ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
In their quest for NFL glory, a diverse group of high school and college football officials in California weather attacks on the field while trying to balance life off it.

SYNOPSIS
The football world has a love-hate relationship with its officials. No one wants them there, but everyone needs them there. Officials are as necessary to a football game as the players. Yet there is very little knowledge about who officials are, what they do, or how they do it.

Because of that lack of knowledge, football officials are some of the most hated people in American society. Yet despite the hate, football officials are passionate about their love for the game. Why the disconnect? Because for decades officials have been silent partners in America’s favorite sport, keeping their lives out of the spotlight and their processes close to the vest.

While fans, players, coaches and the media look at football officiating as a destination—how did you screw over my favorite team—officiating is a journey. Each game is preceded by years of training, hard work and deep sacrifice, and after each game comes evaluation, scrutiny, and more hard work and sacrifice.

This film will showcase that never-before-seen journey by following a diverse group of officials in Southern California as they pursue their chances at big-time college football and the NFL.

The difficult conversations with their spouse. Getting time off from their job. Pouring money into their endeavor. Getting yelled at. Getting harassed. Being insulted. And, ultimately, the private rewards of a job-well-done. All of it will be on display like never before.

The football officiating world is at a crisis point as people are driven from the vocation. The very fabric of the sport, the culture, the traditions, the people—as we know it in America is at stake. BEHIND THE STRIPES will address this crisis while humanizing the process of what it takes to be an official on and off the field.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Shantel Hansen
PRODUCER Shantel Hansen, Dean Blandino, Cyd Zeigler

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