Our campaign on IndieGoGo is over, but we are still raising money to finish the film.  Please visit our website to find out how you can make a tax-deductible contribution.

http://www.grannysgotgame.com/

The Story

Granny's Got Game is a documentary film about a senior women's basketball team in North Carolina. These seven fiercely competitive women in their seventies battle physical limitations and social stigma to keep doing what they love. They started playing 6-on-6 basketball in the 1950s but stopped after high school as there were no opportunities to keep playing in those pre-Title IX days.  Now they must learn a new, physical style of play while overcoming the skepticism of their peers. The team has had great success together over the last two decades, winning a multitude of medals in tournaments across the country.  Just like so many younger sports teams, this one includes a bossy captain, a guard who never runs the plays correctly, a tentative post player, and a benchwarmer who wants to play more than anyone.  As teammates and friends, they support each other off the court through the difficulties that accompany aging, such as breast cancer and widowhood. These women are more than a team...they are a family. The film follows them for a yearlong season culminating in a nearly disastrous trip to the National Senior Games Championship in Houston, Texas. 

To find out more about the team and view an extended trailer for the movie, visit the film's website here.

The Impact

I was lucky enough to have a successful basketball career playing for USA Basketball and Vanderbilt University in the 1990s.  With my glory days long gone, I thought I was finished playing basketball. Then I met this team at the local YMCA. Suddenly, my outlook on things changed.  The women helped me to remember how much I loved to play and how much I enjoyed being part of a team.  I have spent the last year and half with these women, documenting their journeys, and even doing a little coaching.  The experience has changed me and I hope the film will inspire you. 

 My goals for Granny's Got Game are to...

• …honor and celebrate these amazing women.
• …inspire people of all ages to stay active.
• …change perceptions of the capabilities of the elderly and contest negative stereotypes.
• …highlight the support and encouragement the women get from being part of a team.
• …give younger viewers a sense of perspective so they can appreciate today’s sports opportunities.
• …illustrate the competitive and ambitious nature of female athletes of all ages.

I intend on showing the movie in film festivals across the country and pursuing television broadcast opportunities.  I also plan to screen the film for senior centers and youth basketball camps. 

Who else is involved

• Debbie Antonelli, one of the nation's most esteemed women's basketball analysts, has agreed to narrate the film. 
  
• Bill Jackson, an Emmy-winning Hollywood sound mixer, has agreed to do the sound mix for the film. 
  
• Fred Story, an award-winning composer with over 20 years experience, has agreed to compose an original score for the film.

What We Need and Why

After a year and half, I have concluded filming the women and the movie is now in post-production.  I have done everything so far using my own resources, but what is left to finish the movie is beyond my skills and equipment.  The money raised during our campaign will be used to hire talented people to do the things that I can not do - composing music, doing the sound mix, color correction, and more.  These things are necessary to make this a high-quality film that will be played at film festivals and possibly on TV.  We are lucky enough to have some very accomplished people working on the project at a small fraction of their normal rates because they love the story.  I'm quite thrifty, but we need at least $10,000 to complete the film.  Our original IndieGoGo goal was just $5,000.  Through the generous support of many, we exceeded that goal in just 9 days!  The more money we can raise, the higher the quality of the film and the more people we can reach.  We need your help!

What You Get

In exchange for your contribution, we are offering an array of different perks associated with the film. The amount of your contribution determines your perk level.  (See the different levels on the right.)

 Perks include:

• A digital download of the movie or a pre-release DVD with lots of exclusive deleted scenes.

• A special thank you on our website, or contribute more and your name will appear in the film credits.

• You can get the inspiring Ben Franklin quote on a 5” magnet for your refrigerator or car.

• You can get the inspiring Ben Franklin quote on a high quality sports duffel bag.

• If you live in the Raleigh area or are willing to travel, we are offering the opportunity to practice with the team and play me one-on-one.  (I’m a 6’6” shot blocker – bring it on!)  Then afterwards we will all go out to lunch and the ladies can entertain you with more of their stories.

I have recently added these additional perks from my own collection of basketball memorabilia from my playing days.

• In honor of the Vanderbilt University men’s basketball SEC Tournament championship, I am offering a vintage Vandy reversible practice jersey.  Made by Russell Athletics.  Size XL.

• In honor of March Madness, I am offering a Swiss-made NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament watch from 1996.  These watches are only given to players whose teams play in the tournament. Leather band.

• In honor of the upcoming 2012 Olympics, I am offering a USA Basketball jacket by Starter.  Size XXL.

Other Ways You Can Help

Spread the word! Join our growing fan base by telling your friends, family and social networks about our IndieGoGo campaign. Please send the URL of this page with a heartfelt endorsement to everyone you know!  Leave us a comment and tell us what you think of the film, or share your own basketball story.  Let us know if you’d like to sponsor a screening of the film or become an outreach partner.

FAQs

How can I contribute?

Just click on the green buttons that say “Contribute Now” or “Claim This Perk”.

Can I write a check?

IndieGoGo does not support checks.  Instead, a secure way of paying with your credit card or PayPal account is provided.  If you are still not comfortable with this, please contact us to make other arrangements.

Is my contribution tax-deductible?

Contributions made through IndieGoGo are not tax-deductible.  If you are interested in donating a larger amount (over $1,000), you can make a 100% tax-deductible contribution through our fiscal sponsor, The Southern Documentary Fund. We would appreciate such strong support immensely and reward it accordingly. To make a 100% tax-deductible donation, please visit our project webpage.

When will the film be released?

We hope to finish the film in late summer and submit to film festivals.  Please contribute, add this campaign to your IndieGoGo favorites, or like Granny’s Got Game on Facebook to follow the progress of the film and find out when and where it will premiere.

When will I get my stuff?

Magnets and duffel bags will go out in May.  Digital downloads and DVDs should be ready this fall. We will be in touch to set up a time for you to practice with the ladies.

How much is shipping?

U.S. shipping is included in the pledge amount. (Add $6 for Canada; $10 for international.)

How can I contact you?

View our contact information on the film's website here.