Director's Works
GIANTS Ryan Doubiago
Born in Paris, Ryan Doubiago is Palestinian-American filmmaker who traded his trusty basketball for a camera in college. Creates innovative, visually arresting films steeped in emotion and feeling. Makes music videos so rousing that they win D&AD awards. Great with fashion brands or any briefs that look to convey the potential of humankind’s depth. A passionate, outspoken artist whose spirit is immortalised in his work.
I discovered 144 Jemmapes when I moved to Paris in 2016 and needed a place to hoop. I grew up in U.S. pickup culture, and what immediately stood out here was the level of play and the sense of community around this court. Older players mentored younger ones, people gathered on weekends for BBQs and rivalries, and the court became a place where I watched the popularity of the game I love explode in Paris.
Over the years, and in large part thanks to players like
Old Mamayo , who has brought real attention to the court, Jemmapes has become a basketball landmark with players coming from all over the world to test their skill. Some of the players in this film I’ve known since they were young kids, and seeing the court evolve alongside their growth has been inspiring.
This place isn’t just about competition (which is fierce). It’s the joy. The noise. The humor. A place where the game brings people together and everyone is welcome.
GIANTS is a portrait of 144 Jemmapes, the people, and the culture that’s grown around it.
This was a passion project in every sense and it could not have been made without the help of a crew close friends, old and new, of the players, and the support of my producers at Obvious.
