May 10, 2011
CHICAGO - Former UIC men's soccer standout Jay DeMerit is taking his talents from the field to the bright lights of Hollywood. The current Vancouver Whitecaps defender was recently featured in the documentary "Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story," a film that focuses on his unique and inspiring journey to the top of the soccer world.
The film was made by two of DeMerit's friends who had a determination to tell his story, and inspire others to achieve their goals. The documentary already won the Rising Star Award at the Canadian International Film Festival.
DeMerit, a native of Green Bay, Wis., starred at UIC from 1998-2001, earning NSCAA All-Midwest honors and All-Horizon League plaudits in three separate seasons. But after his career was complete, DeMerit's dream of playing professional soccer seemed unreachable. After not making the pro leagues in the U.S., DeMerit picked up and left for Europe at the age of 21 without any professional experience - only a passport, less than $2,000 and a backpack full of dreams.
The film documents DeMerit's journey from the bottom - playing in Sunday park leagues and the lower level divisions earning 40 pounds per week - to eventually playing in the English Premier League - to the culmination of his career, when he was a starter on the U.S. National Team during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
On November 18, 2010, DeMerit was announced as the first player signed by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in preparation for their entry into Major League Soccer in 2011.
While DeMerit's story seems fit for Hollywood, the story of Ranko Tutulugdzija, one of the film-makers, is equally inspiring. The pair met on the soccer field at UIC 13 years ago. They became friends, and for a while Tutulugdzija slept on DeMerit's floor.
In 2001 DeMerit moved to play with the Chicago Fire's development team in pursuit of his professional soccer dream. Tutulugdzija, meanwhile, was diagnosed with Exercise-Induced Compartment Syndrome, a painful condition most often suffered by marathon runners. The procedure to treat the condition is extremely dangerous, and a risk of death is prevalent.
Tutulugdzija decided to play through the pain, and not undergo any surgical procedures. He then moved back to California after graduating from college, and lost touch with DeMerit. Then, Tutulugdzija was diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis, the break-up of muscle tissue, which often leads to kidney failure, as it did in this case.
Doctors said his legs would need to be amputated, but he had no medical insurance and his family, immigrants from Serbia, didn't have the money to treat him. So he flew to China, where treatment was cheaper and alternative methods were available, and their success allowed him to return to the United States. Tutulugdzija and DeMerit re-gained touch shortly thereafter, and along with mutual friend Nick Lewis, they all invested $17,000 to start a production company.
The makers of the film traveled to three continents and interviewed DeMerit's former teammates and coaches, friends, family and other influences. Feature interviews include U.S. head soccer coach Bob Bradley, and National Team players Tim Howard, Stu Holden and Carlos Bocanegra. There is also exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage of DeMerit at the World Cup. On May 4, a fundraising campaign was launched on kickstarter.com. To be able to release the film worldwide, the producers need approximately $175,000 for licensing rights to show footage from the Premier League, Championship League and World Cup. Plus, the music that drives the film requires a fee.
To make a donation or take part in the project, CLICK HERE.
On that page, fans can purchase DVD's, or other memorabilia, to help support the release of the project.
