ALONE IN THE GAME

Bold, well-told stories wield significant power. They don’t just entertain, they can also move audiences to take action. With Alone In The Game, part of my vision was to offer a rare glimpse into the lives of elite LGBTQ athletes—their unique journeys and the daily challenges they face on and off the field of play. But the other key part was to effect real change at the highest levels of American sport, so that the next generation of athletes will be judged by their athletic performance, rather than sexual orientation or gender identity.

The documentary medium is ideally suited to achieving both goals. It can engage the heart and mind with evocative, inspiring, and emotional storytelling. This film gives voice to—and tells the stories of—those who live in the oppressive silence of the closet. These are real people, who play their hearts out every day for the benefit of their teams, as well as the joy of sports fans everywhere. They commit their all, even as they endure hardship, bigotry, exclusion and sometimes danger, all of which affect not just their future in sport, but their future in life. Allowing the audience to walk in the shoes of these brave athletes, to feel both their passion and pain, will hopefully move communities all across the country to take action, to ensure that the world of sport is open to all. 

Given my background, I felt that I was in a unique position to deliver these stories in a compelling and compassionate way, helping audiences around the world experience first hand what it’s really like to be an LGBTQ athlete in sport today. As a filmmaker and an expert in the fields of mental wellness and suicide prevention for athletes, I am often put in touch with closeted athletes, athletes in crisis and/or athletes who have faced head-on a culture of exclusion from sport. Being a former closeted elite athlete myself, I can understand their stories from the inside. At the same time, years of consulting work and partnering with professional sports leagues and institutions has given me insight into the pressures that sometimes stand in the way of greater acceptance and inclusion. This true insider perspective and access—to athletes, coaches, owners, and executives—enables me to see the whole picture, and it makes me one of the few people who could fully capture it on screen.

I cannot offer enough thanks and appreciation to the entire team at AT&T Audience Network and DIRECTV for supporting the vision for Alone In The Game. Not only were they an incredible production partner, willing to provide a global platform for these athletes, they embraced the film’s innovative approach to storytelling—especially the combination of a “cinematic look and feel,” a distinct visual language, and high-energy production values that speak directly to sports audiences. 

Powerful documentary films, in their portrayal of our shared humanity, can and do inspire change. Even if that change is incremental, it is nonetheless real. And my hope is that the wider the audience for Alone In The Game, the brighter the future will be for all athletes, and indeed for the entire world of sport.