Pool Documentary Film
- Thread starter Ericchen0121
- Start date
I agree that a doco on the IPT is not going to show pool in a very good light.
Better to look for a story about a particular player, group of players or promoter that has a relatively happy ending. People love a story, and it is hard to tell a story if it is too broad or not personal in nature I think.
Colin
Better to look for a story about a particular player, group of players or promoter that has a relatively happy ending. People love a story, and it is hard to tell a story if it is too broad or not personal in nature I think.
Colin
Maybe follow the different levels of players from the casual player, the beginner that wants to make it, intermediate, new pro, pro thats been there a few years and a pro that has many years under their belt. I think it might be interesting to find out why people started playing and what drives them to get better or keep playing. You might get to see how passionate people really are about the game.
Another idea might be to do the same thing but compare them to people that did the same thing 20, 30, 40+ years ago and find out the difference between now and then. You could tie in how much the game has changed, but how far it still needs to come as well.
I think if you do something that sheds a positive light on the game but is also truthful about how hard it is to succeed it may be appealing to sponsors or may reach someone that normally would not even see pool as a professional sport.
Just my opinion,
Sarah
Another idea might be to do the same thing but compare them to people that did the same thing 20, 30, 40+ years ago and find out the difference between now and then. You could tie in how much the game has changed, but how far it still needs to come as well.
I think if you do something that sheds a positive light on the game but is also truthful about how hard it is to succeed it may be appealing to sponsors or may reach someone that normally would not even see pool as a professional sport.
Just my opinion,
Sarah
Ericchen0121 said:
If you want to show why the game hasn't taken off,
the IPT is only a recent footnote
"Hustlers, Beats and Others" - track down a copy of this
book as a starting point. Not the only option, but as good
as any to launch into learning about the true reasons
Dale
Voodoo Daddy
One Pocket 101
I would like to see a doc done from the 40's-50's to the modern day player. Names like James Evans, Marcel Camp and others..it would be tough now because alot of those that saw the older names play top shelf pool arent around anymore. The Jansco Brothers, Pete Margo and those that tried to make the sport succeed. Stories from legends...inna pool room setting with a few champions sitting around argueing. What do I know...
Lots of stuff discussed here is only of interest to the hardcore pool nuts.
If you want to get a broader audience, you need to have the spectacular shots and the money, and perhaps have a global perspective.
Money
Certainly pool has problems such as the IPT. But snooker also ran into problems with sponsors dropping out. But some oil countries have come up with big money events and a crown prince competes in big tournaments.
Holmann joins army to plays pool, leaves army, becomes a champion, unknown before the event, and makes a killing betting on himself at very long odds.
Efren has eye surgery and has his best year, at an age when he would be expected to see his skills declining.
Earl's million dollar run.
Contrasts
There is what the instructors say should be the proper technique, and then there is what some players actually use. Engert spinning the cue and sticking out his tongue. McCready's sidearm. Alcano sticking two fingers down. Bustamante's cue butt wandering all over the place.
Bar table vs snooker table, pockets vs no pockets
The tuxedo elegance of UK snooker vs the t-shirt hillbillies in the U.S.
The nomads who wander the world vs the employed who only compete locally.
The Shots That Altered Championships
Alex P had a horrible rack to get through in the latter stages of his world win.
Wu became a champion when The Little Monster got hooked.
Equipment - The minimalist vs Earl
The custom cue vs an adequate tool.
How players became top competitors - Europe seem to be different from North America or Southeast Asia.
If you want to get a broader audience, you need to have the spectacular shots and the money, and perhaps have a global perspective.
Money
Certainly pool has problems such as the IPT. But snooker also ran into problems with sponsors dropping out. But some oil countries have come up with big money events and a crown prince competes in big tournaments.
Holmann joins army to plays pool, leaves army, becomes a champion, unknown before the event, and makes a killing betting on himself at very long odds.
Efren has eye surgery and has his best year, at an age when he would be expected to see his skills declining.
Earl's million dollar run.
Contrasts
There is what the instructors say should be the proper technique, and then there is what some players actually use. Engert spinning the cue and sticking out his tongue. McCready's sidearm. Alcano sticking two fingers down. Bustamante's cue butt wandering all over the place.
Bar table vs snooker table, pockets vs no pockets
The tuxedo elegance of UK snooker vs the t-shirt hillbillies in the U.S.
The nomads who wander the world vs the employed who only compete locally.
The Shots That Altered Championships
Alex P had a horrible rack to get through in the latter stages of his world win.
Wu became a champion when The Little Monster got hooked.
Equipment - The minimalist vs Earl
The custom cue vs an adequate tool.How players became top competitors - Europe seem to be different from North America or Southeast Asia.
shoot 'dangerous' in his first comp in hollywood 
Scaramouche said:Lots of stuff discussed here is only of interest to the hardcore pool nuts.
If you want to get a broader audience, you need to have the spectacular shots and the money, and perhaps have a global perspective.
Money
Certainly pool has problems such as the IPT. But snooker also ran into problems with sponsors dropping out. But some oil countries have come up with big money events and a crown prince competes in big tournaments.
Holmann joins army to plays pool, leaves army, becomes a champion, unknown before the event, and makes a killing betting on himself at very long odds.
Efren has eye surgery and has his best year, at an age when he would be expected to see his skills declining.
Earl's million dollar run.
Contrasts
There is what the instructors say should be the proper technique, and then there is what some players actually use. Engert spinning the cue and sticking out his tongue. McCready's sidearm. Alcano sticking two fingers down. Bustamante's cue butt wandering all over the place.
Bar table vs snooker table, pockets vs no pockets
The tuxedo elegance of UK snooker vs the t-shirt hillbillies in the U.S.
The nomads who wander the world vs the employed who only compete locally.
The Shots That Altered Championships
Alex P had a horrible rack to get through in the latter stages of his world win.
Wu became a champion when The Little Monster got hooked.
Equipment - The minimalist vs Earl
How players became top competitors - Europe seem to be different from North America or Southeast Asia.
These are some great material to start and will be apealling to non-poolplayers! It's almost like "Discovery Channel for Pool"
I love it!
That's where I was going with this. There are some people that really bust their butt trying to make good in this game. It would be great to see that side of it especially if one of them were to win or at least come in the top 5. That's why I am thinking three pro's. You'd probably get a better chance to have someone reach the finals. And by all means get someone with class, someone that will really put a positive spin on the game. We have enough negatives to deal with.coreyh said:
I don't think the money angle will interest alot of people outside of the game IMO. It will only solidify people's perception that pool is a hustlers game. Same thing with miraculous shot making I am not sure if it sells outside of our circle. That's why, I think, you need a storyline that is based on the character of the players. Let people know we are just like they are. There is winning and losing and we care just as strongly about both.
Just my .02 cents
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Thanks for the ideas
I think you guys are right--
showing the players as human beings is what people want to see.
I'll let you know when something is in the works.
Eric
I think you guys are right--
showing the players as human beings is what people want to see.
I'll let you know when something is in the works.
Eric
Some of you know that I've been working on a documentary about pro pool for the last six (!!!!) years. I'm glad I've taken my time because I think my film will show how our five-hundred year old sport progresses like molasses, but progresses nonetheless.
I'm very excited about this project and I'm looking forward to releasing it, hopefully this year.
Just some of the players featured:
Steve Mizerak
Jimmy Caras
Buddy Hall
Ewa Laurance
Jeannette Lee
Efren Reyes
Grady Matthews
Tony Robles
Johnny Archer
Jeremy Jones
Danny Diliberto
Bill Incardona
Steve Knight
Tommy Kennedy
Ralph Souquet
And many others.
A trailer should be posted on my site within the next 60 days.
I'm very excited about this project and I'm looking forward to releasing it, hopefully this year.
Just some of the players featured:
Steve Mizerak
Jimmy Caras
Buddy Hall
Ewa Laurance
Jeannette Lee
Efren Reyes
Grady Matthews
Tony Robles
Johnny Archer
Jeremy Jones
Danny Diliberto
Bill Incardona
Steve Knight
Tommy Kennedy
Ralph Souquet
And many others.
A trailer should be posted on my site within the next 60 days.
