Larry Gagosian and Shaq to Produce Film About the Struggles of a Black Basketball Team in the Hamptons
The basketball-centric film deals with issues of race in the Hamptons.
Shaquille O’Neal is being interviewed at “30 For 30: This Magic Moment” premiere in New York City. Courtesy of Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival.
At first glance, it might seem like a strange pairing: Mega-gallerist Larry Gagosian signs on to produce a documentary about a local basketball team—with legendary NBA Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal?
It’s not as random as a collaboration as you might think, however. The film, Killer Bees, follows the Bridgehampton School basketball team in their quest to defend their 2015 state championship title.
According to the official synopsis, the documentary goes beyond the court and “explores how Bridgehampton’s African American community came to exist in the heart of the Hamptons and its struggle to survive.”
The true story stands in stark contrast to the public perception of Long Island’s East End as a summer playground for the rich and powerful, where artists and collectors gather to party and escape the stifling city heat. Given that inherent tension, support of the film by members of the art world seems natural.