THE FILM
Told in three 55-minute episodes/periods, we start with the team's early days and humble beginnings. from playing in the cramped Mutual Street Arena after J.P. Bickell and Conn Smythe saved professional hockey from decamping to the US, to the building of majestic Maple Leaf Gardens at the height of The Great Depression.
We revisit the team's dynasties. We explore what the team meant to Canadians during some of the country's darkest days, as well as what the team meant to those new Canadians searching for identity and a way to fit in. Our list of interviewees is extensive and combined, the interviews make up more than 80 hours of footage. These stories weave together to help the history and story of Leafs Nation.
THE STORY
This is the story of one of hockey's most storied teams. Born from the ashes of the failed Toronto St. Pats, the Maple Leafs were willed into existence by visionary J.P. Bickell and the stubborn taskmaster Conn Smythe.
They survived and thrived during The Great Depression to become a beacon of hope for Canadians serving overseas during WW2. In post-war Canada they became the team for baby boomers and immigrants alike. Along the way there were dynasties, triumphs and tragedies. And after the fabled 1967 Stanley Cup, there came years of pain and near misses, enough to torture the souls of of the faithful fans. This is the story of not just a hockey team, but of a nation of faithful fans. This is Being Leafs Nation.
HOW WE TELL THE STORY
Being Leafs Nation takes advantage of archival materials such as newsreel footage, newspaper clippings, images, home movies and long forgotten radio broadcasts to help bring the history of the Leafs back to life.
The film goes beyond the standard mix of pan-and-scan black-and-white photos by making extensive use of Leafs memorabilia, ephemera, and old hockey sweaters to help tell the story of the team. We blend in interviews with former players, fans, historians, broadcasters and others associated with the team. All these elements combine with a compelling narrations to tell a fascinating story of one of hockey's best-known franchises.