Redemption stories can be the most relatable tales we come across. We put ourselves in the main character’s shoes as we watch them lose and gain what they need to win. Finding Tony is the latest sports redemption movie that will have you cheering like you are in the stands. Starring Steven Bishop and Raquel Justice, Finding Tony reveals the tale of a former basketball player who overcame a tragic loss by coaching a women’s basketball team. The team behind the film wants to deliver the message that you can overcome adversity.
“I want to convey to viewers that no matter what adversity you may be going through, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. There’s a way that you can use that adversity and your story as a testimony,” said Raven Magwood Goodson, Director of Finding Tony.
The film is directed by Goodson and executive produced by NBA basketball player Anthony Davis. It is about a widowed NBA star, Tony Greene, who loses everything after his wife is murdered. He reluctantly begins coaching a junior college women’s basketball team, where he meets Destiny, an orphaned basketball phenom who will change his life forever. The independent film also stars David Banner and Columbus Short. Finding Tony tackles grief, depression, and overcoming obstacles.
“It’s not about how you fall, but how you get up that matters. Community and village are a big part of this film. Tony, Destiny, and even some of the other girls on the basketball team come into the situation broken, and they leave whole because of each other,” said Steven Bishop, star of Finding Tony.
Finding Tony is Goodson’s directorial debut. She and the whole team behind the sports drama were able to shoot the film in 17 days. Goodson intends for this film to be something other than another basketball movie. The first item she presents is a male coach leading a women’s basketball team. Goodson and the crew explore the dynamic of having a male mentor in the female space.
The director also shares that an intense one-on-one game between Destiny and Tony pushed Bishop and Justice to their limits. She aimed for authenticity.
“I enjoyed the one-on-one game we see between Tony and Destiny because it was challenging for the actors. I said from the beginning I wanted it to be authentic. We won’t have doubles. I want them to play basketball. Raquel was making shots, Stephens making threes; it was cool to see them in that element,” said Goodson.
Other elements within the script were strong enough to attract the star power in the film. According to Goodson, Davis did not want to do a basketball film because he thought it would be stereotypical. His mind changed after reading the Finding Tony script.
“He was very involved with what was going on. He was in season when we first started shooting, so we would send him and his team updates. They liked how things were progressing. Anthony and his wife watched the final version, and they loved it. Anthony said they talked about it all night because it was such a great film. It was cool to get his stamp of approval and exceed my expectations,” said Goodson.
Goodson and her team held a screening of Finding Tony at Clark Atlanta University on Wednesday, May 1. She wanted to allow Mass Media Art students to see and discuss the movie.
Finding Tony combines tragedy, inspiration, and other narrative tools to keep you engaged until the last shot. Goodson, Bishop, and the whole crew worked hard to deliver a sports redemption story that is different from the rest. Finding Tony will be released digitally on May 10.