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NBA All-Star Steve Francis had put the previous—what occurred his rookie yr after being drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies—behind him fully when he was abruptly approached by Kat Jayme, a filmmaker and longtime fan, who hoped to inform his story in a documentary that may uncover the reality behind what occurred to the franchise earlier than relocating to Memphis. After publicly expressing his sentiments about enjoying in Vancouver, adopted by a commerce to Houston, Francis admits now over Zoom that he didn’t even pay a lot consideration to the controversy all through his complete NBA profession. That’s, till James boldly traveled all the best way to a signing occasion in Houston simply to fulfill him and ask if he might be part of the movie. That undertaking would later turn out to be, The Grizzlie Fact, which is now premiering on the Toronto Movie Pageant.
Jayme didn’t come empty handed, although. She’d introduced alongside an enormous poster of an animation of Francis on draft day carrying his Houston Rockets jersey with the Vancouver Grizzlies brand within the background. The gesture was sufficient to impress the previous No. 1 decide.
“For any individual to come back to Houston, Toyota Middle, the place my face is planted all all through the [arena], realizing how individuals checked out me in Vancouver, at that time, I used to be stunned,” Francis says of assembly Jayme for the primary time. He later provides: “I might have by no means thought of coming [to Vancouver] if I wouldn’t have [met] Kat, however, you already know, individuals have totally different results on individuals and the best way that she got here [to me] was very respectful. That’s what opened the door.”
Jayme admits on the identical Zoom name that she was nervous to even method Francis within the first place. She had a script ready, which she wrote down on her palms, and was pacing backwards and forwards outdoors of the sector whereas practising how she was going to introduce herself, not to mention persuade him to be part of the movie. “Steve is a part of the Vancouver Grizzlies’ historical past. And so, that was type of my pitch to him, like, You might be part of this story. I’m making this movie [and] I’d love so that you can be part of it as a result of we have to discuss what occurred. I might love so that you can have your personal voice in it as a result of persons are gonna be speaking about you.”
The pitch, and Jayme’s sincerity, labored. Not simply Francis, but additionally convincing former gamers, coaches and members of the Vancouver Grizzlies group to be interviewed for the movie. The result’s a candid and charming investigation into the lengthy misplaced historical past of the group, and in the end what led to the franchise leaving Vancouver.
To be taught extra about what went into filming The Grizzlie Fact, and the affect the movie has on retelling a bit of NBA historical past, SLAM caught up with Jayme and Francis whereas they have been in Vancouver selling the movie. It was the primary time Francis had been again there in over 20 years.
SLAM: When did you, Kat, first begin fascinated with making this movie?
KAT JAYME: Once I was in college, I went to movie college, and I feel, you already know, I used to be so into 30 for 30s and I used to be identical to, I’ve the right story—the story of the Vancouver Grizzlies. I feel each filmmaker has that one story of their profession that they need to inform and for me it was the story of Vancouver Grizzlies, primarily as a result of I knew my private connection to the group—I’ve pictures of me at video games, I’ve footage, as you see within the movie of me at video games, I’ve childhood drawings of the group, I’ve all these, like, all of the toys. Documentaries that I like are ones which have many layers, and I simply knew with the archival that I had, that it was the fitting story for me to inform.
SLAM: That’s wonderful, and for you, Steve, what was it wish to have somebody inform your story? Had been you nervous in any respect?
STEVE FRANCIS: Uh, as a result of the final picture the Vancouver followers had of me was on the [NBA] Draft [and] the hostility each time I performed right here, it type of felt slightly relieving to have the ability to discuss to any individual who needed to listen to my facet of the story and didn’t simply put me in a field [about] what was stated about me in ‘99 till most likely this movie. I nonetheless get individuals from Vancouver that’ll say, “What are you doing right here? We don’t such as you.” However, I’ve been by means of a lot in order that doesn’t imply something to me.
KJ: I really feel like that’s gonna change after individuals watch the movie.
SLAM: Steve, how did you start to course of the whole lot and the adversity you needed to cope with and nonetheless go on the market on the court docket each evening?
SF: If you happen to take a look at my NBA profession and the best way I performed, it didn’t make a distinction what was stated about me. So, till I retired and Kat introduced it again up, I by no means actually thought of retouching on it. I [took] some pictures right here and there, I couldn’t take pictures on the complete metropolis, however they constantly do it each time my identify is talked about, however, you already know, it’s full circle like I used to be explaining earlier.
SLAM: On that be aware, Kat, as a filmmaker did you are feeling a way of accountability in telling not solely Steve’s story, however all the historical past of the franchise? How do you suppose Vancouver Grizzlies followers will react to this movie?
KJ: For the previous 4 years, [I] have simply been engaged on this movie nonstop. And so, clearly, there’s the nervousness that comes with sharing your work, particularly when it’s such a deeply private story. We shared the movie with just a few die exhausting Grizzlie followers I do know and the response, particularly after they’d [watched] Steve’s story on display screen, it’s been overwhelmingly optimistic, and everybody has simply been like, Yeah, [I] can’t hate on Steve anymore, Kat. So, that’s been actually nice and I needed to make it possible for we did some check screenings with just a few Grizzlies followers.
I feel it gained’t take lots for [people’s] tune to alter. I feel as quickly as you watch the movie, you see Steve in a distinct gentle and that gentle is simply as a human being. And I feel earlier than within the ‘90s, we have been simply seeing him as an athlete. However in fact, these athletes and these individuals who labored on these groups are individuals. They’re human, too, and I feel that’s one of many issues that I’d love for individuals to come back away with after watching this movie.
SLAM: We gained’t spoil what occurs within the movie, however there’s positively a reasonably unbelievable second of group and connection all through. Kat, as a longtime Vancouver Grizzlies fan, are you rocking with this yr’s Memphis squad in any respect? Or are you strictly loyal to Vancouver?
KJ: I’m grateful for the friendships that this movie has led to with Steve and with the followers that I met after I was in Memphis. The thought of cheering for Memphis earlier than this movie was identical to a straight-up exhausting go. Like, heck no. However now, you already know, I’ve come to appreciate that the Grizzlies, they’re as a lot Memphis’ group as Vancouver’s group. They’ve been in Memphis for 20 years. That’s over double the time that we had them right here in Vancouver.
I feel one of many messages that I hope that followers get after watching this movie is that it’s not like an us versus them mentality. Antonio Braxton Jr. stated it completely within the interview, Why can’t we share the group? Why does this must be Memphis versus Vancouver? So, I feel Vancouver followers needs to be proud that the Grizzlies are nonetheless alive at this time and so they’re doing nicely in Memphis and we had a hand in that. We’re part of that historical past as nicely.
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