The Brisbane Heat’s remarkable run to the KFC Big Bash League championship will be immortalised on the silver screen next month with the launch of the documentary Reignite: A Brisbane Heat Story.
HEAT BOUND FOR BIG SCREEN
Produced by the club, the 80-minute documentary will receive an exclusive premiere showing at Event Cinemas Chermside on 28 November following by a limited public season at Event Cinemas.
The teal carpet will be rolled out for the premiere event, that will also enable Heat members to enjoy the historic showing.
Reignite: A Brisbane Heat Story recounts the start of the Big Bash League and the Heat’s rise to be one of the biggest teams in the competition and most followed sporting clubs in Australia.
As well as spotlighting Brisbane’s resurgence, with its BBL|12 surge from last place to a heart-breaking Final loss followed by the redemptive arc of BBL|13, the documentary shines a light on the turmoil and personal toll on the Heat players away from the hype.
Brisbane Heat General Manager of Marketing Pete Lock said the project was the realisation of a remarkable set of events that converged with a national title, more than a decade after the club’s inaugural success.
“The individuals who made this story came from all walks of life from all over the world,’’ he said.
“You had seasoned, world class players, rubbing shoulders with greenskeepers, batmakers, and club players who were all united by a common love for the game and a relentless desire to change the Heat’s fortune.”
“The way the players, coaches and support staff was able to reignite the Heat, and take them from the depths of despair to the euphoria of a title win is a special story."
“It is one that we are thrilled to showcase for the enjoyment of the casual sports fan through to our most diehard supporters who have been there over the past 14 seasons and rode the highest highs and deepest lows with us."
“We thank the players and those from the Heat’s inner sanctum for their honesty and humility as they expose their inner selves to bring this documentary to life,” Lock said.
More than 45 hours of interviews were conducted with the likes of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Wade Seccombe, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Mitch Swepson, Spencer Johnson, Josh Brown, Nathan McSweeney, Max Bryant, Colin Munro, Matthew Kuhnemann, Xavier Bartlett, Matt Renshaw, Andy Bichel, Ian Healy, CEO Terry Svenson as well as fans and broadcasters.
The documentary also drew upon more than 700 hours of match highlights from the BBL’s leading broadcast partners Channel 7 and Foxtel as well as exclusive inner sanctum and training vision to vividly illustrate the roller-coaster journey to a championship victory.
Reignite: A Brisbane Heat Story will also air on Channel 7 and stream on demand through 7 Plus ahead of this summer’s KFC Big Bash League that launches into action on Sunday 15 December.
The Heat will open their BBL campaign on Wednesday 18 December when they take on the Melbourne Stars at the MCG before returning to Brisbane for their first home game at the Gabba on Sunday 22 December against the Adelaide Strikers.