Speak.

Another mass shooting. Unprecedented storms and wildfires. Tragic war plaguing our international communities. And a convicted felon re-elected as President of the United States. These are just some of the issues that keep us up at night. As a society, we’ve lost the art of the argument and the effectiveness of the compromise. We’ve lost our ability to question beyond party lines. We’ve lost our ability to connect, listen, and understand one another and this loss is creating a mental health crisis. Is there a way out? Is there an antidote to these fraught times? Enter the world of competitive speaking- a sport where middle and high school students find their voice while learning to listen to and respect one another. Over the course of a year, students write, practice, and hone a powerful 10 minute speech inspired by their own personal and lived experiences, their “heart story.” These brave and passionate teens then perform in front of thousands of people in tournaments across the country, touching the hearts and souls of each person they come into contact with. When we discovered the world of speech in 2019, we too were blown away by these eloquent and passionate teens. Gen Z gets a bad rap these days, but it’s time we sit up and listen. Over four years of development and filming, we saw how competitive speaking can shape and motivate young visionaries, no matter what communities they come from and in turn, better all of us who are lucky enough to experience their performances. We hope our film will ignite conversations and pose the question: Why can’t every public school district in America offer a competitive speech program just like they might offer football or soccer? In our deeply divided world that faces historic challenges, these programs foster creative thinking and the open exchange of ideas in an inclusive, fun and competitive environment. They nurture the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, artists and judges who may be the bridge to deeper understanding and empathy. They are our future. SPEAK up. SPEAK out.