“Ball People” by Scott Lazer
Each year, over a thousand people apply to join the Ball Crew at the US Open tennis tournament. Being the only Grand Slam with no upper age limit, the ball crew draws a broad pool of talent vying for their spots. This film follows a group of applicants from the 2022 tryouts through the selection process and into the tournament.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“This project was one of those sitting right in front of me my whole life. Tennis was a family activity growing up (playing, watching). So I’ve observed ball people along the fringes of the television from a young age. But it wasn’t until many years later when the question finally dawned on me watching Wimbledon one summer: How does one become a ball person? When I looked it up for the US Open and saw there were tryouts, I instantly thought that would make for a fascinating take on a film about a sport that I love. I wanted to find out where these applicants come from, why they want to do this, and what it’s like to try out.
What I discovered was a unique program amongst the Grand Slams with no upper age limit for the ball crew. This inclusivity draws people from all stages of life. And while the job itself isn’t a sport; conditioning, agility, and tennis IQ are all essential skills. The same rules apply: physical and mental limitations can affect your chances of making the team. For me, this poses questions of aging, endurance, and mortality. As one of the applicants from our film (who’s exactly the same age as me) puts it, “Life’s gonna get going faster, and you never know when you’ll have another chance to do it.”
The game of tennis is rapidly changing as more people come into it from a variety of backgrounds, the pandemic having accelerated its growth. As a result, the culture of the sport has expanded beyond the country club and crossed into the mainstream, which in turn brings in more interest particularly amongst young people. Because so many young ball crew applicants are aspiring players themselves (Roger Federer was a ball person), the ball crew provides a window into the next generation of both recreational and competitive players. Through exploring the fascinating journey of becoming a ball person and the profound reflections it evokes on inclusivity, aging, and the evolving culture of tennis, this film offers a glimpse into the future of the sport and the aspirations of its enthusiasts.”
-Scott Lazer
Credits
Director// Scott Lazer/ @scott_lazer
Executive Producers// Ryen Bartlett & Kevin Staake
Producer// Tripp Kramer
Co-Producer// Talia Cohen
Director of Photography// Taylor McIntosh
1st AC// Manny Rodriguez
Production Sound Mixer// Charles Cann
Editor// Nico Frank
Film Composer// Jeff Melanson
Music Supervisor// Rachel Helman
Mix & Sound Designer// Dean White
Title Designer// Aaron Vinton
Production Assistant// Tashi Bhutia & Anabel Perez
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