Pelada Gets Write-up at MPR and Star Tribune
Documentary ‘Pelada’ gets to the naked truth about soccer
Our soccer friend Euan Kerr from MPR has a nice write-up today at the station’s news site MPR News Q. Kerr interviewed Pelada producer and co-director Ryan White.
White says due to the spontaneous nature of pick-up soccer they couldn’t really plan. They would pick a likely country, and city, learn the local word for pick-up soccer, and then see what they could find.
“Most of the stories that made the final cut are stories we happened upon. Basically our job for two years of traveling around the world was to wander,” said White.
Kerr writes that the Minneapolis screening on Thursday is part of a multi-prong approach to distribution. The film is being shown all over the country at special events linked to the World Cup. It’s also available through video on demand, and DVD. White says if all goes well there could be a theatrical release, and maybe a broadcast too. PBS is distributing the film internationally, and he hopes there could be enough interest for a domestic airing too.
To see Kerr’s interview with White and listen to their conversation click here.
Another friend to IMS, David La Vaque, the Star Tribune’s NSC Minnesota Stars beat writer, has also given the movie a review on the paper’s new online World Cup site. La Vaque interviews Gwendolyn Oxenham, who came up with the idea for the movie along with her (now) husband Luke Boughen. Gwendolyn and Boughen, who are the stars of the film, traveled through 25 countries to complete the documentary.
“Our gut feeling was that we had something special,” Oxenham said. “It was better than we thought it would be. You start out with this cool idea about going around the world to play pick-up soccer with no real concept of just how rich the material would be. I don’t know if it was just luck or a testament to the game, how many wonderful stories there are to tell.”
Space for the screening is limited. To make reservations, please Email Stars Media Coordinator Alex Haueter or call (763) 792-7333. Reservations will also be accepted at NSC Minnesota Stars home games on May 29 and June 9. Remaining tickets will also be available at the door the day of the screening.
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