Documentaries on my Documentary?

Undoubtedly, documentaries that discuss different perspectives of my topic can help, but I am even considering some pieces that explore what an athlete’s life was like before NIL. I remember LSU athlete, Ben Simmons, discussing his hardships (if you’d like to call it that) about balancing school and collegiate sports, knowing he’s NBA bound in his personal documentary [Ben Simmons, One & Done (2016)]. I think that can support the argument that NIL is added pressure to these young adults.  However, there is a series called “Money Game’ that highlights how athletes largely benefit in social media sponsorships and collaborations along with NIL endorsement deals. (Money Game (2021)] 

I think my project can be different from theirs because I’m examining all these themes in ONE documentary. My biggest worry is that I want it to come off organized and now overwhelm the audience. Another major difference is that, as discussed before, I want to provide resources and solutions unlike the pieces that I’ve seen. Other documentaries, like 30 for 30’s “Broke”  just display what happens when everything goes south. I want to present solutions that we can do, before.  

I should do more research on NIL and social media partnerships before fully launching my project. I thought I was fully educated but recently learned that high school students can obtain NIL benefits as well. I need to know what qualifies an athlete to be eligible for NIL, what’s the approach of their personal brand, what they can get paid to do etc.. 

This week I completed a lot of work on my project but as time progresses, I feel like I didn’t do enough. I finalized the chair of my committee, but I just need 1 more person to be a part of it. I will start sending my emails out by Monday, to get the ball rolling early. I know I should probably wait, but to be direct, I don’t want them to be a part of someone else’s committee that they can’t be on mine. I was strategic about what everyone’s “part” on my committee is and what I need them for, so it is imperative that I get everyone I write down. 

References

ESPN Films. (2012). Broke [Film]. ESPN Films.

One & Done. (2016). One & done [Film].

Money game. (2021). [Documentary series].