CHASING THE DREAM 67 min. 11 sec.

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CHASING THE DREAM follows three young professional baseball players through a summer in the minor league organization of the two-time World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays. The film follows an American, a Latin American, and a Canadian. The three young men are in their early twenties, all beginning their climb up the steep and slippery ladder of professional baseball, all dreaming the big dream- making it to the majors

The Canadian Harry Muir, from London, Ontario is a strapping, articulate young man who, despite a serious nerve palsy in his throwing shoulder, is determined to replace Todd Stottlemyre. Eddy Vasquez from the Dominican Republic is one of thousands of Latin American ballplayers desperate to make it off the island and bring his family out of poverty. One of the players, Shannon Stewart, from Miami, Florida, was the Blue Jays first choice draft pick and at the age of 19 received a signing bonus of $450,000.

There are 700 jobs in major league baseball. Some of the jobs will be held for eight to 10 years. There are 7,000 players in organized minor leagues hoping for a chance to unseat the regulars. This one hour documentary tells the very human story of people striving to be the best they can be, people making the grab for the brass ring.

"A fascinating essay on the inside world of baseball. An intimate and powerfully rendered account of human endurance and desire."

Greg Quill, Toronto Star

BRONZE APPLE AWARD, NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL 1994
NOMINATED, BEST SPORTS PROGRAM OR SERIES, THE 1995 GEMINI AWARDS