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Street Kids Softball the Subject
of a New Documentary
Independent producer/director John Pocino to begin filming in 2010 about SKS and
the Courageous Battle of Shane Varga
of a New Documentary
Independent producer/director John Pocino to begin filming in 2010 about SKS and
the Courageous Battle of Shane Varga
Sarasota, FL 8/11/09
An independent filmmaker from Sarasota, Florida
has become entranced with Street Kids Softball;
everything from the website, to the teams, to
Street Kids Care and especially with Shane Varga
and his courageous battle through cancer. John
Pocino is so captured by the story that he feels it
belongs in the national spotlight. And he will do
his part to make that happen.
TJ Jorgensen, owner of the SKS organization
which is affiliated with four competitive softball
teams between Michigan and Indiana, announced
today that an agreement is in place for a documentary to be filmed about the SKS organization, Street Kids
Care and about Shane Varga, the SKS player who contracted Hodgkins Lymphoma in April and after
beating the cancer, is now going through chemotherapy. Pocino, the director/producer/filmmaker who came
up with the idea, said this is an idea that is long overdue.
"I am blown away by this team," said Pocino. "When I first
heard about this softball team, I didn't think much of it. Then
I went to the website and spent a day on there, watching the
videos, reading the articles... its truly an amazing thing that
the SKS organization is doing. And combine that with the
battle that Shane Varga is going through to not only defeat
cancer, but to stand tall and set an example with his faith
and determination... Its amazing."
So how did Pocino actually hear about SKS?
"Shane Varga's sister, Lisa, is an actress and I saw her new
movie trailer "Deadly Closure", the director said. "I was
interested in her for a new film project I am doing and we
started talking. She brought up her brother and his tough
battle with cancer and how he was involved with this great team, Street Kids Softball. I went home and
checked it out and was totally into it."
Lisa Varga, originally from the South Bend area and now resides in Florida, has played a key role in not just
standing beside her brother throughout his cancer and treatment, but has also signed on as a producer of the
documentary as well as having a role in the film. One of her goal's in this project is to show others how
cancer can affect someone you love.
"I am very excited to be a part of this project," the actress said.
"To understand cancer is to understand love, strength, pain,
suffering, sacrifice, hope, joy, and the importance of family and
friends. I want everyone who sees this film to learn more about
the illness and how it affects the ones we love and care about.
My brother Shane has taught me so much though his trial. He is
my hero and I want to tell his story."
The goal is for Pocino to arrive in South Bend in mid-September
where he plans to spend a few weeks gathering information,
shooting footage of games/tournaments, interviewing several
people involved with and around the SKS organization as well
as working directly with Shane Varga and talking about the battles
he has gone through. Pocino thinks that the work that SKS has
done in the community has not only become a beacon in the
softball sport, but a light for all sports in dark times.
"One of my goals is to showcase what this amazing team has
done in their community so that others around the world can
learn from them, and maybe be inspired to do something in their
community," the filmmaker said.
Jorgensen, who has worked with the Varga family and Pocino on this deal, is excited about the possibilities
that the film can bring.
"Well, obviously its a great thing for our organization and for Shane," the SKS leader said. "When we
started this organization years ago, the goal was to be a league softball team that competed in tournaments
once in a while. Then when I built the website, people laughed at me. When I put the website on our
jerseys, people laughed again. But those same people kept visiting the website everyday. So as our
popularity grew, we wanted to do something in our community that would be seen by others and hopefully
inspire them to do the same. So we started Street Kids Care and began to get involved in things off the field,
with a goal of making a difference. Now thousands of people visit the website everyday and we feel that we
have touched so many lives, even if just in a small way, that maybe others are now doing what we did. If
what we have done, along with Shane's tremendous story of faith and determination is worthy of a film, then
I'm all for it."
Shane was not for the idea at first.
"At first I was against it,” said Varga. “But then I realized
that if I can share my story of how my faith in God and love
for Him has helped me to feel like I can accomplish anything
– including beating cancer – then I want people to know
that. What the Street Kids organization is all about is making
a difference and that’s why I joined. When I was diagnosed
with cancer, it gave us as an organization, an opportunity to
realize why we do what we do. In my case, people get to
see the struggles, ups, and downs of the cause and follow
the whole experience to it's end. It helps to remind us that
a cause is not just a day of help, but rather follow through
and continued support to truly make a difference."
When Street Kids Care began in 2006, hardly any softball
teams, let alone a few amateur teams at all across the
country, were doing things off the field to help their
community. Today, teams all over the nation are finding
ways to help raise awareness, money, etc for people with
cancer, child abuse victims and so much more. Its amazing
that the word has spread, whether SKS started it or not.
People are increasingly aiming to do good and that is the
goal of Street Kids Care all along.
"Its right at the top of our SK Care website," Jorgensen added. "Change doesn't happen when you do one
or two good things. Change happens when you inspire others to do something good. And hopefully this film
will depict that message."
There are advertising and sponsorship packages available for the film, which should be released to several
outlets, including major cable stations, independent film festivals, theaters and DVD. For advertising
opportunities, please contact TJ Jorgensen via email.
An independent filmmaker from Sarasota, Florida
has become entranced with Street Kids Softball;
everything from the website, to the teams, to
Street Kids Care and especially with Shane Varga
and his courageous battle through cancer. John
Pocino is so captured by the story that he feels it
belongs in the national spotlight. And he will do
his part to make that happen.
TJ Jorgensen, owner of the SKS organization
which is affiliated with four competitive softball
teams between Michigan and Indiana, announced
today that an agreement is in place for a documentary to be filmed about the SKS organization, Street Kids
Care and about Shane Varga, the SKS player who contracted Hodgkins Lymphoma in April and after
beating the cancer, is now going through chemotherapy. Pocino, the director/producer/filmmaker who came
up with the idea, said this is an idea that is long overdue.
"I am blown away by this team," said Pocino. "When I first
heard about this softball team, I didn't think much of it. Then
I went to the website and spent a day on there, watching the
videos, reading the articles... its truly an amazing thing that
the SKS organization is doing. And combine that with the
battle that Shane Varga is going through to not only defeat
cancer, but to stand tall and set an example with his faith
and determination... Its amazing."
So how did Pocino actually hear about SKS?
"Shane Varga's sister, Lisa, is an actress and I saw her new
movie trailer "Deadly Closure", the director said. "I was
interested in her for a new film project I am doing and we
started talking. She brought up her brother and his tough
battle with cancer and how he was involved with this great team, Street Kids Softball. I went home and
checked it out and was totally into it."
Lisa Varga, originally from the South Bend area and now resides in Florida, has played a key role in not just
standing beside her brother throughout his cancer and treatment, but has also signed on as a producer of the
documentary as well as having a role in the film. One of her goal's in this project is to show others how
cancer can affect someone you love.
"I am very excited to be a part of this project," the actress said.
"To understand cancer is to understand love, strength, pain,
suffering, sacrifice, hope, joy, and the importance of family and
friends. I want everyone who sees this film to learn more about
the illness and how it affects the ones we love and care about.
My brother Shane has taught me so much though his trial. He is
my hero and I want to tell his story."
The goal is for Pocino to arrive in South Bend in mid-September
where he plans to spend a few weeks gathering information,
shooting footage of games/tournaments, interviewing several
people involved with and around the SKS organization as well
as working directly with Shane Varga and talking about the battles
he has gone through. Pocino thinks that the work that SKS has
done in the community has not only become a beacon in the
softball sport, but a light for all sports in dark times.
"One of my goals is to showcase what this amazing team has
done in their community so that others around the world can
learn from them, and maybe be inspired to do something in their
community," the filmmaker said.
Jorgensen, who has worked with the Varga family and Pocino on this deal, is excited about the possibilities
that the film can bring.
"Well, obviously its a great thing for our organization and for Shane," the SKS leader said. "When we
started this organization years ago, the goal was to be a league softball team that competed in tournaments
once in a while. Then when I built the website, people laughed at me. When I put the website on our
jerseys, people laughed again. But those same people kept visiting the website everyday. So as our
popularity grew, we wanted to do something in our community that would be seen by others and hopefully
inspire them to do the same. So we started Street Kids Care and began to get involved in things off the field,
with a goal of making a difference. Now thousands of people visit the website everyday and we feel that we
have touched so many lives, even if just in a small way, that maybe others are now doing what we did. If
what we have done, along with Shane's tremendous story of faith and determination is worthy of a film, then
I'm all for it."
Shane was not for the idea at first.
"At first I was against it,” said Varga. “But then I realized
that if I can share my story of how my faith in God and love
for Him has helped me to feel like I can accomplish anything
– including beating cancer – then I want people to know
that. What the Street Kids organization is all about is making
a difference and that’s why I joined. When I was diagnosed
with cancer, it gave us as an organization, an opportunity to
realize why we do what we do. In my case, people get to
see the struggles, ups, and downs of the cause and follow
the whole experience to it's end. It helps to remind us that
a cause is not just a day of help, but rather follow through
and continued support to truly make a difference."
When Street Kids Care began in 2006, hardly any softball
teams, let alone a few amateur teams at all across the
country, were doing things off the field to help their
community. Today, teams all over the nation are finding
ways to help raise awareness, money, etc for people with
cancer, child abuse victims and so much more. Its amazing
that the word has spread, whether SKS started it or not.
People are increasingly aiming to do good and that is the
goal of Street Kids Care all along.
"Its right at the top of our SK Care website," Jorgensen added. "Change doesn't happen when you do one
or two good things. Change happens when you inspire others to do something good. And hopefully this film
will depict that message."
There are advertising and sponsorship packages available for the film, which should be released to several
outlets, including major cable stations, independent film festivals, theaters and DVD. For advertising
opportunities, please contact TJ Jorgensen via email.
| Producer/director/filmmaker John Pocino, above, will be in the Michiana area in September for a few weeks shooting footage for the documentary. |
| Along with co-producing, actress Lisa Varga, above, will play a key role in the film about her brother Shane, and the SKS team. |
| SKS player Shane Varga, above, was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2009 and through medicine, along with his love and faith in God, is now in remission, but continues chemotherapy for another 10 weeks. |
Update: Due to a
new movie
production that
director John Pocino
has agreed to do, the
production and
filming of the SKS
documentary has
been pushed off until
early 2010. More
details will be
released as it
becomes known.
new movie
production that
director John Pocino
has agreed to do, the
production and
filming of the SKS
documentary has
been pushed off until
early 2010. More
details will be
released as it
becomes known.