Balls

Sports-averse single gay dad Ben Ball must face his longtime insecurities about jocks and athletics — not to mention his gruff gym-teacher father Arnold Ball — when his son Jasper Ball lands a spot in a competitive NYC travel soccer league. To read the piece, send me a note: bjs1nyc[at]gmail.com

  • Project Type:
    Television Script
  • Genres:
    Family, comedy, sports, LGBTQ
  • Number of Pages:
    35
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition

    Finalist
  • Finalist, Stage 32 TV Comedy Screenwriting Contest

    Finalist
  • Outstanding Screenplays TV Pilot Competition

    Finalist
  • Launch Pad Pilot Competition

    Second Rounder
  • Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards - Diversity Initiative

    Semifinalist
  • ScreenCraft Comedy Competition

    Quarterfinalist
  • WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Lab Spring

    Quarterfinalist
  • Creative Screenwriting Pilot Competition

    Semifinalist
  • Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Screenplay Competition

    Quarterfinalist
Writer Biography

Journalist and TV writer Bradley Jacobs Sigesmund got his start penning the frothy “Newsmakers” section for Newsweek and has served as a writer and editor for EW, Bloomberg and Us Weekly, regularly discussing entertainment news on CNN and MSNBC. His gay soccer dad family comedy pilot, “The Balls,” was inspired by his collection of first-person essays on his experience as a sports-averse father to a jock son for The Today Show, Oprah Daily, USA Today, Shondaland and more. The Santa Monica-raised Northwestern University grad lives in downtown NYC with his partner, advertising executive Jack Bamberger, their son Lucas, and their four-legged firstborn, Dex Dexter.

Add Writer Biography
Writer Statement

This pilot was inspired by my collection of personal essays on raising a jock — when I can barely throw a ball — for The Today Show, Oprah Daily, USA Today and more. I hope this fish-out-of-water story will feel true to anyone who's challenged themselves to step out of their comfort zone for someone they truly love.

* The Today Show: https://www.today.com/parents/essay/dad-hates-sports-rcna89105
* Oprah Daily: https://www.oprahdaily.com/preview/draft/untitled-content-1655388092?content=544f1e3c-60ca-42d4-96c4-2b0b00bf066a&type=standard-article
* USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/05/29/lgbtq-gay-summer-camp-family-growth-confidence/7486588002/