Confessions of a Jumbotron Addict

Ben Wheeler is an engineer, educator, and avid fan of the Brooklyn Nets – with season tickets to prove it. After countless games, he has figured out the science behind one of sports greatest mysteries: how to get on the Jumbotron. With Confessions of a Jumbotron Addict, ​​S/W alum Mickey Duzyj (The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere), is back on our platform with a new animated documentary staying true to his sports-focused storytelling and his distinct and humorous tone. Get ready to uncover the secrets of how to be part of the most exciting experience at live sporting events – when the game is paused and all eyes turn to the Jumbotron.

“He believed his performance art held power over other fans and also over the game itself”

“As someone who goes to a lot of sporting events, I’ve always been drawn to the many little things that happen within crowds of live events”, Duzyj confessed. Anyone familiar with the filmmaker’s work won’t be surprised by this statement – his knack for finding those overlooked moments at sporting events is impressive and incredibly entertaining. “I was initially won over by my subject’s methodical system to get himself on the Jumbotron”, he added, before admitting that he “soon learned that he believed his performance art held power over other fans and also over the game itself”.

Besides the action of the game itself, it’s the energy of the crowd that gives live sporting events their unique magic. Duzyj shared that he “started this film during the pandemic when (he) was missing being a face-in-the-crowd”. Centering the story around Ben and his success at getting on the jumbotron, the director leaned into the “intimate-yet-anonymous feeling of a stadium crowd”, which his animation captures perfectly. The visual style of Confessions of a Jumbotron Addict is not only playful and entertaining, it also conveys the emotional layer of the film, grounding Wheeler’s story in the community element of attending a sporting event.

“I was initially won over by my subject’s methodical system to get himself on the Jumbotron” – Duzyj discussing the origins of his short.

Duzyj began the production of Confessions of a Jumbotron Addict, by first conducting an audio interview with Wheeler, before shooting footage of him dancing – a starting point for his animation. Working with editor Alex Amoling, they built the narrative structure of the film from the audio edit and then moved into storyboarding and animation. Wheeler’s recollection of events dictates the pace of the film, while Duzyj’s signature animation style enhances the entertainment value and the electric energy of both the Barclays Center and Wheeler’s own infectious excitement. 

Sound also plays a paramount role in immersing viewers in the film, as it helps transport us to Nets Game. With Amoling also working as sound designer, alongside composer Neon Brown, the pair expertly recreate the atmosphere of a tied game, and how Wheeler manages to amp up the crowd. Their work underscoring Wheeler’s obsessing over his mission of getting on the jumbotron and the contagious effect it has on a crowd – including us, the viewers of this film. The result is a story that is not only lighthearted and entertaining, it leaves us pumped… New York basketball could definitely use some of that energy right now!

Confessions of a Jumbotron Addict premiered on home turf at the 2024 edition of Tribeca, and later hit the festival circuit ahead of its online debut. Duzyj is currently adapting an autobiographical magazine story called Goth Tennis into his first scripted feature. His eight episode mini-series Losers is also available on Netflix.