“Pressure Play” by Eric Bizzarri
Beyond the Short Official Premiere
Fraser, a 17yr old high school student is invited to try out for his high school basketball team, after a solo practice is interrupted by the school's coach.
Fraser does whatever he can to level up, practicing after school and skipping time with him mom, while constantly living in his own head. One day at practice, his best friend Alex is thrown off the court, which tests his ability to choose between those he loves, and the game in front of him.
By the end, Fraser's obstacles are the authoritative figures surrounding him: his mother, his school's principal and high school basketball coach. He learns what he does and doesn't have to sacrifice when achieving his dream.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“Primarily interested in the nuances of human relationships, my work investigates toxic masculinity, male-male abuse, friendships and intimacy. I create stories about the integral relationships young adolescents experience which often shape the rest of their lives; those that nurture, inspire and challenge them. In my films, the young male protagonists I’m writing about are often confronting their own masculinity, and investigating their place in the world. I juxtapose visually between dreams and reality, as the protagonists in my work are often fantasizing and living in their own heads.
“Pressure Play” is, ultimately, about tuning out an audience that is telling you otherwise and following your heart to do what you enjoy and strive to do best. It’s a much larger, more internal battle for Fraser, as the opinions of the authoritative figures around him often try to impede on the way he feels. Pressure Play focuses on themes of toxic masculinity, specifically the way that many young male adults find themselves under pressure to “be” or “act” a certain way in order to be considered a man. As a teenager, I was sexually assaulted by another male classmate in my school. The incident remains a fragile subject for me, and I’ve become inspired by multiple survivors coming forward, especially by men, who are often overlooked when it comes to assault.
Whatever you love, however crazy it is, continuing to manifest its existence will help you reach your goal, one way or another. Thank you to the audiences and the festivals that have embraced our story.”
-Eric Bizzarri
CREDITS:
Starring
Emidio Lopes/ @e.mi.dio
Cameron Stewart/ @thecameronstewart
Andrew Bee/ @andrewbee
Rachel Peters
Quinn Bennett/ @qj_bennett
Jolly Amoako/ @jollzzz
Emily Kindred/ @emilykindredactor
Bryan Piitz/ @bryanpiitz
Chris Gleason/ @glease1
Director// Eric Bizzarri/ @ericbizzarri
Screenwriters// Tavish Gudgeon/ @juicypeterson and Eric Bizzarri
Producer(s)// Riel Bo/ @therielbo , Christofer Lacoste/ @christoferlacoste
Director of Photography// Julian Lomaga/ @julianlomaga
Production Designer// Claudia Dall'Orso
1st AD// Michele DesLauriers/ @michele__dl
Picture Editor// Sabrina Budiman/ @missnewbudi
Colourist// Ruben Labree
Sound Designer// Nancy Yeboah/ @nancysofly
Composer// Spencer Creaghan/ @spencercomposer
Send Us Your Films
Hey filmmakers! Have a project of your own you’d like us to check out?