EJ LEE: ALL-AMERICAN

UPCOMING FEATURE - LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILM

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Before Jeremy Lin and Yao Ming, there was Eun Jung Lee. EJ Lee, a Louisiana legend nicknamed the “Korean Magic Johnson of NCAA women’s basketball,” has been overlooked her entire career. But finally, at the age of 60, EJ receives her first opportunity to become a college head coach and lead an underdog team in West Texas.

Synopsis

EJ Lee: All-American is a feature-length documentary that combines verité and archival footage of a female Louisiana legend who’s been described as the greatest player you’ve never heard of. The film will be an intimate character study of this little-known Asian American superstar with a Southern twang by interweaving the historical journey of how she developed into one of the best college basketball players and the present-day narrative that tracks the final chapters of EJ’s decades-long coaching career.

The current-day story of how EJ, at 60 years old, is able to handle her first season as a college head coach in West Texas serves as the foundation of the documentary. Archival game footage, along with sit-down interviews with basketball legends like Teresa Weatherspoon (New Orlean Pelicans), Kim Mulkey (LSU), and Colleen Matsuhara (Love & Basketball, L.A. Sparks) will be intercut throughout the current-day footage to reveal EJ’s incredible past.

Why Now?

EJ Lee: All American is a story that’s never been told before: a female Asian immigrant in the South who reached enormous heights as a former player and attempts to do the same as an older coach. This project goes beyond basketball and explores themes of redemption, sisterhood, immigration, aging, AAPI in workplace, and societal limitations placed on female athletes and coaches.

It is important to also note the national presence of women’s sports, especially women’s basketball. Deloitte reported TV and sponsorship revenue for women’s sports will pass $1 billion in the coming years. According to Nielsen ratings, the 2023 NCAA women’s tournament drew nearly 10 million viewers for the championship game, up over 100% from the previous year. There is increased access to viewing women’s sports, spurring more fan engagement on social media and establishing household names like Becky Hammon, Dawn Staley, Sue Bird, and Candace Parker. In addition, the recent surge of basketball-related films (The Queen Of Basketball, Hustle, 38 At The Garden, Chang Can Dunk) all point to a growing audience for a documentary like EJ Lee: All-American.

At the same time, popularity in women’s sports is growing exponentially. Deloitte reported TV & sponsorship revenue for women’s sports will pass $1 billion in the coming years. The record-high viewership for the NCAA women’s tournament, the establishment of household names (Becky Hammon, Sue Bird, Candace Parker), and award-winning documentary shorts The Queen of Basketball & 38 At The Garden all point to an untapped audience for a film like EJ Lee: All-American.

And with ongoing Asian hate and violence targeting the most vulnerable members of our communities, this film paints a more nuanced portrayal of Asian women and the elderly through EJ’s personal experiences.

Director’s Statement

Much like EJ Lee, I am a Korean American who is obsessed with basketball and grew up playing it all my life. Basketball was an anchor for me while my mother and I moved around from state to state throughout my chaotic childhood. It helped me develop friendships and learn life lessons. The court became a sanctuary where I could forget about my problems, even for just a few hours.

In addition to my connection as an Asian American with a passion for basketball, I lost my only known family member in my mom due to the coronavirus in late 2020. My mother was someone who endured enormous health and financial hardships, yet I learned very little of her personal life. She was an undocumented immigrant who endured a lot of pain by herself until the very end.

While I’m greatly affected by this loss, I found it to be a blessing to have come across Coach EJ’s story a few weeks after my mother’s death. They are both immigrants who have left their families behind in search of a better future, both women who persevered through systemic issues time and time again, both single mothers who would do anything for their children.

With this documentary, I hope I can honestly share EJ’s accomplishments, joy, and struggles as I wish I could have done for my mother and for the many Asian Americans and Asian immigrants who’ve suffered in silence.

- Jason Rhee

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