kelownafred Knowing a little bit about Jay Demerit as the captain of my Vancouver Whitecaps this documentary is very much what I hoped and expected. Inspirational tale of what can happen if you dedicate yourself to your dreams. Not everyone can be a world class athlete but perhaps some that could have gotten there did not because they lacked the drive and ambition. Jay's story is about making it happen against all odds and in an unorthodox manner. It's a true tale of how one's character and devotion can overcome any obstacle if you decide that those obstacles will not hold you back. It's a well done film, plain, simple, truthful and touching.... well worth the money.

Dick Mac This documentary follows the life and adventures of Jay Demerit, an America soccer player. Demerit flew to England to get a job, with a team, as a professional soccer player. English teams don't entertain walk-on tryouts (and certainly not by an American). Determined, Demerit found himself in the top flight of English football with Watford, then playing for the USA in the World Cup. You may not know Demerit now; but, you will like him after seeing this movie. Made by amateur filmmakers, the movie flows, is well edited, and is a high-quality product.I will see it again!

louis09 This movie shows everybody that anything is possible, if you just don't give up! The easiest thing to do is quit and Jay shows us that QUIT is not in his vocabulary. I saw Jay play against Arsenal and was lucky enough to read his story before that match, I was happy to hear it was being made into a documentary! A must see for not just soccer fans but any athlete that has dreams of going Pro. I was upset that not more people saw the advance screening at Stony Brook. The movie was well shot and had a great story line from his high school days all the way up to now. The movie has great stills from the EPL as well as great footage of his days in the Championship level for Watford. A true Must see.

Matthew Moran Rise and Shine: The Jay Demerit Story is a chronicle of the impossible journey of Jay Demerit. The movie takes you from Jay's humble beginnings in Green Bay Wisconsin to the top ranks of English football, the world cup, and professional soccer. Most people would have given up in the face of the adversities Jay encountered. However, Mr. Demerit's perseverance, hard work, and relentless pursuit of his dreams drove him from a substitute position in the English pub league to the English Premiere League. Throughout the movie, it becomes apparent that Jay had a lot of people that believed in him and supported him. Among his greatest supporters are Ranko Tutulugdzija and Nick Lewis who wrote and directed the movie and financed the film with their life savings, donations from the website kickstarter.com, and by going into debt. Zach Salsman was the cinematographer. Ranko, Nick, and Zach all deserve kudos for pulling together such a well structured, approachable, and entertaining movie. Jay's drive, passion, and humble personality likely influenced everyone to support him. These hero qualities make Jay a natural leader. If kids want to emulate a professional athlete, it should be Jay Demerit.This movie will be enjoyed by sporting enthusiast, families, and anyone that needs some inspiration in their lives. Many people in the United States are suffering from our recent economic decline, whether it is from lack of work, under pay, or stress from being over worked. Oddly, this movie is about the United States. We are facing rough times and issues that seem impossible to resolve. We were knocked down in 2008, but we need to get ourselves back up and realize our potential with support from our friends, families, and neighbors; just like Jay Demerit did with his life. This movie is exactly what we need to re-energize our spirits and face the adversities of day to day life. I recommend watching this movie a few times and bringing friends or family that are having a rough time or are facing challenges in their lives. I hope teenagers watch this movie and learns from Jay's personal qualities and tenacity.