Ryan Schude was asked to make some promotional photographs for Medora, a documentary about a small-town, high school basketball team in Medora, Indiana, from directors Davy Rothbart and Andrew Cohn.
Like many rural communities in America, Medora has lost much of its factories, farms and population, which has dwindled to around 500 people.
“[The film] was an interesting commentary on the disappearance of small towns in America,” Ryan said. “Medora is fighting to keep the school from consolidation with other larger schools since many people in the town feel that once the school is gone, the town will inevitably disappear too.”
Robby Armstrong, with his 1999 Chevy Silverado. Medora, Indiana.
Officer Justin Gilbert and his Ford Crown Victoria. Bedford, Indiana.
Medora follows the down-but-not-out Medora Hornets varsity basketball team over the course of the 2011 season, capturing the players’ stories both on and off the court. The Hornets were riding a brutal losing streak when we arrived, and the team’s struggle to compete bears eerie resonances with the town’s fight for survival.
Medora is an in-depth, deeply personal look at small-town life, a thrilling, underdog basketball story, and an inspiring tale of a community refusing to give up hope despite the brutal odds stacked against them. On a grander scale, it’s a film about America, and the thousands of small towns across the country facing the same fight. As one towns-person told us, “Once we lose these small towns, we can’t get them back.”
Photographer: Ryan Schude
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For more information about any of the Glasshouse photographers or for portfolio requests, please contact:
Kari Nouhan
Photo Agent, Glasshouse Assignment
212-462-4538 kari@glasshouseassignment.com
Charles Ludeke
Photo Assistant, Glasshouse Assignment
212-462-4538 charles@glasshouseassignment.com
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