Wonderkid gay
WONDERKID film helping Kick It Out and Premier League clubs tackle homophobia
"We yearn you to watch a film. It's 30 minutes long, and it's about a footballer. Then we'll have a conversation about it."
Chelsea's Development Squad are being introduced to Bradley McGuire, a player they can identify with - he's young, talented, and desperate to succeed. There's a slight tension in the room at the club's Cobham training earth as Bradley's story unfolds on screen, the sounds of team-mates whispering and shuffling in seats. Yet the drama holds their attention throughout, as the action skips from a highly-charged Premier League correspond to the next day's training session, from a Soho hotel suite at night to the Wembley tunnel. As the credits roll and the lights come up, the new Blues are back in the here and now - and ready to chat about what they've seen.
Troy Townsend, leading the session, steps forward once again to address the audience, some of whom have been taken out of their personal comfort zones by the film's subject matter. They've all empathised with Bradley from early on, but hold then learned that he's dealing with an additional type of pressure - he happens to be ga
Wonderkid
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Ever wondered what it would be like to sense different?
'Who cares?' That's now a fairly typical response when anyone in the public eye comes out as gay, and sport is no different - but there are still very few, men and women, who do reach out. In the nature of male professional football (soccer), it's really uncommon - despite the thousands of pro players across the globe. So should all of us, queer or straight, care more? Shouldn't we wonder what it would be love, in the hypermasculine environment of football, to experience different but be frightened or discouraged to reveal it? The short movie WONDERKID aims for that empathy, and achieves it - there's such soul and passion in the young central character Bradley (Chris Mason) that the viewer is drawn into his headspace and mindset, even though his reactions are often hot-headed or impulsive. The scenarios, setting, relationships (particularly with his agent) and story arc all combine to place Bradley in a believable sporting world that still carries its own taboos and traditions, out of step with much of modern society. The film's powerful message - 'Be Yourself' - will resonate
WONDERKID trailer: New concise film about homosexual footballer
His talent, undeniable... his temperament, unpredictable. Just what is going on in Wonderkid's head?
The pressure is mounting for a young up-and-coming professional footballer in a new short movie supported by the Football Association and the Premier League.
Directed by Rhys Chapman and starring Chris Mason (who played the Kray twins' cousin Ronnie Hart in the 2015 crime thriller Legend), 'WONDERKID' follows the inner turmoil of a talented player battling with the stress and scrutiny of the modern game, and the concealment of his sexuality.
Contributing to the ongoing 'Football v Homophobia' campaign, the 30-minute movie has been commissioned to help hoist awareness about a lack of openly gay professionals in the sport.
'WONDERKID' will premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square before the begin of next season and will later be released online.
Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler, pundit Alan Smith and reporters Geoff Shreeves and Guy Havord acquire all lent their voices to the project.
Watch the trailer above to absorb more about WONDERKID...