Private Project

Extra Innings: Grandpa Got Game

Heartwarming and amusing documentary about the Over the Hill Gang, a close-knit senior softball league. Every Saturday, these ornery octogenarians and saucy septuagenarians passionately compete on the softball diamond, stoically combat the ravages of aging, intensely argue safe-out calls, and find that friendship is more important than finishing first.

  • Robert Mandelberg
    Director
  • Robert Mandelberg
    Producer
  • Nika Stewart
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 15 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 31, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Robert Mandelberg

Filmmaker, published author, and comedic writer with more than 20 years of entertainment experience.

Credits include:

* Producer/Director of Extra Innings: Grandpa Got Game, a documentary about a senior softball league.
* Director/Head Writer of a regional comedy troupe: 100+ of performances throughout NJ/NY/PA
* Writer/Actor: Kathy Reed Productions: Wrote three stage comedies; performed in 100+ productions
* Author: Six books published by Sterling Publishing (former Division of Barnes & Noble)
* Producer/Director: Esposito for Assembly video campaign

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Extra Innings: Grandpa Got Game tells the story of the Over the Hill Gang, a softball league for senior citizens.

Not just a sports documentary; it's a heartwarming human-interest story that shows it is possible to continue to enjoy the things we are passionate about well into our old age. It follows a close-knit group of "old guys" who play their hearts out trying to win every week, but understand deep down that it's really about the camaraderie they experience being with each other. As starting pitcher Mitch Garson says in the film, "It's about friendships; and in-between the friendships you play a little ball."

Audiences will meet some of the most fascinating characters on the team, including Steve "Scoop" Steinberg, the 86-year-old sarcastic and sometimes cantankerous first baseman; Dick Sherman, the 85-year-old charming outfielder who stuns his teammates with an over-the-shoulder Willie Mays catch; and "Fall Down Larry," the lovable klutz who can't seem to complete a game without taking a spill or two.

This documentary has been produced and edited in a contemporary style, and injected with passion, humor, and creativity throughout the film. Audiences will experience a gamut of emotions as they cheer for these aged athletes.

This project was born from an experiment on TikTok. When I began posting fun videos of these senior citizens playing ball, they attracted interest from all over the country. At first, the videos drew tens of thousands of views, then hundreds of thousands, and then several videos surpassed the 1,000,000-viewer mark. In all, the Over the Hill Gang TikTok page has generated tens of millions of views and almost two million likes. When I saw the overwhelming popularity of these videos, I knew I had a compelling story that I needed to share. (@over_the_hill_gang)

I am immensely proud of this piece, which took a total of three years to produce. I look forward to sharing this story with the world.