Documentary film with USC angle examines the business of basketball
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Mike Nicoll is an award-winning filmmaker. He believes in the importance of telling stories that unveil the power dynamics within American culture, sports and business. He has directed three feature films, and is best known for writing and directing “At All Costs” – a feature documentary acquired by Netflix – which the Los Angeles Times described as “a modern-day ‘Hoop Dreams.’” We continue our conversation with Nicoll, the director of the new basketball documentary film “The Spoils,” which comes out in June. That film has a USC angle, given that it looks at the stories of two basketball players who came through the USC program, Evan Mobley and Onyeka Okongwu.
Nicoll’s work in “The Spoils” is informed in part by his previous work in “At All Costs.” One of the central figures in “At All Costs” is Etop Udo-Ema. You can find more information on “At All Costs” in the trailer below.
Trojans Wire: What makes Etop Udo-Ema one of the most powerful people in basketball?
Mike Nicoll: As with any powerful person in any industry, I think a big part of it is the relationships. Etop’s been in the game for 30 years, so he knows everybody. He’s built the Compton Magic into more than just an AAU team; it’s truly a network and a community.
The access he has to NBA scouts, agents, college coaches, media, he’s incredibly plugged in. And I think the thing that separates him is how much he cares about his players. He’s committed all year round to advocating for his guys…and I think the results speak for themselves. He’s a really special person.
Check out “At All Costs.” Then watch “The Spoils” when it comes out on June 13, 2024.
For more information, visit TheSpoilsMovie.com.
On Twitter: @TheSpoilsFilm
On Instagram: @TheSpoilsFilm
Hashtag: #TheSpoilsMovie
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