Sweet Dreams Documentary -- Gary "tiger" Balletto -- On The Contender Season 2
Gary "Tiger" Balletto, the subject for the feature documentary Sweet Dreams, is now on location in Los Angeles, starring as one of the 16 fighters on the second season of The Contender.
Sweet Dreams was shot for over three years, following a 19 year-old street bookie named Derek, and Gary, a professional boxer. Throughout the years, the shooting and editing aesthetic was to take the cinema verite' approach, and make the documentary feel more observational and passive. Really, to make it feel less like documentary and more like a narrative. However, everything shot and documented and displayed is 100% real. The DVX100 was the camera that made this possible. It allowed shooting to be accomplished under some of the most natural and harsh lighting.
Throughout the years, Gary, Derek, and myself became close friends. The nature of Sweet Dreams became a very personal story of human drama. With that said, I personally have to admit that I was against Gary fighting on the Contender. I did everything in powers to make him see that there was more harm than good that could become of it. For reasons that are novel, but to sum it up, the timeframe for which these guys have to fight in: 3-5 fights within a 5 to 6 week production, is insane. Moreso, these fighters have no protection going in, nor coming out. And to top it off, the contract that the fighters have to sign in order to be on the show is a "slavery contract". The production company owns your soul, and can do what they wish to your story and image, using "factual or fictional" information.
But, what's done is done, and I can only hope the best for Gary's performance and that he does not get badly injured. In Sweet Dreams, not only does Gary represent a man who influenced Derek to make better of himself, and tried to balance both a construction business, family and boxing, but he was also a symbol of boxers needing protection.
Presently, we are awaiting to hear back from such festivals as: Chicago International, Full Frame Fest, Florida International, Los Angeles International, SilverDocs, Newport Film Festival, Iowa City International, Seattle International, and Tribecca Film Festival. We will enter into more festivals as they open, and await the listed. So, we'll see what doors open for us, and which close. In the end, I hope Sweet Dreams can make a little spark out there, and that Gary remains safe out there in LA when stepping into The Contender ring, and that he takes the title.
If you have a moment, please check out a trailer at www.sweetdreamsmovie.com
Thanks for reading.
Best,
Eric Latek
Gary "Tiger" Balletto, the subject for the feature documentary Sweet Dreams, is now on location in Los Angeles, starring as one of the 16 fighters on the second season of The Contender.
Sweet Dreams was shot for over three years, following a 19 year-old street bookie named Derek, and Gary, a professional boxer. Throughout the years, the shooting and editing aesthetic was to take the cinema verite' approach, and make the documentary feel more observational and passive. Really, to make it feel less like documentary and more like a narrative. However, everything shot and documented and displayed is 100% real. The DVX100 was the camera that made this possible. It allowed shooting to be accomplished under some of the most natural and harsh lighting.
Throughout the years, Gary, Derek, and myself became close friends. The nature of Sweet Dreams became a very personal story of human drama. With that said, I personally have to admit that I was against Gary fighting on the Contender. I did everything in powers to make him see that there was more harm than good that could become of it. For reasons that are novel, but to sum it up, the timeframe for which these guys have to fight in: 3-5 fights within a 5 to 6 week production, is insane. Moreso, these fighters have no protection going in, nor coming out. And to top it off, the contract that the fighters have to sign in order to be on the show is a "slavery contract". The production company owns your soul, and can do what they wish to your story and image, using "factual or fictional" information.
But, what's done is done, and I can only hope the best for Gary's performance and that he does not get badly injured. In Sweet Dreams, not only does Gary represent a man who influenced Derek to make better of himself, and tried to balance both a construction business, family and boxing, but he was also a symbol of boxers needing protection.
Presently, we are awaiting to hear back from such festivals as: Chicago International, Full Frame Fest, Florida International, Los Angeles International, SilverDocs, Newport Film Festival, Iowa City International, Seattle International, and Tribecca Film Festival. We will enter into more festivals as they open, and await the listed. So, we'll see what doors open for us, and which close. In the end, I hope Sweet Dreams can make a little spark out there, and that Gary remains safe out there in LA when stepping into The Contender ring, and that he takes the title.
If you have a moment, please check out a trailer at www.sweetdreamsmovie.com
Thanks for reading.
Best,
Eric Latek
