DOIN' IT IN THE PARK: PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC. DIRECTED BY BOBBITO GARCIA AND KEVIN COULIAU, THE FILM EXPLORES THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF NEW YORK'S SUMMER B-BALL SCENE. Premiering Exclusively On Thursday, February 19 at 9 p.m. and 11p.m. EST

(Black PR Wire) -- ATLANTA –February 3, 2015 – ASPiRE (@tvASPiRE) today announced the exclusive premiere of the acclaimed, award-winning documentaryDoin’ It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC (doinitinthepark.com/film), directed by Bobbito García (“It’s The Shoes,” author of Where’d You Get Those? NYC’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987) and Kevin Couliau (Heart & Soul Of New York City). Called “an exuberant introduction to the rich lore of the city game” by The New York Times, the documentary will debut on ASPiRE on Thursday, February 19 at 9 p.m. EST, with an encore at 11 p.m. EST.

Directed by García and Couliau, Doin’ It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYCexplores the history, culture, and social impact of New York’s summer b-ball scene, widely recognized as the worldwide “Mecca” of the sport. In New York City, pick-up basketball is not just a sport. It is a way of life. There are 700+ outdoor courts, and an estimated 500,000 players, the most loyal of which approach the game as a religion, and the playground as their church.

“You can play high school or college for four years. You can play Pro for a decade. You can play pick-up … for life.” Doin’ It In The Park lovingly uncovers this movement through the voices of playground legends, NBA athletes (including superstar Julius “Dr. J” Erving), and most importantly the common ballplayer who all day looks forward to calling “next” game at their local schoolyard. Directors García and Couliau visited 180 courts throughout NYC’s five boroughs to create their documentary. They traveled to a majority of the locations by bicycle, carrying camera equipment and a ball in their backpacks. The film’s title refers as much to the subject matter as it does to the method of filmmaking, providing an unprecedented perspective on urban America’s most popular, and accessible, free recreation.

“We can’t tell you how excited we are to have our film air on ASPiRE,” said Directors Bobbito García and Kevin Couliau. “We made the film to inspire people everywhere to play ball outdoors. The fact that the legendary Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson and his network is broadcasting it will only help continue to spread our message.”

The soundtrack features music by The Blackbyrds, Quantic, 20SYL, The Roots and Jurassic 5.

The film has won a number of awards, including Audience Award: Best Feature, Urbanworld Film Fest 2012; Winner: Best Documentary, New Jersey Film Fest 2012; Winner: Best Documentary, San Francisco Black Film Festival, 2012; and Winner: Best Documentary, Mount Vernon Film Festival 2014. In addition, in 2012 it was an official selection at Toronto’s Regent Park Film Festival, Puerto Rico’s Fine Arts Film Festival and Philadelphia’s The Awesome Fest.

ASPiRE presents a Goldcrest Filmsand 360 Creative Filmworksproduction. Starring Julius Erving, Kenny Smith, Pee Wee Kirkland, Fly Williams and Kenny Anderson. Executive Produced by Thibaut de Longville and Nick Quested. Produced by Bobbito García. Co-produced by Flore Biet, David Couliau and Thibaut de Longville. Directed by Bobbito García and Kevin Couliau. Written and Narrated by Bobbito García. Original Music by Eddie Palmieri and Sylvain Richard. Cinematography by Kevin Couliau. Film editing by David Couliau.

Follow the documentary andtalent at:
• www.aspire.tv/doinitinthepark
• www.doinitinthepark.com
• Bobbito Garcia on Twitter @koolboblove
• Kevin Couliau on Twitter @AsfaltCronicles
• Julius Erving on Twitter @OfficialDrJ6

About ASPiRE
ASPiRE is a television network that celebrates the groundbreaking achievements of African-Americans. ASPiRE offers a diverse programming mix of movies, series and specials featuring music, comedy, drama, faith/inspiration, theater/performing arts, lifestyle and news/information. The network was launched June 27, 2012 by Magic Johnson Enterprises, which acts as a catalyst for driving unparalleled business results for its partners and fosters community/economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that answer the demands of ethnically diverse urban communities. ASPiRE is available in about 21 million homes in 21 of the top 25 African-American markets including New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.aspire.tv, facebook.com/aspireTV and on Twitter @tvASPiRE.

About Magic Johnson Enterprises
Magic Johnson Enterprises acts as a catalyst for driving unparalleled business results for its partners and fosters community/economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that answer the demands of ethnically diverse urban communities. For more information, visit http://magicjohnson.com/enterprises.

About Bobbito García
Native New Yorker Bobbito García is the critically acclaimed author of Where’d You Get Those? NYC’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 (Testify Books). The former NY Knicks/MSG Network halftime reporter was the voice of EA Sports’ popular NBA Street video game and TV host of ESPN2’s “It’s the Shoes” series. Currently, he is the announcer for ESPNU’s Elite 24 Game and produces his own Full Court 21™ NYC Tournament. A self-proclaimed “outdoor b-ball activist,” Bobbito has played in 35 countries throughout five continents, and has acted as an ambassador for the sport, giving clinics and donating sneakers in multiple developing areas.

About Kevin Couliau
Frenchman Kevin Couliau is the director of “Heart & Soul Of New York City,” a short film/music video about a season of NYC streetball which has accumulated over a million views online. As a photographer, he is widely recognized as the most prolific outdoor basketball photographer of the last decade. His images have appeared in Bounce Magazine (US), Fadeaway (UK) and Reverse Magazine (France). As a director of photography, his work has been seen in Canal + “The New Explorers” documentary series, Jordan Brand’s annual “Quai 54” TV / DVD series, the New York Knicks “Battle of The Boroughs" videos and Nike’s “World Basketball Festival” campaign content.