#FIRSTLOOK: “BACKSPOT” TO BEGIN PRODUCTION IN TORONTO MID-MARCH

Page Boy Productions, Night is Y and Prospero Pictures announce principal photography has started on the queer-led, highly anticipated BACKSPOT, marking the feature film debut of creator/director D.W. Waterson (That’s My DJ) starring award-winning actor Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs, Marvel’s Echo) and newcomer Kudakwashe Rutendo in lead roles. Acclaimed actors Thomas Antony Olajide (Learn to Swim, White Lie, The Spencer Sisters) and Olunike Adeliyi (The Porter, Revenge of the Black Best Friend), the incomparable Wendy Crewson (On the Basis of Sex, Room, Gray) and the iconic Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight’s Tale, Wristcutters: A Love Story, 40 Days and 40 Nights) also join the cast. Produced by Alona Metzer, D.W. Waterson, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, Martin Katz, and Executive Produced by Elliot Page, BACKSPOT is written by Joanne Sarazen, based on a story by Waterson. The film will shoot until mid-March in the Toronto area.

Riley and Amanda are formidable members of their mid-level cheerleading squad until professional coach, Eileen McNamara, gives them the opportunity to join The Thunderhawks, a high-performance squad. Young, ambitious and in love, Riley (Jacobs) and Amanda (Rutendo) would be on top of the world if only Riley could get her anxiety under control and Amanda had less overwhelming responsibility. Desperate to be heard and appreciated, two qualities her home life severely lacks, Riley will do anything to ingratiate herself to her new coach. Amanda, on the other hand, has begun to notice a shift in Riley and is a bit suspicious of Eileen’s tactics. Battered, unrelenting and with a competition looming, these two young athletes must negotiate their space, find their voices and come to an understanding with the generation of women who came before them.

“I’m so proud and excited to finally be going to camera after five long years. We’ve assembled an absolutely stacked cast, and an incredible crew, and we are thrilled to be creating something that’s truly kick*ass, raw, and that has a magic energy behind it,” said D.W. Waterson, director. “Competitive cheer is incredibly athletic, and our young, queer youth are so resilient. I am beyond looking forward to highlighting both of these communities in Backspot.”

Executive Producers are Elliot Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, John Davidson, and Katisha Shaw. BACKSPOT will be distributed by levelFILM in Canada, and will subsequently stream on Crave, followed by CBC and CBC Gem. The film is produced in association with Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, CBC Films, and Shaw Rocket Fund. International and US rights to BACKSPOT are represented by UTA.