MPI Original Films completed principal photography on its latest feature film Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game. The film tells the story of Roger Sharpe, the GQ journalist and real-life pinball wizard who in 1976 single-handedly overturned New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball machines. The feature was shot in the Hudson Valley over the course of several weeks with a cast and crew of more than 200 (including seven MPI interns).

Pinball was developed by the MPI team with Austin and Meredith Bragg who wrote the script and directed the film. The Braggs are also producers at Reason TV and have participated in a number of MPI’s talent development opportunities through the MPI Rising Filmmaker Program. In 2019, they participated in the MPI Short Film Creative Development and Production Lab where they developed the award-winning MPI Original Film A Piece of Cake, which was nominated for Best Narrative Short at the Tribeca Film Festival. 

Pinball includes a star-studded cast led by Mike Faist (who is currently receiving rave reviews for his role as “Riff” in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story), Crystal Reed (Swamp Thing, Teen Wolf), and Dennis Boutsikaris (Better Call Saul, The Bourne Legacy).

The film is now in post-production, and we are planning for a festival premiere in 2022.