Sam Barry: Beyond the Baseline

CMK 12052017 REPRO FREE NO FEE SAM BARRY, Professional Tennis Player. Picture Clare Keogh Further Information. PRESS RELEASE: 15TH May 2017 ‘SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE’ A GMARSH TV PRODUCTION FOR EIR SPORT BROADCAST DATE: Thursday 1st June at 21:30 SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE is a fascinating observational documentary following international professional tennis player and Limerick native, Sam Barry. Filmed over the course of 2 years, the documentary charts the highs and lows of Sam’s quest to break into the top 200 players in the world. We follow this determined 24-year-old on the international tennis tour, taking in countries as varied as Israel, Spain, Qatar, France, and Dubai as he works towards making his first Grand Slam tennis tournament.  The documentary blends contemporary observational documentary and unique archive footage of Sam playing tennis as a child. A promising Junior, he secured a place in the prestigious Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Paris, living there on his own from age 13-15 – and was the first Irish tennis player to play all four junior Grand Slams.  For the last 6 years, Sam has spent 40-45 weeks per year alone on the road, at a cost of €80-90,000 per year and it’s getting tougher as each year passes. But despite the obstacles, his quest to reach the top continues; he knows that one good week could pave the way to bigger and better tournaments, bringing him one step closer to his first Grand Slam. Produced by GMarsh TV, with support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for eir sport, SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE is the first Irish tennis documentary that honestly explores the financial, emotional and physical challenges of life on the professional tennis tour. For further information, please contact: Director Craig Speer craig@gmarshtv.ie +353 87 794 4224
CMK 12052017 REPRO FREE NO FEE SAM BARRY, Professional Tennis Player. Picture Clare Keogh Further Information. PRESS RELEASE: 15TH May 2017 ‘SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE’ A GMARSH TV PRODUCTION FOR EIR SPORT BROADCAST DATE: Thursday 1st June at 21:30 SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE is a fascinating observational documentary following international professional tennis player and Limerick native, Sam Barry. Filmed over the course of 2 years, the documentary charts the highs and lows of Sam’s quest to break into the top 200 players in the world. We follow this determined 24-year-old on the international tennis tour, taking in countries as varied as Israel, Spain, Qatar, France, and Dubai as he works towards making his first Grand Slam tennis tournament.  The documentary blends contemporary observational documentary and unique archive footage of Sam playing tennis as a child. A promising Junior, he secured a place in the prestigious Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Paris, living there on his own from age 13-15 – and was the first Irish tennis player to play all four junior Grand Slams.  For the last 6 years, Sam has spent 40-45 weeks per year alone on the road, at a cost of €80-90,000 per year and it’s getting tougher as each year passes. But despite the obstacles, his quest to reach the top continues; he knows that one good week could pave the way to bigger and better tournaments, bringing him one step closer to his first Grand Slam. Produced by GMarsh TV, with support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for eir sport, SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE is the first Irish tennis documentary that honestly explores the financial, emotional and physical challenges of life on the professional tennis tour. For further information, please contact: Director Craig Speer craig@gmarshtv.ie +353 87 794 4224
CMK 12052017 REPRO FREE NO FEE SAM BARRY, Professional Tennis Player. Picture Clare Keogh Further Information. PRESS RELEASE: 15TH May 2017 ‘SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE’ A GMARSH TV PRODUCTION FOR EIR SPORT BROADCAST DATE: Thursday 1st June at 21:30 SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE is a fascinating observational documentary following international professional tennis player and Limerick native, Sam Barry. Filmed over the course of 2 years, the documentary charts the highs and lows of Sam’s quest to break into the top 200 players in the world. We follow this determined 24-year-old on the international tennis tour, taking in countries as varied as Israel, Spain, Qatar, France, and Dubai as he works towards making his first Grand Slam tennis tournament.  The documentary blends contemporary observational documentary and unique archive footage of Sam playing tennis as a child. A promising Junior, he secured a place in the prestigious Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Paris, living there on his own from age 13-15 – and was the first Irish tennis player to play all four junior Grand Slams.  For the last 6 years, Sam has spent 40-45 weeks per year alone on the road, at a cost of €80-90,000 per year and it’s getting tougher as each year passes. But despite the obstacles, his quest to reach the top continues; he knows that one good week could pave the way to bigger and better tournaments, bringing him one step closer to his first Grand Slam. Produced by GMarsh TV, with support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for eir sport, SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE is the first Irish tennis documentary that honestly explores the financial, emotional and physical challenges of life on the professional tennis tour. For further information, please contact: Director Craig Speer craig@gmarshtv.ie +353 87 794 4224

https://vimeo.com/217471462

Sam Barry – Beyond the Baseline – Director/Camera

Money, big crowds, glamorous locations – the first things that come to mind when you think of professional tennis? Well, not on The Futures Tour. Life outside of the top 100 in professional tennis is not glamorous. Far removed from the VIP lifestyle of Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer, life for an Irish professional tennis player is at the opposite end of the spectrum.

The Futures Tour has no money, no crowds and is held in locations you won’t find in any holiday brochure.

For the last 2 years I’ve followed Sam Barry, Ireland’s number 2 tennis player on the professional tennis circuit. I’ve followed the ups and downs of his tennis career as he attempted to qualify for his first Grand Slam, as he made it to his first Challenger Tour final, and as he played in locations as varied as Doha, Dubai, France, Spain, Israel, and the USA.

In love with the sport from a very young age, Sam’s been on tour for 5 years, a tour that costs approximately €80,000 per year, where prize money amounts to about a quarter of that. It’s tough, unglamorous and Sam allowed us into his world and displayed a level of honesty and openness that creates a fascinating look at life on  The Tour.