In the Works: MODEL BOXERS

First-time feature director Michelle Groskopf and producer Laurie Gwen Shapiro (co-director, KEEP THE RIVER ON YOUR RIGHT and producer, FINISHING HEAVEN) have found an intriguing subject for their doc, MODEL BOXERS: NYC’s underground Friday Night Throwdowns – a regularly held FIGHT CLUB-lite of sorts attended by those in-the-know in the modeling industry and populated largely (but not exclusively) by male model combatants.

Their film focuses on one of the “pretty boy models” who’s become one of the events biggest draws, “Rockstar Charlie.” The charismatic, lanky 20-year-old is a nursery school teacher by day whose successful participation at Friday Night Throwdown has led him to pursue a modeling contract. On the boxing side, undefeated in his weight class, he has dreams of a Golden Gloves title, which could take him to the Olympics and a professional career – if Charlie doesn’t get in the way of his own success.

Groskopf recently launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign with a $25,000 goal to go towards production expenses. While the crowdfunding campaign may not be successful, the director has revealed that she’s met her goals through a private investor in a recent update to the page.

The film has a nascent website which currently links to a few recent articles about Friday Night Throwdown and the production. Unfortunately it doesn’t include a mailing list sign-up, but hopefully the filmmakers will start one in the future to keep interested potential audience members in the loop on developments.

As with Monday’s GRINGOS AT THE GATE profile, I’m intrigued by this project’s potential to transcend the conventions of a typical sports documentary. There have been countless boxing documentaries, often focusing on a ROCKY like protagonist who fights adversity to become a champ. This doesn’t seem like it’s the trajectory Charlie is headed down, especially with his fledgling modeling career as a counterpoint to his boxing aspirations. The backdrop of the Friday Night Throwdown milieu also suggests the film will deliver a privileged look into a largely unknown world – a (white) fashionista version of PARIS IS BURNING, perhaps? I’m happy Groskopf has found her initial funding, and I’m eager to see more.