Film

In New York City, pick-up basketball is not just a sport—it’s a way of life. There are 700-plus outdoor courts, and an estimated 500,000 players, the most loyal of which approach the game as a religion, and the playground as their church. Doin’ It In The Park lovingly uncovers this movement through the voices of playground legends, NBA athletes, and most importantly the common ballplayer who all day looks forward to calling “next” game at their local schoolyard. Co-directors Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau visited 180 courts throughout the city’s five boroughs to create their debut documentary, traveling to a majority of the locations by bicycle and carrying camera equipment and a ball in their backpacks. The film’s title refers as much to the subject matter as it does to the method of filmmaking, providing an unprecedented perspective on urban America’s most popular, and accessible, free recreation.