Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. Donate today and help bring I Got Next to life.
 

Logline

A girl with an intellectual disability, who dreams of making her local rec basketball team, trains with a former basketball star who’s fallen on tough times after a family tragedy. Together, they form an unlikely friendship and have the chance to prove everybody else wrong.

Synopsis

Taylor, a twelve-year-old from Boston has a dream. She wants to make her local basketball team. Taylor also has Williams syndrome, an intellectual and developmental disability that causes both cognitive and physical challenges, such as balance and coordination. She practices every waking moment to be the best basketball player she can be, but no adult gives her an opportunity to play.

After a family tragedy she feels responsible for, Jayla, a former high school basketball standout, has fallen on tough times. She’s quit basketball, moved away from family, and refuses to work through her emotional trauma. When her work placement program assigns her a job at a local recreation center, she meets Taylor.

Taylor, using her gift of friendliness, an innate ability that comes along with Williams syndrome, convinces Jayla to coach her and help improve her basketball skills. Jayla helps Taylor train for the last youth basketball game of the season at the local rec center, while Taylor shows Jayla how to love and feel again. Together, Jayla has a second chance at family, and Taylor has an opportunity to prove you can do anything in life, regardless of what others think is possible.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Christopher Baxter – Writer/Director
Christopher is a writer/director originally from New Hampshire, now living in Los Angeles. After graduating from the film program at San Diego State University, Chris directed his first feature film, Unlawful Justice, which won multiple awards on the festival circuit. Previously a development executive, he now works in distribution and marketing. He has helped over forty independent films find distribution and market their movies, including a handful featuring filmmakers and actors with disabilities.

Andrew Pilkington – Producer
Andrew is a producer/writer living in Boston. He has worked for award-winning directors such as Alex Gibney and Morgan Spurlock. He produced Best Summer Ever; a feature musical starring actors with disabilities. It was selected into the SXSW Film Festival 2020 and is now streaming on Hulu. He recently produced a documentary on the Special Olympics alongside Robin Roberts and Lebron James. Andrew serves on the Reel Abilities Film Festival advisory council and consults for Google, Microsoft, and Disney.

Angel Williams – Producer
Angel is a producer/writer, living in Denver. She is a U.S. Army disabled veteran that was given an opportunity in 2014 to attend the Writer’s Guild Initiative workshop. Angel is a fellow with the 2022 cohort of Respectability Entertainment Lab. She was a semi-finalist in The Screen Craft Film Fund for her sci-fi project, Stone Fate, which also made Coverfly’s Red List. She co-owns Soldier Up Productions with her daughter and holds the position of Vice President of Original Content for Truce Studios.

Make a donation to I Got Next.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.