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Change
Up
Change Up was produced and directed by the talented team of Tiller Russell and Loren Mendell of Angry Young Ranch. A.J., Tiller, and Loren are all graduates of the U.S.C. Graduate film program.
October 14, 2002 
"Think of it as a baseball version of Hoop Dreams. HBO has expressed
interest in buying the rights to Change Up, a 45 minute documentary that
will remind many of the classic basketball film. While researching the
Dodger's Dominican Republic baseball academy earlier this year, filmmakers
from Hollywood's Angry Young Ranch production company stumbled upon Alex
Sosa, 18 and Pepey Rodriguez, 16, pitchers who had dropped out of high
school to pursue careers in baseball. The movie, shot primarily in Santo
Domingo, follows the two teens-both of whom throw better than 90 mph-through
the ups and downs of their auditions for scouts, and it culminates in
the player's signing with big league clubs. Much like Hoop Dreams, the
film portrays the heavy burden placed on the boys whose families are counting
on them to strike it rich. It's a compelling piece."
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A.J.
Dickerson | Hollywood, CA | 310.200.7601 | info@thoughtbox.com
Thoughtbox © 2005 |
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From the Dominican Republic come two teenage
baseball players, best friends, competing against each other to live
the American dream. One will get signed by a pro team for close to a million
dollars, the other may never leave the Dominican Republic.
The documentary was shot over the course of
a year in the Dominican Republic and the United States. It follows the
lives of Rafael "Pepey" Rodriguez and Alex Sosa, who were 16
and 17 respectively when the shoot started. Both eventually signed with
major league teams (Pepey garnering a US$800,000 signing bonus), but only
one has received a visa to come to the states.