Student Athlete (HBO)

About Student Athlete (HBO)

Student Athlete is a powerful HBO documentary that was released in October of 2018. This film sheds light on the complex world of college sports in America, focusing predominantly on the unethical and exploitative treatment of the athletes by the NCAA. The documentary draws attention to the billions of dollars generated from college sports while the athletes themselves receive no part of the profit. It takes a disconcerting look at the world of college athletics, bringing to light broader questions about race, class, and the definition of amateurism.

Making / Production

Student Athlete was produced by HBO Sports and LeBron James’ Uninterrupted digital media company. It was directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton. Throughout the making of the film, the directors followed four young men on their journey in the world of college sports, recording their struggles and dreams. The documentary juxtaposes the realities of their lives with the money-spinning machine that college sports has become.

Actors

• Nick Richards - A budding basketball player who dreams of making it to the NBA. Richards portrayed his role effectively, illustrating the immense pressure these young athletes face.
• Shamar Graves - A former college football player struggling to make ends meet post college. His performance highlighted the lack of financial security for athletes after college athletics.
• Mike Shaw - A former basketball player whose career ended prematurely due to injuries. He effectively portrayed the harsh reality of a career cut short.
• Silas Nacita - A former Baylor football player who was declared ineligible because of his housing situation. He brought to light the rigid rules that control the lives of these athletes.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This documentary was produced by NBA star LeBron James.
• The film brought awareness to the ongoing controversy surrounding NCAA's policies.
• It showcased the extensive process and numerous hurdles athletes face when trying to secure a professional sports career.

Quotes

• "I felt like something was stolen from me." - Mike Shaw
• "We're not employees, but we are responsible for bringing in millions and millions of dollars." - Shamar Graves
• "It's very hard to look at this system and say that this isn't indentured servitude." - Silas Nacita

Music, Soundtrack

• The stirring, contemporary music in Student Athlete added emotional weight to the documentary. However, specific track titles and artists have not been publicly released.