaking up films of all genres, from silly comedies to dramatic westerns. “We will rent like seven movies at a time and that's what we would do as a family,” she recalled. “Movies had always been a big part of my life.” Years later, this early passion for visual storytelling would spark Latorre’s interest in documentary filmmaking. But first, she set out to pursue her original creative ambitions in the United States. Hooked on Pickleball (6:46) After Latorre had settled into life in America and started a family, an intriguing new activity entered her world through a friend’s passionate promotion - pickleball. For months, she brushed off invitations to try this odd-sounding sport with a silly name. Who would take that seriously? When she finally relented and gave pickleball a chance on a local court, Latorre was amazed to experience the pure fun and instant connections the game facilitated, regardless of age or skill level. She quickly found herself thinking about it constantly. “I was introduced to pickleball about a year and a half to two years ago by a friend, Barb, who would just talk about it relentlessly,” Latorre said. “It became the sole topic of conversation whenever she came to visit.” Why Make a Pickleball Movie? (9:29) Intrigued by the mushrooming pickleball community she discovered, Latorre considered how it contrasted with the controversial media coverage about this emerging sport. As a storyteller, she saw great potential to showcase the unreported personal growth and connections people were finding through pickleball. Latorre hoped to inspire viewers and spread awareness of what the sport could really mean for people of all walks of life. “I’m building a world through a documentary - a world that hadn't really been given a fair chance,” she explained. “It became the central question we're trying to answer with the film.” Appeal of Pickleball? (13:15) In interviews with players internationally, Latorre has pinpointed pickleball's unique combination of competition, fun, accessibility across generations, and life-changing growth as the key to its universal appeal. Economically, anyone can play regardless of means. Physically, pickleball uniquely spans ages from young kids to great-grandparents. But most importantly, Latorre found, it recaptures the sheer sense of play we lose as adults. “It stirs something inside that we tend to lose growing up - that feeling we get as kids when we play,” she said. “Play actually has a purpose in life. Pickleball brings us back to our human essence.” Business of Pickleball (21:40) While the social community attracted Latorre to explore pickleball through film, she soon learned about the professional side as well. Top competitors, sponsors and full-time operations have exploded around the sport almost overnight. “I found out there was a whole professional world and this was just the beginning of a sport,” Latorre said. She believes showing all facets, from pros to public parks, reveals the full picture. Risk Making Pickleball Film (27:48) When Latorre embarked on "The Game Changer," she did worry pickleball's popularity could prove a short-lived fad. But after witnessing its profound impact on diverse people internationally, she believes it's here to stay. "I don't think pickleball is going away," she asserted. "Seeing the human benefit it's bringing globally, I'm certain it will continue to grow worldwide." Process of Making and Funding Film (31:30) To organically construct her pickleball documentary, Latorre allows key story threads to emerge through travel and interviews. A Kickstarter campaign is now funding completion of filming. "With documentary filmmaking, you want the stories to tell you where to go," she described. "We have some lead stories and individuals we're following." Her goal is finishing by summer 2023 to submit the documentary to festivals. But the release date remains flexible until funding and content are finalized. The Dark Side of Pickleball (41:00) Latorre noted pickleball's noise and court battles as the biggest challenges facing the sport's growth. With demand expanding exponentially, she said public access is struggling to keep up. "What's difficult is getting parks and recreation to fund new dedicated pickleball courts and facilities," she commented. "But I hope the film gives insights beyond noise complaints." International Growth of Pickleball (45:30) During a visit to her native Spain for research, Latorre was astonished to find pickleball already passionately embraced there, validating her sense of its international appeal. "I did some research and found YouTube videos of people playing there and having fun," she described. "The Spanish pickleball community told me it was becoming huge." Is Pickleball Addictive? (51:50) Latorre acknowledges frequent use of the term "addicting" about pickleball but views it positively, considering the sport's social and health benefits versus other addictions. "I'm glad to encourage something active that provides human connection," she said. "It just sounds negative when we say 'addicting' about that." When Does Movie Come Out? (55:30) Once Latorre completes filming key personal stories, the next step is editing and post-production. She hopes finishing by September 2023 will allow the documentary to hit festivals soon after. "We'd love to finish by end of summer so we can submit it to film festivals starting in September," Latorre explained. "But release depends on funding and content timing." Conclusion: Through her documentary "The Game Changer," filmmaker Machu Latorre aspires to reveal the communal heartbeat she discovered within the mushrooming pickleball phenomenon. By showcasing inspiring personal stories from public parks to pro tournaments worldwide, she hopes to reflect the true life-changing essence of this unpredictable cultural sensation

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Bringing Pickleball's Heart to the Big Screen

Filmmaker's documentary captures personal stories behind America's fastest growing sport

As pickleball rapidly evolves from quirky novelty to mainstream phenomenon, one filmmaker is focused on chronicling the communal heartbeat behind this unofficial sport of the pandemic era.

Machu Latorre, a director based in California, first encountered pickleball a few years ago on the urging of a friend. Despite initial skepticism about the goofy name and public controversies surrounding the activity, she was instantly drawn in by the fun, friendly atmosphere on the local courts.

"I had a blast right away,” Latorre recalled of that first session. “It hooked me."

Intrigued by the diverse, intergenerational community blossoming around this peculiar paddle sport, she saw great cinematic potential in showcasing the personal passion and growth people discovered through pickleball.

Latorre hoped to capture the untold stories that reflected the true spirit uniting recreational players, families, and professional competitors across the globe. She envisioned a feature-length documentary film that would reveal the heart and soul of the global pickleball phenomenon.

"I'm building a world through this documentary - a world that hasn't been given a fair chance," Latorre explained. "It became the central question we're trying to answer: why is pickleball so addictive and inspiring to people?”

Through two years of interviews with enthusiasts internationally, from public parks to pro tournaments, some clear themes emerged explaining the singular appeal of pickleball.

Latorre pinpointed the sport's unique blend of competitive play, sheer fun, accessibility across ages and abilities, and life-enhancing personal connections as the key ingredients driving its exponential growth.

Most profoundly, she found, pickleball recaptures the childlike sense of joy and playfulness that we all lose growing up companies, professional tours, sponsors and full-time operations have exploded around the sport virtually overnight.

"It brings us back to our human essence,” she noted.

Latorre’s film, currently titled “The Game Changer,” aims to provide an intimate look at players of all stripes united by their love of pickleball. Her production process remains flexible, as funding and content timelines dictate next steps.

Most importantly, Latorre is focused on organically constructing the documentary's central narratives from the stories that emerge during interviews.

"You want the stories to tell you where to go," she explained.

By spotlighting diverse personal journeys, from discovering community after isolation to launching second careers inspired by the sport, Latorre hopes to capture the true grassroots spirit of pickleball.

So when can audiences expect to see this revealing portrait of pickleball complete? The timeline is still unpredictable, but Latorre is aiming to finish principal filming this summer.

That would potentially allow her team to submit the documentary by September to festivals and events, where buzz and reviews could build anticipation for a full theatrical or streaming release.

"We'd love to finish by end of summer, so we can get it to festivals starting in September," Latorre said. "But release depends on funding and content timing."

No matter when it debuts, Latorre's documentary promises an unprecedented look inside the welcoming world of pickleball through profoundly human stories.

For a game often defined by pop culture caricatures and hokey stereotypes, this film could reveal the authentic community spirit at pickleball's core - perhaps the secret behind its meteoric rise.

"Pickleball is way bigger than noise complaints or controversies,” Latorre asserted. “I'm certain it will continue to grow worldwide."

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Press Release

Documentary Goes Behind the Scenes of Pickleball Phenomenon

Filmmaker's journey reveals the personal passion propelling the sport's growth

Los Angeles, CA - A new documentary titled "The Game Changer" will provide an unprecedented glimpse into the world of pickleball, spotlighting inspiring stories from players that reflect the communal spirit behind this fast-growing sport.

Director Machu Latorre initially encountered pickleball by chance a few years ago. Despite knowing little about the activity with a silly name, she was instantly drawn in by the fun, friendly community developing around it.

As an avid storyteller, Latorre saw great potential in showcasing the personal growth and connections people were finding through pickleball. She set out to capture the untold narratives of recreational and professional players united by their love of the sport.

Through two years of interviews from public parks to pro tournaments, some clear themes emerged explaining pickleball's universal appeal. Latorre pinpointed the sport’s joyful sense of play, fierce competition, accessibility across ages and abilities, and life-enhancing connections as the key factors driving its exponential growth.

By spotlighting diverse personal stories, from renewed wellbeing to second careers inspired by pickleball, Latorre’s documentary provides an unprecedented insider's look at the grassroots community growing around this unconventional sport.

She hopes to reveal the true heartbeat at the center of the pickleball phenomenon that's exploded in popularity across the United States and abroad.

Latorre is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to complete filming and production. She aims to finish the documentary this summer for festival and event submissions in September 2023.

For more information and to support the film, visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gamechangerdoc/the-game-changer-a-pickleball-documentary.