Doubletime

Doubletime
Festival poster
Directed by	Stephanie Johnes
Produced by	Stephanie Johnes Alexandra Johnes Andrea Meditch Julie Goldman
Music by	Pete Miser Jonathan Zalben Joel Goodman
Cinematography	Stephanie Johnes
Editing by	Miki Milmore
Distributed by	Discovery Films
Release date(s)	April 2007 (2007-04) (SXSW)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Doubletime is a high-energy, feature- length 2007 documentary film about the dynamic and gravity defying sport of modern- day jump roping and Double Dutch. The film follows two disparate teams—one suburban white and one inner-city black—as they train to compete against each other for the very first time.

Plot

In the last 30 years jump roping has moved off the sidewalks and onto the stage. It now features astounding acrobatics, lightning speed and international competition. Doubletime follows the top two American teams: The Bouncing Bulldogs of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and The Double Dutch Forces of Columbia, South Carolina. Although they train in neighboring states, the Bulldogs and the Forces scarcely cross paths as they belong to separate leagues that do not compete against one another.

The Bulldogs represent the best of gymnastic freestyle jumping found mostly in white suburbia while the Forces belong to the inner- city African American tradition of Double Dutch. For the first time, both the Bulldogs and the Forces decide to enter a competition at the world famous Apollo Theater called the Holiday Classic. The film features four young athletes (age 11 to 18) who display courage, skills and charisma as they passionately prepare for the event. Doubletime culminates on stage in Harlem with this rowdy crowd- pleasing contest which features “fusion” routines where Double Dutch is blended with hip- hop dance and music.

Cast: Jumpers and Coaches

Ray Fredrick, Coach, Bouncing Bulldogs

Ray Fredrick is the director of the Bouncing Bulldogs Rope Skipping Demonstration Team, which he founded in 1986. The team has been featured on page one of the Wall Street Journal, and on the CBS Evening News. Since 1981 Fredrick has been a physical education teacher with the Chapel Hill- Carrboro City schools in North Carolina. He received his M.A. in Administration and Supervision from North Carolina Central University in 1991, and a B.A. in Health and Physical Education from Western Carolina University in 1981. His Favorite Motto is "Kids are Special" and his long-term goal is to help make jump roping an Olympic Sport.

Joseph Edney, Bouncing Bulldogs

Joseph Edney was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and began jumping with the Bouncing Bulldogs at age eight. After joining the team, jump rope became a large part of his life and as he went through school he was able to travel, perform, and compete with the Bulldogs around the world. After graduating high school he attended North Carolina State University. His first year in college he was performing jump rope in New York City where he was scouted and signed by the Ford Modeling Agency. He now works as a model and is still a student in North Carolina.

Timothy Martin, Bouncing Bulldogs

Timothy Martin was born and raised in Durham, NC. He has been jumping since he was 5 years old and is now a senior at Hillside High School in Durham, NC. Upon graduating he plans to attend college and continue jumping rope with the Bouncing Bulldogs.

Erica Zenn, Bouncing Bulldogs

Erica Zenn is in the eighth grade at McDougle Middle School in Chapel Hill, NC. She has been a member of the Bouncing Bulldogs Rope Skipping Demonstration Team for 7 years. She has competed regionally, nationally, and internationally, and is a current national and world champion. She is the youngest member of the 1st USAJR All-Star Team.

Joy Holman, Coach, Double Dutch Forces

Joy Holman is the coach and founder of the South Carolina’s Double Dutch Forces, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2005. After receiving a B. S. in Physical Education from Benedict College, Joy played in the first women’s professional basketball league (the WBL) for the Dayton, Ohio Rockettes. For over twenty years she has been a physical education teacher with the Aiken County School District, and an Athletic Specialist with Columbia City Parks and Recreation. Joy believes in the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” and enjoys giving back to the community and making a difference in children’s lives.

Lacie Doolittle, Double Dutch Forces

Lacie Doolittle is a 10th grader at Wagener- Salley High School in Wagener, South Carolina. She started jumping with the Double Dutch Forces at age 6. In addition to Double Dutch she stays active with softball, volleyball, cheerleading, basketball and track. In the 9th grade she was president of her class, and in 10th grade she won the Miss Congeniality prize.

Antoine Cutner, Double Dutch Forces

Antoine Cutner has been an active member of the Double Dutch Forces for ten years. In 2006 he graduated from Eau Claire High School in Columbia, South Carolina, where he was a member of the school’s band and step team. He is very active in the community and assists a local youth recreation group with cheerleading. Antoine is an honors student whose other talents include singing, dancing and hairstyling.

Tia Rankin, Double Dutch Forces

Tia Rankin started jumping with the Double Dutch Forces when she was 8 years old. As an 8th Grader at W. G Sanders Middle School in Columbia, South Carolina she was captain of both the basketball and volleyball teams. She is also a member of the youth ministry and choir at Friendship Baptist Church in Columbia.

Mike Peterson, assistant coach, Double Dutch Forces

Mike Peterson has been coaching with the Double Dutch Forces for 20 years. He was educated in Richland County, SC with a diploma from Dreher High School and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Carolina. When not involved in Double Dutch he works for the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and mentors youth throughout the city.

David Walker, founder, American Double Dutch League

David Walker served four years in the United States Marine Corps and twenty-two years as a New York City police officer rising trough the ranks as a Detective then Sergeant-Special Assignment (Lieutenant). With the help of his Detective partner Ulysses Williams, Walker designed the concept for competitive Double Dutch in 1974, when he realized that there was not an available team sport for young ladies within the disadvantaged communities of New York. David A. Walker was the initial founder of the American Double Dutch League and went on to found the National Double Dutch League in 1992. He passed away in 2009.

Richard Cendali, founder, U.S.A. Jump Rope League

Richard Cendali is the physical education teacher at Douglass Elementary School in Boulder, CO. He has been teaching for 37 years. He is the founder of modern day jump rope. He sat on the U.S.A. Jump Rope Board of Directors (U.S.A. governing body), is an A.A.U. Board of Director as Vice President, is on the Pan Am Board of Directors as President, is on F.I.S.A.C. Board of Directors as Vice President the International governing body, and the Director and creator of Skip-Its, the internationally acclaimed rope skipping demonstration team. As an elementary physical education teacher, his high profile within the education systems around the world has enabled millions of people to recognize the power and influence of children helping children.

Awards and festivals

• Seattle Film Festival, Best Documentary
• “Best Sports Documentary” Newsday, 2007
• Heartland Film Festival, Crystal Heart Award
• South by Southwest Film Festival, Audience Award Finalist
• Tribeca Film Festival, Audience Award Nominee
• AFI/ Silverdocs
• Mill Valley Film Festival
• Edinburgh International Film Festival

See also

• Spellbound (2002 film)
• Mad Hot Ballroom

External links

• Doubletime official movie site
• Doubletime at the Internet Movie Database
• / Doubletime Variety Magazine Review.
• / Doubletime Austin Chronicle Review.
• / Doubletime Film Threat Review.
• /Doubletime Facebook Fan Page.
• Bested by Japan, A Jump-Rope Team Plots a Comeback Wall Street Journal.
• Fierce Competition, In Double Time CBS News.
• / Double Dutch is Back NPR.
• Doubletime North Carolina Public Radio.
• People at SXSW: Stephanie Johnes (Doubletime)