“The Break, offered by The Basic” wrapped season one as one of many best-performing and most lined G League partnered content material collection of all time. Following projected first-round picks and up-and-comers from throughout the league, we captured the eye of viewers throughout the nation — however that didn’t come with out its challenges. On this unique interview, we focus on the relationships the manufacturing staff constructed all through the season, what it was like working with The Basic’s lengthy standing model ambassador Shaquille O’Neal, and the joys of capturing memorable moments throughout the nation. Try the dialog under and make sure you give all the earlier episodes of “The Break, offered by The Basic” a watch right here.
Taylor Sharp with Scoot Henderson of G League Ignite
Q: Taylor, we’re now on the finish of the season and eight episodes have gone reside. What have been a few of your favourite moments from filming the collection?
Taylor Sharp: That’s powerful, we’ve had so lots of them. This being the primary season, we had numerous moments that sort of felt like favorites. One which involves thoughts given how huge of a stage it was on the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake Metropolis. Watching Mac McClung win all of it was simply superb. I keep in mind taking a look at my manufacturing associate Holland in shock once we realized the right story was unfolding proper in entrance of us. In working with Mac’s household as nicely, you would really feel the gravity of the second in real-time and the way particular that was for them.
Q: It looks as if tales much like Mac’s could be discovered all throughout the G League. Was that a part of the technique when deciding to observe these gamers?
Taylor Sharp: Completely. The G League is stuffed with superb tales behind each the participant and the sport. The households, coaches and help employees that make up each single participant, their journey and their quest to attain their goals are at all times so sturdy, dynamic and full. For us to get to discover not solely the basketball objectives and the on-court narratives of those gamers however to additionally get to grasp the place they arrive from, who their household is and what they’re like off the court docket was nice. I believe Mac McClung, Norris Cole and Scoot Henderson every had a lot to supply in that regard.
Taylor Sharp with Mac McClung, NBA Slam Dunk Champ and level guard of the Delaware Blue Coats
Q: At this level, you’ve spent almost 4 months with these gamers and their households — are you planning on retaining in contact with them?
Taylor Sharp: Completely. I believe once you spend this a lot time with somebody and their household, you actually get to know them and you’ll’t assist however root for them going ahead and need to sustain with them. We had numerous time with Mac’s household early on within the season, so with the ability to sustain with them as Mac had his highs and lows was nice. Identical with Scoot and his household — he has a protracted profession forward of him and I can’t wait till I’m in the identical place as them once more. I actually really feel like I’m a real fan of all three of the gamers after the time spent with them this season. I’m actually trying ahead to the occasions after I brush shoulders with them once more or can cheer them on from afar.
Q: Once you’re filming three gamers all in numerous components of the nation, there could be some obstacles. What have been a number of the largest challenges all through the docuseries?
Taylor Sharp: One of many challenges of following three gamers all through a season is that you just can’t be in two locations without delay. And, when issues can occur in actual time, we have now to be able to seize that. It was a enjoyable problem to take action this season and we give all of the credit score to the G League employees for making it really easy for us to work with them.
Taylor Sharp interviewing Norris Cole, level guard of the Grand Rapids Gold
Q: How do you discover a stability between taking a extra behind-the-scenes strategy — not making an attempt to get in the way in which of something — but in addition capturing a few of these huge moments?
Taylor Sharp: I imply, we need to be there for these particular moments, however we don’t need our being there to make these moments any much less particular or to change what they seem like for these gamers, their households or teammates. We tried to be very vérité in our strategy. We had a really small crew and labored to make our presence minimal. I believe that was a part of the belief that we constructed with all the gamers that we labored with. Oftentimes, although, the magic is simply being within the room and capturing it and never getting in the way in which. So numerous credit score goes to the entry that was given to us, which allowed for us to authentically seize these huge moments.
Q: That is the ultimate episode of “The Break, offered by The Basic.” Can you share what may be subsequent for you and the staff?
Taylor Sharp: It could be the final episode, however I’m fairly excited for folks to have the ability to watch the collection in its entirety — from begin to end. They’ve seen every one episodically, however I believe it’s going to be rewarding for viewers to have the ability to watch it unexpectedly. We’re tremendous enthusiastic about how the collection went this season, and I believe if we’re ready to try this once more subsequent season, I’m already fascinated by who these gamers could possibly be. As this season ends, the following season sort of instantly begins as a result of already we’re fascinated by who’s going to be taking part in and who might need essentially the most compelling storylines that could possibly be worthy of following in the same capability.
Q: What’s been the final response from audiences this season?
Taylor Sharp: Once you’re releasing episodes digitally, it’s at all times rewarding when somebody talks to you about it in particular person. There have been moments this season once we have been in an NBA enviornment at a G League recreation filming and somebody was like, “What are you filming for?” And we’re like, oh, we’re doing one thing on Scoot or Mac. After which we understand in dialog that they’ve been watching all alongside. Whether or not it was followers or different individuals who work in basketball or media in some capability, there have been many baseline on-the-court conversations earlier than a recreation. In order that was at all times encouraging when folks got here as much as us in actual life and both mentioned they have been watching the docuseries or we’d look over their shoulder a couple of minutes later and so they have been on the G League YouTube trying it up.
Taylor Sharp and Holland Gallagher of Blue Cup Productions with The Basic’s model ambassador and narrator of “The Break,” Shaquille O’Neal
Q: Any huge classes or takeaways you’ve discovered from the filming, enhancing, and directing means of all of this?
Taylor Sharp: I believe this whole season was only a testomony to selecting gamers whose tales meshed collectively nicely, and who provide a wide range of prospects. To sit down again and watch the seasons of the three gamers we selected unfold in a good larger method than we may have imagined was simply superb. Hats off to Norris, Mac and Scoot for being so accommodating of our crew and for letting us inform their tales. We are able to’t wait to look at their success transferring ahead.
Episode 8 of “The Break, offered by The Basic,” could be considered under. All episodes of the eight-part docuseries could be discovered on the G League’s YouTube channel.