Pitching for the Island
Writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film, Winter Ball, premiers at SBIFF
Writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film, Winter Ball, premiers at SBIFF
Written by Josef Woodard | Portrait by John Russo
Baseball may be the centerpiece of writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film Winter Ball, a highlight of SBIFF’s “Santa Barbara Features” and sports film categories this year. But this is not your father's formula baseball movie outing.
The Santa Ynez Valley-based Hall takes “America's pastime” to the Dominican Republic, along with protagonist Gordie (Drew Roy), a rookie pitcher whose path to the Major Leagues is routed through a season in DR, the famously baseball-passionate island. He goes begrudgingly, a semi-Ugly American who speaks no Spanish, plays ball lazily and alienates locals, but undergoes an emotional warm-up, learning Spanish from a love interest (Stephany Liriano) and upping his game—as player and compassionate human in “baseball paradise.”
Winter Ball is a colorful and characterful portrayal of Dominican life—the place, people, communal spirit, music, dancing, and, yes, deep love of baseball. It's a different brand of sports film; an unpretentious character study and a feel-good film, in a good way.
Not to be confused with the other Grady Hall, who has worked extensively in television and music videos, the 805 Grady Hall—who moved here from Los Angeles 8 years ago—knows from whence he tale-spins, as a Chicago White Sox draft pick who once played “winter ball” in the DR. Hollywood work became his subsequent field of dreams, including developing TV’s Major League through Morgan Creek Productions.
“Every pitch, every play is a celebration”
For his debut, Hall says that “the motivation was sparked by the impact the culture and the people had on me. A lot of baseball fans knew the names of the players (including Sammy Sosa) but they knew little to nothing of where they were from. The people of the Dominican know how to celebrate, and somehow that gets into the DNA of the players and takes their love of the game to a higher level. Every pitch, every play is a celebration. It wasn't a goal to break with the formulas of the sports genre: sports was simply a lens through which to try and tell a different story.”
That story, and Hall’s official directorial filmography, hits the SBIFF big screen on March 6 and 7, which Hall says he “wasn't sure would happen given the past couple of years. That makes it even more special.”
One to Watch: STUDIO
The Funk Zone is about to light up: Jeremy Wilson…
Written by Erik Torkells for Siteline
The Funk Zone is about to light up: Jeremy Wilson, a marketing and entertainment consultant who recently moved here from New York, had planned on opening an office next to the Brass Bear—but then decided to take it up a notch. The result is STUDIO, a bar, production space and sound room which he says will offer “experiments in liquid, light and sound.” Along with beer, wine, and cocktails, we can expect ever-changing light installations and “a wide-ranging music experience for those who want something outside of the typical club.” 28 Anacapa St., Unit C. @STUDIOSOUNDROOM.
See the story in our digital magazine
Lindsey Nobel
Lindsey Nobel’s artwork invites your eyes to dance
Lindsey Nobel, Five People Just Got Out of the Pool (Gridded People series), 2020, acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 50 x 66 inches.
LINDSEY NOBEL’s artwork invites your eyes to dance. The expression of movement in her work is palpable; her Gridded People series packs a serious gestural punch, and her bronze sculptures exemplify suspended action. Nobel graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a BFA in painting and also attended Boston’s School of the Museum of Fine Arts and London’s Royal College of Art. She was one of five artists chosen this year for a residency at the Lucid Art Foundation in Inverness, California, and her work has been exhibited throughout the United States. Relocating her studio from Los Angeles to Carpinteria during the pandemic profoundly impacted Nobel’s work, especially her color palette, which now includes greens and browns, reflecting her more natural surroundings. “I feel much calmer and peaceful and more focused being in nature,” she says. LINDSEYNOBEL.COM. L.D.P.
John De Bastiani
The interior designer’s new Montecito digs
In the dining room, vintage leather chairs sit atop a rug from Jamal’s Rug Collection in L.A.
The interior designer’s new Montecito digs
East Coast native and renowned interior designer John De Bastiani is no stranger to big cities. He’s lived and worked in Boston, Miami, and, most recently, L.A. A few months back he decided to shift his home base to Montecito, a quieter spot close to family and clients. In relocating, De Bastiani renovated a 1930s adobe home in Romero Canyon, applying his signature clean, comfortable aesthetic. New floors and French doors combine with original steel windows and collected décor for a look he calls airy and more “today.” As with most of his projects, a muted color palette makes for a relaxed mood that feels appropriate to a town like Santa Barbara. “Here you walk down the street, and everyone says hello and holds the door for you,” he says. “This feels like the Nantucket of the West Coast.” JOHNDD.COM. Jennifer Blaise Kramer
Digital Sunsets
I enjoyed the task of illustrating each of these uniquely beautiful places
“I enjoyed the task of illustrating each of these uniquely beautiful places as it gave me the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas of Santa Barbara that are lesser known to me,” says the local artist whose vibrant works can be seen throughout “Block Party”. S.B. Must Dos Family trips to Hendry’s Beach. • Walking to La Bella Rosa Bakery for fresh concha. • Jogging through the streets of S.B. in search of my next Digital Sunsets composition. digitalsunsets.net
Artist as Autodidact
Santa Barbara native Harrison Gilman had more than a few career options.
Harrison Gilman with his work Let Me At ‘Em!, 2020, acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal, 54 x 72 in.
Considering his educational background, Santa Barbara native Harrison Gilman had more than a few career options: filmmaker (he earned a BFA in film from New York University), art historian (his minor at NYU), or entertainment executive (another NYU minor). Instead, he chose to become an artist.
It was a gutsy but smart choice, given his talent. Using a multitude of media (oil and acrylic paint, graphite, found objects, and other materials), Gilman has explored a variety of styles, resulting in haunting works with big impact. Recently he’s ventured beyond abstraction, deliberately including characters and symbols in his pieces.
“Being a self-taught artist has forced me to learn entirely by experience,” says the now-L.A.-based 24-year-old, who studied at Santa Barbara’s Multimedia Arts and Design (MAD) Academy. “It forces me to embrace the unknown. Every moment feels like an act of discovery.”
The art world’s response has been positive. Gilman’s first solo show, Breaking Ground, debuted at Galerie Tangerine in Nashville, Tennessee, and his work has been shown locally at the now-shuttered Breakfast Culture Club. His work is available on his website. harrisongilman.com. -L.D.P.
Match Point
Sasha Paskal’s cheeky athletic brand
WHO Sasha Paskal, age 28
WHAT As a lifelong tennis player who spent her formative years running around Knowlwood in Montecito, lifestyle-brand creator Paskal—who also served (literally) on the Santa Barbara High School team for four years—staved off any seasonal depression from a short stint in New York by bouncing back onto the courts and reconnecting with her love of the sport. It also sparked her latest game changer—Racquet Club LA—an athletic brand that mixes the best parts of traditional country club style with a bit of cheeky humor.
WEAR The red crewneck sweater ($80) is a nod to her childhood tennis club and the shirts the instructors would wear. “Pure nostalgia and an ode to the club that created so many cherished memories for me,” says Paskal. The white crewneck sweater ($90) and long sleeve ($70) are collaborative pieces she created with a French artist she found on Instagram, Erwan Coutellier, “inspired by the fun and colorful artwork of the ’80s and airbrush artwork popularized at the time
MATCH POINT Paskal recently moved back to her hometown of Santa Barbara to fully commit to the brand ethos, “Live Life Leisurely.” “I’m looking forward to getting to know this community in a whole new light and would love to create a social club for young and old players to meet up and enjoy some good old-fashioned tennis!” RACQUETCLUBLA.COM. – Gina Tolleson
Sasha’s SB Black Book
Tecolote Book Shop, 805-969-4977, tecolotebookshop.com—too many hours spent browsing their coffee-table books. It’s the perfect one-stop shop for holiday gifts.
I’ve been going to The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort, 800-425-4725, alisal.com, with my family for Hanukkah every winter since I was in diapers. Feels like you’re stuck in a time warp, and it’s so refreshing to turn your phone off for a weekend and unwind.
Hacienda by Bonita Lifestyle, 805-565-4848, bonitalifestyle.com, in Summerland—what a cute shop! Their curation is amazing, and I want to outfit my entire apartment with their home decor.