All eyes are on the Olympics 2024. But while much of the focus is on individual athletes, On is taking a different track and spotlighting “the teams behind the dreams” with a new short film series – reminding us that we may be powerful on our own but united we are unstoppable. This continues On’s unconventional approach to sports marketing.
Called Dream Together, the three-part series follows four aspiring Olympians, tennis World No. 1, Iga Świątek and running stars, Dominic Lobalu, Sinta Vissa and Hellen Obiri, and their teams. The trio of films shine a light on how the teams behind the dreams have helped each aspiring Olympian in different ways on the road to the biggest sports stage in the world. The films were written and co-directed by 2022 Emmy Award nominee, J.M. Harper in collaboration with London director, Hector Aponysus, through Park Pictures.
The cinematic cinematic series of character-driven stories gets under the surface of athletic success.
The first film, Beyond Number One, reveals Polish tennis sensation, Iga Świątek, as she reflects on the triumphs and expectations that come with being the world’s number one player; the importance of mental strength, and the lessons she has learned on dealing with extreme pressure.
The series was shot in Colorado, Palm Springs, Warsaw, and Switzerland’s St. Gallen. It intercuts personal archival and live competition footage with intimate interviews and human moments to create a unique cinematic point-of-view that breaks the confines of typical sports documentaries.
J.M. Harper stated, “The short films focus on four extraordinary athletes, but they take time to also show the ordinary parts of their humanity that make them relatable. We extracted the captivating narratives of their dreams that transcend boundaries and unite communities and their silent but powerful teams—family, coaches, friends, teammates, and loved ones who collectively dream alongside them. Unfolding not in the glare of live television but in the quieter spaces…the warm-ups, the workouts, the practice…as well as in all of the mundane, human, non-sports moments in between.”
On film & documentary Lead, Gessica Giulini, added, “Dream Together is not just a series; it’s a celebration of the human spirit and the collective journey towards individual aspirations and ambitions. Transcending conventional heroic athlete stories, the series humanises our athletes and emphasises that we might be powerful alone, but we are unstoppable when we are united. The aim is to inspire everyone to embrace and actively pursue their dreams.”
On executive producer, Michael Paul Stephenson, commented, “Playing tennis with a pro like Iga fulfilled a lifelong dream! I mean, to hit with the number one player in the world…I’m still smiling! Iga is such a nice human being. She is incredibly kind, articulate, centered, and grounded. I felt the short film, Beyond Number One, portrayed her wonderfully. I really feel for people who have that kind of pressure on them. She is holding so much but the way she handles it is so poised and graceful. She is astonishing.”
Credits
Production Company: Park Pictures
Directors: J.M. Harper & Hector Aponysus
Editors: Byron Leon, Gabriela Tessitore & Sammy Smart
Directors Of Photography: Natalie Kingston, Michał Dymek, Jan Mettler &Joe Meade
Composer: William Ryan Fritch
Producers: Gessica Giulini, Rachel Doctors, Lucy Dang &Pierre Robichaud
Executive Producer: Michael Paul Stephenson
