Project Basics
BPM’s Role: Camera, Audio, Lighting
Client: NorthSide Pictures, Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente
Date: 2011-2015
Category:
Description
Over the span of at least three years – I lost count of the number of shoots – I crossed the border into Mexico with a skeleton crew to film interviews and b-roll that culminated in a feature-length, bi-lingual documentary called “Club Frontera.” We focussed on the larger picture of how the team came from obscurity and underdog status to win the championship in an unprecedented short span. A major theme of the picture was how the Xolos have united the transplant community of Tijuana and the various ways the team makes a positive impact through social programs.
We interviewed the Xolos team, their leadership and owners, die-hard fan group LA MASAKR3, a prolific mural artist, local politicians, reporters, non-profit organizations, prominent cultural figures and businesspeople in Tijuana and the San Diego area. We also sat down with soccer legend Jurgen Klinsmann who was at the time the US National Team’s coach, along with several players from the US team.
I often operated two cameras, along with setting the lighting and usually handling all of the audio in a sometimes chaotic and always high-pressure environment. I was lucky enough to wear a yellow vest and shoot from the sidelines at games alongside the press corp. We drank tequila and shared incredible local food in the owner’s boxes, and most importantly we mingled with the strong, colorful, creative and welcoming people of Tijuana.
This underdog of a documentary about an underdog of a team had an impressive run in the indie film festival circuit in the US and Europe, with screenings in Tijuana, San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City, New Mexico, Kentucky, Germany and Denmark. Later, it was edited-down for broadcast on ESPN and Fox Sports networks in the US and Mexico, and streaming networks including Amazon Prime Video.
Written & Directed by Chris Cashman of NorthSide Pictures
Awards: (partial list)
Won:
Golden Whistle Award for Best Feature Documentary; Kicking + Screening Film Festival
Best Feature Documentary; San Diego Film Awards
Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary; San Diego Latino Film Festival
Best Feature Documentary Award; Lexington Latino Film Festival
Nominated, Best Feature Documentary:
Chicago Latino Film Festival
All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival
United Latino Film Festival
11mm Berlin Film Festival
Gear Used:
- Canon DSLRs & Lenses
- GoPro cameras
- LED panels
- Zoom & Tascam field audio recorders
- Sony & Sennheiser wireless lavalier mics
- Tripods, shoulder rigs and Glidecam