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| The Turnaround | |
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| Directed by | |
| Produced by |
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| Cinematography | David Bolen |
| Edited by | Dillon Hayes |
| Music by | Ari Balouzian |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 25 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Turnaround is a 2024 American documentary short film directed by Kyle Thrash and co-directed Ben Proudfoot. [1] [2] It follows Jon McCann, a Phillies fan known as "The Philly Captain," who rallied support for struggling shortstop Trea Turner in 2023. The film explores mental health, community, and sports fan culture. [3]
The Turnaround centers on Jon McCann, a Philadelphia native from Bridesburg, who faces mental health challenges. As "The Philly Captain," he encourages Phillies fans to support Trea Turner during a tough 2023 season, leading to a standing ovation at Citizens Bank Park that impacts Turner’s performance and the team’s season. The film connects McCann’s upbringing with teenage parents in tough economic conditions to themes of community and resilience, using archival footage to depict Philadelphia’s critical fanbase. [4]
Directed by Kyle Thrash (The Sentence of Michael Thompson) and co-directed Ben Proudfoot ( The Queen of Basketball ), the film was inspired by Turner’s viral ovation. [5] It was produced by Proudfoot, Nicholas Ruff, and Josh Rosenberg. Executive producers included Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, through their production company Higher Ground, along with Vinnie Malhotra, Ethan Lewis, Kyle Thrash, Jake Bloch, Rebecca Covington, Mark Rooks, and Nick Trotta. Edited by Dillon M. Hayes, with cinematography by David Bolen and music by Ari Balouzian, it was shot in Philadelphia with archival footage of players like Turner, Drew, and Rodriguez. [6]
The film premiered at Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2024, as one of three short films in the main program. Acquired by Netflix, it was released on October 18, 2024. [7]
Variety described it as a project that “tells the story of Philadelphia Phillies’ superfan Jon McCann, who helped inspire an unlikely 2023 standing ovation for Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, which helped turned the team around”. [7] Deadline called it “a remarkable story from the sporting world that suggests Philadelphia, indeed, deserves to be called the City of Brotherly Love”. [2]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | Best Short Documentary | The Turnaround | Nominated | [8] |
| Best Sports Documentary | Nominated | ||||
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Original Score – Short Film (Documentary) | Ari Balouzian | Nominated | [9] | |
| 2025 | Sports Emmy Awards | Outstanding Short Documentary | Kyle Thrash and Ben Proudfoot | Won | |
| Outstanding Camera Work - Long Form | David Bolen | Nominated | [10] | ||
| Outstanding Music Direction | Ari Balouzian | Nominated | |||
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