Syracuse in focus (SIF)

Paul Kentoffio and Basil Anastassiou meet with supporters after a screening of their film in Manlius.

We just may have seen the logical follow up (but not quite the sequel) to the highly-acclaimed film “Hoop Dreams.” Only this time there’s a local connection.

Educators, ballers (men and women), television-personalities and government officials  nearly filled the Manlius Art Cinema on Friday to catch a screening of “Ballin’ at the Graveyard” and hear from the filmmakers (Basil Anastassiou-a SU alum and Paul Kenoffio).

As an added bonus two of the principals in the documentary Gerald Malcolm (aka G) and Jarming White (aka Boozer) also attended and talked about the experience of having a film crew dissect court culture and their lives away from the game.

The Manlius screening was part of a barnstorm thru the state-heading next to Rochester then Buffalo.

The filmmakers said they were looking into a larger distribution avenue or increased exposure.

In our opinion, “Ballin’ at the Graveyard” transcends hoops in many ways. Trash-talk and nuances of pick-up ball translate easily to the screen, but what makes great documentary is further excavation to reveal multi-dimensional characters.

The filmmakers seemed to have aced the art. Our hope is now they get the marketing right and more people get to see this film.

Baller, actor and author Gerald Malcolm (aka G) answered questions after a showing of Ballin at the Graveyard in Manlius.