Center Street Rising Director's Statement

Director's Statement

TRACY SABETI, SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, MARCH 2009

The idea for Center Street Rising came to me as my close friend and associate producer, Marina Aguilera and I were driving through Santa Ana, Ca. Marina, born and raised there, reflected on how much the city had changed over the years. Turning the corner she pointed out a non-descript building that housed a local boxing club called TKO. Run by volunteers in one of the worst areas of the city, it had become instrumental in keeping kids off the streets and out of gangs. At the time I thought, what a huge project, who would commit that much time to someone else’s children? Yet like a persistent child, that thought continued to nag me for almost two years. I called Marina and asked her to ride with me back to Santa Ana; there was a story to be told.

I was fortunate enough to be able to collect a very talented team, Catherine Stanley writer/producer, Dot C. Leach assistant director/producer and Ashkan Golara cinematographer/editor. We became regular features at the boxing club. From the start we were impressed with the program, run by only a few volunteers and parents, and offered free of charge to the community.

Volunteers dedicate their time three hours a day, five days a week and most weekends rain or shine, teaching these at-risk kids the fine art of the sport, good teamwork, and even helping them with their homework. We were equally impressed with the boys who were clean cut, with no tattoos, no shaved heads or gang signs, and no profanity. Our crew was treated with the same respect shown to the coaches, even as we interrupted their daily schedule for interviews and film shots. But as the stories unfolded their smiling faces belied the hardships they faced on a daily basis.

As TKO welcomed us with complete trust and without reservation into their gym, their homes and their personal lives, we realized that their stories deserved to be told. Our film can only begin to portray their quiet determination and amazing success as they enrich their community ... one child at a time.

We are eternally thankful to the volunteers, parents and young citizens of the TKO boxing club for allowing us to tell their story.