Brad Barnett This is the most inspirational story I have seen/heard in a long time and it is brilliantly portrayed. Back in February I broke both my tibia and fibula playing soccer for an adult league which effectively ended my playing career. Coaching recreation soccer was a way to get back into the game that I loved and I had come to the conclusion that the days of competitive soccer are over. I received the movie as a Christmas present and have watched it a total of 5 times in six days. It is that good.Because of this story I have decided to follow my dream of coaching and are taking the steps necessary to achieve this goal. It is because of "Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story" that I have decided to make that leap.It gets better after every viewing and I find myself wanting to watch it. The music is brilliantly done. The narration is perfect. The interviews are great. The story is phenomenal. This is not a soccer movie, but an inspirational documentary with a soccer backdrop. It does not take a soccer player or fan to enjoy this story, or understand the message of never giving up on your dreams. It is as inspiring the first time as it is the fifth time and it will inspire anyone from age 10 to 110. Very well done and told perfectly.

cmolenik Truly inspirational. A film for the whole family. Live the dream.Anyone with a dream should see this film. No matter what the dream, this will inspire you on ALL levels.The greatest joy of this film are the pictures of the young kids with smiles ear to ear... This is why it was made. The greatest part of the film is watching how it was made. It was made with the support of thousands of people who believed in the project and made it what it is today. This is rare in this day and age when the same films, by the same people/ studios, keep getting remade... If this film makes an impact on just one person, all the effort that went into is all worthwhile...

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.

heidifosberg My family had been looking forward to this film for a long time... It was worth the wait! Jay is truly an inspiration & an American icon! The film follows Jay Demerit on his journey to soccer greatness: playing, at first, for free in Sunday Pub Leagues, working his way up, eventually playing at the highest level in England & in the World Cup. Jay shows that through hard work & determination, all things are possible. He also "keeps it real" and describes how difficult things were at times. Jay is a great roll model for today's youth, showing that hard work & perseverance are worth the effort!Although this is a soccer story, it is also SO much more! This film will appeal to those who love documentaries, root for the underdog, love an inspirational story or anyone who believes that we should all follow our wildest dreams!!! Thank you Ranko, Nick, Jay & everyone else who made this documentary "the little film that could"! :)