Every athlete is an emotional roller coaster but what keeps the best of them going is the ability to prepare their minds for the unknowns they end up facing during any match. Capturing this aspect on film is not easy but Gotham Chopra has managed just that through snack-size episodes on his series Greatness Code, which is streaming on Apple TV+. Each episode combines animation and live-action footage to look at critical moments in the careers of seven athletes — Usain Bolt, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Katie Ledecky, Alex Morgan, Kelly Slater and Shaun White. We spoke to author, film-maker and the man behind Greatness Code — Gotham Chopra.
From the episodes it seems that you have gone with what an athlete feels rather than just presenting seven iconic sportspeople.
It’s not just about getting the greatest moments from seven of the best athletes on the planet. It’s about their most memorable moments. As a fan, I have seen so many basketball games and have seen LeBron James do so many things. Hearing him describe what’s most memorable to him in life... and it’s not just about physically what he has accomplished on the court... it’s because of what he was mentally, emotionally and even spiritually feeling. These are not just athletes. They are like artists. No matter how much we practice, we may not be able to match what some of these athletes do but I think emotionally and spiritually what they describe is relatable.
Gotham Chopra (right), the man behind Greatness Code, with his father, Deepak Chopra. File picture Sourced by the Telegraph
What made you go with episodes which are on average eight minutes long rather than doing a docu series?
One version would be… you see these athletes highlight certain moments and you can go and see them. The other is a more creative direction, the one we took. Capture what they were thinking, what they were feeling and what they were experiencing internally. How do you visualise that? Le Bron James said he felt nothing (before an important match). So we went back and sat down with this great partner called Lauren Fisher, who is an artist. She helped envision those moments. We wanted the episodes to feel like art pieces rather than just highlights. We wanted them to be deeply personal.
Watching the episodes, one is reminded of graphic novels….
I wanted to capture the stories and experiences of the athletes. Usain Bolt talks about time slowing down and if I were to describe it to you, it would take, say, a second. But he says it breaks down frame by frame for him. This is impossible to capture through highlights. You can envision this through visual frames. We shot in black and white and colour punctuates a moment; it’s really intentional. These are just art pieces.
Did the stories inspire you?
These stories are inspiring. These are seven highly gifted athletes on the planet. No matter how much we practice, we can’t replicate their experiences. But so much they spoke about is inspiring, about overcoming obstacles. We may not experience the same but we are inspired to put our children through sports programmes. It’s a lesson in accountability; it’s about dealing with failure. That part is inspiring. To me, you can implement the wisdom of sports in certain aspects of your life. That’s the takeaway.
Yes they are physically gifted and have god-given attributes but they are the hardest workers; ones who never give up. For example, you have Shaun White and Kelly Slater talking about failure; preceding the moment of greatness is a huge challenge. The ability to comeback is a skill every child should learn not because all of them are going to become professional athletes but they are going to deal with that kind of failure in other parts of their lives. It’s about how to get up when you get knocked down.
You have known Tom Brady for a long time. Does that make it all the more difficult to find a unique part to him?
On the one hand, ya because we have worked together on many things. But on the other, there is chemistry and a level of trust... he is very trusting and so he is very candid with me. I think so many of these athletes are used to being in front of the camera and the media that often they go on autopilot. In that sense the relationship we have has enabled me to work with him.
What about your father, Deepak Chopra, that inspires you?
I am very close to my father and talk to him every day. He is in his 70s and wakes up at 5.30 in the morning, does his yoga and meditation. Then he works all day. He is relentless and devoted to his path. That’s something I am inspired by. He is not a huge sport fan but what he recognises, especially watching a series like this, is that it’s not about sports but about human potential, which is something he has devoted to his life to. He doesn’t care about the NBA but he admires LeBron’s devotion to the craft. It’s about the pursuit of being a best version of one’s self.
Do you want to work with Indian athletes? What’s the best thing about working with Apple TV+?
That’s the dream. I had a chance to work with Sachin (Tendulkar) a few years ago, however briefly. So Sachin or someone like Virat Kohli…. The great part of working with Apple is that it’s global; the audience is global. So this year we have been able to get Usain Bolt and LeBron… ultimately we want to create a deeper catalogue. Obviously I have a soft spot for India.
What sport do you enjoy?
I definitely watch all sports but in terms of practising, I used to play a lot of basketball. I am also an active biker. I now have a 12-year-old son, so it’s about being there for him and at his games.
During the lockdown what did you rediscover about yourself?
I’m usually travelling a lot. So I have had a lot of time to sit back. There has been a lot of good sleep, nutrition, balance relationships, I have been able to spend more time with my family which is very nice. Being reflective about what’s most important and being more judicious about how I spend time, that way it has been a good time for many people.
Apple TV+’s Long Way Up is a new motorcycle series, starring and executive produced by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman Sourced by the Telegraph
On the road again
Get ready for some motorcycle action. Apple TV+’s Long Way Up is a new motorcycle series, starring and executive produced by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, which reunites best friends after more than a decade since their last motorbike adventure around the world.
Covering 13,000 miles over 100 days through 16 border crossings and 13 countries, starting from the city of Ushuaia at the tip of South America, Ewan and Charley journey through the glorious and underexposed landscapes of south and central America in their most challenging expedition to date, using cutting-edge technology on the backs of their electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire motorcycles in order to contribute to the sustainability of the planet.
The first three episodes of Long Way Up will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on September 18 and new episodes will roll out weekly.
Leonardo DiCaprio Sourced by the Telegraph
Enter DiCaprio
Appian Way, the production company founded by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Apple have struck a partnership that will see the Hollywood staple develop television projects for the Cupertino tech giant. DiCaprio and Appian Way already have two projects set up — the feature Killers of the Flower Moon directed by Martin Scorsese and starring DiCaprio, as well as the thriller series Shining Girls, which DiCaprio will executive produce and in which Elisabeth Moss will star.
