Raff's Brain #79: Riffin' with Raff feat. Chris McElroy at Sundance

Riffin' with Raff feat. Chris McElroy

In this episode of Raff's Brain: Riffin' with Raff, Rob sits down with filmmaker Chris McElroy for a conversation recorded live from Park City, Utah, during the Sundance Film Festival. Chris is an accomplished documentarian and film professional with experience in both indie projects and major Hollywood productions. They discuss his incredible journey, from working behind the scenes on the Hellboy reboot to his deep involvement in documenting the Savannah Bananas, the most entertaining team in baseball.

Chris shares how his career was shaped by an internship with the Moving Picture Institute (MPI), which led him to work with Millennium Films and later on ESPN’s Bananaland docuseries. They dive into the rise of Banana Ball, the reimagined, fan-friendly version of baseball that’s shaking up the sport’s landscape and drawing sellout crowds nationwide.

The conversation also touches on the duo’s experiences at Sundance, their thoughts on the Windrider Film Festival, and what they’re excited to see throughout the week. Plus, they discuss the impact of storytelling, the power of film, and how a chance Google search helped Chris land an opportunity that changed his career.

Join Rob and Chris for an engaging, behind-the-scenes look at the film industry, sports storytelling, and life at one of the world's biggest film festivals.

Episode Highlights:

• How Chris McElroy’s film career started with an internship and landed him in Bulgaria for Hellboy (2019)
• Behind the scenes of Banana Land and the Savannah Bananas phenomenon
• The evolution of Banana Ball and how it’s reshaping baseball
• The Sundance Film Festival experience and highlights from Windrider
• The episodic pilot showcase and what makes it special
• The power of storytelling and career opportunities in film
• Occupational licensing reform and meeting activist Melanie Armstrong

Keywords:

Sundance Film Festival, Chris McElroy, Hellboy reboot, Millennium Films, Savannah Bananas, Banana Ball, ESPN Plus, Banana Land, World Tour, Kansas City Monarchs, Moving Picture Institute, episodic pilot showcase, Windrider Festival, occupational licensing reform, YouTube channel

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🔗 Chris McElroy:
2025 Show Reel
Bananaland Official Trailer
Savannah Bananas 

🎬 More about the Moving Picture Institute (MPI)

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