The Gray Seasons:
AVAILABLE On-Demand across the USA, Canada, and Caribbean!
“The film rivals the classic HOOP DREAMS with respect to the heart and determination that Herrera captures through the players and Gray-Miller, but with the added bonus of transparent vulnerability and the complex emotions that naturally come with the combination of womanhood and sportsmanship.” – The St. Louis American
In 2006, Saint Louis University women’s basketball team revealed itself to be a provocative and dynamic opportunity of storytelling. Rambling Pictures pressed through the next 4 years, following a team and individuals whose ability to push through the unique struggles of Division I women’s athletics, impressed upon the artists, filmmakers, writers and all who were part of making The Gray Seasons.
“No emotion is spared and the film’s candid spirit captured from behind the scenes is refreshing.” – Read the full review by Kenya Vaughn at the St. Louis American.
“The title of Robert Herrera’s compelling new documentary THE GRAY SEASONS does not refer to overcast skies nor the tones of the exceptional black and and white photography.” – Read the full review by Jim Batts at wearemoviegeeks.com.
“Director Herrera was able to capture the real life struggles of Division I student athletes as they grew up before our very eyes” – Read the full writeup by Missouri Sports Magazine.
“If you enjoy sports, if you understand the pain and sweat that go into it, see this movie. And once you do, you’re likely to want to attend the games and see Gray-Miller in action, in person.” – Read the writeup by Donna Korando at the St. Louis Beacon.
“The beauty of ‘The Gray Seasons’ is not just its cinematic production, which is brilliant, but also the ability of the director, Robert T. Herrera, to seamlessly integrate many personalities and storylines into one big picture.” – Read the write up by Tonya Traina unewsonline.com.
Documentary on Basketball Features 2 Area Athletes – by Lynn Venhaus for the Belleville News-Democrat
About The Film:
“As Coach Gray-Miller says, ‘This is not HOOSIERS.’ Still THE GRAY SEASONS is just as enlightening and inspiring.” – wearemoviegeeks.com
Saint Louis University women’s basketball was a longstanding Division I program with a lack of tradition and success. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds of overcoming the losing culture of the program, Shimmy Gray-Miller, a young, dynamic coach with a personal history of playing and coaching success, is brought in to turn things around. She embarks on her first head-coaching position and is armed with her first class of determined recruits. Driven to change the trajectory of the basketball program, the team sets their sights on success, attempting to pull SLU from its last place conference standings to a conference contender.
After a promising start, the challenges of being part of a demanding D-I program in a competitive conference begin to afflict the seasons. Injuries set in and loyalties are questioned as Coach Gray-Miller and the remaining players maintain drive and grit through the 4 years of triumphs and struggles of collegiate basketball.
“This is not Hoosiers… not even close.”
The Gray Seasons is technically Robert T. Herrera’s second feature-length documentary, but officially his first.
Team:
Coach
Shimmy Gray-Miller
Flint, MI
www.coachshimmy.com
Player
Katie Paganelli
Cincinnati, OH
“tough & stubborn”
Player
Amanda Kemezys
Fairview Heights, IL
“loyal & passionate”
Player
Theresa Lisch
Belleville, IL
“skilled & principled”
Producer/Camera/Writer/Director
Robert T. Herrera
Corpus Christi, Texas born & raised. Formally educated to design buildings, paint, and read long-winded prose. Currently resides and works on a St. Louis City rooftop. Writes, produces, directs, develops, and designs for clients, large and small — mostly large. www.bobbyherrera.com
Executive Producer
Richard K. Weil
Famed journalist & editor. Began Rambling Pictures in 2004. Regrets it ever since.
Producer
Andrea Wall
Attended 13 different schools around the world before finishing high school in Corpus Christi, Texas. Producer at ESPN. Will Ferrell once complimented her on how funny she is.
Associate Producer/Camera
David Rocco
St. Louis born & raised. Formally educated to shoot films and photographs. Resides and works in Los Angeles. Currently in a headband phase.
Composer
John C. Kelley
Arkansas born artist & musician. Makes music in Austin. Finishing his MFA and teaches undergrads to draw in Fayetteville. Would prefer to score horror films.
For additional information you can contact the makers of The Gray Seasons at contact@thegrayseasons.com
Screenings
2012 Screenings:
Docutah, 09/07/12 St. George, Utah
Mid-Atlantic Black Film Festival, 06/08/12 Norfolk, Virginia
AMC Theatres Kansas City Filmfest, 04/12&15/12 Kansas City, Missouri
Thin Line Film Fest, 02/19/12 Denton, Texas
2011 Screenings:
St. Louis International Film Festival, 11/15/11 St. Louis, Missouri
All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival, 11/12/11 North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
River’s Edge International Film Festival, 11/4&6/11 Paducah, Kentucky
Offshoot Film Fest, 10/30/11 Fayetteville, Arkansas
LA Femme International Film Festival, 10/13/11 Los Angeles, California
Louisville’s International Festival of Film, 10/07/11 Louisville, Kentucky
Cincinnati Film Festival, 10/01/11 Cincinnati, Ohio
Stella Artois Filmmakers Showcase: Best Editing – Feature, 08/18/11 St. Louis, Missouri
Los Angeles Art-House Film Festival: Honorable Mention, Los Angeles, California
San Antonio Film Festival, 06/17/11 San Antonio, Texas
About the Composer:
Original Score Composed/Produced/Performed by John C. Kelley.
All music was recorded at Shine Studios in Austin, Texas.
John C. Kelley is a career fine artist and musician. Kelley and Herrera, the director, have worked on several music projects together over the past decade. Kelley has enjoyed success playing with several bands in the Austin music scene and as a solo artist. He is currently finishing his MFA in drawing/painting at the University of Arkansas and lives with his wife, son, dog and cat. Kelley has written and performed hundreds of songs throughout his career. Eight of them are pretty good. Visit The Balcony/John C. Kelley at his facebook page.
Original Score:
- Beginning
- The Gray Seasons: Lights We Saw
- When It Ended II
- Slowing
- Some Of It
- Emmaus
- Two Minutes, Forty Seconds
- Sunday Shivers II
- Asleep In The Library
- Pixel Ghost
- Leisurely Athletic
- Craft Alliance
- I’ve Never Been So Close
- Falling Asleep In The Library On A Snowy Day
- Slowing II
- When It Ended
- Lights We Saw IV
- Restart
- Quijada
- All Of It