Experiencing Interruptions?

Ballin Abroad

The journey of five Champion and top-tier American athletes playing basketball in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)
and Euro-Leagues.

  • Sonny Weems
    Director
  • Tywanna Smith
    Director
  • Sonny Weems
    Writer
  • Tywanna Smith
    Writer
  • Kristine McPherson
    Writer
  • John Wayne S. III
    Producer
    Red All Over, Ebony Hustle, Plugged
  • Sonny Weems
    Producer
  • Tywanna Smith
    Producer
  • Sonny Weems
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Marshon Brooks
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Aerial Powers
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Daruis Adams
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Aaron Jackson
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Matt Houston
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Taylor Cunningham
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Tywanna Smith
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 21 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • PORTUGAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Lisboa
    Portugal
    Official Selection
  • NC Black Film Festival
    Wilmington
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Sacramento Pan African International Film Festival
    Sacramento
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Kookai International Film Festival
    Kerala
    India
    March 15, 2023
    India Premiere
    Winner
  • Druk International Film Festival
    Bhutan
    India
    February 28, 2023
    Bhutan Premier
    Award Winner
  • Thilsri International Film Festival
    TAMILNADU
    India
    March 15, 2023
    TAMILNADU Premiere
    Award Winner
  • Athletic Inspiration Film Festival
    Kansas City
    United States
    Nominee
Distribution Information
  • Londyn Town Pictures
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Sonny Weems, Tywanna Smith

Clarence "Sonny" Weems is an American professional basketball player for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. The Chicago Bulls selected him in the 2008 NBA draft and, shortly after that, traded him to the Denver Nuggets. He has since played for the Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, and Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA and has had stints in Lithuania and Russia. At 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), Weems plays both the shooting guard and small forward positions. He was an All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2014.

Tywanna Smith is a professional sports manager, author, and former basketball player. She is the author of Surviving the Lights: A Professional Athlete's Playbook to Avoiding the Curse.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The vision for the Ballin’ Abroad documentary is to empower American international athletes and inspire global sports fans through storytelling. We, 3-time Chinese Basketball Champion Sonny Weems and award-winning sports manager Tywanna Smith, wanted to offer a unique perspective of the triumphs and struggles of playing basketball outside the United States by chronicling the lives of five champion athletes. We believe that these untold stories have an important place in the global conversations around sports. Specifically, we aim to use this documentary to broaden these conversations around four untapped aspects of sports: 1) the unity between male and female athletes in international sports, 2) the heightened need for mental health support for American athletes abroad, 3) the relatable stories of elite athletes outside the NBA and the WNBA, and 4) the unique experiences of navigating international cultural norms.

Sonny Weems: As a former NBA player, I have compiled an impressive legacy of wins, accolades, and longevity in my 15+ year professional basketball career. However, I have achieved great success outside the NBA and the United States. As a businessman, global philanthropist, and founder of SonnyDayz Media, I am passionate about leading the younger generations of athletes and fans worldwide. As a champion and veteran athlete abroad, my extensive experiences navigating mental health, parenting while abroad, and cultural differences have lent me an influential platform to lead these conversations. Filming this documentary with our Chinese partners has been a powerful experience, and I want to show that we can bridge those gaps through sports.

Tywanna Smith: I have managed the non-sport business of male and female professional athlete clients and coaches for over 15 years to understand the urgency surrounding telling these stories. As a former international basketball player, I bring a keen understanding of the similarities between male and female sports journeys to facilitate an inclusive dialogue around the global sports experience. My life work is devoted to humanizing and empowering elite athletes. In this age of media access, gender equality, and athlete empowerment, Sonny and I have sought to amplify the collective voices of male and female athletes outside the significant American leagues to share their experiences with the world.