Buffalo Girls (film): Difference between revisions

Buffalo Girls
Buffalo Girls
	Film poster
Directed by	Todd Kellstein
Produced by	Lanette Phillips; Jonathon Ker; Michael Pierce
Edited by	Zimo Huang
Music by	Scott Hackwith
Production; companies	Buffalo Girls Movie, in Association with Union Entertainment Group
Distributed by	Amazon
Release date	January 22, 2012;
Running time	64 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Thai

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Buffalo Girls is a documentary film about two eight-year-old Thai girls who engage in professional Muay Thai boxing in rural Thailand. The film was directed by Todd Kellstein and produced by Lanette Phillips and Jonathon Ker. It had its World Premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival on January 22, 2012.^[1] The film was singled out in several previews of the festival, including those by the Los Angeles Times,^[2] the Salt Lake City Weekly^[3] and the Park Record.^[4] Film critic Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times called the film "unexpected and fascinating."^[5] The film received a favorable review in The Hollywood Reporter,^[6] and was reviewed locally by Salt Lake Magazine,^[7] and SLUG Magazine.^[8]

Plot

The documentary is an intimate look into the lives of two very young, professional Muay Thai fighters: Stam Sor Con Lek (now known as Stamp Fairtex) and Pet Chor Chanachai. At only eight years old, the two girls fight throughout rural Thailand to earn money to support their families, as well as trying to secure the 22-kilogram Muay Thai Championship belt of Thailand. The film also addresses the culture of children's fighting through interviews with the children's parents, the referees who officiate the fights, and the professional gamblers who bet on them.

The impoverished farming communities of rural Thailand offer few opportunities for economic gain and boxing is one of the few alternatives to the country’s commercial sex trade as a means of escaping the extreme poverty. Child boxers in Thailand can often earn a family’s monthly rent from a single bout, sometimes taking home more than what a farmer or factory worker earns in a month. For the film’s young protagonists, boxing is an opportunity to help their parents supplement the family income and improve their standard of living.^[9]

Production

Filmmaker Todd Kellstein was working on a documentary about Thai prisons when he came across children boxing in a rural province. Kellstein became enamored with what he saw and enlisted the help of producer Lanette Phillips and co-producer Michael J. Pierce to help finance the production of the film. What he thought would be a six-week project required a three-year stay in Thailand, in order to understand the culture, learn Thai, and earn the trust of his young subjects.^[10] In researching the film, the filmmaker attended close to 300 fights in different provinces around the country.^{[citation needed]} Prior to Buffalo Girls, Kellstein’s film background was in directing music videos. It was during his time as a music video director where Kellstein met Phillips and Pierce, as well as Jonathon Ker, the films's other producer. Kellstein had worked with prominent artists such as Bon Jovi, but he went to Thailand looking for something else. He told the Los Angeles Times that, initially, he thought he was witnessing child abuse. During the process of making the film, however, he changed his mind and sought to create a balance in presenting the potentially controversial subject matter. ^[5]^[11]

References

^ "Buffalo Girls. Todd Kellstein". Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
^ "Sundance: Critic Kenneth Turan spies some films to watch". Los Angeles Times. January 19, 2012. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
^ "Slamdance Film Festival at Treasure Mountain Inn". Cityweekly.net. January 22, 2012. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
^ Park Record, January 17, 2012. Scott Iwasaki. “Slamdance Has Created Filmmaking Community.” Park City, UT.
^ ^a ^b "Slamdance 2012: 'Buffalo Girls' director fought for Thai boxing doc". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
^ "Buffalo Girls: Slamdance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. January 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
^ "Review: Slamdance's Buffalo Girls". Salt Lake Magazine. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
^ "SLUG Magazine | Slamdance 2012 Coverage | Buffalo Girls". Slugmag.com. January 24, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
^ Page 2 of 2 (October 9, 2007). "Page 2: How Young Is too Young to Be a Prize Fighter? - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Pirnia, Garin (January 31, 2012). "Child Boxers Take Center Stage in Slamdance 2012 Documentary 'Buffalo Girls' - Speakeasy - WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
^ 13 ∨ MSNBC Archived 2012-03-31 at the Wayback Machine

External links

Buffalo Girls website
Buffalo Girls at IMDb
Slamdance Film Festival
Filmmaker Portraits from Park City
Film Threat interview Video on YouTube
MSNBC News Story Meet the child boxers of Thailand - Video on msnbc.com]

[1] "Buffalo Girls. Todd Kellstein". Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.

[2] "Sundance: Critic Kenneth Turan spies some films to watch". Los Angeles Times. January 19, 2012. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.

[3] "Slamdance Film Festival at Treasure Mountain Inn". Cityweekly.net. January 22, 2012. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.

[4] Park Record, January 17, 2012. Scott Iwasaki. “Slamdance Has Created Filmmaking Community.” Park City, UT.

[latimes1-5] "Slamdance 2012: 'Buffalo Girls' director fought for Thai boxing doc". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.

[6] "Buffalo Girls: Slamdance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. January 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2012.

[7] "Review: Slamdance's Buffalo Girls". Salt Lake Magazine. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.

[8] "SLUG Magazine | Slamdance 2012 Coverage | Buffalo Girls". Slugmag.com. January 24, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.

[9] Page 2 of 2 (October 9, 2007). "Page 2: How Young Is too Young to Be a Prize Fighter? - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[10] Pirnia, Garin (January 31, 2012). "Child Boxers Take Center Stage in Slamdance 2012 Documentary 'Buffalo Girls' - Speakeasy - WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2012.

[11] 13 ∨ MSNBC Archived 2012-03-31 at the Wayback Machine

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+{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
 {{Infobox film
 | name           = Buffalo Girls
@@ Line 5: / Line 6: @@
 | caption        = Film poster
 | director       = Todd Kellstein
-| producer       = Lanette Phillips<br />Jonathon Ker
+| producer       = Lanette Phillips<br />Jonathon Ker<br />Michael Pierce
 | music          = Scott Hackwith
 | editing        = Zimo Huang
 | studio         = Buffalo Girls Movie, in Association with Union Entertainment Group
-| distributor    =
+| distributor    = Amazon
 | released       = {{Film date|2012|01|22}}
 | runtime        = 64 minutes
@@ Line 17: / Line 18: @@
 | gross          =
 }}
-'''''Buffalo Girls''''' is a documentary film about two eight-year-old Thai girls who engage in professional [[Muay Thai]] [[boxing]] in rural [[Thailand]].  The film was directed by Todd Kellstein and produced by Lanette Phillips and Jonathon Ker. It had its World Premiere at the [[Slamdance Film Festival]] on January 22, 2012.<ref>http://slamdance.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/buffalogirls_toddkellstein_slamdance2012</ref> The film was singled out in several previews of the festival, including those by the [[Los Angeles Times]],<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/01/sundance-critic-kenneth-turan-spies-some-films-to-watch-.html |title=Sundance: Critic Kenneth Turan spies some films to watch |publisher=Latimesblogs.latimes.com |date=2012-01-19 |accessdate=2012-09-30}}</ref> the [[Salt Lake City Weekly]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/event-66991-slamdance-film-festi.html |title=Slamdance Film Festival at Treasure Mountain Inn |publisher=Cityweekly.net |date=2012-01-22 |accessdate=2012-09-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120723180117/http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/event-66991-slamdance-film-festi.html |archivedate=2012-07-23 }}</ref> and the [[Park Record]].<ref>''Park Record'', January 17, 2012. Scott Iwasaki. “Slamdance Has Created Filmmaking Community.” Park City, UT.</ref>
+'''''Buffalo Girls''''' is a documentary film about two eight-year-old Thai girls who engage in professional [[Muay Thai]] [[boxing]] in rural [[Thailand]].  The film was directed by Todd Kellstein and produced by Lanette Phillips and Jonathon Ker. It had its World Premiere at the [[Slamdance Film Festival]] on January 22, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://slamdance.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/buffalogirls_toddkellstein_slamdance2012 |title=Buffalo Girls. Todd Kellstein |access-date=January 25, 2012 |archive-date=February 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209120736/http://slamdance.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/buffalogirls_toddkellstein_slamdance2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film was singled out in several previews of the festival, including those by the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/01/sundance-critic-kenneth-turan-spies-some-films-to-watch-.html |title=Sundance: Critic Kenneth Turan spies some films to watch |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2012-01-19 |access-date=2012-09-30 |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122081313/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/01/sundance-critic-kenneth-turan-spies-some-films-to-watch-.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''[[Salt Lake City Weekly]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/event-66991-slamdance-film-festi.html |title=Slamdance Film Festival at Treasure Mountain Inn |publisher=Cityweekly.net |date=2012-01-22 |access-date=2012-09-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723180117/http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/event-66991-slamdance-film-festi.html |archive-date=2012-07-23 }}</ref> and the [[Park Record]].<ref>''Park Record'', January 17, 2012. Scott Iwasaki. “Slamdance Has Created Filmmaking Community.” Park City, UT.</ref> [[Film critic]] [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''Los Angeles Times'' called the film "unexpected and fascinating."<ref name="latimes1">{{cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/01/slamdance-2012-buffalo-girls-director-fought-for-thai-boxing-doc.html |title=Slamdance 2012: 'Buffalo Girls' director fought for Thai boxing doc |publisher=Latimesblogs.latimes.com |date=2012-01-26 |access-date=2012-09-30 |archive-date=January 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128100505/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/01/slamdance-2012-buffalo-girls-director-fought-for-thai-boxing-doc.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  The film received a favorable review in ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/buffalo-girls-slamdance-review-283814 |title=Buffalo Girls: Slamdance Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2012-01-22 |access-date=2012-09-30 |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128060832/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/buffalo-girls-slamdance-review-283814 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was reviewed locally by [[Salt Lake Magazine]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://saltlakemagazine.com/blog/2012/01/review-slamdances-buffalo-girls/ |title=Review: Slamdance's Buffalo Girls|publisher=Salt Lake Magazine |date=2012-01-25 |access-date=2012-09-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716195802/http://saltlakemagazine.com/blog/2012/01/review-slamdances-buffalo-girls/ |archive-date=2012-07-16 }}</ref> and [[SLUG Magazine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slugmag.com/festival-coverage/812/Buffalo-Girls.html |title=SLUG Magazine &#124; Slamdance 2012 Coverage &#124; Buffalo Girls |publisher=Slugmag.com |date=2012-01-24 |access-date=2012-09-30}}</ref>
-[[Film critic]] [[Kenneth Turan]] of the Los Angeles Times called the film "unexpected and fascinating."<ref name="latimes1">{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/01/slamdance-2012-buffalo-girls-director-fought-for-thai-boxing-doc.html |title=Slamdance 2012: 'Buffalo Girls' director fought for Thai boxing doc |publisher=Latimesblogs.latimes.com |date=2012-01-26 |accessdate=2012-09-30}}</ref>  The film received a favorable review in ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/buffalo-girls-slamdance-review-283814 |title=Buffalo Girls: Slamdance Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2012-01-22 |accessdate=2012-09-30}}</ref> and was reviewed locally by [[Salt Lake Magazine]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://saltlakemagazine.com/blog/2012/01/review-slamdances-buffalo-girls/ |title=Review: Slamdance's Buffalo Girls |publisher=Salt Lake Magazine |date=2012-01-25 |accessdate=2012-09-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120716195802/http://saltlakemagazine.com/blog/2012/01/review-slamdances-buffalo-girls/ |archivedate=2012-07-16 }}</ref> and [[SLUG Magazine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slugmag.com/festival-coverage/812/Buffalo-Girls.html |title=SLUG Magazine &#124; Slamdance 2012 Coverage &#124; Buffalo Girls |publisher=Slugmag.com |date=2012-01-24 |accessdate=2012-09-30}}</ref>
 ==Plot==
-The documentary is an intimate look into the lives of two very young, professional Muay Thai fighters: Stam Sor Con Lek and Pet Chor Chanachai.  At only eight years old, the two girls fight throughout rural Thailand to earn money to support their families, as well as trying to secure the 22-kilogram Muay Thai Championship belt of Thailand. The film also addresses the culture of children's fighting through interviews with the children's parents, the referees who officiate the fights, and the professional gamblers who bet on them.
+The documentary is an intimate look into the lives of two very young, professional Muay Thai fighters: Stam Sor Con Lek (now known as [[Stamp Fairtex]]) and Pet Chor Chanachai.  At only eight years old, the two girls fight throughout rural Thailand to earn money to support their families, as well as trying to secure the 22-kilogram Muay Thai Championship belt of Thailand. The film also addresses the culture of children's fighting through interviews with the children's parents, the referees who officiate the fights, and the professional gamblers who bet on them.
-The impoverished farming communities of rural Thailand offer few opportunities for economic gain and boxing is one of the few alternatives to the country’s commercial sex trade as a means of escaping the extreme poverty. Child boxers in Thailand can often earn a family’s monthly rent from a single bout, sometimes taking home more than what a farmer or factory worker earns in a month.  For the film’s young protagonists, boxing is an opportunity to help their parents supplement the family income and improve their standard of living.<ref>{{cite web|author=Page 2 of 2 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3702664&page=2#.Tx-f8yM3_K0 |title=Page 2: How Young Is too Young to Be a Prize Fighter? - ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date=2007-10-09 |accessdate=2012-09-30}}</ref>
+The impoverished farming communities of rural Thailand offer few opportunities for economic gain and boxing is one of the few alternatives to the country’s commercial sex trade as a means of escaping the extreme poverty. Child boxers in Thailand can often earn a family’s monthly rent from a single bout, sometimes taking home more than what a farmer or factory worker earns in a month.  For the film’s young protagonists, boxing is an opportunity to help their parents supplement the family income and improve their standard of living.<ref>{{cite web |author=Page 2 of 2 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3702664&page=2#.Tx-f8yM3_K0 |title=Page 2: How Young Is too Young to Be a Prize Fighter? - ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date=2007-10-09 |access-date=2012-09-30 |archive-date=March 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306152956/https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3702664&page=2#.Tx-f8yM3_K0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 ==Production==
-Filmmaker Todd Kellstein was working on a documentary about Thai prisons when he came across children boxing in a rural province.  Kellstein became enamored with what he saw and enlisted the help of producer Lanette Phillips and co-producer Michael J. Pierce to help finance the production of the film.  What he thought would be a six-week project required a three-year stay in Thailand, in order to understand the culture, learn Thai, and earn the trust of his young subjects.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pirnia |first=Garin |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/01/31/child-boxers-take-center-stage-in-buffalo-girls/ |title=Child Boxers Take Center Stage in Slamdance 2012 Documentary 'Buffalo Girls' - Speakeasy - WSJ |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com |date=2012-01-31 |accessdate=2012-09-30}}</ref>  In researching the film, the filmmaker attended close to 300 fights in different provinces around the country.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} Prior to ''Buffalo Girls'', Kellstein’s film background was in directing music videos.  It was during his time as a music video director where Kellstein met Phillips and Pierce, as well as Jonathon Ker, the films's other producer.  Kellstein had worked with prominent artists such as Bon Jovi, but he went to Thailand looking for something else.  He told the Los Angeles Times that, initially, he thought he was witnessing child abuse.  During the process of making the film, however, he changed his mind and sought to create a balance in presenting the potentially controversial subject matter.
+Filmmaker Todd Kellstein was working on a documentary about Thai prisons when he came across children boxing in a rural province.  Kellstein became enamored with what he saw and enlisted the help of producer Lanette Phillips and co-producer Michael J. Pierce to help finance the production of the film.  What he thought would be a six-week project required a three-year stay in Thailand, in order to understand the culture, learn Thai, and earn the trust of his young subjects.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pirnia |first=Garin |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/01/31/child-boxers-take-center-stage-in-buffalo-girls/ |title=Child Boxers Take Center Stage in Slamdance 2012 Documentary 'Buffalo Girls' - Speakeasy - WSJ |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com |date=2012-01-31 |accessdate=2012-09-30 |archive-date=April 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419160101/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/01/31/child-boxers-take-center-stage-in-buffalo-girls/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  In researching the film, the filmmaker attended close to 300 fights in different provinces around the country.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} Prior to ''Buffalo Girls'', Kellstein’s film background was in directing music videos.  It was during his time as a music video director where Kellstein met Phillips and Pierce, as well as Jonathon Ker, the films's other producer.  Kellstein had worked with prominent artists such as Bon Jovi, but he went to Thailand looking for something else.  He told the Los Angeles Times that, initially, he thought he was witnessing child abuse.  During the process of making the film, however, he changed his mind and sought to create a balance in presenting the potentially controversial subject matter.
-<ref name="latimes1"/><ref>13 ∨ MSNBC http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc.com/46893890#46893890 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331193006/http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc.com/46893890/#46893890 |date=2012-03-31 }}</ref>
+<ref name="latimes1"/><ref>[http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc.com/46893890#46893890 13 ∨ MSNBC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331193006/http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc.com/46893890/#46893890 |date=2012-03-31 }}</ref>
 == References ==
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 * [http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/gTldJL-FPH9/Buffalo+Girls+Portraits+2012+Sundance+Film/tduyvb7cX2A/Todd+Kellstein Filmmaker Portraits from Park City]
 * [[Film Threat]] interview {{YouTube|8D2i6w4LBYk}}
-*MSNBC News Story [https://web.archive.org/web/20120330235418/http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc.com/46893890#46893890<nowiki>]</nowiki>]
+*MSNBC News Story [https://web.archive.org/web/20120330235418/http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc.com/46893890#46893890<nowiki> Meet the child boxers of Thailand - Video on msnbc.com]</nowiki>]
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Buffalo Girls}}
 [[Category:2012 films]]
 [[Category:2012 documentary films]]
-[[Category:American documentary films]]
+[[Category:American sports documentary films]]
-[[Category:American films]]
+[[Category:Thai-language films]]
-[[Category:Muay Thai films]]
 [[Category:American Muay Thai films]]
 [[Category:Documentary films about child abuse]]
+[[Category:2010s American films]]
+[[Category:2010s Thai films]]