State of Play: Trophy Kids (HBO)

About State of Play: Trophy Kids (HBO)

In HBO's film, 'State of Play: Trophy Kids', Director Peter Berg takes an introspective look at overzealous parents forcing their kids into rigorous sports regimes with the hope of achieving professional success. The 2013 documentary gives a stark portrayal of obsessed parents and the pressure they put on their children, intertwined with the notion of the American Dream.

Making / Production

Director Peter Berg and producer Sarah Aubrey, through their production company Film 44, produced this evocative documentary in conjunction with HBO. The documentary was shot in real sports settings, with in-depth interviews and first-hand accounts of the experiences of the children and the parents.

Actors / Participants

• Justus Moore - A High School Football player, pressured by his far too involved father to secure a scholarship.
• Derek Biale - an ambitious youth basketball player who is rigorously coached by his father to be the best.
• Amari Avery - A young golf prodigy, her parents compare her to Tiger Woods.
• Ian Fox - A young basketball player whose father believes he’s the next NBA star.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• 'State of Play: Trophy Kids' was the first film in the State of Play series from HBO.
• Drawing parallels to real-life parental obsessions in youth sports, the film unearths the often toxic nature of such forced engagements.
• The film uses real footage from the sporting journeys of the children, adding an element of authenticity and rawness to the narrative.

Awards

To date, 'State of Play: Trophy Kids' has not won any specific awards. However, it has been praised for its stark portrayal of parent-child dynamics in the realm of youth sports.

Quotes

• “It's a job. You go to work in a steel mill, it's a job. Go to work in sports lessons, it's a job.”
• "I don't push my kids. I lead them, and they push themselves."

Music, Soundtrack

• Theme music for 'State of Play: Trophy Kids' was composed by Jay Flood.