Honest Engine Films

HONEST ENGINE FILMS RECEIVES THREE EMMYS

Joanne Storkan, a film producer and director, has won three Emmy Awards for her documentaries, including "The Real Bedford Falls," "Miracle on 42nd Street," and "Roots of Lacrosse." She began her career as a journalist and English teacher but shifted her focus to screenwriting and nonfiction storytelling after gaining Hollywood interest. Storkan founded the nonprofit Monterey Bay Film Society to help local youth learn the art of filmmaking. She is also committed to education, having founded the International School of Monterey and serving on the Board of Trustees of the Stevenson School.

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THE RULES OF LACROSSE

Directed by Joanne Storkan
Assistant Director Shelby Mitchell Adams

And Starring Wayne Gretzky, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, Coach John Tillman, Oren Lyons, Tom Ryan, Brant Davis, Seymour Knox IV, Gary Sundown, Johnny Mouradian, Dean French, Shawn Evans, Buffalo Bandits, University of Maryland Men’s & Women’s Lacrosse, The Ross Powless Family of the Six Nations Reserve, Alfie Jacques

What do Wayne Gretzky, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (Maryland), and David Grohl (Foo Fighters / Nirvana) have in common? You guessed it, they all played lacrosse. In an interview with the filmmaker, Wayne Gretzky emphatically states, "I always say this to people-you think football and ice hockey are physical? The most physical sport I ever played in my life was lacrosse." Thus was born, "The Rules of Lacrosse . . . and the Men Who Break Them."

This film covers the A to Z of men's lacrosse, from its rich, Indigenous history to the present forms of men's lacrosse, both the box and field games. This documentary explores several themes of men's lacrosse: forming and maintaining professional teams and their players, college and NCAA play, the wooden stick controversy, and the growing of the game internationally from its North American roots (Congressman Ruppersberger reveals that he played on team USA in the 1960's.)

In a section of the film entitled "Honor and Recognize Those Who Have Played Before You,"Gretzky names the best box player he has ever seen play, Garylord Powless, from the Six Nations Reserve. (Powless was recently elected to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, so we think that Gretzky called it right!) Other members of the Powless family are also featured, along with other famous players and teams.

The film provides both a serious and humorous look at men's lacrosse. Sometimes in these extremely competitive games, rules do get broken. We hope to show the good, the bad, and the not too ugly sides of one of the fastest growing sports in the world.