Fan letters of support
Fans of "9-Ball" tell us why you can't wait to see the pool movie "9-Ball," and don't forget to give us your name, email, and state or country. We want to hear from all our fans. "9-Ball" is in production now so watch our website often for updates.
I had the privilege of reading the script for 9-Ball the Movie. It is a compelling drama about the hard lessons of life and about the tough ascent to the top of the sport of pool. The movie should be made based on the story’s merits, but the real benefactor could be the pool industry. A good pool themed movie, done right, can be the shot in the arm that is desperately needed for the sport of Pool.
I believe in the commitment of Anthony Palma to make a quality film and believe in the quality people that are already associated. I look forward to seeing this movie being made and look forward to the impact that it will bring to our industry. I will support this effort to the best of my capabilities, and hope other fans and industry leaders will do the same.
Brad Royce
Owner- CutThroat CueSports
www.ctcpool.com
Sirs,
I was really excited to hear that you were making a new movie about the sport of Pool & Billiards. Their has not been enough movies made about this sport.
Almost everyone at one time are another has picked up a cue and hit a few balls, yet for some reason the sport does not get the attention or respect it deserves, at least in the USA. In other countries like England and Europe, Billiard and Snooker players are treated with the same respect and looked up to like our major sports heroes here in the US. In the Phillipines, top players are also treated as major sports heroes. Pool is every bit as much a difficult sport as Golf, but there is a big difference in paydays for the pros. You try picking up a cue and breaking and running 9 Balls! it's not as easy as the pros make it look!
A new movie about the sport featuring some of the real legends, and up and coming new faces could possibly give the sport a real boost, like what the "Color of Money" did for the industry back in the late 80's. I grew up with the movies "The Hustler", "The Color of Money", and most recently "Poolhall Junkies", although each of these movies were good in their own right, they did not feature real Pro Players as the main characters, although each did have some of the main players of the time as extra's.
Also, as a serious player myself, when I watch the movies I can pick up on the shots that were setups and staged.
With stars of the sport like Efren Reyes,(A living Legend) Eric Yow,(Master of the Masse'), and Jennifer Barretta - a truly beautiful young lady & a darn good player herself on the ladies pro tour, I know that one thing about the movie that will be as realistic as possible, will be the action on the pool table.
Whenever their is coverage of a Pro event on TV I try to be sure I'm watching, there are also videos of some Pro matches on the Internet (Billiard Club Network) that I stay up with. Billiards started out as the sport of Kings and Queens back in the 1600's, I'm hoping that your movie will bring back some of the prestige that the sport deserves. So let's get on with on it. put the finishing touches on it and get it released, we're waiting.
S. Loveless
ps - I was also happy to hear that "9 Ball" was going to be about the ladies pro tour. The ladies pro tour has been far more successful in recent years in drawing crowds and TV coverage. They have conducted themselves and their tour in a truly professional manner, and they are always dressed extremely nice, unlike the mens pro tour, where you have characters having temper tantrums, and they show up for their matches dressed like their out for a beer at the local bar. Let's face it the men have had problems recently even managing to have a tour!
I too am very delighted that you are bringing a movie about Pool and Billiards to the big screen! I agree that there have not been nearly enough movies made on this sport so it is certainly long overdue and will be such a treat to behold! It truly is an inspiring story about a young girl overcoming all odds to become the 9 Ball Champion of the World. We all have to deal with so many obstacles throughout our own lives so this is something we all understand and can relate to. Like Rocky, she has to overcome and rise above any and all obstacles and in the end she is stronger and wiser and comes out on top! You can't help but root and cheer for Gail and want so badly for her to succeed, not only in the game, but in her life. And so she does.. She is a survivor! It is really awesome and touching and everyone will come away with tears of inspiration and joy! I can't wait to see this movie!
Melissa~
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Would you PLEASE hurry up and finish this one! :) I'm dieing to see it, I watch every pool movie that comes out, yes even Shooting Gallery :( I hope you have much sucess with this one.
David Pierce
Windsor, NC USA
Hello, my name is Gary "Gary-O" White. I live in the United States in Aurora, Indiana with my family. I have four children and a son-in-law. My wife and two younger children aren't very interested in the game that the rest of us happen to love. I have been shooting pool for nearly 23 years and I absolutely LOVE movies about my favorite sport.
I have played such games as 8 ball, 9 ball, cut-throat, straight pool, rotation, pea pool, bottle pool, one pocket, bank pool, snooker, bumper pool, switch-shot partners, 3 ball, 7 ball, and tried various trick shots. However, 9 ball is by far my favorite. Along with the rest of my family, we frequently go to the nearby game rooms to play pool.
I have also been in various tournaments. I have won some and lost some, but haven't we all. For the last few years I have also been teaching my oldest daughter, oldest son, and now my son-in-law, amongst a few others, everything that I know so that I can help them to improve on their games as well. My sister-in-law has also played pool with me for quite some time and we have been helping each other with various points of our game.
On January 18, 2004, I went to Grand Victoria, a casino boat in Rising Sun, Indiana to watch an exhibition with Tom "Dr. Cues" Rossman. After the exhibition, he asked if anyone would like to play him and I raised my hand. We played one game of 8 ball. I never thought that it would happen in a game against someone so well-known, but I won the game. I recieved an autographed picture, and an autographed cueball, which I had made out to my family.
I have recieved some training from a friend of mine, William " Bill" DeVoe, Billiard Instructor and creater of DeVoe Cues, Moores Hill, Indiana. I have also recieved a few pool cues that he himself not only designed, but also made. I have also helped him with the selling some of his merchandise.
I have seen the following movies:
The Color of Money
Poolhall Junkies
The Hustler
Stick Men
Behind the Eight Ball
Kiss Shot
Shooting Gallery
The Baron and the Kid
along with several other instructional pool videos and have been trying to find more of both. I think that it would be very interesting to see a movie about the women's side of the game. I have yet to find one and I think that it would be very unique to all of the other movies that I have seen.
I think that this movie would help to televise billiards. I really enjoy watching pool on the television and I can never really seem to find any shows on. Billiards players such as Allison " The Duchess of Doom" Fisher, Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee and Vivian "The Texas Tornado" Villarreal are very interesting to watch. I also enjoy watching trick shots done by Mike Massey and Tom Rossman as well. However I think that women's pool is interesting because they seem to have a different approach than the men pool players do.
Pool is a sport that has many great players. Yet, no one has ever mastered it. I cannot wait to see this movie and I hope that it is complete soon.
Thank you,
Gary White, Billiards Palyer and Fan
I'm writing you today as Billiards Manager for a Retail store in Austin, TX and a serious pool player who feels the lack of respect the game of POOL gets. I' am excited to hear the production of "9 Ball" and the stunning collection of players that are scheduled to play in the movie, starting with Jennifer Barreta. I believe this could and should be the rejuvenation the industry and the game desperately needs. Bringing back memories of when " The Color Money" came out. It was a great moment for everyone who loved shooting pool and for those who worked in the industry. This movie with deserving support will do wonders for all, it is time again to rise and shine with cue stick in hand with that BREAK & RUN for all to have fun, playing the game we've grown to love, "SHOOTING POOL!". I'm in! can't wait to see the movie.
Yours Truly,
Moe Money
My name is Rob Kay, owner of a pool table service company in the Philadelphia area. As a serious member of the pool world both privately and professionally I cannot say enough about this production. Not only does this movie boast world class talent on the tables, it also has the best support and direction in the form of Mr Anthony Palma as director. I have read through the major plot points trying to not spoil the surprise for myself when I finally get to see it on the big screen. This movie seems to have all the major points of a successful movie that players and non-players can relate to. My hope is that this movie will reach a new generation in a positive way as the game itself reached out to me years ago. Every occupation and sport has a dark side, but seemingly pool in America is judged too much by the actions of too few. With an emphasis on personal goals and ambition even in the face of danger you can expect a different type of movie about the path to professional pool. I will be offering special deals on pool table work for those who support the movie, check me out at Table-Tek.com! Thanks in advance.
-Rob
I just read about "9-Ball" in a forum, wow, I can´t wait to see it! I´ve started playing pool myself, one of the few girls in my club. The story sounds amazing to me, as well as the cast! So hurry up to get the film finished, can´t wait to see it!! When does the film start in Germany, is there a release date already?
Thank you very much for working on that projekt,
Yours sincerely,
Imme Kuhnert
Hamburg
Germany
Finally! I hope you work on taking away the stigma of pool-that it is a smoky, drug infused environment. I started a free pool get together on meetup.com and I get 25 people in Boston to come out every Tuesday night-even in this economy. The owner loves it (he sells lots of drinks and food) and we get a lot of singles and people who normally wouldn't play the game all of a sudden fall in love with it-especially once I give them a simple lesson. Good job!
-- May you LIVE, ALL the days of your life, Scott
This is the first script in a long time that has captured my attention. I couldn't put it down. I read it straight through. It reminded me so much of a "Rocky" theme. It's been a long while since we had a film with an underdog with heart becoming a hero to cheer for.
Congratulations! And well done.
-Janice Nasuti, Philadelphia, PA
Hello Mr. Palma
WOW!!!! I just finished the final page of 9 ball and my HEART IS POUNDING!!!! What an amazing story! What a POWERFUL ending! I love how you crafted the pool game/gun sequence- SO suspenseful and dramatic!
What a BRILLIANT SCREENPLAY!!!! This script is so rich and surprising. The love scenes are subtle. And, most of all, the relationships are so interwoven! I appreciate the poetry of the language and the restraint used overall; let our imaginations fill in the rest. I love this kind of filmmaking.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have something VERY SPECIAL here. Thank you again for sharing this with me. If Susan Sarandon is not available for you, no one could be more honored than I would, to be considered for the role of VIcky.
Take Care,
Francine