Events Transpiring Before, During, and After a High School Basketball Game - A feature film written & directed by Ted Stenson - RDVCanada.ca
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A feature film
written & directed
Events Transpiring Before, During, and After Press Kit
2020 • 75 mins
by Ted Stenson
a High School Basketball Game Canada • DCP • 16:9
Synopsis EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
It’s 1999 and the Middleview LONG nudity and blood? And Ken, a cantankerous
referee, tries to balance his ref duties with
Ducks boys basketball team It’s 1999 and the Middleview Ducks boys
basketball team are about to play the most caring for his soon-to-be ex-wife Karen’s dog.
are about to play the most But the osteoporosis-stricken canine is on the
low-stakes game of their lives.
low-stakes game of their lives. loose, and Ken must track her down before
As the team prepares for another certain Karen makes his life any more difficult.
SHORT loss, the high school dramas around the game
become more of a focus than the score. The mundane realities of high school rise to the
It’s 1999 and the Middleview Ducks boys
There’s the basketball team, who are anything forefront as the characters both strive to reach
basketball team are about to play the most
but your stereotypical jocks. Perplexed by their ambitions and accept their inadequacies.
low-stakes game of their lives.
The Matrix, Joel ponders existentialism and The feature film debut from director / writer
As the team prepares for another certain unrelentingly tries to explain the concept to Ted Stenson, Events Transpiring Before, During,
loss, the dramas around the game become his teammates, while Corey just wants to smoke and After a High School Basketball Game is
more of a focus than the score. Locker room his pot in peace. This is all to the dismay of their a funny, offbeat, and endearing unconventional
conversations about existentialism, an assistant overambitious assistant coach, Brent (Andrew take on the all-too conventional sports narrative –
coach’s obsession with an NBA offence Phung, Kim’s Convenience). He is certain that one that will surprise, charm, and entertain.
technique, organizing a radical theatre protest, a win is possible, if only the team can rally
and frantically searching for an osteoporosis- and pull off NBA coach Phil Jackson’s famed
stricken canine are just some of the events that Triangle Offence, a complicated technique used
take place before, during, and after the high by the best professional basketball players.
school basketball game.
Outside of the gymnasium, Middleview’s radical
theatre collective debate over what method of
protest will have the most impact after their
interpretation of King Lear is cancelled by the
administration. A sit-in or something involving
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Director’s Note EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
As a passionate yet completely school sports teams that play for sold-out
gymnasiums of rabid fans and high school
mediocre athlete who has
athletes who really do take steroids and have
played on a wide array of poorly orgies with cheerleaders, my guess is that,
performing sports teams on the whole, high school athletics more
I’ve always been attracted to generally resemble my own banal experience.
writing a story about a team
Events Transpiring is an attempt to debunk
that simply wasn’t very good. some of these high school myths and portray
Unlike what is usually depicted in film and a humorous, yet mundane alternative, one in
television, my experience playing high school which no one gets the girl and the team really
sports was largely unremarkable and certainly, does lose the game at the end.
for any outside viewers, not very entertaining.
While I loved sports and lived to play, my teams Ted Stenson
were rarely (if ever?) involved in nail-biting Writer & Director
games decided by buzzer beaters in which
bleachers full of fans cheered us on wildly.
The reality consisted more of clumsy action,
humiliating defeats, and apathetic, mostly empty
stands. Similarly, my fellow athletes were not
swaggering, obnoxious sex gods but rather
undersized, intellectually aspirant virgins.
The inspiration for this film came from this
discrepancy between fantasy and, at least my,
reality. While I’m sure that there really are high
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EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
PRESS KIT
Team EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
Ted Stenson Nicola Waugh of the Bunny Phantom, and Under 40, and in 2018 was
as a DIT and assistant editor awarded Distinguished Alumni
Writer & Director Producer
on the features Circle of Steel from MacEwan University’s
Ted Stenson is a writer and Nicola is an independent and Man Running. In 2017, he Arts and Cultural Management
filmmaker based in Calgary, producer, film programmer and received the AFA Young Artist program.
Alberta. He graduated from communications expert based Prize, nominated by filmmaker
the MFA Theatre program at in Calgary. She has worked Gary Burns. In addition to Gillian McKercher
the University of Calgary with with film festivals and artist production work, he is also Executive Producer
a degree in playwriting. His run centres across Canada, the Programming Coordinator
plays and short films have including the Calgary Society With roots in analogue
at Calgary Cinematheque.
been performed and screened of Independent Filmmakers experimental film, Gillian chose
to dedicate herself to cinema
at festivals across Canada and (CSIF), the $100 Film Festival, Brenda Lieberman
the United States. Recently, after leaving a career as an
Calgary Underground Film Executive Producer engineer. She directed the
Ted Stenson Nicola Waugh his play The Once and Future Festival, Calgary Cinema- Brenda Lieberman
King of Zanzibar was staged theque, Regent Park Film Brenda is the Festival Director, feature film, Circle of Steel,
at Pittsburgh New Works’ Lab Festival, and Reel Asian Film Co-Founder and Programmer which won an Audience Award
Series. In 2015, his short film Festival. She is currently for the Calgary Underground at the 2018 Calgary International
Craig, the Loneliest Man in the producing a documentary Film Festival (2004), and Lead Film Festival. Her broadcast
World, Makes a Friend, Loses about Japanese Gardens Features Programmer for the work includes multiple music
a Friend, and Subsequently for CBC, airing in fall 2020. Calgary International Film videos, documentaries and
Learns the Value of Solitude Festival (2007). In addition she the webseries, The Calgary
won Best Canadian Film at Kevin Dong has film production experience, Collection. Gillian won a Young
a member of IATSE 212, and Artist Prize from the Alberta
Videodrunk Toronto. He is Producer
currently developing a radio has been involved with several Foundation for the Arts and
Kevin Dong is an independent other start-up festivals. She most recently was a 2019
play about an animal plastic
producer and editor based in participates on industry juries director resident of the Canadian
surgeon. Events Transpiring
Calgary. He has worked as a and panels internationally. Film Centre’s Directors’ Lab,
Before, During, and After a
producer on the Storyhive In 2009 Brenda was awarded where she developed her
High School Basketball Game
animated short The Legend Avenue magazine’s Top 40 second feature film.
Kevin Dong is his first feature film. Gillian McKercher
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Cast EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
Andrew Phung Benjamin Arthurs Isra Abdelrahim Paul Cowling
Coach Brent Joel Claire Mr. Davidson
Andrew Phung is an award Benjamin unassumingly began Isra makes her film debut Paul is an actor currently
winning actor, writer, and his acting vocation at age 11 with Events Transpiring Before, based in Calgary, Alberta.
emcee. He joined the Loose with the role of Tiny Tim in During, and After a High A native of that city, he
Moose Theatre Company Theater Calgary’s production School Basketball Game. Isra has performed in theatres
at the age of 16 to study of A Christmas Carol. Blissful began acting in high school throughout Canada from
improvisational comedy, years of Christmas Carol, and was heavily involved in the Vancouver to PEI, in such
and has emerged as one of background work, one liners, drama department, playing roles as John Wilkes Booth in
Canada’s top comedic talents. and a few seasons dubbing the role of Ophelia (Hamlet, Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins,
Andrew currently stars on the over CardFight; Vanguard 2018) in her grade 10 year Scrooge in A Christmas Carol,
hit CBC television series Kim’s later; it was Central Memorial’s and pursuing acting ever since. to MacBeth in Shakespeare’s
Andrew Phung Convenience, where he’s won PVA program providing real She is passionate about the great play. Paul has also Isra Abdelrahim
back to back Canadian Screen learning experiences such as performing arts and volunteering done his fair share of film and
Awards (2017 and 2018) in the Meisner and Improv workshops in her community. As an avid television, from such shows as
category of Best Supporting with professionals that formed volunteer, she is often public the original McGyver, North of
Actor in a Comedy Series, Benjamin’s true respect and speaking in community and 60, Wynonna Earp, and Arrow.
and AMPIA award (2018) for focus for the arts as a whole. political spaces.
Best Performance by an Alberta Currently attending AUArts for
Actor. His recent television a BFA in Drawing, Benjamin’s
and film credits include The focus is to broaden his
Beaverton, Little Italy, and perspective on the arts and
Wynonna Earp. He can also find new opportunities for
be heard on CBC Radio as a collaboration of ideas. Events
regular contributor to Now or Transpiring Before, During, and
Never, The Debaters, and After a High School Basketball
Because News. Game is his film debut.
Benjamin Arthurs Paul Cowling
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EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
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Q&A
With Writer & Director
EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
Ted Stenson
What was the inspiration I played. I don’t really remember the “dramatic”
moments (because there weren’t any?). I do
I do remember all of the awkward, ungainly kids
for this project?
I have always wanted to tell a story about a
remember all of the awkward, ungainly kids I played with and the embarrassing enthusiasm
I played with and the embarrassing enthusiasm
sports team that was terrible. I played on a lot of some of the coaches and the feeling of disbelief of some of the coaches and the feeling of
of terrible teams growing up and I’ve never seen
disbelief during particularly pathetic losses.
during particularly pathetic losses. It was these
anything that really depicts both the humiliation experiences that inspired the film.
and humor of that experience. There is something
very funny, and kind of tragic, about a bunch of
It was these experiences that inspired the film.
What filmmakers are
un-athletic kids playing sports, especially when
they are coached by over-enthusiastic adults.
you most influenced by? of Chance. Similar to Andersson’s work, was somewhat unique but the “jocks” at
My memories of playing sports are much more At the time of developing this project I was Haneke’s film is comprised mostly of static, my school were not the stereotypically cool,
about the people I played with and the places extremely influenced by Roy Andersson. He is seemingly disconnected scenes. Ultimately, promiscuous drunks you see in movies. Most
a Swedish filmmaker these storylines collide and give shape to what of the people I played sports with were either
who is famous for his has come before. It was while watching this film really religious or really nerdy. None of us had
dry humor and use of that I had the inspiration for Events Transpiring. cache because we were athletes. The “vibe” in
static vignettes. While Although 71 Fragments of a Chronology of the locker room was both tame and pretentious.
Andersson’s style is Chance is deeply unfunny and much more I can distinctly remember arguing about Camus’
much more absurd and political, I envisioned using its basic framework The Stranger before a basketball game. Although
less linear than what as a structure for a funny, largely apolitical the fact of my teammates being mild-mannered
I envisioned for Events high school sports film. nerds and gentle bible thumpers may have been
Transpiring, I hoped to a bit of an anomaly, or simply my perception,
convey the same feeling How did you draw on your but I have always found it funny and somewhat
of humorous, yet almost
high school experience when charming. Sports films are one of the most
painful, banality. I was clichéd genres in film. Teams are either
also influenced, perhaps
writing and directing this film? corporate-backed powerhouses or a sad-sack
more literally, by Michael I played basketball, football, and volleyball in rag-tag band of misfits. With this film I wanted
Haneke’s film 71 Frag- high school at Queen Elizabeth, which is actually to show a different, much less sensationalistic,
ments of a Chronology where we shot the film. Perhaps my school side of high school sports.
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Q&A EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
What was working with the younger actors that I genuinely As this was a novel experience for most of them,
entertained the thought of becoming a high there weren’t many egos or preconceptions;
the process
school teacher – until I realized how much they all just seemed excited and enthusiastic.
for casting work that would entail… It also seemed to help matters that they were
the teens in portraying a bad basketball team. Most of the
the film? What was your approach people we cast had no experience playing
We needed a LOT of working with such young sports and this seemed to create a spirit of
teenage actors for this and fresh actors? camaraderie. Once we were on set things went
film so we cast as wide quite smoothly. As with all of the actors, I tried to
As many of the younger actors had very little
a net as possible. We give them clear objectives to work towards and
experience, I wanted to do as much preparatory
had a casting director a clear context within which they were working.
work as possible (within ACTRA limits of course).
who helped connect us Despite a lack of experience all of the actors
I was able to arrange a few rehearsals and
with more experienced were almost unbelievably easy to work with.
some of the actors got together on their own
actors and we also put to practice as well. Oddly,
out a casting call to high rehearsing before a shoot
schools, local theatre is apparently not that
groups, youth film common but I was
What role does basketball groups… basically anywhere we thought there extremely grateful that
play in your life? might be interested kids. We received a ton of we were able to. The
really diverse submissions. Some of the kids rehearsals were really
I am a pretty obsessive basketball fan and
were highly experienced but a lot had absolutely helpful. A lot of what we
player. I play in a league and, if possible,
zero experience. Some of the kids were really did was talk about our own
would probably play everyday. One of the
passionate about acting while others, hilariously, high school experiences
best things about shooting the film was having
seemed to view the opportunity as something and find common ground.
access to a gym everyday. I played a lot
good to put on a resume. We ended up casting The actors, particularly
of BUMP with the actors during shooting.
a mix of these two groups. Amazingly, some of the guys portraying
the kids with zero experience were the strongest the basketball players,
and most professional. I had such a good time gelled quickly.
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Q&A EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
Sports films are one of the most clichéd genres
in film. Teams are either corporate-backed power-
houses or a sad-sack rag-tag band of misfits.
With this film I wanted to show a different, much
less sensationalistic, side of high school sports.
Can you talk about the technopop. I couldn’t believe that people
from Calgary were making this very slick,
music selection for the film
commercial-sounding pop music back then.
and how you went about Mozart’s Rage also seemed to be, in some
creating the soundtrack? respects, the most obscure band we included.
The music is primarily sourced from Calgary None of the music people we consulted had
bands from the late ‘90s. I found most of this ever heard of them which, again because
music from an amazing online resource called Calgary is so close knit, seemed very surprising.
Calgary Cassette Preservation Society. Calgary We ended up using a really diverse range of
Cassette Preservation Society is basically a music – punk, emo, rock, Eurodance, Jann
huge archive of Calgary music from at least the Arden – and it feels exciting to include these
‘70s to present day. Calgary’s art scene is pretty strange links to Calgary’s past.
close knit so in most cases someone involved
in the production had a connection to the bands
we were interested in. The most exciting
discovery for me was a band called Mozart’s
Rage that made a kind of Euro-Dance
PRESS KITStills EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
Downloads
All Materials
Hi-Res Stills
Trailer
PRESS KITCredits EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
Writer & Director Original Music Cast
Ted Stenson Julianna Hindemith Andrew Phung
Ben Arthurs
Producers First Assistant Director Isra Abdelrahim
Kevin Dong Karlee McTavish Jay Morberg
Nicola Waugh Ivy Miller
Casting
Executive Producers Sue Bristow Thomas Receveur
Gillian McKercher Isaiah McKirgan
Costume Design Paul Cowling
Brenda Lieberman
Ashley Allen
Director of Photography Photography
On Location Sound Chelsea Yang-Smith
Guillaume Carlier
Alex Mitchell
Editors
Guillaume Carlier
Ted Stenson
PRESS KITContact EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
Press Contacts
Laura Carlson
Marketing & Publicity
l.carlson@kinosum.com
Nicola Waugh
Producer
n.waugh@kinosum.com
kinosum.com
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