Push (paintball film)

Push is an American documentary film about professional paintball, produced by Bryon Benini and Patrick Spohrer through Division One Productions. The film premiered at the 2000 Paintball World Cup in Kissimmee, Florida, following production during the 1999 and 2000 tournament seasons.[1][2]

The documentary follows professional teams including the Southern California Ironmen, Avalanche, Chicago Aftershock and Image, combining tournament footage with player interviews and scenes away from competition.[1][3]

Push became an influential production in paintball media, particularly through its use of documentary storytelling, music and cinematography to portray the experiences of professional tournament players.[4]

Production

The film originated through a collaboration between Bryon Benini, a professional player with the Southern California Ironmen, and Patrick Spohrer, a filmmaker experienced in surf and skiing productions who played paintball with The Family.

Filming began during practice sessions preceding the 1999 Paintball World Cup and continued at the tournament itself.

Spohrer and Benini recorded extensive footage of professional teams competing at the event, subsequently following selected players and teams away from tournament fields.

Production continued throughout the 2000 season.[1][2]

The project was produced through Division One Productions, the company established by Benini and Spohrer.

The documentary incorporated tournament action, interviews, behind-the-scenes material and music-driven montages.

Its coverage included the experiences of several professional teams during the 1999 World Cup, with particular attention to the personal and emotional consequences of tournament competition.[1][4]

Content

Push follows leading professional teams competing in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL).

The principal teams featured include:

The film combines match footage with interviews and scenes showing professional players preparing for tournaments, interacting with teammates and reflecting on their results.[3]

One segment follows Chicago Aftershock during the 1999 World Cup, including the team's final match and the retirement of veteran players Gary Noblett and John Jackson (known as Spud).

Contemporary reporting described this sequence as an important emotional element of the documentary.[1]

The film's presentation also placed emphasis on tournament culture, player personalities and the experiences of competing at the professional level.

Premiere and release

Chicago Open preview

An unfinished version of Push was publicly screened during the 2000 NPPL Chicago Open, held from 21 to 25 June at Badlandz Paintball Field in Crete, Illinois.

Bryon Benini promoted the screening at the tournament venue using posters and promotional material.

The preview was held at a cinema in Lansing, Illinois, and attracted large audiences for two showings.

According to contemporary WARPIG coverage, the preview contained approximately 45 minutes of footage, with additional material planned for the completed production.

The report described a positive audience response, including a standing ovation.[1]

World Cup premiere

The completed film premiered during the 2000 NPPL World Cup in Kissimmee, Florida.

The screening took place on a Friday evening in October 2000 at Damon's, a sports bar near the tournament venue.

The establishment was reserved for the premiere, with the documentary shown on indoor television screens and an outdoor projection screen.

WARPIG reported that the venue was filled to standing room only and that the screening concluded with a standing ovation.[2]

Although contemporary records confirm the October 2000 premiere, the later official history of Push Paintball identifies the film's release year as 2001.

The distinction may reflect the difference between its original premiere and subsequent commercial distribution, although the exact date of its initial retail release has not been independently established.[2][5]

Legacy

Push is recognised as an important production in the development of dedicated professional paintball documentaries.

Unlike conventional tournament highlight videos, the film combined competitive footage with interviews, music and personal narratives concerning the players involved.

Its approach influenced subsequent paintball filmmaking during the 2000s.

In its coverage of the 2002 Paintball World Cup, WARPIG described Push as an important development in paintball video production, particularly for its combination of music, images and coverage of tournament life away from the field.[4]

Patrick Spohrer and Bryon Benini subsequently collaborated on Sunday Drivers, which premiered during the 2002 Paintball World Cup.

According to contemporary reporting, the second production placed greater emphasis on tournament action following feedback received about Push.[4]

Spohrer later established Monkey With a Gun Productions, which produced further paintball documentaries including Cereal Killerz and Heroes for a Day: The XSV Story.[6]

In 2017, Benini established Push Paintball, an equipment manufacturer whose name and branding drew upon the original documentary.[5]

Availability

Push has subsequently been made available through Major League Paintball PLUS as part of its Monkey With a Gun documentary collection.

The streaming edition has a running time of approximately 69 minutes and is accompanied by a trailer.[3]

References

External links