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Click here to vote for Sonicsgate in the 2010 Webby Awards! Please consider Sonicsgate for the Sports and Best Editing categories |
| Sports – Online Film and Video |
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Sonicsgate tells the tragic tale of the Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City after 41 years playing in the Emerald City. Though the story of a sports franchise relocating is not new, the scandal and national implications of the Sonics’ story has exposed the inner workings of the professional sports world in a way that has never been seen before. Inside interviews with current and former players, coaches, owners, attorneys and politicians make this the authoritative account of the team’s relocation. The SuperSonics were one of the NBA’s most celebrated and storied franchises since the team’s inception in 1967. Synonymous with Seattle, the Sonics won six division titles (’79, ’94, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’05), three Western Conference titles (’78, ‘79, ’96) and an NBA Championship (’79) as one of the league’s most competitive and recognizable franchises. In 2008, Oklahoma businessman Clayton Bennett dismantled the franchise and moved the team to his hometown of Oklahoma City, leaving millions of Sonics fans crushed and looking for answers. Sonicsgate exposes the harsh truth that even the most beloved professional franchises are not safe. The Oklahoma City Thunder franchise currently lays claim to 41 years of Sonics history. Legendary players such as Spencer Haywood, Lenny Wilkens, Slick Watts, Jack Sikma, Freddy Brown, Gus Williams, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp are now part of the all time Thunder roster. The filmmakers took great offense to this “shared history” and wanted to make sure the world would remember that there was a team called the Sonics and that this team played in Seattle. They gave the movie away for free online so that as many people as possible could see it. The filmmakers also utilize Sonicsgate.org as an information depot that is continually updated with one simple goal in mind: to preserve the rich cultural history of the Seattle SuperSonics. The film features exclusive interviews with former Sonics Gary Payton, Sam Perkins, Brent Barry, Desmond Mason, Nick Collison, Jim McIlvaine, James Donaldson, GM/owner Wally Walker, Coach George Karl and broadcaster Kevin Calabro along with Seattle-raised NBA stars Doug Christie, Jamal Crawford and Aaron Brooks. Sonicsgate premiered online October 12, 2009 at sonicsgate.org. This riveting feature film is groundbreaking for its citizen journalism as well as the unorthodox free online release. |
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The Most Persuasive Grassroots Flick of 2009 “Don't be fooled by the price tag: This pitch-perfect documentary shows the collateral damage when a team leaves town.” ★★★½ out of ★★★★ “More than just a sports film, Sonicsgate also reveals some larger truths about government and big business, that ultimately everything comes down to ego, power and money.” “The Sonics were stolen from Seattle — literally, STOLEN, and if you don't believe me, watch this movie.” “The makers of this movie deserve some kind of a special basketball Oscar. They opened my eyes to the true evil that is Clay Bennett and the emotion and hardship that tore through Seattle as this happened.” |
| Best Editing – Online Film and Video |
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In editing Sonicsgate, the crew filtered through more than 50 hours of exclusive interview footage, hundreds of hours of news footage and thousands of pages of press and court documents. Faced with the daunting task of creating a cohesive, two-hour documentary explaining this complex issue to an audience who might not know the first thing about sports or big business, the crew whittled down this plethora of information into a concise, fast-paced movie that is educational, entertaining and emotionally jarring. Critics and fans alike have been blown away by the emotional, historical and political angles of the story, which go far beyond the basketball court, spilling into the courtroom and revealing bold insights about our nation’s culture and the role of professional sports in every community. |
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★★★★ out of ★★★★★
“The movie's unsettling truth is out there for all to learn: A fan's love for their team can be taken away by outside forces, never to return... That series of unfortunate events is expertly recounted and explained in the absorbing documentary, Sonicsgate.” “This is a must-watch film for any basketball fan... By the end, you just want to hug a Sonics fan.” “A meticulous examination of the political malfeasance, conspiracy and media cover ups that led to the team's relocation.” “Sonicsgate is interesting for the larger questions it asks about our culture: Do cities owe teams brand new facilities every decade? Should billionaires and millionaires receive subsidies in the name of civic pride?” |
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