“Who Is Stan Smith?” highlights Smith’s tennis accomplishments and covers his humanitarian feats off the tennis court and how Smith’s relationship with Arthur Ashe heavily inspired his anti-racist activism, followed by his relationship with Black tennis player, Mark Mathabane, whom Smith helped escape from apartheid in South Africa. Private screeners are available upon request for interview, review or what to watch consideration.
Executive produced by LeBron James (“Hustle,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy”), Maverick Carter (“Hustle,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy”), Jamal Henderson (“Hustle,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy”), Alexandra Dell (“Arthur Ashe,” “Lace Up: The Ultimate Sneaker Challenge”), and Donald Dell (“Tennis Our Way,” “Citizen Ashe”), and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Danny Lee (“30 for 30: Friedman’s Shoes”, “The Express Way”, and Hulu’s “Defining Moments”), the film tells the story of the groundbreaking athlete who went from being one of the world’s greatest tennis stars, to a leading civil rights and AIDS activist, blazing a trail along the way with his namesake Adidas sneakers – the iconic shoe that has become a fashion statement for hip hop musicians and celebrities for more than 50 years. The film features extensive interviews with Stan Smith, his family, and many of the world’s most famous athletes and celebrities including John McEnroe, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and Donald Dell.
Produced by UNINTERRUPTED, the award-winning athlete storytelling brand within The SpringHill Company (TSHC)and in association with CALICO “Who Is Stan Smith?”is set to open in more than 50 markets in May through distributors Monkey Wrench Films –the independent film distribution company helmed by filmmaker Tom Putnam (“The Dark Divide,” “Burn”), and Henry C. Lystad(“Full Circle”, “Torn”).
More than the namesake of one of the most iconic sneakers, Stan Smith has lived a champion’s life on and off the tennis court. Chronicling his rise from collegiate superstar to World No.1 and beyond, Smith blazed new paths for athletes, both as a fashion icon and a humanitarian. Complete with intimate first-person accounts and dynamic archival materials, “Who Is Stan Smith?” is a powerful and inspiring portrait of the man behind the shoe that became a movement.
